Lexington weekly intelligencer., 1877-04-14
EXTENSION OF THE NARROW GAUGE

has been aimless and pointless. We
have intended Tor some months to visit
Independence to converse with Presi
dent Roberts on the subject, but when
we got ready to go we learned that he
had gone TO Florida tor his health On
his return there was ''muddle" in the
reorganization of the directory, which
we mentioned when it occurred. and we
thought it useless to talk about extend
ing the road while even its present run
ming arrangements were in Jeopardy.
These troubles settled. other matters
prevented our going to independence.
so we did the next best thing and wrote
to Mr.. Roberts, and we hope that this
will prove satisfactory to those peo-
pie in our county who feel an interest
in the subject.
We wish to say here that the
idea that there is any opposition
IN Lexington to the extension of this
road is a gratuitous one. We have
never heard single person here evince
any such feeling. while on the contrary
We have heard many express themselves
as anxious that the road should be COM
p!eted at an early day, at least as far as
| the eastern boundary of our county
| This will inure to the benefit of Lex
! ington in many ways. and even ii it did
not. the prosperity of large portion of
the county should not stand still to ac-
| commodate the whims of any other por-
ton, provided that such accommodation
is not tax upon those who do no: par
ticularly desire it. This is merely said
en- pDSSnni. rs We can see no good to
| part of the county against another III the
matter. as harmony and concert of ac-
tion are certainly more to be desired
than misunderstanding and petty ieal-
ol,v.
| President Roberts says. 1.-The compa-
ny is anxious and willing to extend the
line As early as possible to Saline couu-
| ty." These words we have italicized in
his letter. He adds something that has
generally been understood. in these
words. "but without material aid from
the citizens along the line it cannot be
done at present. 1t seems to us that
what is said on this subject should be in
urtherance of the two ideas here ex-
pressed The great beauty and fertility
OF the country through which the road
will run. its immensity OF produce. its
genial. pleasant. enterprising. travelling.
| trading people. are familiar to the gen
tlemen who will have the matter in
charge-in fact they have been over
every foot OF the route. and understand
to-day exactly where the road should be
located. The next thing should be to
ascertain, first. how much aid from
citizens will be necessary; second, how
much aid can be obtained. 1.-THE road
is to be built during the approaching
| summer there is no time TO lose. Be
lore any steps are taken by our citizens.
however. we think it only fair and prop
or that they should demand that any
misunderstanding between the present
owners OF the road shall be amcably
and permanently settled. as people in
this county will not willingly buy into
| a law suit if they know it. This dis
posed of, candidly and frankly, and we
see no reason why steps should not
Immediately be taken for the people and
the railroad management to come to an
understanding on the subject. From
what President Roberts says in his let
ter. and from what was obvious to our
people at the completion Of the road to
this point, it is manifest that the COM
panv exhausted its means in building
the road to its present terminus. Now
that it has demonstrated that it can do
good paying business. it is. of course,
IN 4 better condition to attempt an ex-
| tension than it was when it first reached
Lexington, but we should not think
urther mortgaging the present road to
| raise funds either feasible or advisable
oven if il could be accomplished. How
i much new capital President Roberts
can enlist we do not know. From what
information we can gather by diligent
inquiry from intelligent people who
| live adjacent to the line Of the proposed
road we do not believe that any large
sums of money will be subscribed by
single individuals. What is to be done
must be by an aggregation of small
sums, and By good will-the latter fully
rs much as the former. The right of
| way should be freely given. and no veX-
| ;ttious obstacles he thrown in the way
on that point. Where persons cannot
subscribe money they may be able to
furnish work or ties. and as these things
must be bought and paid for, properly
rendered and delivered they will be as
good rs money. The idea that should an
innate every man interested in the road is
that he should do something toward the
work. by this kind OF corporation the
road can be extended, and in no other way.
AS to the modus op ernndi of arriving
ut L conclusion as to what may be done
and how At should be accomplished, we
would suggest that meeting be held
at m early day. at Wayerly. Of winch
ample notice should be given to the
people from Lexington to Marshall. Ii
President Roberts will inform US when
it will be convenient for him to attend,
we shall take pleasure in seeing that
the people in this county are inform ed, ,
and no doubt all the papers on the line
will do as much AS we should like to
be present. if it will be as convenient,
we should prefer that Il Saturday or
Monday be selected. as we could not
we'll attend on any other day III the
week. We designate Waverly as the
place of meeting, because it is the mid
,lle of the line. convenient alike to our
) OVID people and to those of Saline coun-
tv. and we should hope to see represen-
tative men from both counties taking a
lively interest in the matter Let us have
some action on the subject ut the earliest
2 possible moment. and let the talk that
| ,yo hava rapardiny II no nractinaI op1 tf