Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1889-05-25

railroads.
"Mr. Peters, from western district of
Kansas, represents, in numbers, the
largest and most populous district in
the United States, and twenty coun-
ties of which WAS unorganized ten
years ago-had not one inhabitant-
railroads made it. Live men are as
sociated with me. They will encour-
age immigration. The ", 5. q T.
railroad do not 60 to any trouble or
expense to put their lands on the
market. Railroads up there give
free transportation to immigrants and
encourage them to so on their lands.
Your railroads down South imbibe
the same spirit and disposition of
some of your people, or rather as they
have been in the past, for | don't say
now, for they appear to be alive now
to their interest. If they would
bring a man with family of ten to
eat your provisions it would enable
the merchant to sell more goods; this
would be to your interest. Vote the
tax, if you want immigration here.
Every man who will open farm of
l6O or 200 acres will add to the
wealth of the country. l don't know
what more l could say. The Missis-
sippi Legislature gave Wilson 800, 900
acres at 8 cents per acre. The railroad
was built, the Mississippi Valley, and
levees were built, the river kept out
and will be kept out. That is now one
solid cotton farm. Is worth from IS
to $l5 per acre. This is little illus
tration of country where the rail-
road runs. Like conditions will pro-
duce like results. The only gap
down from New Orleans to the British
Possessions; the line would traverse
almost the entire continent from
South to North. l am no prophet.
Don't have to draw on my magma
ton, would go through the very
cream of the country; this centre line.
My friends, did you ever stop to
Think l only live 500 miles from
here, yet we have nothing in common.
You have, in Louisiana, everything
we want and we have what you want
Wheat, oats, hogs and cattle; east and
west lines have not the advan.
tages of different climate. Not SC
with longitudinal railroads for the
climate is different. No saw mills
up in Kansas-have no timber. We
want your lumber and want to sell
, you meat &c. l cannot see how 9
man in this section can sit down
supinely indifferent to this important
matter. You have right to do SO
: it is free country; it is between you
your bread and your God. 1t look,
like straight question of meat and
! bread to me"
| In 1865 l bought farm In Kansas
at $40 per acre. Did not pay for it
lived on it two years, and never would
have paid for it had not railroad
: came along. My nearest neighbol
was 81 miles. was on crutches, anG
would hobble to the door and shoo
wolves catching my wife's calves
When the railroad came along a mar
, from Quincy, ILL.,, gave me, cash, $50, sc
f per acre. paid for my land, and a.
you see, had some money left. Ipur
| chased another farm for $40 per acre
which 1 sold in short time for So:
f per acre. then went to F't Scott
, Kansas. Half of the inhabitant
were Indians. I could have pur
D chased 1900 acres for S. per acre
, Not an acre can be bought now fo
+. less than $40 per acre in the county
What did it? Railroads. A maj
i. that lives in Kansas is not afraid o
railroads. l know l will build the
, Fort Scott railroad. The old fogies
, God will kill off and young men vii
take their places. l could have Dough
e 80 acres for $4,000, near Fort Scott
/ Now it could not be bought TO
1 $4O,OOO,OOO. Railroads did it,"
g I'd. R. Anthony, brother to Susal
B. Anthony. an old fogy, said h
f would give 81 to get the railroad Il
3 Leavenworth, he could have givel
I 100000. What was the result? tn
a railroad went to Kansas City. Draw
the comparison. Leavenworth ha
!. grown from 5000 to 10000; Kansa
e City from nothing to 100000. DON
D miss the railroad.
: Jay Gould has 10000 acres of lon,
: leaf pine land. A short railroad isa,