Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1885-12-05
SOMETHING ABOUT RAILROADS.

EDITOR METEOROLOGICAL the Que5-
ton of the c., b. Il Q. and its extension from
Carrollton south OF the Missouri river via
Waverly and Higginsville or via Lexington
and Odessa seems to be one of general in
terest to our people. 1 thought q few rea-
sons why it should aud no doubt will cross
the river at Lexington, would be. acceptable
to yourself and readers.
Crossing at Waverly, a place of no i'm
portance, and only seven miles from Black
burn, a point on the G. u A., and running on
a parallel line closing up as 1t goes forward to
Higginsville. thus leaving a country and its
business to be divided not over six miles
wide and Missouri river on the north side OF
it to cut down its trade in addition to the
| C. s. A. r. r.
1t is about Is miles from Waverly to Hig-
ginsville, and even at Il cost of $4,000 per
mile, a very low estimate for road bed, cul.
verts and rock work for bridges. Admitting
that this road passes through a country un-
surpassed, thence going southwest from Hig-
ginsville, having the Mo. Pacific railway on
the east and the C. Il A. railway on the west
for the first eight miles south, thus
dividing up that much more country for
which these roads will contend.
On the other hand, via Lexington, this
road will run through a place Of some con-
siderable business, and get the benefit Ct a
road bed some seventeen miles, to Odessa,
that less than 81 200 per mile will put in
good condition; this at same cost at which we
placed road bed from Waverly to Higgins
vile at $40, 900 per mile or $3.50, 900 for the
Is miles, would make II miles at $40. 900 per
mile gives US $1,000 less $1,000 per mile for
repairs leaves S153 900. You rln through q
country equal to any and second to none,
crossing the Mo. Pacific at LIE xington and c.
s. A. at Odessa, not running parallel with
another road on one side and the river on
the other.
Again seemingly now there Is a fair chance
that the st. Louis l. st. 10. r. B., 81 miles
long, will d~isconnect itself with the Wabash,
st. Louis 3 Pacific railway, which last named
road has had all this roads local business for
the past ten years, and join the c., B., & @.
railway in bridging the river at Lexington,
and running into this city and form close
business relations with the c., B. h G.,
giving the c., B. l. G. all its local travel to
Chicago. connecting as 1t does at st.
Joseph, crossing this road at Lathrop and
connecting as it will at Lexington, thereby
this would be q consideration In connection
with road bed to Odessa that could not pos
sibly be overcome by any other route. You
would ask in what way would it pay the St.
Joseph & St.LOuis railroad to help bridge the
river at Lexington and run into this city.
My answer would be, take coal alone, and at
rates of freight now paid the Mo. Pacific to
Kansas City per car of 20 tons, 1000 pounds
per ton, SIS. and even u trade of 20 cars per
day would make 1900 per day ,s9, 900 q month
or $l0S,ooO per year, being 10 per cent.
interest on 81 $50 900; this'of itself would pay
the cost Of a bridge In 4 years. Now, Presi-
dentPotter says the bridge is the main thing in
the way; this being brought about would not
only, as you see, give him q road bed worth
S15S 600, but a local road and its Chicago
business 81 miles in length, but a road who
Is willing to take half the stock in the bridge,
or il the c., B. d Q. will cross on 1t anil
agree on rates, say they will build the bridge.
So much for the 20 cars of coal at rates of
freight named; increase the number of cars
and you increase the amount received. At
Lexington this road will connect with the
c., B. q O., and to all points it may run
through south, and open up to the merchants
of st. Joseph q trade and country through
which that road runs, friendly to her inter-
est, in both passengers and freight. Again
there will be no inconslderib able business done
via Lexington in way OF both passenger and
freight to SedalIa and even on the NJ. X. &
as far south as Clinton andAppleton, from the
fact it would be some % or 80 miles nearer
via Lexington than via Kansas City, to St.
Joseph, to that extent, making rates less in
both passengers and freight. Again at Hig-
ginsville for local points on C. Il A. R. r.
From all this you will see there is no little
business to be built up by the st. Joseph &
st. Louis r. Il. running into Lexington, but
may we not hope that it too will make a move
southwark, and taking facts as presented any
one can see that there is an identity of interest
between the st. Joseph 4 St. Louis and c.,
B. Il @. R.. R., that I can but believe if The
W parties at interest are brought together,
will end in the desired end being brought
about, 4. e., the c., B. Il Q. and the St.
Joseph Il st. Louis Company, a bridge
Jointly built over the Missouri river into
Lexington.
Now, Mr.. Editor, in conclusion, let me
say as to Lexington's coal interest ir general;
there are 100, 900 acres, and easy OF
sccess for mining purposes, in first hands,
excepting some 900 acres now owned by the
Lexington Coal Company, j. C. McGrew and
others. This coal is shipped to Kansas CITY
and Wyandotte along the Mo. Pacific extenu
sion to Omaha, and from Atohlson west to
the terminus of the Central Branch, and east
Of here to Sedalia, and both east and west
from there. Truly, LIGHT AHEAD,