Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1886-03-20
THE SHORT LINE RAILROAD.
Remarks of the President at the
Fayette Mseling.

THE SHORT LINE RAILROAD.
Remarks of the President at the
Fayette MseiIng.
The following address delivered by
MIR. II p. Williams, president OF the
Short Line railroad company at the
recent meeting at Fayette, presents the
matter so plainly and forcibly that we
know the people Of. Saline will read it
with pleasure:
s'l regard our meeting to- day as one
fraught with greater interest TO the
people OF Howard county than any ever
held in her border. The question for
us to determine Is whether we will Sc
cure a line of railway traversing the
center of the state, connecting the two
principal cities, st. Louis and Kansas
City, putting our own town at the door
of either and giving direct and speedy
communication in the direction we
desire, aud the necessity of tho situa-
ton demands. AS a convenience it is
certainly desirable and as an invest
ment unsurpassed by anything ever
presented Tor your consideration.
| Prompt and decisive action upon Onr
part is imperative. We have secured
| II ClaftcT, anu fdycItC IS dS
point. We had u contest in our organ
ization over fixing these points, but Sc
cured them. AS you all know, Fayette
is somewhat of of direct line-it
then certainly behooves US as wise men,,
to stand square to the front and do our
full share of the work. Our survey
runs 27a miles through Howard coun-
tv-through MOniteau township, which
has not a mile of railroad; through
itichmond; through the lower part o
Charlton, bordering on BoOnslick,
which also has not mile of railroad.
Thus putting a road through section
of the county where it is mostly need
| ed, and placing in our midst taxable
property of more than $500, 900, and
yielding tax of more than $6, 900 or
$S 900 annually; and all we ask in re-
turn is the right-of.way aud 81 900 per
mile subscription to the road.
Now, if our couty could transfer the
tax on this road, when built, to indivi-
duals for ten years, am assured the
amount of $50 900 would be subscribed
at once. Could our county court do
this they would make a better invest
men: than was ever consummated by
? any court that ever graced her judicial
bench.
: road in this county as estimated by our
d engineer, AR Millar, would be S322,-
900. All this money would be expend-
ed in our county, thereby giving any
3 citizen all opportunity to make some
thing out of it, directly or indirectly,
8 while in process of construction. It
would, when built, add cents to every
bushel OF grain shipped by saving
e freight; $40 to every car load of stock;
save - to every passenger going and
Is returning from st. Louis; add $5 to
G every acre of land for q distance OF
II three miles on each side OF the road its
II entire length through the county; build
y shipping points in every neighborhOod;
encourage immigratioA; promote and
IS foster thrift and industry; reduce the
n price ON all heavy articles bought by
" the consumer. In fact, it would inau-
q gurste an era of prosperity such as we
have never known and can only dimly
u con lecture.
'e Now, we propose to divide these SUBJ
q scriptions into three notes, one payable
y when the first train of cars runs through
our county, the second one yeaf from
le that date, and the third two years from
that date; and mark you, it the road is
IN never built, these notes are invalid and
D. of no effect. AS each note is paid cer-
d tificates OF stock will be issued for the
III amount paid, in shares of 800 each,
l. and the stock, in my Judgment, will be
at par in one year from the date the
'e road begins to run regular trains; so it
III is really only loan OF your credit and
not gift.
E. These eastern parties who will have
N to buy our bonds in order for US to
10 procure the money to build and equip
= the road, simply ask this as guarantee
g, OH the part of the people, that they, the
I'D people, want the road, have faith In 1t
st and are willing to show their faith by
1e their works. You can readily see that
II the whole sum asked for by our direc-
IS tors at 50 900 per mile, would only be
ne $50O,O which would build the road
q, only through a single county. Now,
"a gentlemen, will say further, that at
ie ton received and interviews held, our
d board have every assurance, and feel
e. confident that, il we, the counties along
We the line, will do our part, secure the
le right -of-way and raise this 81, 600 per
OF mile the road will be built.
L Other gentlemen will address you
nr and present the subject more fully.
ne will say in conclusion, that no road
sc ever projected in the west presents, in
ID my Judgment, so certain and secure an
ell investment to the builders.
~ The counties through which it passes
a. have soil unsurpassed in fertility by
D. any section of country in America,
er capable of producing varied products
ny in great abundance; the face of the
ey country diversified with woodland and
a. prairie, hill and valley a climate genial
u. u and bracing; people cultured and in
sc telligent, enterprising and industrious,
Cities like Fulton, Columbia, Marshall
O. Fayette and Lexington grace the line,
IN full of thrift aud business, with their
ne state institutions, colleges, male and
lo female, ready and waiting for the shril
as whistle OF the locomotive to inspire
ay them with renewed spirit and enter
he prise and fulfill their destiny as thu
e. grand centers of wealth, intelligence
II, and refinement of Galloway, Boone
'ir Howard, Saline and Lafayette, five Of
ne ne the noblest counties, the brightest Jew
u, els that deck the diadem of our grand
III krA1 oc >,