Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1882-09-23
THE FORT SCOTT; ST. louis & OIL
OAGO RAILROAD.

maze OI our peOPiC W
be complied with so readily tnat
especially strong appeal would nave
20 be made by us upon the people. IL
seems that in this we sreto be disappolnt-
ed. The committees assure us that
they are meeting with difficulties n
with some encouragement. 1t Is al
most Incredible that this should De so'
but still so it is.
Already the mere agitation oil inc
subject aud the l:berslity and prompt
ness with which some Of our citizens
acted, has enhanced very materially the
value OF farming lands on the intended
line OF road. This is 10 haP'hazard
statement, but is based on the assur-
ance OF our real estate men, and eviden-
ced to them by actual sales at prices
advanced since this subject was entered
upon.
We cannot for a moment doubt that
the necessary sum can be raised by
again calling upon the men who have
| sub s~cribed-some thirty thousand dol
lars have been secured but is it fair
| when 80 many others are benefited that
these should have their generosity
and public spirit imposed upon in order
t, spare their more sluggish aud less
patriotic neighhors? Every aote Of
land in the vfcinity Of the road %ih be
greatly benefited; then is 1t not the duty
OF the owners. thereof to assist in its
construction 1t is easy to shlrk duty.
1t is easy to say, 20, l need not help
my neighbors will do what is required"
but what must be the feeling of the
citizen who can thus content himself te
reap where others SOW
In glancing over the subscription
many names seen to commend, buI
while several there are conspicuous fol
their enterprise. there are a number o
} prominent names which are just al
conspicuous by their absence. This il
all wrong. Everybody should help
then the burden would be light. Thos'
who are largely benefited should sub
scribe in proportion; those who ar
nenefi ed in q less degree as literally a
they can.
1t the citizens Of Lexington hesitat
/ now, in this emergency. they should b.
| irretrievably lost. They will deserv
. no better tato. The 10 lily OF inaction i
' the matter is so apparent that it need
no demonstration. The property of tn
city is assessed at about = IHilli"l
! dollars. There is no earthly doubt tina
the building of the road would enhanc
the value of that property 90 per cen
or 100000. 1t would do lar more
The loss of the road would lust a
certainly d~epreeiate the value OF tn
$ properly 20 per cent. or 500, 900. S
t here is a difference in favor Of s%ecurinI
the road, 10 the property owners of th
8 city of Lexington alone. Of $4O0, 900. an
D Vet they ial:er and tumble and mu NIB
+ and grumble at raising $50, 900. 1t
n simply discouraging to the men VII
y haye given their time and spent the
money to bring success to the projec
and is Injurious to the place. Vine
v one half the amount was raised in tw
e hours the very vim OF the thing inspire
J confidence in the town, just as tn
u laygard lsttsr.end vi the subscriptio
IL inspires the reverse. "God helps the
e who help themselves is an old adae
and a true one. Its reverse Is n O lei
. true. though o formulated into a Say
and we may fairly sprmise that whit
" people cease to help themselves tn
: they are about ready to leld themselv'
u up to the satan OF sloth and inditfeIe enc
y These are not days for slow coache
they are just the reverse and u"le
we want to be distanced in the race '
must be up and dong. 1t will not
to pass by present opportunities 10 q
, der to await upon others which ha'
not and may v present tier
ot selves. This is the sheeFest folly. T
&c right course is to do with all our enerl
!. the thing We have in hand, then '
If shall acquire the habit OF alertu.s IS, u
,c will always be found ready to fme
ot emergencies. DIVIDED counsefs "
~ only lead to disaster. Therefofe let,
n. all work promptly together forE
,e object we hsVe pow presented to uf.
n. There should hays bean nj diaifu
as to the ~right-oi-way, butt thsrA
Apopt one third of the distance rethai
10 unsecured and pnpromised. The {
Is lection is that those who give it the
OF by DO more than their nsighbors. a
n that this is not fair. If it was a mat
IN of general taxation this objection wot
Is be a good one, but It is not. II i.
IL demand upon the public spirit of Ct
nj zens which in the very nature OF
re case must bear q little more heav
lth upon some persons than upon othe
OK This cannot be avoided. and when
Isl demand comes responsibility cannot
to evaded by saying that ones neigh
as should have given too. The road
re doubt does damage some persons,
"a the benefit will In every case outwe
the injury. Beside. If commission
must DO appointed by the court u
". will only award the value Of the Ia
,ce and this will be but nominal dana
Compared with what some pers
liza. think they should have. Would it Z
the therefore, be better to make2a virtue
ion n. cessity. and by voluntarily giving
bis right-of way receive the praise Sat
of than the c-nsure OF ones NpeighbS
3" More than this, in demandingspaym
it's for the passage of the road it should
di. remembered that il is not made Oh.
.ss. railroad company. but of the people
and the line, who are expected to secure
we beside raising a specified sum of mol
has We have good reason to belle
Ca from careful inquiry In the pre-
90 quarter, that Judge Waters can
to will build the road il The people will
ess what he asks OF them. When compl
there need be no sort OF fear that it
ed not be operated by a strong and CT
for BILE trunk line road. 1t cannot
The operated to Lexington without beir
per powerful attraction to a connec
ina from the north. That connection m
lille Il bridge, and railroad communica
lave Tor our beautiful little city aecon'
lger lew places in the state. 1t means