The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1873-04-11
The RAILROAD BONDS.
Oar Candid Opinion in Regard to the
Matter.

u voting bonds TO the Kansas City,
s. Walnut Valley railroad,
nd are compelled TO say, very re-
that we are not convinced
hat It would be TO the best inter-
'sts of the people of the county to
Tote the aid.
When the question was submit
ed by the commissioners, we an
nounced that our columns would be
open to those who wished TO write
articles on either side of the ques-
lion, and 1t was our intention, If we
could not urge people to vote for
The proposition, to say nothing
against it. But we find that our
motives are being constantly mis-
and therefore deem 1t
our duty to say candldly what we
think of the matter. Had the ques-
ton of voting bonds to railroads
been a new one to our people, We
would not have thought OF adopt
ing such course as indicated above,
but il is one which the people I'M
derstand thoroughly. The argu-
ments have been presented pro. and
con. time and again, and they have
the practical workings of the sys-
tenn. They have had a thorough
introduction to railroad bonds, and
their accompanying blessings,
We suppose there will como
time when the whole bond business
must stop or the country will go
down, down deep into financial per-
dition. We cannot see but that the
present is q good time to stop ush-
ing into debt. The people arc
crying aloud from every quarter for
rest-for retrenchment. Lyon coun-
ty is no less favored in this respect
than her neighbors. Her people to-
day are paying not less than about
$4,000 annually for interest on
bonds of various kinds. If this
proposition ia carried it viii be
$4,000.
We have always considered it our
duty to sink our individual opinion
when our neighbors in Emporia
thought best TO favor any enter
prise, and cast our little influence
with them for what seemed best.
We cannot be accused of lack OF
devotion to the interests of EN-
poria. But there are other consid'
erations besides the interests of the
city. The interests of the whole
county are at stake. The city and
county must go hand in hand up oil
down. For one we cannot urge the
people in the county to vote for this
PROPOSE ton. We know just as vel
as we know anything that If WE
lived in Waterloo, Agnes City, FIRE.
mont, Americas, Center, Elmen
daro or any OF the northern OIL
southern townships we should vote
square against this proposition. W.
do not believe there are twenty mer
in the city of Emporis but tina
would vote against it If they lived
in the townships named. To urge
those people to vote for the propo
siton would be doing just what W.
would not do ourselves were we il
their places.
We suppose we differ with n large
majority of Emporia men when W.
say the proposed railroad will no
be worth tho money VIC propose Il
pay for 1t. In the first place it is ;
little piece of road. Were it
through route the case would be fa
different. From Kansas City Il
Olathe it belongs to the NJ. il. TT
s. Il q. Co.. from Olathe to Otta
wa IL belongs to the L. J.. & G. Co.
from Ottawa to Emporia it woult
belong to anybody who had mint
to "take it in" after the grading ant
tieing were completed. It woul(
simply be "gobbled," to use an ex
preston more forcible than elegant
by some of the "big fish," and com
binatIon would prevent cheaper
ing of freights. We cannot believe
that were it in operation to-da!
freights would be q cent cheaper
than they are now. 1t might have
tho effect TO bring few persons t.
our city and county temporarily
but after it was finished there would
be nothing for them to do but leave
1t might bring few mechanics
here, who would have work for /;
short time and then be compelled
TO leave. 1t might bring few east
ern capitalists in to buy land which
they would expect to let lie idle TO
rise in price. The last would be
curse to the county. They have al
ways been curse to this county
Had there never been an acre o
land owned in this county by non
residents it would have been a bun
bred per cent. better off than it i
to-day. We don't want them. Wit
the building of the Atchison, To
peka & Santa Fe road there came 1
rush of mechanics, store-keepers
and nonresident land buyers. They
have gone, and the town is settling
down to a solid and natural basis
Railroads cannot keep it inflated
long at time, and should we builC
the new road and have a rush, Their,
would be another reaction. W.
have more men here now than cal
find work. The building of tn
new railroad might give them worl
for a Few months. Before, there
was too much fictitious growth, ant
not enough that was solid and sub
stantial. We need to have OH
prairies settled, and manufacture
established. We need to build VI
at home. Then tue railroads viii
come. We cannot vote all the bond
we want to. We must stop. Thi
whole bond business has got 4
stop. We may as well look tn
matter square in the face. We sin
cerely hope the next legislature viii
stop it by repeating the law author
izing the voting of bonds, or by 81
hampering 1t with amendments a
TO render 1t impracticable.
The whole country is so badly il
debt now that it is draining dry an
nusily to pay the interest. People
are wondering what makes none!
so scarce. Look ut the million
that are sent to Europe every yea
to nav interest on our national