Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1886-11-27
THE SHORT LINE.
| Eighty Per Cent. OF the Right OF
Way Secured and Work 10
be Commenced soon.

Mr.. r. Williams, president, and General
Kansas City Short Line, are in st. Louis,
looking after the matter of terminal facilities
for their proposed short line between Kansas
City and st. Louis. A Globe Democrat re-
porter met Gen. Guitar at the Southern, and
from him learned the progress of the enter
prise and Its future Intentions. Over $780,
600 has already been secured to forward the
project, and the company has no fears as 10
securing the entire amount required to COM
plete and equip the line, And" said the gen.
eral, "you can depend upon it that the line
will he built, and that work will be COM
menced in the near future. We have now
secured over 80 per cent of the right of way
and have every assurance that the remainder
can be had when we want it. We have made
no contracts, though in constant correspond
ence with contractors in that line. We will
make no contracts, however. until the entire
amount of money necessary to complete the
road has been secured, so that when work is
commenced there will be no stoppage and no
delays. We have secured charters for our two
bridges over the Missourl-one at Saline City
and the other just above st. Charles-and il
seems certain now that the charter for tie
proposed new bridge across the Mississippi
at Chain of Rocks will be secured early il
the coming session of congress"
"How will your line enter st. Louis:'
THAT is not fully decided upon. There
are more ways than one, but my preference
Is the St. Louis, K ,nsas CITY aud Colorado,
and had we built that line ourselves we
could not have made 1t answer the purpose
any better than 1t will now."
"But the Colorado has not as yet secured
an entrance to the CITY,"
81 am aware OF that fact. but predict
that II will. think the law is clear upon
that point, aud though the Colorado may be
fought at every point 1t will eventually
secure an entrance"
ITO the union depot"
mot necessarily. 1t is my opinion that
another depot Is necessity for St. Louis ,aud
that one will be built very soon. think the
new depot will be located In north st. Louis,
where plenty of ground suitable for termi
mails can be secured and easy access afforded
to the Chain Of Rocks bridge. The belt line,
which st. Louis must eventually have, will
take care of the rest,''
''You will not 60 east of the Mlssissippis s'
''NO; and we will not form close traf1
agreements with any esst-bound line, pre-
ferring rather to take whatever business we
merit from all lines. We will have the ad
vantage Of being the short line between Kan.
sas City and st. Louis by about thirty miles
quite an item, by the way, and one whIc',
will guarantee to Us q fair share of buslnes,
froIa all lines"
Then you will not work with or In the
especial interest of any one liney'
'No; our road will be independent ant
will expect greater results from local than
from through traffic. We will pass through
the richest and most prolific portion of the
state and can depend upon an immense loca
traffic. There are undeveloped coal fields
valuable building stone and timber lane
lying unimproved anu farm products wastec
for w.nt of direct access to market, will
many other indisputable evidences of tn
need of such q line and assurance of it
financial success when completed. We are
| at work and we are making satisfactory pro
gress. The line will be built beyond
shadow of doubt and work will be inaugura
ted in the near future. Beyond that ca
say nothing as to our plans at present.
The company has already perfected ar
ransements with the belt line for an entrance
to Kansas City, and Messrs. Williams an,
Guitar may settle upon how their road vii
enter st. Louis under certain conditions dur
ing their present stay In the city. They bot
strongly favor the st. Louis, Kansas City an,
Colorado project and have already had sat
isfactory conference with the otti :ials of tina
company upon the matter of a track az
arrangement.