Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1886-01-09
COL. LAWS VISIT.

wentworth auu TIC WlAlCi "SAS ~
pointed a committee to see after the
entertainment of the party, and, with
Judge B. d. Weedin, to 60 with them
over the old road bed, to Odessa.
Col. Law, superintendent; Mr.. Ed.
NJ Gi!chrlst, engineer; and Mr.. W.
Nice. White, of the Chicago, Burling-
ton and Kansas City railway, arrived
OH the evening train, and were taken to
the Commercial hotel, where they were
entertained, a large number OF our
most prominent citizens calling on
them during the evening.
In the morning Col. Law and the
writer; Mr.. White and Mr.. Wentworth;
in two buggies; and Mr.. Gilchrlst, on
foot, started to Odessa. The buggles
Ike pit as closely to the old road bed as
was practicable, crossing it several
times, going through fields on occa'
sion to get a better view of the country
traversed by it, SO that there was very
little of the route that was not seen.
MI. Gilchrist having taken an hours
start walked OVER the road bed all the
way. He reached Odessa just after the
leading buggy, and a few minutes be-
fore the other one.
Col. Law was delighted with the
beauty, fertility and l~evelness of the
C )untry through which the old road
bed passes, excellent vie vs. of which
We're obtained from two or three ele-
waited points on the road. Mr.. Gilchrist
reported that the fills on the road were
in a very fair state of preservation, and
that the largest culvert needed between
the two points would be about four by
four feet in diameter. The cuts, of
course, will need but very little work.
He found much less blowing down and
cultivation than he had been led to
believe by our own people. The only
criticism he made was that the road
bed was originally made a little too
narrow. This will be easily remedied,
and as compared with the $4,000 per
| mile, which Col. Law thinks it will
take to place the other route in condi-
ton, will cost but a trife.
The trip was an eminently o
aging one to the friends of the Lexing-
ton route.
The gentlemen were left in good
hands at Odessa, a large committee OF
influential and intelligent citizens hav.
ing been appointed to receive them
Their intention vas to go overland as
far as Pleasant Hill, Mr.. Gilchrist to
walk, the other gentlemen to ride,
From there they 60 to Fort Scott. by
easy stages, particularly to view the
character of country as to its settle
ment, fertility and quantity of produce
Mr.. Gilchrist already having been ovel
that portion of the old road bed.
Col. Law in conversation said, thai
his visit was preliminary to that of Mr..
Potter, which will take place later il
the month. He said that it was not yeI
positively determined to extend thu
road southwest. He stated very frank
iy~~~-ho--nf thinga in cnnnnctior
with the situation of the road, which
we do not feel at liberty to publish
but which strongly incline us to be
lieve that the road will be extended
southwest, and that the work will b.
commenced during the approaching
season.
So far from indicating that the c., B
& q. desires no aid i'll building the
bridge, Col. Law explicitly stated that
such aid would be acceptable. HI
seemed very much impressed with tn,
feasibility and d%esirability of the ait
spoken of and contemplated from tn,
St. Joseph & st. Louis railroad compa
ny. He inquired very particularly a
to the probable amount of such aid
and as to what sum Lexington ane
the adjacent territory would be willing
subscribe to the stock in the bridge
confirming what we have heretofOr,
sail i'll regard to the iact hat the bridg,
is the greatest obstacle to the exteu.
sion. On these points we gave him al
the information in n possession. The
c%,!onel volunteered several expression:
to the effect that the st. Joseph road
would be a valuable connection for tn
c., g, s. O., rs a direct outlet to st
j ,seph. lie also stated it as his opin.
ion that an immense coal business
ought to be developed with the coun
try beyond st. Joseph, through tina
place.
1t is unnecessary to say to our read
ers that we believe the c., B. & Q
people have this whole question il
serious consideration. The fact tina
they send Col. Law and Mr.. Gilchrls
To make so particular a survey of tn
situation proves this. Especially whel
they require it to be done in the mids
of winter. Col. Law himself attache
the greatest Importance to Mr.. Pot
ter 9 contemplated visit. and whilst ex
ceedingly modest as to his own part i
the matter, We know that his infuenc
viii largely determine the outcome o
the whole question.
MIR. Potter said to u committee
when it waited upon him at Chicago
that all that was necessary to secur
the building of the road was to con,
vince its management that when con
structed it will pay. 70 accomplls
this it is only necessary to do what Co
Law is now doing, go through tn
country and see, that being the riches
aud most productive part of the stat
of Missouri, it is really a garden, teen
. ing with grain, livestock, fruits an,
all the products of the husbandman'
labor, which must find carriage to ma,
ket. And not only that, but that it
also a country where the people bein
well off and cultivated like to trayt
and are able to do it. The truth i,
that there IS no part Of The west whe,
u wH pay so WeH to hare q dire
: line to Chicago. Our people, and tt
: people along the line from here I
Fort Scott, can devote themselves (
5 10 more profitable task than that {
; arranging to prove this fact to Mr.. Pc
ter satisfaction when he comes t