Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1886-01-02
BOARD OF TRADE MEETING TO-DAY,
From the St. Joseph, Mo-, Herald, Decem-
Der, %, 1883

from the St. Joseph, No., Herald, Decem-
Der, %, 1883
Last Wednesday there was a meeting
of the stockholders in the St. Joseph
and ST. Louis railroad. how under lease
TO the Wabash system aud constituting
the st. Joseph division OF that system:
AT this meeting it was determined, If
possible, to terminate this lease VITA
the Wabash system. and run the St.
Joseph and St. Louis Dad as an indie
pendent line. In view of tie plans IN
consideration, it is plain why the stock
holders of this road desired their road
to be run as an independent line.
One, at a glance at the map, a per-
ceive the immense advantages the posi-
ton of this line presents. AS 1t IS now,
it crosses the heart of the rich
of Buchanan, Clinton and Ray, with no
parallel lines within a distance that will
do it any material injury. 1t already
crosses the Rock Island at Plattsburg
n the Wabash at Lexington junction.
Now the plan in view Is. III case a
bridge is built at Lexington. to extend
the st. Joseph & st Louis to Mayvlew,
about ten miles sonth of the river.
The road will then cross the Missouri
Pacific at Lexington, thas forming a
a direct route from st. Joseph to Seda-
liza and Jefferson City and all other
| points on the Missouri Pacific south of
the river.
At MAYHEM the st. Joseph &c ST.
| Louis, should the plan be matured,
will make connection with the Chicago
& Alton road and afford this great
trunk line direct connection with this
city. In fact, the object in crossing
| the river is in order that the st. Joseph
& St. Louis road may become the car
rying agent of the traffic to and from
the points along its line, their connec-
tons and tributaries, IN the Missouri
Pacific and Chicago ~ Alton trunk
lines. These roads penetrate the i'm
portant points south of the river and
will, for the first time, bring all that
region in direct connection with the
northwest.
Thus the St. Joseph & St. Louis
would become the feeder and cOntinu-
alton of the Rock Island the Wabash,
the Missouri Pacific and the Chicago
s. Alton systems and lead them all TO
one terminal points,. Joseph. In
view of this fact it is not to be wonder
ed at that tine stockholders of this road
desire to run it independently so that
they can reap the combined benefits of
all these lines alike. The advantages
accruing to st. Joseph are at present
~incalculable. The Wabash under the
new arrangement would unquestiona-
bly, maintain her excellent relations
with u people, beside which the Mis-
souri, Pacific would have another COLI
nectiOn, constituting a more direct line
with st. Joseph from all points south
OF the river and what is best of all q
direct communication with the Chicago
&c Alton system would be effected.
The main consideration preventing
the immediate consumnation of this
plan is the building of the bridge over
the Missouri river at Lexington. This
is a great undertaking and would entail
an enormous expense in its construc-
ton.
None of the lines mentioned have
evidently heretofore thought the terri
tory at stake sufficient to make the
building of the bridge a paying invest
ment. However, the immense growth
in wealth and bulk of traffic Of the
country tributary to the St. Joseph 81
st. Louis road; the fact that ST. Joseph
is developing into a great railroad dis
tributing point ; the fact that she is be-
coming the depot into which new lines
draining the west are about to deposit
the rich harvests OF a vast region; the
further fact that the c., 3. s. Q.system,
which now has a line to Carrollton
has in contemplation al extension into
southwestern Missouri. aud, therefore,
is willing to contribute materially to a
bridge at Lexington-ali these facts
contribute to render the present very
OpportuDe tor combining these elements
i'll a great effort tina will result i'll the
building OF tnis Lexington bridge.
Tomorrow at three o clock the mer-
chants and citizens of this city are eX-
pected to meet at the Board of Trade
for tine purpose of expressing the
views of st. Joseph on this important
project.
The meeting is not for the purpose of
sending or procuring financial aid OF
any kind, but wholly to crystalline and
formulate the wishes and goodwill of
our citizens on this important question.
The corporation owning the st. Joseph
s. St. Louis road is very wealthy and
we'll able if they thought ii Z paying
investment to build the bridge alone.
But this is not necessary. The c., B.
s. @. is willing to lend its aid. All that
is needed is for the St. Joseph & St.
Louis road people to understand that
they a expect the good will and due
share Of the business of all the terrific
ry the road drains, and it will recipro
cate by doing all in its power to fur
nish facilities for doing that business.
St. Joseph merchants and citizens to-
morrow should turn out and give su, b
expression as will assure this impor-
!, tant railroad feeder that the advantages
they are able to give us would be duly
appreciated. That is all that is expected
5 of US, and we should give it generously
and cordially.