Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1879-07-12
THE RAILROAD SURVEY.

Knowing that our d feel interes-
ted in anything concerning the Burling-
ton & Southwern railroad, and hearing
that a surveying party were going
through the northern part OF the county,
we concluded to 60 up there and see
what was going on. Cal. Trotter, who is
a public spirited mar and likes TO know
what is going on in the county, hitched
up a pair of fine horses, and taxing the
Record in with him we started north last
Monday evening, to find the surveying
party.
After considerable inquiry we learned
that they were neal the farm OF John W..
Isom, near the south line OF Hill town.
ship, and going to Mr.. Isom's house. we
found that they had just crossed the road
about a mile northwest OF there, and
pushing on, we soon came to the narrow
trail across the road and the blazed trees
that told the track of the survey.
Leaving the buggy here, we proceed
ed, perhaps half a mile southwest, and
came upon the party, slowly making
their way across the ''knobs" toward the
'sl.ow Gap" country. intending to strike
near the residence of Drury Elder.
The party numbers ten men and aboy,
in charge Of Chief Engineer H. A. sum
ner. Mr. Withrow,o of Linneus, has charge
of the transit. and MIR. Holbrook Of the
level. We found Mr.. Sumner to be a
very pleasant man, sociable and gente-
manly, who wasn't averse to talking.
even to q newspaper man, and we had
quite a chat with him. As it was about
noon, he asked US to dine with then,
which we proceeded to do. They carry
a right substantial boarding house along
with them, and have a large tent COM
tortably arranged for sleeping, remov-
ing it every lew days to the vicinity OF
the work.
We found that the party were sent out
by the Burlington & Southwestern rail-
road company, with instructions to find
the best and most practicable, as we'll as
the most direct route from Laclede to
Kansas City. They passed near Avelon
and north OF Stokes Mound, thence max
ing a short turn south to McCall's, and
thence southwest to where we found
them. Mr.. Sumner informed US that he
proposed to survey two other routes ,one
through a mile OF two south of Coloma,
and the other through north OF where we
found them, several miles. We gather
ed from the conversation that the prob
abilities are in favor of the northern line.
The worst part of the whole route lie
three or four miles through Hill and Les
lie Townships. The cuts and fills are
heavy and the ground rocky.
The company is evidently in earnest in
the work, for we learned that another
party would o start out from Kansas
City coming this way, to Mr.. Sumner
and his party. IT anything can be judg-
ed from the actions of the engineer and
his party, they mean business, and have
no other work in hand but to get throug
the s.Tater Hill Knobs" by the most
practicable route. MI. Sumner was duly
reticent In answering leading questions,
as we expected him to be. He knew be-
forehand that he was elected for an in
terview to go into print, and of course
was very careful IN what he said. We are
under obligations to HIM tor so grace
fully yielding to the editorial pump, and
also for his Invitation to stay to dinner.
We have never yet had much faith in
the extension of this road to Kansas City,
but the recent arrangement OF the Wa
bash, whereby they run owe the St. L..
X. e. s. n. to Kansas City has awakened
MI. Smith and the directors of the B. q
8. w. to the fact that something must be
done or Chicago will lose a good share
OF the Kansas City trade. Again the c.,
B. & q. has a controlling interest IN the
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe, which is
OF no value whatever unless they can
make some connection with their road
IN Iowa. Putting '.this and that" to-
gether, we prophecy that some arrange
ment will be made between the B. &
S. w. and the c., b. & Q. roads. where
by the interest OF the c.. B. y q. in the
A, T. & 8. can be made available. To
do this all hands will unite in building
a trunk line from Laclede to Kansas City.
We hope therefore that they will take the
northern route through the county, 60
ing as tar from Carrollton as possible,
unless they can be induced to come d.
rectly here: That will be a matter to
be considered in. due time.
Our partner, Brother Trotter, is under
obligations to Mr.. Isom for a good din
ner for himself and team. We lunched
in the woods with the surveying party,
and when we got back we found Cal. in
clover, talking to pretty girls and hav-
ing a good time generally. -[Carrollton
Record, July :.