The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1873-05-22

In another column, ne print an article
from the Leavenworth TINES, entitled 1.-THE
Folly OF Kansas, which il worthy of the
serious consideration of every citizen of the
State, and especially of our city. 1t is a
fact well-known to the railroad men OF
Atchison. that strenuous efforts have been
making for the last year, and that, too,
with some show of success, BY the business
men and capitalists Of Kansas City, to secure
the building of branch o. the A. T. & 8. F.
X. 4. 10 that city. 1t is useless to say that
sucn branch, being 5u, q branch, would
not draw away large proportion of the
trade that now goes from or through Atchi-
son. The question a to which route would
carry the bulk Of the trade is one TO be settled
by the facilities offered, and the very fact
that there is bridge at Kansas CITY and
none at Atchison, thereby saving time and
expense In the transportation Of freights,
be an Involvement the railroad company
could not In justice to itself ignore. No
matter how we'll disposed any railroad may
be towards AtchisOn, when her interests
comes IN direct contact with its own, they
must, and will be sacrificed. With bridge
spanning the Missouri at this point, We might
safely challenge Kansas City or any other
point to take from US any portion of the
trade that goes over the A., T. 4 s. F. r.
l., though they had a dozen branches con-
Meeting. But let the branch be built first,
and an advantage is gained upon the other
side which it will take time to recover, II in
deed it is ever recovered.
The main points referred to in The
TINES article, are of general interest to
every citizen Of the State, and worthy oil
careful consideration.
The Topeka Commonwealth after reciting
some achievements Of the Atchison, Topeka
and Santa Fe company in the building Of
the road and dwelling upon the civilizing
influences that attended the extension of the
line refers TO the desire OF Missouri river
cities for more complete connections in the
following language:
And now come the cities OF the Missouri
valley sueing for connection with this grea,
railroad. Atchison has the terminus as pro-
vided by law and stipulated in their corpo-
rate bond subsidizing the road. But Atchi-
son has no bridge. and from present appear
snces is no, likely to have soon, and this
makes an outfit for the cattle trade, which
ia the principle business Of the A. T. < s.
F., hazardous and costly, Leavenworth and
Kansas City, rivals for the trade of the south
west are both provided in this respect and both
cOvet connection With this railroad; and
st. Joseph, whose bridge is about completed,
Is talking vigorously Of resuscitating the old
ST. Joseph and Topeka road whose franchise
and charter are still of full force and value,
and thus obtaining connection with the A.
T. X s. Fe. This rivalry is interesting to
Topeka, which has already all the advantage
she can ever hope to reap from this great
railroad, while it speaks volumes in lauGa.
ton of an enterprise which, however great al
present, has only fairly begun in the work OF
reaching and absorbing the carrying trade OF
the sOuth.we t.
The Kansas City Times says in recent
issue:
! "kansas City needs . full, easy, complete
and perfect connection with the AthisOn, To-
peka 4 Santa Fe Railroad. This at present
she has not got, and it is working to her seri-
Gus disadvantage.
| We desire to impress upon the commercial
interests of Kansas City the vital Importance
10 us of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe
railroad. We must control i,s trade, no
matter what it costs TO do it,
The per coatla OF this is to be found in the
Leavenworth TIMES, which in a very strong
and-we must admit-seDsible editorial,
says:
1t is to be hoped that the strenols Efforts
Of Kansas City 10 induce the Aichison, To-
peka and Santa Fee railroad company to
build a track from the main line Of the read
into that town, have been observed by Kan
sans in general and the citizens Of Leaven-
worth and Atchison in particular. To state
II briefly, ii Is another movement TO divert
business from kansas to Missouri move
ment to enrich a town in another Safe with
trade that legitimateiy belongs to Kansas
Take the business from Kansas City that
roads bull, by the bonds and bounty of Kan
sas give it, and there would be nothing OF
the place. Already millions OF dollars be-
longing to ellie. on Kansas soil have gone to
build up towns that add nothing to the
wealth OF Ike State.
The time il coming when the people will
discuss these questions thoughtfnlly. If
State legislation cannot he obtained to make
railroads built by the bounty of Kansas re-
pect their obligations, merch ants ard ship
pers will organize against unfrieEdly corpor.
atiOns. The stereotyped reply about the
'shoe pinching'' Leavenworth, will no, ap-
ply in this case. The shoe il beginning to
pinch Atcbison, and threatens To hurt the
whole State.
There is no doubt that il would be better
for the whole State if Kansas City was inside
our borders ard paving tribute towards tine
support of the State that supports her. And
it ia also true, that the encroachments OF
Kansas City il absorbing the railway system
of Kansas, is very much to be deprecated by
those whose pride OF locality make them in.
terested in building up large town within
our own borders with our own money. But
We cannot refrain from calling the attention
of the people Of Leavsnwortk to their fatal
derelection in refusing to build the Topeka
& Lesvenworth road while it was yet time,
and thus settling the question now at issue.
Of all their series OF sad blunders this was
the supremest.
Whether st. Joseph will build the St. 10.
and Topeka road, or Kansas City energize
the Lawrence and Topeka, or Atchison will
bring about conclusion in the building Of a
bridge, we are unable to determine. Blu,
the contest shows what great and powerful
cornorafinr tho A r. a - T. has in %, krief