Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1886-02-20

THE SHORT LINE.

The following from the Globe Dem
ocrat, of Wednesday morning, ex-
plains itself:
AT the meeting of the directors of
the St, Louis and Kansas City Short
Line at the Lindell hotel, yesterday,
there were present r. P. Williams, of
Fayette, president; Gen. Odon Guitar,
Columbia, vice-president; j. H. Cor
dell, Marshall, secretary; James II.
Waugh, Columbia, treasurer, and the
following directors; Il. B. Harris and
DR.. NJ. Tucker, of Fulton; E. w.
Hughes, of Danville; DR.. NJ. Castillo,
Mechanicsville; j. T. Tolson, Fayette;
w. B. Hale, Columbia; E. s. Palmer,
Malta Bend, Saline county; L. M. Ed
wards, Waverly, and w. B. Steele,
Lexington. The report and estimates,
as made by the chief engineer, Capt.
VIM. Miller, were exhaustive, and were
received and discussed by the directory
during the day. The report shows that
a very thorough survey has been made
from Lexington to the river, and was
much more favorable than had been
hoped for. The grade shown does not
exceed fifty feet to the mile at any point
on the proposed line, which it is pro-
posed to have cross the river at & point
five miles above st. Charles, and run
through the county seats of Mont
gomery, Galloway, Boone, Howard,
Saline, Lafayette and Jackson. After
consideration of right of way, which
it was shown could be secured without
much difficulty, the matter of local aid
was taken up. The company expect to
secure $4,000 per mile from private
subscriptions along the line, and feel
assured that the amount will be forth
coming. To- day at 10 O'Clock a. M,
the directors will and will
receive st. Louis parties who are i'll
terested in the project. Quite a num-
Der of st. Louis gentlemen have eX-
pressed their intention to be present
to-day and investigate the project. No
definite action was taken at the meet
ing held yesterday.
The railroad editor of the Republi-
a seems to be i'm the interest of ex-
listing railroads. A few days ago in re-
printing Gov. Pattison's ideas regard
ing the regulation of railroads he pre-
fixed it with the statement that these
were the views of the governor, re-
garding former friends, intlmating that
he was now u%ngratefully a~ssailing men
to whom he was under obligations.
Now the Republican says of the Short
Line:
The dire Glory of the st. Louis and
Kansas City Short Line project held a
| n,naf,.r ,k Tho lolI ,xoo, l..
talk over the financial end of the enter
prise, which, by the way, will be found
a very important feature in all under
taking that proposes the construction
of a railway between points that are
already supplied with more transporta-
ton facilities than there is traffic.
If it can be proven by reliable data
that a line through the region of coun-
try proposed can create enough local
business to insure a fair and Just re.
turn for the money invested in the
property, plenty of willing hackers
will be found, but if it is the purpose
OF the projectors to force a division OF
existing traffic, even a gullible public
will hesitate to take the securities OF
the concern, and unless the projectors
can show some earning power and OPP
portunity for their scheme and are will.
ing to float the bonds at a big discount
and throw in a like amount of stock as
a bonus it is not likely that the project
will ever get beyond the field notes OF
the surveyor. The board of directors
is composed Of Messrs. r. Williams
Fayette, president; Odon Guitar, Col
umbia, vice-president; j. H. Cordell
Marshall, secretary; j. H. Waugh
Columbia, treasurer; w. P. Hale, Col
umbia; ID. D. Tucker, Fulton: E. M
Hughes, Danville; Mitchell Castillo, st
Charles; J. o: FOLSOM, Fayette; E
NJ. Edwards, Waverly; w. B. Steele
Lexington, and E. S. Palmer, Malt,
Bend.
The Republicans comments seem II
us to be a reflection upon the intelli
gence, at least, of the gentlemen VIII
have this enterprise in hand. If it Cal
be proven, anywhere, that a railroa'
will receive a heavy local patronage,
appears that this proposed road wi
have a very large local traffic, when
is considered that it passes through tn
wealthiest and most populous countie
of Missouri. Mayor Francis, and tn
business men of st. Louis, on change
some time ago expressed their approvs
of this route, and asserted its necessity
There seems to be a most exceller
i. prospect that the road will be con
strncted, and the people along the lin
+ would like to have the Republican wit
them rather than against them.