Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1885-05-30
A SUBJECT OF IMPORTANCE TO
LEXINGTON.

h1AlN0 11VN'
EDITOR INTELLIGENCER:-The attention
of the people of Lexington and of the coun-
ty is again called to the building of railroads,
and while l have no desire to detract from
the great Importance of the proposed air line
road from st. Louis via. Lexington to KAN
sas City. l wish to direct public attention to
another of great Importance that ought to re-
celve attention at once. l mean the extern
sion of the Burlington and Southwestern
railroad.
This road is completed to Bogard's Mound.
Twelve miles north of Carrollton. In a month
the track will be laid to Carrollton and the
cars running to that point. The route from
Bogard or Carrollton to Kansas CITY, If
adopted, Is not known to the public. I have
ln1or nation thai 1 deem entirely reliable that
until recently 1t was the intention to locate It
on a line north of the river to Kansas CITY.
but that upon the completion of the survey
ana estimates, 1t was ound that the grading
was heavy and the cost of the route yery
great, and that the company Is now consider
Ing the propriety of locating on the route bv
Lexington.
1t is ~well-known that the route from b.
gard directly to Kansas City is through one of
the most broken portions of Western Mis-
souri,. Most of the route Is through a conn.,
Try OF high hills, divided by streams running
across the line of the road, necessitating
neaVy cuts and deep fills, and q large number
ol cosby bridges and culverts. This route.
II adopted, will necessarily be a yery costly
one' ana there Is no surprise when it is stated
that the company has stopped to consider he.
fore adopting it.
New' how would it be on the route by
Lexington? From Carrollton to Lexington.
q distance of more than twenty-five miles, it
would run through the river bottom where
the country is as level as the river, and where
there is not a hill to cut down or a dill to he
made, and only two streams, the Wakands
and Crooked river to be bridged, From Lev.
ington, II the route should be located. tirsr
southwesterly and then west, rs it sbou,d
De- an excellent line of easy grades and cheap
construction can be located to the little Sni,
q Instance Of seven miles. Through the hills
81 Tue snis there are gaps through which The
road could be located with easy grades to
the ridge that divides the waters that flow
INTO the river on the north, and Black w,ta,
on the south. Good grades can be made on
this line to the little Blue, from which y sood
route can be selected into Kansas Civ. This
line can be made at much less cost Than IN.
one on the north side of the river T, 10 tr,a
""use would De required across the river
al this point which would increase the cost
Oh TINS route. But the tolls that would have
70 De paid for crossing the bridge at Kansas
citV on the other route would be saved, and
would not only pay the interest uOon the
cost Of the bridge, but would eventually nsv
the principal.
NOW which would be the best route for tho
business interest of the road. The one Wis
Lexington is greatly superior. The famous
bottom lands from Carrollton to Lexinoton
= unsurpassed for the inexhaustible fertil,.
y anu productiveness of its soil. 1t is thickIy
populated with an industrious and enterpris.
ing CLASS OF farmers, who raise corn and
"heat' cattle, hogs in large quantities for shin
ment. From Lexington to Kansas Citv tho
line would be through one of the finest and
Lnost noted agricultural countries of this far
ialneo region, filled with an active and thrifty
Class Oh farmers. Westwardly from Lexine.
lon 1or ten or twelve miles, there ia an ineY.
naustible supply of coal, which would fnrn-
isn all tnat Inc road would need for fuel, and
also large Quantities for shipment to market.
ine above IL based upon the theory that
Kansas City Is the objective point, and thai
Inc road will terminate there. But # 10 not
tne most important route for the road. or the
one That would be the best for the interests of
Lexington. This road is one in the interest
u chicago. 1t is a part of the Cbicapo
burlington and Quincy system; a comnanv
VI great wealth that is reaching out its arms
10 gather trade from every quarter and pour
IL into the city of Chicago. This COMPANY
mas already by the Hannibal and St. Joe and
cameron branch, q route to Kansss ci,r
connecting them with the system of roads
cehteflng at that place. A route from Cbicsoo
10 tne southwest into Texas on the most al.
rect line would command the most NJ I'll.
trade of that section. Travel and fre,oht u,;u
Always seek the cheapest and most * pediti-
GUS route. Especially is this so of cattle, hogs
ana grain. An examination of the man will
snow that should this road be continued
south from Lexington, through the wastern
Tier OF counties of Missouri into Texas +,
"ould be the shortest and quickest route
from IeXas to Chicago. 1t would at once
command a large portion of the cattle trade
Of Texas as well as tho cattle and hog ,r.ds
OF Missouri. 1t would pass through one If
the nnest agricultural countries of the west
winch is already thicLly populated, and into
"hleh there Is a constant emigration, and at
no distant day will be denseIy filled up bv y
wealthy and prosperous class of farmers
Ihls road would have no competition. AZ If
would be the only line running north and
south in Western Missouri, II nee5s No
iurther statement to satisfy any one that it
would be one of the best patronized and most
important feeders of the c. B. 4 Q. system.
1 have written this as conciselv az 7 .o,Id
with the hope of attracting the attention of
the managers of the road to the route and
calling the attention of the people of Lexing-
ION and the county to this important subject.
Tie benefits this road would be to Lexington
and the county l need not state, as every one
will readily see them. Should this and the
air line be built to Lexington, there is every
reason to believe that there would be Imme-
diately a large addition to its population and
a great increase In its trade. All classes of
property would advance In price and soon
double Its present value, and prosperity and
progress soon spread their wings over us.
1t must be remembered that the route will
probably be located soon, and if an effort is
made to present the great advantages of this
route before those who control the road it
should be done at once. Delay may loose all.
A golden opportunity may be before US.
Will the people look into.this and act at once,
LAFAYETTE.
Railroad Meeting.