The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1880-02-26
RIGHT OF WAY.
A REPLY TO Hon. THOMAS RYAN.

A REPLY TO Hon. THOMAS RYAN.
WICHITA, February rs, 1880.
To the Editor Of tie Eagle:
read with interest the letter of lion.
Thos. Ryan. our member OF Congress.
published in the last EAGLE, concerning
the right OF way for railroads through,
the Indian Territory, which seems in
tended as a reply to letter written b.
me aud published in the Beacon Of Feb
ruary 4,h, ON the same subject
The honorable gentleman betrays a
-ensitiveness altogether unusual in a
Kansas Congressman, not only in behalf
tlemcn styled 1.-THE delegation" who are
supposed to represent the people of our
state in the halls of Congress, and he
seems very much worried about some
thing said, or minated, which he calls
an unnecessary fling" Now all I said
was, in substance, that the obtain NJ
railroad from this locality through the
Territory. SO rs to connect with the rail
road systems of the South, and reach the
Mississippi by Il direct line, was a subject
that deserved more attention Than il
had rereived from our Representatives
in Congress. am willing 10 stand by
that assertion | still believe that if
I"lhe delegation" had bestowed as much
zeal and IN iustry in an honest effort to
obtain the right Of way, rs they have in
matters of less general and more per-
-onal Importance, i. would be a refrc
ton upon their ability and efficiency t"
SAY thar we would not before this have
secured a I'll lroad to the markets of the
South.
am willing to conce,le the superior
wisdom claimed by the honorable gen
tieman. and which HIS superior nppor-
,unies as member of Congress pre-
sumbIy gives him. AMI trust that feel
a becoming sense OF nv unworthiness
in the presence of 80 great parsonage.
aud realize the crushing weight Of his
e. cafhe'i,u diction, when he says: eff
Judge Campbell were in Washington
instead of Kansas" aud again. 81 will
venture to place my judgment sqnarely
against his"
lie writes laborel article to show
that it will be very difficult TO pass any
measure TO permit a railroad to be built
through the Territory. In my ignor-
anre expressed the same opinion in the
Bcacoa letter, and hence the Importance
of united action among all the Friends
of the project. a Southern Congress
man, in sympathy politically with the
majority, goes quietly to work at a
measure as free from objection as any
iha, can be framed on the subject. propo-
sing to grant the right of way for a rail-
road from Arkansas City 10 Fort Smith.
/ the franchise to be controlled by certain
citizens named in the act, residing At
points Immediately interested in the
proposed connection, not representing
capital, bat what is better Cor our pur-
pose. representing population. no lanl
grant. no encroacl,mrnt upon the Indi-
ans. no government subsidy. nothing
bat permission TO pass through the Ter
ritory. b, paving for the right of way.
II ever Il measure was free from the
charge Of joboery, this is certainly one.
And yet the Congressman from the
Third district Of Kansas. whose con-
~titutents are INN 'a~ilrably interested
in this enterprise. is afraid that Iii
would he impossible Ia convince Com
grrss that job is not hidden away in |
il, or rather is not patent upon its face"
lie SAYS further. rs said in my Beuc0s
letter, that 1.-THE opponents of the scheme
to open up tie Territory. viewed with
di>irust any proposition that might
serve rs an enIering-weige to that end"
And We; this Donbi,ng rhomps, instead |
of answering and refuting these "bjec-
ieriions. rs any man of truth and SIM
ceriiy could. inlu-triously rci;erate>
them as his own objections, and instead
of allaying the apprchensions of east
crn philanthropy. he introduces Il BIZ,
under the operation of which the Ter
riiory could be caucFllaied with rail-
roads, ani is urging the committee in
a III, l.,
sweeping provisions. for the iniinitel,
less Objectionable one introduced b.
Hon. Casey Young. of Tennessee.
viii not say. with many. tina, Mr.. Ryan
did this To defeat the project. by load
ing !, down: but do say. and snbmi,
the custom TO the candid ju Ign mt IF
all sensible men. that in vie OF the cir
cu,lisianres the conduct of MIR. Ryan
was ill-advised. un~isc, aud disastrous
TO a project of surprising interest 10
the Arkansas Valley. aud a large sec-
ton of country contiguous thereto.
Mr.. Ryan argues that If so valuable a
franchise IS 10 he given away, il ough;
TO he given TO some one ar more of the
grca, railroad corporations having line.
already constructed. and names three
that are anxious 10 get il, viz: our San
Ia Fe road. the l.. L. 4 &. and the Lit
tic Rock L Fort Sun tn. have no OBJ
lection to giving The franchise. with
proper restrictions, 10 either or all OF
these companies. if it will certainly Sc
cure the building of the road. an'l Con-
yrcss can be induced to do tbs. Bat
Mr. Ryan himself gives the reasons whv
neither of these measures can b. pissed.
The proposition To give one i'll b. OPP
posed by rival interests. and the prnpo-
sition TO give all would aiar.n The s..uii- 4
ment opposed TO eDcroachsnenis upon
the red man. !
Ihave saiii -:ens faith in the Just -. :
" ,a4s sAs' - SsFas = "