Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1881-12-29
Kansas Railroads,


Kansas has furnished field of gold
en- opportunity for railroads. Lying
directly in the path of rans-continent-
al commerce, her boundaries have been
crossed and recrossed by various great
lines along which prosperous commu.
mites have sprung up and by which
many portions of the state not natur-
ally inviting, have been suddenly. even
prematurely, developed. Stimulated
by competition, and the tempting local
subsidies offered, branch lines have
been built in every direction until all
the older portions are well supplied
with outlets for their surplus products.
and in many instances these facilities
have gone far ahead of the actual
necessities of business. 1t may truth
fully be stated that hundreds of miles
OF railroads have been built in that
state for purely speculative purposes
n fictitious demand is created. local
JealousleS are aroused; furore is ex-
cited, and under the spur of these in
huenceS bonds are voted and the lines
built. Disappointment as to results
follows, and the people thus victimized
naturally become disguised, and not
unfrequently turn to the other extreme
of opposing railroads altogether. Rail-
roads are good things, but it is possible
to pay too dear for the whistle. The
people upon whom the burden of their
construction and support falls, should
discriminate closely between an actual
and suggestions necessity for their
existence, and in Analysing the motives
OF the parties who ask aid To build
them, look the facts squarely in the
face. 1t must be apparent to every
careful observer that in the end these
connecting links will be absorbed by
one or another of the trunk lines. end
competition, the prime object in their
construction, prevented. 1t is un-
necessary to go into details, but in
stances will readily occur to the reader
where towns and counties in our sister
state have been grievously disappointed.
and while having roads are without
composition or facilities, and with dis
tressingly long tax rolls.
We have written a volume, first and
last, to encourage railroad building in
Kansas, but have always striven to
advise her people for their best inter
ests. The history of railroad building
in that state is phenomenal. Let us
look at the figures. In 1864, Kansas
had forty miles of road within her Dor
ders; in 1866, 240 miles; in 1868. Gas
miles; in 1870, she had 1901 miles: in
1872 the mileage had increased to / :
100 and in 1880 to 5000 miles. The
eastern half of the state is gridironed
with roads, and the localities must be
rare indeed that are beyond the sound
Of the locomotive whistle. These
roads have almost invariably received
local subsidies, and in many instances.
as we have said, have been built bv
spectators solely for this object. Has
not the time come to call halt? The
aggregate Indebtedness incurred by the
people in building these roads. is AN
enormous sum, and without disparap
ing the benefits of the roads, it may be
said they are nowhere near commensu-
rate with the outlay. 1t seems to us
that a law should be passed to pro-
hlbit the voting of bonds to roads in
the future. If the necessity for road
is imperative the sagacious companies
that are scanning every rich field in
the state will not be slow to see il.
and II such a necessity does not exist
but 1t is proposed to build the
road anyhow, let the burden rest upon
the men who undertake it-let those
who dance pay the fiddler.
We have been led to these remarks
by seeing the reckless manner in which
bonds are being voted to railroads in
Kansas, and roads that cannot paw ex.
penses when they are built, much less
enrich the people who burden them
selves and their posterity to get them.
We do not say that some of the roads
yet to be built in Kansas, will not be
profitable investments, but these come
In the natural order of business; the
law of demand and supply viii settle
them; and the others that are proposed
simply for the purpose of enriching
schemers and adventures, should 90
70 the vale. The people of Kansas
have had their full share of troubles.
and now that the sun Of prosperity is
shining full upon them, it may be well
TO take counsel Of fear and 90 slow.