Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1877-02-10
THE NARROW GAUGE.

most important 10 the people OF the GAS
tern end OF this county is the extension
otthe Wyandotte, Kansas City and North
western railroad eastward, on its way to
its ultimate destination-St. Louis. We
say that St. Louis Is the objective point
of that road. not because there Is any
certainty that it Is SO. but because It
shD"I,i be so, Us it is the natural market
of this section of country. and AS it is
destined to be the great collective point
tor the grain and produce to be shipped
bv the water route. nearest To US, to
Eurupe an and S3uth American ports,
through the ~jetties. While it is true
that this road should 80 20 st. Louis,
still. unless that city bestirs herself, it
MAJ take another direction. rs Chicago.
ever alive to extending and developing
her railroad connections. has alreadv
the Saline county, and other papers are
urging upon her the Importance OF build
inc it. We See that the ST. Louis Re
publican. by 4 very able article. recently
written. has preached the subject OF
building 4 Narrow Gauge railway into
Kansas ga. the Usage Valley. This
would locate the road about equi-distant
| from the Missouri Pacific and Atlantic
and Pacific railroads. and for the greater
| ,.,rIT,,, ~ ,l., "a, fir,rrnh vary moor.
counties. While this is SO, there is no
doubt OF the value OF the road to the
trade Of ST. Louis, or of its bcnetit To a
large scope Of country. The road Will
add millions OF dollars to the taxable
wealth of the counties through which II
will pssS. and afford an outlet for lum-
her. ore and many other products which
now lie dormant tor want OF transporta-
tioa. We think it will he 4 good road,
aud nose that il will DO built. but while
| st. Louis is reaching on her hand for a
| bird in the bush, she had better take heed
that she does not let lv a bird III tue
hand. In other words. if Chicago COM
pete. the W. X. {. Il y. W. X. f.. it
will divert from 81. Louis one OF the
most valuable trades that she has. which
is already being cut into slightly by the
st. l.. X. c. Il y. K. K and the NJ. X. n
/. \ writer IN a late number OF the
Republican speaks OF 4 grand system OF
Narrow Gauge railways which should
be built simultaneously in the state, but
does not locate what we think Will be
the most important one to ST. ouis II
: known to all persons at all familiar
with the subject that the Wyandotte,
Kansas City and Northwestern railroad
i, Completed and in running order. do,
ing 4 brisk business. with i good equip
mont, from Kansas City to Lexington,
Mo, a distance OF about 10 miles
Though the road has been completed
but Il few months, extensive coal mines
have already been opened, and L profit
able trade in this article established
with Kansas City. The people OF the
eastern part OF Lafayette. Saline and
other counties are ciamnrOus Tor It's com
p,etion. and we call that powerful ally,
the Republican. to our AID. A route,
which seems Il possible ne. presents it
sell 20 Us. and We lay It before our rea
.ierS for consideration. Starting from
ST. Louis, the road should run to ST
Charles by another route than the ST
L.. X. {. X n. to accommodate 4 differ
ent suburb to the city. which w"u!'
soou lie bulk on the line as far. probably
a. the Missouri river. cross the Missouri
on the bridge already built at>t Charles
there take u due westward course
through Warrentou and Fulton, re-cros
tn. river on The bridge used by the NJ
X. X T. At Boonvi!le. thence run L
Marshall, IN Saline county. through Wa
verlv. in Lafayette. tD Lexington. wher,
i would Join the rOad now in successtu
operation. That the two ends of tn
road would make money, no one doubt.
The western end is now doing So, thong
pnlv in its infancy the eastern Ell,
could be successfully conducted as a
accommodation road for persons Twin,
On its line ana doing business in 5,
=. Louis. That the whole line would sue
ceed is evident from the fact that
would penetrate rs rich and pToductis
l country rs can be found on earth-th
garden spot OF Missouri. The roa,
would pass through eleven countie
: 10 sides St. Louis) which contained i
Is . Il population OF 2lo,6lV souls. an
whose aggregate wealth vas estimate
a. that time at SliS, so, 900. A deca2
will see the population of this distrit
largely increased. and its wealth double,
Is not this enough TO prove that tn
road would he a profitable one. Tn
, road being II Narrow Gauge, built an
operated at less cost than the brOa
gauge roads. can carry ireights 1T lowe
: rates and live, and as 1t would by til
! route be considerably shorter than eitle
=, of tnc other roads between St. Louis an
haltsdS 'lt', HpuIb ldNo III aIN dHllS
:, in this respect. That the w. X. G..
, y. W. will be extended from L.e1ingtu
u through Wavcrly, Marshall and Boon
Vile is certain. 1t is only a question
: little time but the question for 5
Louis to consider is where shall it o
tien-to St. Louis or Chicago? Their
is another question which should be T.
melnbered in connection with the bull,
ing of this road From Lexington
through Pleasant Hill, i~IarrIsonville AL
Butler there is already built Il go,
, road bed to Nevada City. in Verne
o county. The right, title and franchis,
OF the Lexington. Lake Il Gulf rallro.
company. which built this road bed, II
now offered for sale. as can be seen |
Nj advertisement in this paper. II
Burlington 4 Southwestern ~railr0u
tho real owner of this road bed, il
does not expect to use it, which is que
l.. tionable, may be induced to part with
on reasonable terms. and here would
an another opportunity to add /" this sy
l. TEN of Narrow Gauge roads ninety mil