The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1879-02-27
Railroad Meeting.

In pursuance to announcement in an EAGLE
extra of Thursday afternoon calling for Il
railroad meeting on Saturday night. Eagle
Hall was filled to Overlooking with the bust
ness men of the city and representative men
from almost every township in the county.
Many hundreds were present and al
| full of an enthusiasm in favor of an east
and west-a direct communication to st.
Louis. and to listen to the agent appointed
by the County Commissioners. c. Wood Da-
Wis report who has been to st. Louis and New
York interviewing railroad builders and
showing to them the great advantages held
out to them for an immediate construction OF
| a road to Wichita. He SO far succeeded as to
| get the owners of the st. Louis and san
| Francisco road to send their chief engineer,
Mr.. J. NJ. Dun. of st. Louis, and d. +. BObart
their principal contractor to go over the line
| of the proposed route from Its western term
| linus at Oswego, Labette county. in this State
| to Wichita. These gentlemen were present
at the meeting, which was called to order by
Capt. W. $. White. W. G. WOodman was
elected chairman and NJ. W. Levy secretary,
also several vice presidents were elected. Mr..
Davis was then called for who appeared and
gave an account Of his trip. He had been
corresponding with the owners Of this same
| line of road for some time, on his own re-
sponsibility. before the Commissioners ap-
pointed him. and had succeeded, finally. I'M
der almost unsurmountable difficulties, i'm Sc
curing their attention and getting the COM
pany to take an interest by furnishing them
, with facts and statistics Of the rapid develop
ment Of the counties along the line of the
proposed road, viz: Labctte, Montgomery,
| Elk. Butler and Sedgwick, showing to them
that these, or the most of these counties at
least, were only about one-third as old as the
| counties along the border tier road. and that
our population was already a. great and our
productions exceeded theirs with the eXcep-
ton of corn. hogs and cattle. lie also touch
ed briefly on some OF the points, setting forth
the many advantages to be gained by an east
ern outlet in the articles of coal, timber. con-
nection with other roads leading both north
and south. Mr.. Davis report together with
| his ideas and suggestions showed conclusive
ly that he was sound on the railroad ques-
ton.
MIR. Dun, the chief engineer, then came
| forward by request, and stated that he had
| been sent out by the Superintendent of their
road to go over the proposed route with
Mr.. Davis and examine il carefully and make
| u report as near as he could of the probable
cost Of grading the road, and also any other
observations he could that would be OF inter-
est to the company tending towards the i'm
mediate construction of the road. lie had
| passed over the route, found the country
beautiful. unsurpassed, easy for railroad
building and every man he believed, with
but two exceptions, that he eonyersed with
and he mad talked with large number. were
and would, if the opportunity afforded itself
vote aid for the road.
Mr. Hobart was then called for who said
speech-making was entirely out Of his line.
but that IL the counties along the proposed
line would furnish the amount Of aid asked
by the company, that he had not the slight
est doubt but that the road would be built.
possibly this season. but completed to wich-
! Ia within year from next July. He was
asked about the coal beds in Labe;te. and
along the eastern portion of the State through
which the road was now constructed. He
! said it was superior to Fort Scott coal. sur
face beds three TO four feet thick. and they
, were loading II on the ears for sl.25 per ton.
Mr.. kurtz. Of Augusta, then spoke in few
well-timed remarks saving that the State OF
Butter would furnish their share of aid in
the way Of bond. for the proposed line OF
road. and that he thought this meeting was
an immense affair.
4 number OF other gentlemen both from
the city and country were called for and re-
spondcd in welI-tmcd and pertinent remark,
all being of one mind as touching one thing.
viz: road direct to -. Louis was what we
wanted. and they were willing 10 work
might and main TO accomplish the oljee;
sought for or in view. The unanimiiy Of
sentiment and feeling was remarkable in ev
cry particular. and more harmonious pub
, lie meeting we don't think ever assembled in
this city or in fact anywhere.
After two hours of continuous speaking.
the following resolutions were then passed
with grand old rou.ing ayc-not one dis
.cuting voice in the house:
Resolrej, Tha; IL is the sense Of this meet
ing that the vital interest. Of this county and
its future prosperity imperafi,ely demand
competitive railroad facilities: that the pro-
| posed line nom Oswego west through LA5etfe.
Montgomery. Eli. Butler and >edgwick coun-
ties. under the management Of the 81. LoGi.
San Francisco Company. Is, in our opinion
the most practicable. and seems best czlcuts;-
| ed TO meet our requirements. that ii is our
belief that proposition to vote bonds hber-
ally in aid Of the construction Of this road
| would be carried 10 this county by large
majority.
| kesolssi. That the thanks Of this meeting
| an hereby rendered 70 our duly accredited
| representative, Mr.. c. Wood Davis, for his
| e0deat sexvtcs IN wu<king up The pro,cs %
~ pseseot favorable cuodf&3oa.