The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1879-05-01


nation regarding the meeting it was to listen
to report of the railroad committee, and to
discuss the proposition Of voting aid In the
construction of an east and west road, and
to organize, and for the purpose Of canvass
ing the county throughout. Capt. White.
secretary of the railroad committee. after a
full and concise report of the work gone
over by the committee, of their correspond
ence with with the presidents Of all the lead
ing roads in the west, the results of such
correspondence, ETC., and of their finally, by
dint Of hard labor and sending one Of the
committee, Mr.. G. Wood Davis, to New York,
succeeded in gaining the attention Of Mr..
Seligman, the principal owner Of the ST.
Louis & San Francisco Railroad. Mr.. Davis
went prepared to make full and concise
statement of the resources of the country.
and succeeded, through many difficulties,
some of which seemed insurmountable, TO
consent to extend their road to the Arkansas
Valley, providing aid could be secured along
the line of the proposed route.
Mr.. Whites report showed plainly that the
work which was committed to the care of
this committee had been well done, and that
the gentlemen who composed it were the
right men in the right place, and deserve the
thanks Of the citizens Of this county for
what they have accomplished.
After the report was made the question
was open for discussion. Horace Carpenter,
of Union, was called for and responded by
making good speech in favor Of the bonds,
setting forth what he conceived to be some
Of the advantages to be derived from an east
and west road.
Hon. William Ross came forward in re-
Spouse to calls and gave his views Of the
question. His main points or reasons have
been already made ina communication which
was published in last weeks EAGLE.
Judge Belts, of Oswego, was loudly called
for who responded and replied to Mr.. Ross,
giving him pretty thorough shaking up,
and as he lives at the present terminus Of the
road, ard well acquainted with the officers
and managers Of the road, he was listened TO
with great deal of interest, and the state
ments made by him as coming under his own
personal observation of the effect produced
by the Introduction of an east and west road
into county occupied by north and south
road, the reduction Of prices on freight, the
advance on the price of wheat, corn, and
farm products of all kinds vas from thirty to
fifty per cent, and we are sure that no one,
after listening to that geptleman's speech,
cosssi"g ne it did from him, having no person.
al interest whatever in the matter, could be
otherwise than convinced that it is a paying
investment. Mr. Belts further stated that
he firmly believed that if the local aid was
voted all along the line that the road would
be finished as far as this city by the first of
next January.
Mr.. c. w. Davis accompanied by G. ii.
kurtZ, of Augusta, arrived during the meet
ing and were invited to the rostrum. Mr..
Davis was called out and excused himself
from making speech on account of severe
headache which he was laboring under. lie
however. explained the present situation of
affairs, and reviewed briefly the work the
committee had gbne over to accomplish what
we now have for our consideration. and also
expressed implicit faith that the road, if
built at all, would be extended to the west
line of the county.
W. Z. Stanley then took the floor and ar
gued with figures showing the amount Of
additional tax that the building Of this new
line would incur and showing very conclu-
sively that it would be paying investment.
Judge Amos Harris made few remarks in
reply to Mr.. Ross showing that the railroads
running from one town into another town
like the A. T. 4 S. +. and the X. p roads
from Lawrence to Kansas City, and road
running from Lawrence into a dead town
like Leavenworth, were not competing lines,
but u road running from Wichita to st. Louis
was certainly competing line with road
running to Kansas City. The point was well
taken, for il is quite evident that a road run
ming direct to st. Louis will not pool with
road running to Kansas City.
Hon. W. c. Woodman, in response TO n
second call, appeared and made few re-
marks. but owing to the lateness of the hour
concluded. MIR. Woodman has given the
subject of railroads good deal Of thought,
and with his easy flow of language can inter-
est an audience 10 great length with facts.
figures, benefits TO be gained. etc, in the
construction of the st. Louis & Wichita rail-
road. and can offer arguments which cannot
be gainsaid.
EVENING SESSION.
This session was designed more particu-
larry for the business men Of the city, and
consequently the meeting could not be so
large as the one held in the afternoon. Not
withstanding all this the meeting was good
one and quite a number of farmers remained
for the meeting. W. c. Woodman was elect
ed chairman and W. 5. White secretary.
Capt. White made his report As secretary of
the railroad committee, and the meeting was
addressed by c. ". Davis. W. c. woodman
Col. c. II. kur.z, of Augusta. and Others.
So far as the sentiment expressed by great
many with whom we have convcrsed on the
subject from different townships throughout
the county large majority Of the voters are