Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1885-04-11
THE MISSOURI PACIFIC RAILROAD.

what sort of a pig pen the Lexing-
ton depot was, and gave some reasons
WHY a new one should be built. When
the weather got so cold that no build
ing could we'll be done it let up for a
while, but now is a good time to renew
a discussion of the subject. If the rail-
road company were under no pecunlary
obligations to Lexington it might put
it of with repairing the present depot
and making decent arrangements for
the ladies, but as 1t is it will fall short
of its duty unless it shall give us q new,
modern, we'll appointed depot, fur
nished with ladies' and gentlemen's
waiting rooms, and toilet rooms sup
piled with running water. These
things are no longer deemed to
be luxuries in towns supplied with
waterworks, but necessities. Lexlng-
ton does a good part by the Missouri
Pacific railroad. 1t ships nearly all Of
its freights over it despite the fact that
it might send q large portion of them
by the river during the spring, sum-
mer and autumn months it does q large
coal trade, in the company and other
mines; it gives the road more passen-
ger business than any other town, ex-
cept Sedalia, between Kansas City and
St. Louis, and it would give II. more If
1t would compete in prices and accom-
mediation, with the Chicago u Alton
railroad. Last fall, representing the
people here, the writer went to Jeffer-
son City, and obtained IN order from
| the railroad commissioners placing the
| Missouri Pacific from Sedalia to Kan
sas City, by way of Lexington, in class
A, thus reducing their legal charge
for passengers to 8 instead of 4 cents
per mile. The company refused to
obey this order of the commissioners
which was, it seems to US, a very reas-
enable one, as a road which starts a
train in St. Louis for Atchison can
scarcely be considered a branch road
and not through or trunk line. The
company can hardly claim that it is
like all elephant in that it can have
only one trunk.
These demands on the part of Lex
ington are not unreasonable, or no stiie
to the road. On the contrary, both
things would innure to the benefit OF
the road.
The company got a valuable consid'
Grafton from our citizens to aid it in
making its connection here, one of the
diclinctly understood results of which
was to be a new depot here. There
fore justice requires that 1t should
build the depot without delay. The
depot is needed, anyhow, and if no
such obligation existed it should be,
given us in simple justice to the
company itself and to its patrons.
As to the reduction in fare there can
be no doubt that it would innure to the
benefit of the road. 1t is an. almost
universal experience in railroad, tele-
graph and postal matters, that reason.
able reductions of tariff brings increas
ed patronage and correspondingly in'
creased profits; but this 10 not the chiel
reason why the road would be benefit
ed by a reduction. Its present policy
seems to be az wise as that of the
ostrich which thinks itself hidden when
only its head is concealed. Even if il
ignores the fact, it il none the less true
that in this section the Chicago 3 Altor
railroad runs parallel with tho Missouri
: Pacific; that its trains are better
| equipped, and that its charges are q
D per cent. less. These roads pas
through one of the best sections fol
, travel in the world-peopled with ricl
farmers, and prosperous people in al
s walks of life.
If Mr.. Hoxie will take a ride owe
the Chicago & Alton from Marshall t.
Kansas City, and see the crowds whicl
get on and off at every depot, he viii
acquire a better idea than he has nov
of the value of the local travel in thi
. section. Lexington is interested j
y having as much OF this travel as possi
:, BILE pass over the Missouri Pacific rail
rord and through her limits. Henc
her concern with the matter is a nat
IT ural and proper one. Not only doe
e the Missouri Pacific by its higher rate
le for travel pursue a policy which drive
every person who can at all do 50
6 travel by the Chicago & Alton, but i
:, m~iserably bad track from above hel
= to Sedalia, has the same tendenc,
An old adage will apply as well to
railroad as to an individual, aud "
lie may be permitted to say, that anythir
n, that 10 worth doing at all Is wort
a. doing well. 1t can hardly be said |
anybody that the line of road upo
49, which this city is depende
:, is managed we'll. All that we ask
that it be made a first class Americ'
railroad. 1t would not take a gre
or unreasonable expenditure to
%, this. The importance of the road ca
1se not be measured by the busine
lid which 1t does under Its present conc
lie tions; but III one respect the gre
value of the road was demonstrat
last week, when the entire traffic of t
-, company, east and west, had to pc
IN over its rails, with passengers on o.
-, train paying 8 ents a mile, while
another train they were compelled
pay 4.
in There Is a great deal more to be ST
OF upon the subject than q be compre
lis, ed within the limits of a newspaI
RI article. Could not Mr.. Hoxie appoi
a time to meet our business men a
nd talk the matter over2
a Riel's rebellion is lost sight Of
or more portentioas clouds, but
oil. doughty Canadian is cutting a W!
swath, has set up a bran new Cover
ment and placed himself at the head
it. He will last about as long
'n' Barrios did when the low country +
{ lows get on his trail which will be il
week or two.
III. ---
The White Star Line ship Germa
1911 ~k~.-z - n Oh