The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1879-05-08
For the EAGLE.
The Railroad Meeting In Illinois
Township.

! For the EAGLE.
The Railroad Meeting In Illinois
Township.
A railroad meeting in which the great
est degree of interest was manifested in
the building of the Oswego branch of
St. Louis & San Francisco railroad,
which said branch, under the present
management Of said road, win be but
an extension of its main line, and in
the voting of bonds to aid its construc-
ton through this county to its west side,
was held at the Slower and Sackett school
house in Illinois township, on Thursday
evening, May LIST, and was very largely
attended. The citizens of Illinois town.
ship were there almost en- masse, as
well as many representative men from
Alton and Minnesota townships.
Mr.Lyman, of Alton, who was elected
president Of the meeting, introduced
Capt. White, Of the Beacon, as the
speaker Of the evening. Capt. White
addressed the meeting at some length,
illustrating in forcible and logical
manner the benefits the people Of this
county would enjoy from the building
of railroad through its territory, Civ
ing it direct communication by main
line with eastern markets, particularly
by our connection, through main line,
with st. Louis and the great trunk lines
centering there, and thence running
northeast and east to every commercial
point of importance on the great lakes
and the Atlantic seaboard that it would
give us through line to the Mississippi
river, and by that means give us com
mun;cation with water transportation
upon which the corn and wheat of this
county could be conveyed to Liverpool
via New Orleans, for less than it now
costs us to convey it to New York. He
stated that he was reliably informed
that corn was being shipped from st.
Louis to New CLEANS on barges for six
cents per hundred, and he pointed out
how direct communication with that
great river, which, with the improve
ments that the governments is making
on it, will be capable of floating the
commerce of the world would benefit
this country, that it cost no more to
ship grain from New Orleans to Liver
pool than from New York to Liverpool.
He then referred to the coal fields this
road would run through, and stated
that it would certainly reduce the price
of coal in this country from three and a
half to four dollars per ton, and showed
how the taxes raised on the property of
the company in this cOunty-the road
bed and rolling stock-and reduced
freights would make the bonds really
no burden at all. His address was lis
tened to with earnest attention and sat
isficd all that this road was backed by
reliable men whose financial ability was
unquestioncd that it was road in
duced to come into this county by
the farmers themselves, and that it
was no adventure starting from no.
where and going nowhere with no OBJ
ject in view but to swindle the people.
Sample Moore, farmer of Minnesota
township, was then called by the audi
ence. Mr.. Moore is very interesting
speaker and he entertained the audience
for some time by given them history
Of how the farmers conveyed their pro-
duce to the markets before there was
any railroads in the United States haul
ing their wheat two and three hundred
miles and selling it for thirty cents per
bushcl, and driving hogs the same dis
lance and selling them for cent and
cent and half per pound. He stated
that he had lived in Illinois and Iowa
and had seen in those States aid voted
by counties to assist in building roads
in the manner in which it is proposed to
aid this road, and that the people had
been benefited by il every time, their
lands had increased in value and were
of ready sale on account Of these roads,
if they desired to sell them. He said
if the proposition was to the farmers Of
Illinois, Iowa and other States who had
assisted in building their railroads, and
were now at this time helping to pay
for them, to have them taken up and the
taxes returned to them which they had
paid to assist in their construction that
they would consider the proposition alb
surd He was for the bonds strong, land
thought Minnesota township was for
them five to one.
Mr.. Phillips, of Minnesota, was called
out. but excused himself on account Of
the lateness of the hour, and the use
lessness of talking TO men who were all
in favor of the proposition. He would
go for the bonds.
Mr.. Sackett said the trustee had cam
vassed the township and that the bonds
would be voted without doubt.
Mr.. Joseph Stover called for rising
vote to test the sense of the meeting,
and upon call of the President the vote
was unanimous tor the bonds, after
which the meeting adjourned all feeling
satisfied that it was business invest
ment to vote for the bonds, and one
which would bring good returns in
short ti,pa