The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1886-11-11

the people Of cFreun, and betrayed
/ them into q sense Of security, concer-
| ming this matter. until tlss looall0n
was uade az smother place
We ere strongly impressed b the
evidences that = large proportion %
the people. including farmers ensl
/ cihcrs, living IN that regi0n. were ex-
/ peeiinR q station ard q depot % De
established af Gypsum City, and that
the failure % locate Il there resulted
ID very great disappointment The
sifuafiOn there now may be summed
M AZ feiIoas. In ten months from
the time town site Was sufveyed
and staked OF, with ne side tracks Or
shiDDinR facilities nearer than two
and half miles. there has grown up
e village Of 800 inhabitants- Thee
people are boldly engaged 10 the vari-
Qua aVOcatiOns common % the innao-
itants Of villages and tOwns. There
is one bank, two newspapers pub
lished there, hotels. livery stables.
lumber and brick yards; and the va
rious branches Of mercantile trade -
well represented and carried on by
sixteen merchants. The business
houses are large and built In the most
substantial manner. The town rep
resents not only . -rapid but solid
growth.
Il l. quite probable that there is
more trade and business carried on af
Gypsum City than &C any point In
Saline county outside Of Salina. The
town evidently has the COED will Of
the greater number Of the settlers IN
that part Of the county. This, to-
gether with its favorable situation, In
the center Of q most productive cOun-
try, and the spirit Of enterprise and
energy that eharaeteFizes the business
men OF the town will secure its future
rapid growth.
ft Is very evident from the general
character OF the buildings erected ~
Gypsum City, the business air that
perVades the place, the large amount
OF trade and business carried on there
and the energy, thrift aud enterprise
that eharact cries the business men.
that Gypsum City was not built as
an experiment. 1t Is there 70 stay
and grow Indefinitely. Withholding
OF station facilities from it would
unnecessarily burden its business
and retard its growth. We are clear
Iy Of the opinion that railroad stations
should not be required 10 be planted
in near proximity 20 each other for
the purpose Of fostering merely eX-
perimental tOWnsites, yet, where
along a railroad, q town has attained
the growth and importance Of Gyp-
sum City, with every reasonable
prospect for continued expansion |
and Increase Of business facilities for
the transaction Of business with the
railroad company, has become sub
stantial necessity. To refuse them
now would only postpone their estab-
llshment, the public necessity now
existing would constantly increase
with the growth OF the town, and
they could not be denied. In the
delay would create unnee-
essary Irritation.
It appears that at the time Chico
was laid out the company, in eOnsid-
Grafton Of certain advantages coded
TO Il BY the town company, stipulated
TO build q depot at that place and To-
cate no other depot or station within
five miles OF it ON the liue OF Its road
i'm Saline county. We presume that
there can be but one opinion Is 70
the validity OF such an agreement.
A railraOd company cannot accept
from the state, and retain railroad
franchise aud bargain away Its right
to use Il in any way In which the
public may rightfully demand It shall
be used. It cannot by sny contract
limit the amount or character Of &C
Il will afford the public
which Il serves. Doubtless the agree
ment was made In good faith and at a
time when present contingencies
could not have been fOreseen.
We are Of the opinion that the de-
NAL Of station facilities, under all cir
would be unjust To the
Of Gypsum City and vicinity,
and would not be conducive 10 the
interests Of the railroad company.
The board therefore feels CONTAINED
10 recommend and request the re-
spOndent company TO supply depot
aud station facilities ct Gypsum City
1t az early 3 day as practicable and
within q reasonable time.
We may add that we are informed
by the proprietOrs OF the town that
grounds suitable for these purposes
will be afforded without expense TO
the company.
BY ORDER or THE BOARD.
Topeka, November 8. 1886.