Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1885-10-31
THE O, B. & Q. RAILROAD.


commenting on an article from the
Higginsville Advance, said:
The first thing that will strike the
reader in the above article, Is, what
would be the necessity Of Offering IN
ducements at all, Sin case the road Is
built?" as the Advance puts it. The
balance of the article, however. IS con-
sistent with the first paragraph.
What are the facts in the case! The
Chicago, Burlington u Quincy railroad
company having bought the Burlington
" Southwestern franchise, have built
the road to CarrOllton. They have
sipnitied an intention to extend the
road to Ia. southwest, making Fort
Scott, Kansas. an objective point.
There are two towns on the Missouri
river, Lexington and Waverly ,endeav-
oring to secure the building of rail-
road bridge at the respective points
mentioned. The distance is practically
the same to Fort Scott, whether the
road runs by Lexington and Odessa, or
by Waverly and Higginsville, by "air-
line" measurement. Waverly is not
on an air line from CarrOltOn to Hig-
einsville, but is about six miles east,
while the road at Higginsville would
he twelve miles south of what it would
he mt Lexington, it is at the same time
eight miles cast of Lexington and OFF
the direction it would have to go to
yet TO Fort Scott. So, counting the dis
tance that would be lost by way of
Wayerly, the distance on an air line is
about as near the same as a measure
4 ment by scale of miles can determine
, nothing short of the surveyors chain
l will determine the exac. difference on
! straight line.
s Right here we wish to say, that an
d air line on either route is an absurdity;
2 and admitting that as straight road
=? could be built one line as the other, 1T
does not follow by any means that as
cheap grade could be found on one
II line as the other. We presume there
u would be very little, if any, difference
IT i'm the grade of two lines to the river
z from Carrollton. Now,as to the bridge.
II So far as tests have been made by
'e soundings and borings made into the
Y, sand and rock, to say the very least,
s. Wayerly has no advantage over Lex
0, ington as to the feasibility OF construct
" ing a bridge. But how does the matter
a stand as to grade to the south line OF
e LAFAYETTE county, and for Is or 20 miles
l. further, if the road should pass by
IN Pleasant Hill? But say to the south
p line OF the county, as we have no
H. means of determining whether the road
ne if built, will pass through Holden Oh
ID Pleasant Hill, From Lexington south
Sc we have a rOad5ed already graded, that
IA a comparatively small expenditure viii
or place i'm first-class condition except the
l four miles of the old rOadbed occupied
OF by the G.. & A. road; that part wOult
" require new grade. II the rOat
he should run by Holden, about miles o
no new roadbed would have to be con
OF structed to reach the north line of John
Oh son county; if by Pleasant hill, abou
e. five miles of new bed would be re
ly: quired to reach the south line OF Lafay
he elite county. How does the matter Oi
ire the other hand stand? From WaverlN
re- to the south line OF the county not
NJ scraperful of dirt has been removed
is, and the line crossing the tributaries
re, Tabo and Davis creeks lat right angles
he would make that part of the road ex
er- ceedingly rough and expensive +
a build; how much more so would b
'ur presumption in us to say, as nothin
ng but practical survey of the two route
an can determine.
it We will further admit that the right
OF of way on each route would be pre-
tep sentcd gratuitously to the G., Il. IL {,
ose How then does the case stand? Th
are road by coming to Lexington woul
our come to a town with nearly three time
ion the population OF Higginsvillc, an
hes would pass through Odessa with POI
in- ulation bnt little inferior in numbers
Is Iligoinsville; and leaving out the Goa
ent Odessa ships about double the amour
for of grain and stock according to I'll
ute last estimate we saw of the number {
ard cars used for that purpose at cac
ool point.
ing But, combining Odessa with Lexin.
hat ton and Waverly with Iigginsville, "
the believe it would be safe TO say that IL
Lexington and Odessa route would a
| | ford double the traffic for railroad
ose that afforded by the Waverly and His
1 of ginsville route.
en- Then. if cheapness in construction
,et- and the largest amount IN traffic, all
les a route equally as near Will cut an
av- figure in the location OF the y. ID ~
| be extension, Lexington and Odessa hay
and nothing to fear III the contest.
nd There is another and very impo
nlv taut point to be considered. The T..
he IL @. company made during the sun
,cnt mer frequent surveys pointing towa
,htv Kansas CITY. 1t is by no means ce
rtl- tain that they have abandoned the id,
or, of going to Kansas City; indeed, v
Il ~ think il most certain that they will .
him to that place; and whether they go {
.iis the north side of the river to get thel
, hc ,,, come to the south side, Lexingt'
ing; would be their crossing point in ca
ari- tnrv extend their road to the sout
wcsi. We have reasons for beiievi
rove that they did at one time not long a
and entertain the idea of both going
mi Kansas City, and building their ro
ture to the southwest by way of LeXingtt
ana. In conclusion we say to our neis
wing bors OF HlgglhsVlile' &c. '.c inao
ton. You can; odessa proposes 'o oo
wing same thing. IL Is Tree hSh''
epu- rorD m pprrrv WON'T
here THE UANdhh VI NIL IL WOmh