What should you say, sir, to a city, built up like the rod of Aladdin had touched it, built up in two years, where now you wouldn't expect it any more than you'd expect a light-house on the top of Pilot Knob?
and you could own the land! It can be done, sir.

It can be done!" The Colonel hitched up his chair close to Harry, laid his hand on his knee, and, first looking about him, said in a low voice, "The Salt Lick Pacific Extension is going to run through Stone's Landing! The Almighty never laid out a cleaner piece of level prairie for a city; and it's the natural center of all that region of hemp and tobacco." "What makes you think the road will go there?
It's twenty miles, on the map, off the straight line of the road ?" "You can't tell what is the straight line till the engineers have been over it.

Between us, I have talked with Jeff Thompson, the division engineer.

He understands the wants of Stone's Landing, and the claims of the inhabitants--who are to be there.

Jeff says that a railroad is for -- the accommodation of the people and not for the benefit of gophers; and if, he don't run this to Stone's Landing he'll be damned! You ought to know Jeff; he's one of the most enthusiastic engineers in this western country, and one of the best fellows that ever looked through the bottom of a glass." The recommendation was not undeserved.