Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1842-01-25
MADISON CORRESPONDENCE
MADISON, JanuaTy Nth, 1912.

MADISON, january 18th, 1912.
DEAR SIR: There have as yet been butfew ques-
tons before either House, affecting 10 any extent
the general welfare of the whole people of the Ter
ritory The Loan Agent of the territory for the
Milwaukee and Rock River Canal, presented
voumlnous Report to the Legislature containing
particular information with regard to the perform
ance of his duties in that capacity, and also much
other information connected with the canal and
canal company, which will be interesting to all who
feel any interest in this work. What action the
Legislature will take on this subject the present
session | can not conjecture but much mistake,
if the visionary views which have characterised
previous Legislation on this subject, are not aban-
doned. The friends of the canal however, are bu-
sy. Efforts continually making to dazzle the
public mind with the spendor and magnitude of
this project; whilst at the time it is endeavor
ed TO prove its utility and its ultimate source of
wealth. Comparisons are instituted between this
work and the Erie canal of New York, and whilst
the cities, towns, villages, and all the results Of
active industry, are pointed out as resulting from
this latter work, are told that the same results
are awaiting this territory depending on the
L
ference indeed between the Importance and results
of the two works, which difference is plainly re-
cognised, when we consider the fact that though
the New York canal flows large share of the i'm
ports and manufactures to the largest commercial
and Atlantic city of the Union the immense extent
of thlcky settled country demanding this trade, and
the trade in return of this large tract ofcountry
I,,l,> l.
conduct its business on the Milwaukee and Rock
River Canal. The comparison will not hold good;
and it would be well, instead of taking the results
of the construction of the New York canal as cri-
terlon, we turn our eyes to improvements OF great
er Importance In other states, the construction of
which instead of being source of prosperity and
revenue to the state, require annually the collection
of a tax to pay the interest on the immense debts
which have been incurred in their construction
Let us not endeavor to get the effect, in the hope
that, that which should be the cause will follow
A work of this kind when completed, would no
doubt tend to settle and improve much country
that would otherwise lie vast but It light well be
questioned whether it would be policy to construct
a work of this magnitude connecting perhaps,
important points, and extending through wilder
country, IA. the hope, that 1T mi ght at pc
Rod of time produce the desired results, and more
particularly, when during this period of time, the
people must be enduring the evils of excessive tax
alton, incident to the immense cost of the work.
For the past few days, there have been many
Strangers here from all parts of the Territory and
also from Iowa. A convention has been held to
take into consideration the project of constructing
a railroad from some point on the lake through the
territory, to some point on the Mississippi river
The convention decided | believe to memorialize
the Legislature for the incorporation of company
for this purpose, leaving the connecting points to be
established by the wisdom of the legislature. With
out arguing the merits of work of this kind, l
presume the agitation of the subject comes from
that class of men who have always been busy in
the territory, in devisng schemes for the public
welfare, themselves however, forgotten IN the
expenditures of the moneys necessary to carry out
these schemes and from the same class of heads
no doubt who conceived the magnificent project Of
the Milwaukee and Rock River Canal. Would
not the canal company be glad to dispose to the
territory for the moderate compensation OF so or
100 thousand dollars, their right TO the canal lands,
ton of railroad, if Congress would modify the
grant? Most probably Milwaukee, no doubt is
prominent, as the connecting point with the lake
for all these schemes of internal Improvement, but
is certain that she would be the connectingpont
if the interests of the whole territory consulted?
What is the object of the railroad Princ pally,
suppose to secure to the lakes the lead and other
trade which HOW seek a southern mai kPt Womb
a road striking the Mississippi directly west from
Milwaukee secure this trade so well as one near
the southern boundary of the territory. Would it
not be well to have much possible of the lead
of Iowa and Wisconsin ADORE the point of ntersec-
ton on the river than 6etOD it 1t would be well
to have the road as near the southern boundary as
possible, as portion of the trade we wish to Sc
cure is south OF us-and it is object to have as
much possible north of US, being natural for
trade take the downward course ofhe river than
be transported up.-And in no country of the world
can a railroad be constructed with less expense
than east and west through the southern portion of
the territory. The country is naturally adapted
II being universally level, and mostly solid and dry
piNirie-whist or the contrary--a route west from
Milwaukee would embrace probably as unfavora-
bic section of country as could be found in the
territory tor the purpose and also require the
greatest expense in the construction of a road
through 1t. l believe, there was company incor-
porated some year two ago since for the con-
strucuon OF road from Southport on the lake
to Belolt on Rock river. Should that charter be
so modified as to extend the work to the Aississip-
Pl, and should the work be constructed on the
true principles of economy, have no doubt, speak
ing without prejudice, it would prove hi ghy bene-
fetal to the territory No work of internal i'm
provemen however, will be beneficial to the territory
when projected by men, whose sole object is to see
now much caa possibly be made to themselves in
the projection and construction of the work
G. L. S.