The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-01-31
To Our Business Men.

The REFLECTOR does not wish to be
considered an alarmist, but it has the
interests and advancement of Abilene
and Dickinson county at heart, and it
sees great danger in the present lethar-
gy which seems to have taken hold of
our business men.
In the matter of railroads, Abilene's
facilities are very poor. Anything that
will increase the city's transportation
cOnveniences and lower freights should
be looked after and secured. As has
before been stated in these columns,
| this section Of the State will possess a
large and important city, and Abilene's
condition and situation are such that
| her business men can make her pretty
much what they please. 1t is nonsense
to expect the town to grow without eff
fort. and it is nonsense to be afraid of
railroads. If any important line of
road is to traverse this section, Abilene
wants it. Her future prosperity de-
mands it.
In the matter of the proposed B. &
NJ. road, it behoOveS Abilene to be wide
awake. If built, the road will be
northern outlet to Chicago, and its
Importance to our business men in the
cheapening of freight, and to the farmer
in advancing wheat values, is almost in
eStimable. The following extract from
the Salina Herald may be read with in
terest:
a meeting was held in the Office of
Mr.. G. E. Faulkner Tuesday night, at
which a majority of our prominent mer-
chants and business men were present,
to consider the proposition Of the Bur
lingtOn and Missouri River Company in
relation to the extension of the Chicago,
Iowa and Kansas Railroad to Salina. y
committee of ten was appointed to so
| licit subscriptions to purchase the right
of way. 1t was reported by committee
who last week visited Ottawa County
for the purpose, that a bond had been
signed by fifteen of the most response
bic business men of Minneapolis guar
anteeing the right of way through OF
tawa. The prospect for the immediate
construction of this Northern outlet is
very encouraging.
And this from the Minneapolis Mes
senger:
The b. & NJ. railroad is and has been
the absorbing subject for the last few
days. The people are interested and
moving in the matter of securing the
right of way through the county free
of cost to the Company. This is all the
Company requires of each county
through which it passes. This right OF
way must be guaranteed to the COM
pany by good and responsible men in
the shape of a bond. Many liberal,
public spirited citizens in the several
townships stand ready and willing to
donate the right of way. This enter
prising spirit is cOmmendable. The
work of securing the right Of way, and
guaranteeing to the company, should
not be left to a few citizens, when all
are more or less interested III the matter.
| SelfiShneSS should stand aside for the
| time being.
If the b. & NJ. road is built, and Sa-
lima gets it, that city will naturally be
the focus of all roads hereafter built
through this section. There is no use
to disguise this fact. But properly, the
road should run through Clay and Dick
inson counties. the two best in the
State. Should the immense resources
and business of the two counties be
brought to the notice of the managers
of the road, and the right of way be
given, there would be no difficulty in
securing the road. With this road,
and connection with the N. X. & T.,
Abilene's future would be assured.
The city's freight would be cheapened
10y competition, the county's farm pro-
ducts would be higher and a central po-
sition would be gained.
Let our business men make some or
ganized effort. The opportunity is yet
theirs, but for how long?