The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-12-10
Shall We Vote Bonds?

The only question with the people of
this county is, will the Omaha, Abilene
& Wichita, Railroad, if built through
this county by virtue Of the electors
voting said Railway bonds to the
amount of S150,000, due twenty years
hence, bearing interest at the rate Of
six per cent per annum, pay us or not?
VIII we derive that much benefit from
the road if built? No one can blame
the taxpayers for wanting to thoroughly
understand what they can expect OF
what benefits they can derive before
voting additional tax upon themselves,
and then the question arises will they
have any more tax to pay or not if the
bonds should carry. There has been
arguments advanced in favor Of voting
said bonds and against that were I'M
reasonable on both sides; it is queS-
ton that ought not to appeal to mems
passions or prejudiceS. If the road is
built running nearly direct both north
and south through the county there is
not farmer i'll this county but can
drive his stock or haul his grain to
some point on the road and return home
the same day. The county is twenty
four miles wide south of the river. and
twenty-five miles wide north Of the
river. Some have claimed that the
farmers ought not to vote bonds for the
sake of helping Abilene. Now if it is
benefit to Abilene or any other point
along the line of road is that not an
argument in favor of voting said bonds?
1t makes no difference to the mer-
chants of Abilene OF any other town in
our county what the rates of freight are
provided that there is no town near
that has better rates than they have.
1t is the farmer that pays this extra
freight, not only on the goods and
farming utensils, coal, lumber &C., but
also on all the grain, stock, &C.. that he
may raise, and is shipped out of the
various stations. If man is shipping
live stock from the Abilene market he
figures on the supposed shrinkage,
yardage, commission and feed bill in |
Kansas City, then adds thirty-fve dol |
lars for the car, and makes his offer to |
the farmer accordingly. Itwould make |
no difference to the shipper whether |
that car cost him twenty or fifty dol |
lars, but it would make a difference to |
chants, grain buyers, lumber yards, &c.
No farmer should take into considera-
ton the benefits of any particular town.
but instead of looking at the building
up of this town or that, will it benefit |
him. We have large county and be-
lieve there is room for several good /
towns, and no petty jealousy should
arise among us. The claim is made by
some that they can point to different
parts of our state that has the benefit
of two roads, and the farmers were not
benefited, nor the business men. nor
any one else, but they always cited to
some point that simply had FEEDER
to the main line. Take for instance
the branch running north from Solo
mon City, it is no benefit to the town
or the county tributary thereto; they
can not ship out ON the branch any of
the products of the farm or ship any
to that point. Not so
with the o. A. & W. r. r. If built
through from Wichita to Omaha it ;
would become one Of the main lines of
he west, giving us a direct communi-
alton at Wichita with five different
Dads, giving us connection with Texas,
California. the South and Southwest.
nd at Omaha with as many more lines
or Chicago and other points in the
Cast. giving us connections with the
reateSt grain or pork markets In the
7orld, and the lumber districts of Min :
esota, Wisconsin and other points
The bonds have carried in all the coun