Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1885-12-12
THE BRIDGE AND THE NEW RAIL-
ROAD.

THE BRIDGE AND THE NEW RAIL-
ROAD.
In the two interviews recently held
with Mr.. 7. j. Potter. first vice-presi-
dentof the c., BE- . railroad, that gen.
tleinsn asserted that the building OF a
bridge across the Missouri river was
the greatest impeachment in the way Of
tue extension of that road southwest.
In al Interview with the attorney Of
the st. Joseph s. st. Louis railway it
was ascertained that the owners of that
road were much dissatisfied with the
way their road was being treated by
the Wabash; that they seriously con-
templated taking it into their own con-
troll; and that in that event they would
greatly desire to operate it from st.
Joseph directly into Lexington. A
letter was then received here from the
president of that road, Mr.. VIM. F.
Nisbet, of New York, in which that
gentleman, among other things, said,
Gin regard to a bridge at your city,
we feel deeply interested in such a
matter. 1t would be a very desirable
thing for US to have q bridge there,
and of ~incalculable benefit to your city.
" Our board will meet n
week from to day" MI. Nisbet asked
particularly for all information in our
possession for use at that directors
meeting.
At a mass meeting of citizens of
Lexington the writer was requested
to attend the meeting of the board of
directors Of the St. Joseph & St. Louis
railroad, in New York City, Tuesday,
December l, which he did. There
was a full attendance OF the members
of the board, and he was received and
given an attentive hearing. Numer-
GUS questions we're asked by the gen.
tlemen present, regarding what had
already passed between u people and
the c., B. & Q. railway company; the
cost of a bridge; the probable business,
etc. The result of this meeting was,
that the gentlemen promised that their
board should be represented at the
conference to be held here in January
with Mr.. Potter and other officers of
the c., B. 4 9.
The writer spent almost the entire
day, Thursday, with Mr.. Nisbet, IN
discussing the bridge question as it
would effect the st. Joseph & St. Louis
railroad. 1t Is not necessary here to
enter into details as to the condition of
the St. Joseph road. 1t is enough for
our purpose to know that it is out of
debt and sbundantly able to do its part
toward building a bridge. Several OF
its directors are individually able to do
so. They are anxious to make their
road a paying n 1t has been so in
the past. It can be made ever more so
in the future by an active policy, with
able and honest management. The
best manager of property, as a rule,
IL its owner. These views MIR. Nisbet
entertains. But the present owners
are so as investors; and to get them to
take upon themselves the burden of
management will require conviction
Of probable profits. The hopeful
for us, is, that the road cannot
do worse than it has been doing, and
some change must be made.
There are several propositions under !.
consideration, but none of them r
thought, by those in interest with
we have conversed, so favorable
az direct management Of the road.
The president and other gentlemen in
as to the feasibility of extend
ing the road south to the C. g. A. This,
they believe, will be desirable if they
the Missouri river.
Of course the opponents of this
will say at once, go, it will
not pay" Have they investigated it?
The fact is, that there is every reason to
that it will pay, and pay
well. There is no reason why
The road, even from st. Joseph to the
Junction, should not pay. 1t t~raverses
. beautiful, fertile and thickly settled
country, and with the connections at
he Junction, at Lathrop and at Platts-
burg, should do q good passenger as
we'll as freight business. Extend the
Dad to Lexington. thence to the C.&A.,
he c., B. & Q. joining it here and
on to Odessa and south; then
ook at the situation. First, we be-
ieve, firmly, that a coal business of
twenty-five to thirty-ive a loads per
lay could easily be developed here,
without injury to but rather with BEN
fit to the Richmond mines, which are
low comparatively idle, not because
II lack of demand but because of ex-
freights. The net profit on the
minimum amount of the coal business
would more than pay the roads annual
upon Its share of the cost OF
he bridge. The road then would
ave as feeders, for passengers to st.
all the country lying down the
dissouri Pacific, the NJ. X, s T. as far
$ Clinton, and q large portion of the
). & A. in this vicinity. It would
,lso have the c., B. s. q. at this point;
he Hannibal q st. Joseph at Lathrop,
md the Rock Island at Plattsburg.
With a quick and certain connection,
yer q bridge, with the Missouri
'acihc. this is the natural route for
passengers from st. Louis and Jeffer-
on City to St. Joseph. 1t is thirty
i've miles shorter, and by reason of the
freaks and stops at Kansas City nearly
wo hours quicker than gong by way
# Kansas City. Properly conducted
would do an immense passenger bus
ness. 1t does some now and it is not
railroad at all, but the mere pretense
If me-. The Missouri Pacific couldn't
its time table fast enough to
it from msking close connec-
ions with its trains here: and if it did
10 1t would get the passengers. Anyone
Tho will take the trouble to look at q
nap will see that what we say is true.
The only danger to US, who