The Van Buren press., 1876-02-08
Cane Hill and the Northwestern Rail
road.


On public call for a railroad meeting,
number Of the citizens of Cane Hill met on
the Goth Of January. 1876, in the storeroom Of
Mr.. Z. W. Mcclure.
The meeting was called to order by DR.. W,
d. Welel.. when on motion, ". G. Braly. ESQ.
was elected chairman, and f. X, Earle, Sec
retary.
The object ef the meeting biting under
stood, on motion, the chair appointed the fol-
lowing named gentlemen acommlttee on res
olHtion.: W. y. Welel,, j. +. Carnahan. W. s.
Moore, f. W. Mcclure and Z. B. Ednis-
ton.
The committee retired, and during their
afsenesspeeehes were made by several gen
tleaen, on the matter before the meeting, and
the necessity of doing something was earnest
ly urged. The committee reported as fol-
lows:
WHEREAS, The people OF Northwest Ar
kansas are, at present, much interested on the
subject of railroad to connect the A 4 L.
road on the north. with the l.. h. u +. $. X.
r., on the south, we consider that whatever
may be of interest to the success of this pro-
jeet should be presented to the public. Some
five or six years ago, Mr. Alfred Buchanan,
now engineer on the Iron Mountain railroad,
but ut that time, In the employ Of the compa-
ny of the A. A. L. railroad, a. engineer, was
In this country. and examined the several
routes proposed for the Northwest Arkansas
Railroad. He surl eyed the Coyc Crceh :nnte,
and made reconnaissance of the White Riy-
| Ar route and also the route BY Cane Hill and
Evansville We consider Mr.. Buchanan, from
his education as civil engineer, and from his
experience IN railroading, as well as from his
al Il -, ~.
perfectly competent to give a reliable opinion
on this subject. In n letter to one of our un-
derwriters, date Of January 10th, 1876. he
writes as follows: The route up White river
is mholig impracticable. and the same may
be said of the Cove Greek route, though a vast
improvement over the White River route.
No road can be built between the above-na-
med points Fayetteville. Van Buren, and FIT.
Smith that does not go through or eest of the
following places, viz: Prairie Grove, Cane
Hill Boonsboro and Evansville. A road could
be built and equipped of the standard grade
on that route for about $4,000 per mile, at
present prices for labor and materials. :.
The road, IL 1t ever is built will have to go
through the Indian Nation from Evansville to
Fort Smith. 1t must go west of the Boston
mountain. | should have made my survey
by the above route If my restrictions haRnot
confined me within the State | knew that
the route down Cove Creek was impractical
BILE before | left John Mcrrow's." In view of
the facts, figures and opinion given in this
letter. therefore
Resolued, That we are convinced (and think
Others should be- that ii we ever get rail-
road through our country, 1t must run on the
line indicated by Mr.. Buchanan. and that all
effort should be concentrated upon this, the
only practicable route.
Resoited. I'd, That a committee of corre-
spondence. consisting of three, be appointed
hy thu pbsir lvb,s oh all nnta inf
denee with citizens at ali salient points on the
line, and with all railroad companies whose
interests might induce them to build this
road.
Resoired Sd. That should the Northwest
Railroad Company accept the judgement of
Mr.. Buchanan, and endorse this route, we
will cooperate with them to the best OF our
ability. If they refuse to accept his judy
ment and opinion, we regard it as important
to the country that another company be for
med. and articles of association be filed, COW
ering the route above specified.
w. B WEIGH.
E.W. MCCLURE. c,;..oo
J p. CARNAHAN oo"''''''ee'
w. l.. MOORE.
y. B. EDMISTON.
The report was unanimously adopted and
DR.. w. Il. Welch. Prot. j. + Carnahan and f.
w. Mcclure. were appointed the committee
of correspondence.
On motion, +. Il. Earle and William NJ.
LEWIS were adued, and the committee was In
vested with executive authority to call other
meetings whenever they might think the in
terests under consideration demand them.
1t was ordered that copy ofthese proceed
ings and resolutions be furnished for publica-
tion to the newspapers at Fayetteville, Ben
tonville, Fort Smith and Van Buren,.
Adjourned to meet at call of the Commit
tee. NC. BRALY, CHAIRMAN
r. r. EARLE Secrntnry