Mexico weekly ledger., 1903-04-30
Railroad surveyors Were Social Lions
Until Checks Failed to Arrive.

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Railroad Surveyors Were Social Lions
Until Checks Failed to Arrive.
From the Macon Republican.
mo man has experienced genuine
hospitality unless he has toll
ed with an engineering corps making
a survey through a back country sec
ton preliminary to the building Of a
railroad" remarked John c. MCGEE,
head chairman with the Iowa & ST.
Louis surveyors, who were on their
way to ST. Louis when called in by the
Burlington's purchase Of the new line.
There were twelve men in the
corps,'i said Mr.. MCGEE, ''including
Chief Engineer A. G. Libby, of Chica-
go. OF the lot but one was a married
man, a Mr.. Shafter, Of Iowa. Near
Victor, Monroe county, a farmer NOV
ed his piano and fancy furniture out
the barn in order to provide us
with sleeping accommodations several
Nothing was too good for us,
and our wants we're supplied before
We hardly knew we had any. While
in camp the neighbors visited us daily
and brought baskets Of chicken, light
bread, pies, cake, butter and eggs.
They wanted a railroad the worst kind
they said, and that was their very sub
stantial way Of proving their sincerity.
"We struck Laddonia, Audrain
county, the first days Of February,a and
it was too cold for camping out. There
were two hotels in the town, and the
citizens got together and chartered
one-the Contractor our special ac-
commodation. They presented us the
keys and a receipted bill for the rent
as long as we cared to stay. They also
sent around a colored boy to help Us
look after the housekeeping and to.
keep our shoes shined. The boys had
a time. They soon got acquainted
the girls Of the town and it was
a mighty poor engineer that didn't
have two or three to escort TO church
or any entertainment that came along.
And let me tell you you can't find any
prettier girls On Missouri soil than
those same young women in and
around Laddonia.
The checks were coming regular and
the boys didn't hesitate at expense.
There were visits to Mexico theaters,
long sleigh rides, balls, receptions and
OF every description. The
engineers were not expecting 10 have a
chance to play ladies' men anywhere,
and none OF them bad bro't their
sunday1go-to-meetin's along, but it
1idn't seem 20 make any difference;
they we're building a railroad, aud the
iensible young lassies looked beyond
he plebian work-a-day clothes to the
Vanderbilts In them. The
town boys ere organizing a home
protective association when the bot
ON OF our glory dropped out. For
ome unaccountable reason the checks
coming, and no matter how
people r you can't enter
tain young ladies without money. The
town boys had some, and We didn't.
lust about that time a good show
struck the village, and the engineers
lidn't have the price OF a gallery
ticket in their pockets. The conse-
Iuence was their best girls went with
heir old-time sweethearts to the per-
iormance, while the engineers sat
round the hotel Office and cursed the
ates. Next came the news that the
.owa & st. Louis had sold TO the Bur-
and that the surveying party's
york was terminated. We told our
riends around town and they felt
'lue, l tell you. The farmers who
lad been asking a stiff price for right
f-way across their land got the idea
hat the work had been stopped be-
ause of their unreasonable demands,
nd came TO town poSt-haste with the
to reduce the price. Some cut
heir figures to half, and Others gem
told us TO make our own esti-
late. 1t was hardst to convince them
hat the railroad wouldn't come, even
they gave a free right-of-way. |,
go You're jest tryin' TO fool us, said
lid one Of them, who owned a large
lrm on the route. Its been charter
! according to law down at Jefferson,
nd besides, i seen a map for 1t and it
ms right through to st. Louis. 1t
rs to come
81 guess he thought we were yiolat- ;
g the constitution ty quitting of. !
AT last they realized fate had play I
them another trick, and they went |
way registering their lurid belief in
lie eternal deceptiyenesS OF projected
threads.
1.-THE belated checks finally arrived
ID each man received a months extra !
ages. But the girls had gone back to
town boys for keeps, and their S
irtati0n with the visiting engineers S
IS only a memory. They could I'M s
a Vanderbilt in workworn 4
rments, but not with empty pock a
!. I
1T may be in the years to come a v
ilroad will be constructed along the b
ute proposed by the Iowa & st. Louis. c
is a great section for farming and Q
,ck raising, and there seems to be C
undanee Of coal, judfflng from the a
my hillside shafts we run across. n
Worse than losing my job ] hated a
see the many kindly people we met
sadly disappointed, and ! hope that
melody will yet run a railroad :
rough that section for no other rea- :
] than because they want it"
To The Public. ID