Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1886-01-02
THE O., B. & Q. RAILROAD.

The Odessa Democrat of October 16,
commenting on an article from the
Hlgginsville Advance, said:
The first thing that will strike the
reader in the above article. is, what
would be the necessity of offering in
ducements at all, Gin case the road is
built?" as the Advance puts it The
balance of the article, however, is con-
sistent with the first paragraph.
What are the facts in the case? The
Chicago, Burlington e Quincy railroad
company having bought the Burlington
and Southwestern franchise. have built
the road to CarrOllton. They have
signiied an intention to extend the
road to the southwest, making Fort
Scott, Kansas, an objective point.
There are two towns on the Missouri
river, Lexington and Waverly, endeav-
oring to secure the bull ling of a rail-
road bridge at the respective points
mentioned. The distance is practically
the same to Fort Scott, whether the
road runs by Lexington and Odessa. or
by Waverly and Higginsvllle, by ''air-
line" measurement. Wavcrly is not
on an air line from Carrollton to Hig-
ginsville, but is about six miles east,
while the road at Higginsvillc would
be twelve miles south Ot what it would
be at Lexington, it is at the same time
eight miles east of Lexington and of
the direction it would have to go to
get to Fort Scott. So, counting the dis
lance that would be lost by way of
Waverly, the distance on all air line is
about as near the same as a measure
tnent by scale of miles can determine
nothing short of the surveyors chain
will determine the exact difference on
a straight line.
Right here we wish to say, that an
air line on either route is an absurdity :
and admitting that as straight a road
could be built one line as the other, it
does not follow by any means that as
cheap a grade could be found on Que
line as the other. We presume there
would be very %little,if any difference in
the grade in the two lines to The river
from Carrollton. Now, as to the bridge.
So far as tests have been made by
soundings and borings made into the
sand and rock, to say the very least,
Waverly has no advantage over Lex
inyton as to the feasibility of construct
ing a bridge. But how does the matter
stand as to grade to the south line of
Lafayette county, and for 10 or 20 miles
further, if the road should pass by
Pleasant Hill? But say to the south
line OF the county, as we have no
means OF determining whether the road
If built, will pass through Holden or
Pleasant Hill. From Lexington south
we have a road bed already graded,
that a comparatively small expenditure
| will place in first-class condition eX-
cept the four miles of the old road bed
occupied by the C. 6 A. road; that
| part would require a new grade. If the
road should run by Holden, about 8
miles of new road bed would have to
be constructed to reach the north line
of johnson county ; if by Pleasant Hill,
about five miles OF new bed would be re
CURED to reach the south line OF Laiay-
elite county. How does the matter on
The other hand stand2 From Waveriy
to the south line OF the county not "a
s%crapertnl of dirt has been removed:
and the line crossing the tributaries OF
Tabo and Davis creeks, at right angles,
would make that part of the road rx-
ceedingly rough and expensive t. build !;
how much more 81 would be presunp-
ton Ill us to say, as nothing but u
practical sdrvey of the two routes can
determine.
We will further admit that the right
Of way on each route would be pre-
sented gratuitously to the c., Z. s. G.
How then does the case stand? The
road by coming to Lexington would
come to q town with nearly three
times the population of Higginsville,
and Would pass through Odessa with
a population but little inferior in num-
bers 10 Higginsvllle; and leaving out
the coal, Odessa ships about double the
amount Of grain and stock according
TO the last estimate we saw of the mum
Der OF cars used for that purpose a
each point.
ton and Waverly with Higginsvil!e, We
believe 1t would be safe to say that tht
Lexington and odessa route would at.
ford double the traffic for a railroad t,
that afforded by the Waverly and Hig
ginsville route.
Then, II cheapness in construction
and tho largest amount in traffic, an,
q route equally as neal will cut an,
figure in the location of the c., &. s. q
extension, Lexington and Odessa hav,
nothing to fear in the contest.
There is another and q very impor
tant point to be cons dered. The G . B
Il q. company made during the sum
mer frequent surveys pointing TOWARD
Kansas City. 1t is by no means Ger
tain that they have abandoned the ide
of going to Kansas City; indeed, "
think 1t most certain that they will g
to that place; and whether they 90 o
the north side of the river to get there
or come TO the south side, Lexingio
would be their crossing point in cas-
they extend their road to the south
west. We have reasons for Delievin
g that they did at one time not long az
, entertain the idea of both going l
5 kansas City, and building their roa,
to the southwest by way OF Lexington
t hi conclusion we say to our neigl
| bors of Higginsville, get the road
: you can; Odessa proposes to do III
same thing. It is Il free fight.
I Proper treatment for Coughs.
Thaf thu rooE,a@. ,,,X- ,nIl- ,r,l..-,..1 II