The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1919-04-24

Next Tuesday, April 20, there Will
be held in the City of Liberal a
special election, at which time the
citizens of the town will express
themselves in regard to issuing $780,
900 in bonds Of the city to aid in the
construction of the Kansas & Okla
homa Railway Company from Liberal
to Forgan.
At this time we hardly deem it
necessary to go into detail in regard
to this matter, as sentiment seems to
be overwhelmingly for the PROPOSE
ton. Since the proposition was first
mentioned we have yet to find man
who is opposed to the bonds, and
this is something unusual to say the
least.
There have been some who, with
out thought, have expressed the
opinion that such line would be of
little value to the town or country,
but to a man, when they have gone
into the matter, they have arrived
at the same conclusion-that the
proposition is a great deal more
meritorious than is apparent at first
glance.
The people of Liberal are of one
mind. 1t is the desire of all to see
Liberal the big town of Southwest
Kansas, and we believe that all will
concede that it is impossible to build
much of a town with one railroad.
There is bound to be limit to the
expansion of town, and this limit
is set by the number of railroads en-
, tering it.
The local territory will afford just
so much business and no more, and
when that is developed the town must
, come to a standstill. And when that
t period comes your town must slip
: back, for it is conceded that town,
. like an individual, must either pro-
$ gress or go down hill. We improve
3 with growth or become stagnant with
) inactivity.
| There is still room for improve
) ment in Liberal without more rail-
, road facilities. We can go on quite a
while as we are and still have good
town. But can we afford to take the
chance of waiting and let some other
town make the start and get the edge
on us in a commercial way and have
fight for supremacy?
The Democrat does not believe in
taking the chance. Liberal already
has the start and with larger terri
tory from which to draw will grow
faster and easier than ever before.
Were Forgan an inland town it
would be folly to expect any great
benefit from this railroad. 1t would
be a joke. 1t would add but little in
the way of territory and not be worth
the cost.
But we are not really building to
Forgan. We are building to a con-
nection with another great railroad
system that will open up a territory
that is unequalled in the country.
We are getting competition between
two great railroad systems, each of
which will go after the business, Gre
ating better shipping facilities. 1t
will open up a more direct route to
the grain markets of the Gulf and
help the farmers to get better prices
for their grain and other products.
1t will put us in closer touch with
the markets of the south and create
competition that will be wholesome.
By building his short line to a con-
nection with the Katy at Forgan we
are virtually getting another main
line railroad, at least the advantages
. that would be afforded by one. Can
we afford to pass up so good prop
osition? Not by any means.
. In some quarters we hear the re-
. mark that new towns will be started
' which will take business away from
Liberal. No one can question this.
=, There will be one or two trading
, points between here and Forgan no
= doubt. This will better serve the
farmers of the territory, will increase
the price of their land, will give them
more convenient shipping facilities
and of course Liberal is going to lose
some of this local business. But on
the other hand, the railroad will en-
ploy a number of people who will
make their homes here; it will open
up avenues for wholesale business IN
:. not only the new towns started, but
: in a great territory beyond. This
7. wholesale business will necessitate
more neonle at Liberal to handle the