Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1886-01-02
SOMETHING ABOUT RAILROADS.

SOMETHING ABOUT RAILROADS.
EDITOR INTELLIG ENCER:-A the
question of the c., 3. Il q. and its eX-
tension from Carrolllon south of the
Missouri river via Waveriy and Hig-
ginsville or via Lexington and Odessa
seems to be one of general interest to
our people, 1 thought a few reasons
why it should, and no doubt will, cross
the river at Lexington, would be ac-
ceptable to yourself and readers.
Crossing at Wayerly, place OF no
Importance, and only seven miles from
Blackburn, a Joint on the &. 81 a. and
running on parallel line closing up as
it goes forward to Higginsville, thus
leaving a country and its business to be
divided, not over six miles wide and
the Missouri river On the north side of
it to cut down its trade in addition to
the G.. & A. railroad.
1t is about ID miles from Waverly to
Higginsville, land even at a cost OF Sl0,
900 per mile, very low estimate lor
road bed, culverts and rock work for
bridges. Admitting that this road
passes through country unsurpassed,
thence going southwest from Higgins
vile, having the Missouri Pacific rail-
way on the east and the G. ~ A. rail-
way on the west for the first eight miles
south, thus dividing up that much more
country for which these roads will con.
tend.
On the other hand, via Lexington,
this road will run through place of
some considerable business, and get
-
teen miles to Odessa, that less than
81, 900 per mile will put i'll good con-
ditiOn; this at same cost at which we
placed road bed from Waverly to Hig-
ginsville at $4,000 per mile or Sl5O,-
for the Is miles, would make II
miles at $4,000 per mile gives us Sl7O,-
900, less 81 900 per mile for repairs
leaves $153,000 You run through a
country equal to any and
| second to noue, crossing the
Missouri Pacific at Lexington and the
Z. 81 A. at Odessa, not running parai-
lei with another road OH one side and
the river on the other.
Again, seemingly now there is fair
chance that the st. Louis 81 st. 10.
Il. r., 81 miles long, will disconnect
itself with the Wabash, st. Louis &,
Pacific railway, which last named road
has had all this roads local business
for the past ten years, and join tha
C., B. 81 q. railway i'll bridging the
| river at Lexington, and running into
this city and forming close business re-
Iations with the G. B. s. q giving the
e. b. Sc q. ali its local travel to Chi
cago connecting as it does at St Joseph,
crossing this road at Lathrop and con-
Meeting as it will at Lexington, thereby
nection with road bed to Odessa that
could not possibly be overcome by any
other route. You would ask in what
way would it pay the ST. Joseph &
st. Louis railroad to help bridge the
river at Lexington and run into this
city. My answer would be, take Goa
alone, and at rates of freight now paid
the Missouri Pacific to Kansas City, pc,
car OF 20 tons, 1900 pound:
per ton, S15, and even a trade
of 20 cars per day would
make $500 per day, 1000 a month o,
SlOS,0OU per year being 10 per cent
interest ON ST. ,0S0,0O0; this OF itsel
would pay the cost of bridge in 4
years. Now. President Potter say.
the bridge is the main thing IN tne way
this being brought about would NO
only, as you see, give him road bee
worth $153 900. but local road all,
its Chicago busi:ess,S7 miles in length
but road which is willing to take hal
the stock in a bridge Sc
much for the 20 cars of coal at rates o
freight named; increase the number o
cars and you increase the amount re.
ceived AT Lexington this road viii
connect with the c., B. & O., and t,
ali points it may run through south
and open up to the merchants of 81
Joseph trade and country through
which that road runs, friendly to he
interest, in both passenger and freight
Again there will be no inconsiderabl
business done via Lexington in way o
both passenger and freight to Sedali
and even on the NJ. X. & I. as ia
south as Clinton and Appleton, from tn
fact it would be some % or 30 mile
nearer via Lexington than via Kansa
City, to st. Joseph, to that extent
making rates less in both passenger
: and freight. Again at Higginsville TO
/ local points on the C.. 81 A. railroad
From all this you will see there is IL
little business to be built up by the 81
Joseph u st. Louis railroad running
J into Lexington, but may we not hop
, that it too will make move south
ward, and taking facts as presented
any one can see that there is an identi
ty of interest between the st. Joseph !
St. Louis and c., B. Il q. railroad
that L cannot but believe if the tw
, parties at interest are brought togethe
!, will end in the desired end bein.
J brought about, !. e, the G., b. & G
and the St. Joseph IL st. Louis compa
ny, bridge jointly built over the Mis-
souri, river into Lexington.
!, Now, Mr.. Editor, in conclusion, le
me say as to LexingtOn's coal iuteres
in general! there are 100, 900 acres, an
, easy of access for mining purposes, i
, first hands, excepting some 5000 acre
now owned by the Lexington Goa
Company, j. c. McGrew and 9th Il
This coal is shipped to Kansas City an
, Wyandotte along the Mo. Pacific ex
tension to Omaha, and from Atchiso
, west to the terminus of the Centrs
, Branch and eas. of here to Sedali.
, and both east and west from ther,
Very truly. LIGHT AHEAD.