East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1908-03-28

The farmers or SnelDy county, mlS-
souri,, now have a railroad OF their
own, and they are satisfied II is the
biggest and best enterprise ever In
stituted In the country, says the Kan
sas City Star. 1t is not much OF a
road when compared with the big
trunk lines with their mighty stock
and freight trains of 80 ana 40 cars,
but II Is the forerunner OF as big q
highway as any OF them.
The eight-mile track between Shell
byville and Shelbina, which the far
mers and merchants OF Shelby coun-
ty have gone down in their pockets to
build, will DO more TO materialize the
lOng-talked-of project of feeder
from Southern Iowa to st. Louis, by
way OF the great blue grass, stock
raising territory of Missouri, than all
the enthusiastic word pictures sketch
ed by professional railroad promoters
during the last half century.
At Salt river the stream at which
Geenral Grant was stationed during
the early days of the Civil war, Is n
strong steel bridge, which was the
most expensive part Of the construc-
ton OF he line. Here the little tank
is filled with water on each trip.
A Fine Station, TOO.
The Shelbyville depot is large and
has more conveniences than the ay-
erage depot on the big lines. 1t has
aIrxh n
ranged and furnished office for the
agent and a good waiting room. There
is q telephone in the agents office
but no telegraph instrument, as the
telephone will answer every purpose
for train operation better than the
telegraph. The passenger coach has
wires outside to form instant connec-
ton with the line alongside the track
in case Of accident.
On the hill just east of the depot
an immense quantity OF walnut logs,
brought In overland from the coun-
try. is awaiting shipment to st. Louis.
IN the present condition of the road
bed, however, It will be impossible to
handle such heavy material with
safety. But life stock and general
merchandise are handled daily, and
the freight vans of the highway have
retired from business.
The railroad has made Shelby
vile great shipping center for all
the country north, east and west. By
bringing the railroad eight miles
closer to the producer 1t has given
farming and stock raising In the dis
trict the greatest impetus they ever
knew, and this has been an element
OF great strength to real estate and
general business in Shelbyvllle.
There is not vacant house in town,
and people are clamoring for resi-
dences New stores are going up
around the square, and industries Of
all sorts are springing up on every
hand.
Shelbyville is one Of the Oldest
towns in Northern Missouri. 1t new
er had real boom before, but being
surrounded by a rich agricultural
country, and being county seat, 1t
thrived in spite of the absence of the
railroad.
An Example OF Community Enterprise
The reason railroad was not BULL
sooner was not fault of the people
of Shelbyvllle. Almost every year, or
down from the beginning Of the so,
railroad promoters have promised TO
put railroad through Shelbyville.
The Hannibal & st. Joe, the earl
lest railroad enterprise in Northern
Missouri, was surveyed across the
state by way OF Shelbyville, Blooming
ton and Llnneus, but at the last the
location was changed, and these
towns-all county seats, and mos
important in their respective coun-
tles-were left back in the woods.
But the promoter came perenially
and Sherbyvllle met all his demands
and hoped until hope became a mock