The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1875-10-28
A NARROW GAUGE.
\ Railrcad 20 b. Constructed
From she Walnut Valley.
Will the People CT Leavenworth
Make our City tho
Terminus (!
That is the Qaes:ien Asked by
Col. J. n. Alexander.
WINFIELD, KAN, October 81, lS7;

/ "ASfiELD, n An, october Il, 1870
EDITOR TNEs:-I write before the week
ly period has arrived for my regular com
munication, because / have something O
great importance, think, to lay before tn.
consideration of the citizens Of Leayen
worth. 1t ia this: ,-5s.-
The Walnut Valley is about eighty
miles in length, and is known TO be a very
garden spot in richness of soil. The up
lands bordering the valley produce the fin.
est yields Of wheat in the world, and the
surplus crops the present season, with the
prospect OF being double next year, have
determined the people of Butler and Cow.
ley counties, to construct narrow gauge
railroad from the mouth OF the Walnu,
river, at Arkansas City, to the north line
OF Butler county. Ii an arrangement can
be made with Chase, or Lyon county, to
continue the line, either to Emporia or Cot
tonwood Falls (which now seems highly
probable), the Walnut Valley route will be
directed towards the valley of the South
Fork Of the Cottonwood, in Chase county.
II this project fails, our route will probably
terminate-north-at Cedar Point, ON the
A., 7. & s. F. road. --r'
The business men Of Topeka are very
anxious that this Walnut Valley Narrow
Guage shall be extended on to the Capital,
and are now considering the question. At
Gibson, also, has the subject under consid-
GRAFTON, and has held some meetings to dis
cuss Its Importance to that place, and how
to get it there. 1t remains for the boosted
metropolis, now without decent connec-
ton inland with the best portions of the
State, and with he only narrow guage
railroad in the State, extending fifty miles
westward from its limits, and weeping for
connections, to lie still and slumber-.Yet
little sleep, little slumber, little ioid-
ing OF the hands to sleep"-and make no
efforts to secure a connection with this i'm
portant line of railroad, running through
the richest and most populous portion of
the State!
Kansas City, (of course,) is wide awake
and seeking to avail herself of some con-
nection by rail with this valley, and some
OF her best railroad men are now in cores
pondence with parties in the valley con-
corning 1t. Leavenworth appears to be the
only place of importance in, or near the
STATE; which has shown no interest in the
subject.
Now, have TO propose to the business
men and capitalists of Leavenworth. that
they get together, either as Board of Trade,
Or IN some organized way, and take some
action in this matter, looking to a eonnec-
ton with this section OF the State, by means
of-a narrow guage railroad. Would it not
be well to have the question settled at once,
whether the K. l. Company will extend its
road TO Topeka, or not? Ii not, then Join |
With Oskaloosa and Topeka with narrow
,uage road, the local lines OF the same
,uage in the State, land in time there will |
DC many OF them will seek connections at
hat point. 1t seems likely TO become a
question whether Leavenworth or Kansas
,ity will become the terminus of the mar
ow guage roads Of Kansas. The narrow
uase road OF this valley viii be built. /
onsider it fixed fact, and have written
his much, hastily, to give Leavenworth
Judge. Will it awaken her? l shall be
n Leavenwor;h soon after election, and
hall be pleased to consult with her citizens
n the subject of this communication. L
NJ