Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1885-07-04
THE SHORT LINE.
From the st. Louis Republican, July 81

lFrOm Inc 81. LOUIS fepuDlicau, JUL 81
A meeting of merchants and capital
lists was held in the reading-room Of
the Merchants Exchange yesterday
afternoon to take action in regard tC
the proposed short route from St. Louis
to Kansas City. The road was repre-
sented by r. P. Williams, president
Odin Guitar, vice president; j. H.
Waugh, treasurer, and j. H. Ccrdell
secretary. The meeting was called tc
order at l O'Clock with Mayor Francis
as temporary chairman. Seth w
Cobb was elected chairman, and
George H. Morgan, secretary. Mr..
Cobb on taking the chair spoke of the
project, its Importance and the benefit
accruing to the state in the event of its
early construction. Gen Guitar OF
Boone county was introduced and pre-.
sented the cause of the new route in
clear and able manner He thought
that if St. Louis gave more encourage.
ment to new railroad projects it would
rebound to the benefit Ofthe city and
her merchants. The interior counties
should have more railroad connections
with the city, even should the counties
be compelled to proceed without st.
Louis assistance. He unfolded the
plan of the route, which would pass
through ten of the richest counties ofthe
state the taxation of such counties rep
resenting over 1912, 900 900, or IL halt
of the taxable wealth OF the state. Over
One-third of the population would be
tributary to the route of the new road,
which would pass through Il region OF
remarkable fertility. That territory
produced One-third of the wheat crop
and led in the production of corr, hogs,
cattle, sheep, and horses. Mr.. Guitar
passed around a map, exhibiting the
line of the short route, which would
be forty miles shorter than any other
route now running to Kansas City.
He also presented the statistics,
showing the decrease of business in St.
Louis and the consequent increase of
trade in Chicago. The time had come
for Missouri men and Missouri capital
to do something for their state, and the
carrying out of the proposed route
would be an excellent instance OF
Missouri enterprise.
At the close of Mr.. Guitars remarks
his honor, Mayor Francis, was recalled
and stated that st. Louis trade was at
the mercy of the western trunk lines,
and assured the projectors of the new
road of his hearty support.
The following resolutions, offered by
Mayor Francis, were then adopted:
WHEREAS, A closer relation between
st. Louis and the interior of this state
would prove beneficial to both city
and state; and
WHEREAS, There is a large and fer.
tile territory in the central part of
Missouri which has no direct connec-
ton by rail with this city and which
has heretofore been paying tribute to
other and rival cities; and
WHEREAS, There is manifested by
the representative citizens of that sec
ton an active desire to be brought in
to closer relationship with lis by the
construction of an air line railroad
from st. Louis to Kansas City; there
fore, be it
Resolved, By the merchants and
citizens of st. Louis here assembled,
that the projected st. Louis, Kansas
City Short Line railroad has the in
dorsement of this meeting, and merits
the moral and financial aid of St.
Louis as an enterprise which will
greatly benefit u commerce, and in
various ways enchance our material
prosperity.
After the adoption of the resolutions
the meeting adjourned.
AT a meeting of the officers and di-
rectors of the road held in the Planters
house yesterday afternoon, the ques-
ton of appointing a civil engineer was
considered. Numerous applications
were received by the directory from
engineers throughout the state, but
action in that regard was deferred UNI
til July l6, when the corps will be ap-
pointed, and will proceed to the field
at once.
Mr.. Guitar is very enthusiastic over
the encouragement the directors got
from the st. Louis merchants, and will
make renewed efforts to secure the
success of the road. All the officers,
with the exception of Gen. Guitar, are
bankers, engaged in business through
out the state.