THE MEMPHIS, SPRINGFIELD AND KANSAS CITY RAILROAD (1869)

This year the most interesting topic of discussion before the people of Greene county was in regard to the building of the Kansas City and Memphis railroad, via Springfield. Having one railroad almost completed to the county, it was, of vast importance that another should be secured. The old fogies, to be sure, were opposed to this as to every other project for the public welfare likely to cost themselves a nickle, but the men of enterprise and push made earnest efforts, not only to secure the successful inauguration of the proposed new railroad, but its speedy completion.

In their zeal the friends of another railroad went to extremes, but they erred on the wrong side and there was no harm done. In Sep. members of the county court made an order that at the November election the people should vote on the question whether or not the county should take $400,000 stock in railroads, viz.: In the Fort Scott, Springfield & Memphis railroad, $180,000, and in the Kansas City, Springfield & Memphis railroad, $120,000. The sense of the population was against the subscription, the vote standing, for, 868; against, 486; but it is said that if all the disfranchised could have voted the proposition would have been carried, bad as the policy of subscribing bonds on the part of a county in aid of any public enterprise is -- and was.

(History of Greene County, Westerm Historical Company, 1883)

[BACK]