The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1879-04-24

THE GREAT INDEPENDENT
LINE.
The st. Louis, Wichita g. Western
Railway.

News Of the most satisfactory and en-
couraging character reaches Us from the
various points of the Wichita 4 West
ern Railroad line. The people have be-
come thoroughly awakened rs to its fca-
sibiIity aud convinced rs TO its impor-
lance to this section over any other line
of road that could be possibly cxtcnd-
ed in this direction. II IL the only line
that is free from all cntangling alliances
with other roads, being independent
and competitive and having no connec-
ton with any other road this side of
st. Louis. No other road could carry
us away from the interests centering at
Kansas City. II is the only road that
offers competition 10 all the great east
crn markets.
These facts have now become appa-
rent Mt least to independence and other
towns which at first ignored the repre-
sentations Of the committee from this
city. Finding thai The road was bound
10 be built in the event of the proposed
aid being voted, and seeing that the lat
ter was almost a certainty. the people
of that city held two meetings last week
and after elimination and rccrimination
committee was appointed and started
for New York al the expense of the
city 10 confer with tlY Mcssrs. Selig-
man and other parties in interest. In
dependence may be able TO defect the
line far enough to touch that place, hut
il is doubtful.
Eldorado. that at first would not treat
our committee with dcccncy or hardly
courtesy, announcing. after everything
had been explained to them, that il they
found somebody besides Wichita a, the
bottom of the move they might conclude
To do something. now raises her voice
IN the most dismal wall. Her citizens
have too late become convinced of the
ovcrshadowing importance Of the in
dependent st. Louis line over all Others.
The men who authorized or assumed 10
represent the interests of the place was
either blind or had the big head or both.
From information from I.abet;c, Viii
son. Montgomery. Greenwood and But
Ter and the townships along the line
there can be no doubt but that the aid
will be voted by very large maiorities.
The line is splendid through aud along
rich valleys untouched by other roads
and very direct.
Within the two weeks past we have
been interviewed by aud have couycrsed
with many representative men from all
parts of Sedgwick county and that tbe
bonds will carry there is not a shadow
of doubt. We have an independent.
thinking people who appreciate that the
salvation of this country is its railroads,
buff, and 10 be built. Without :hcm
Kansas would he nothing even to-day.
Speaking of the Importance of railroads
to Kansas. and what they have done.
the -AtCtil>pu tHonffcH N"sSa''r 'sss
more than sixty millions OF dollars have
have been expended in the construction
of Kansas railroads. and more than fif-
ty million dollars additional have been
disburscd within the State as an Incl
dent to their operations. Of which
amount eighteen million dollars have
been paid to employees. Ii has been as
ccrtained that the pay-rolls If the sew
e.al railroads in the State. a. the pres
ent time. aggregate three and half
millions OF dollars: and during the past
eight wears the railroads of Kansas have
expended total of Silica, coo in their
efforts 10 secure immigration IL this
State.
Although there are now in operation
In ilis State about $50 miles of rail-
road, the system is far from being conf
paetc. y v1riOss Ywa0s q the STATE