Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1844-12-17
THE TELEGRAPH.
SOUTHPORT, TUESDAY, DECEMBER Ii, Isli

The canal lands will undoubtedly, a:
heretofore. be a matter of discussion at the
coming session of the Legislature. An eff
fort will in all probability be made, TO even'u
Tally change the character of the grant, TO pro-
cure The construction ofsomc communication
between Milwaukee and Rock river, more
feasible than that of a canal. The cor
struction of railroad suggests pretty much
the same difficulties az that Of canal, and
ifany change is made, il will be likely to be
for work of no greater magnitude than
turnpike road. As leng as the Legislature
confines all expense strictly to the grant
and throws no expense on the people, for a
work purely local in its character, people in
other sections Of the territory will not com.
plain. And this mus, be done, and not on
ly this, but the grant will also be expected
to remain held for the liabilities already in
cured by the territory, in constructing the
magnificent wafer power, which is building
up Milwaukee and enrickirg d fen individ-
uals. Let the territory be secured against
Iall liabilities already incurred, and whatever
it may be decided to do, let the expense be
confined strictly to the graft, and no one
will complain, unless it be perhaps, the SET
Hers on the grant. Bit as matter of opin-
ion. we should think, that IN the long run,
it would be vastly better TO ret those who
are reapiug the rich harvest afforded by the
water power, pay for the slnie, and let the
lands revert to government, and come in for
sale at the customary price, leaving such
works as may be deemed advisable to be
constructed, to be done by the voluntary
subscriptions of stockholders. We never
could see tho justice Of making those living
immediately on the Line; pay for work,
which would benefit thousands of others,
equally with themselves. Those at each end
of the route, who contribute nothing, are
vastly greater gamers than those who pay
for the work, and those whose lands are
contiguous TO the grant, arc almost as much
benefited without any extra expense as
those who live OF the grant, at twice the
plcc of their lands. A company Of voluh-
,ary stockholders, would be vastly less OBJ
Jectionablc. If the work will pay, there
will be no difficulty in procuring the sub
scriptions; if it will not it should be con-
s,ructed under no circumstances,
We know the people of our own section
woull ask no aid Of the character ofihe ca
nal grant, TO enable them to Construct
communication by turnpike between this
point and Rock river. Give US here char
Ter for stock company, and we will ven
ture our word, that without hazard Of any
expense TO the territory, with nothing more
than voluntary subscr ptions, work of the
kind, and Of the most subs an,ial and yalu
able character will be completed. This is
by no means chimcricll idea, but sober
and substantial reality, which any one ac-
uuainted with the inducements for such
work, and the ease With which from the
character of the country it can be construct
ed, Will readily perceive. We belive there
would be no difficulty whatever, in procu-
ring all the necessary stock TO be taken.-
There are enough on the road and at the
points of termination 10 subscribe it, and
amply able to fulfil their subscriptions to
tho letter. 'Errc; we tfo not contend that
free turnpike could be construc' cd, but
from the nature of the case, it could never
become a monopoly, nor oppressive 10 the
travel, for the interests of those owning the
road, would prompt TO the greatest poss bic
libcrali;y; and as a toll road, it would be
less Objectionable than free road construc
ted by means Of 4 grant of the character
of the Milwaukee canal lands for in the
former case, all who use it will contribute
their portion of expense, while in the latter,
few must contribute for the benefit of the
whole country.
Whether an effort will be made TO organ
Use company in this section for the pur-
pose We have mentioned, we do not know,
but we believe work Of the kind is highly
practicable in every point Of view. There
is no country better by nature, adapted 10
such an improvement, than route which
could be selected from here to Beoit. The
settlement on the route and travel, would
amply warrant the work and furnish the
means Of its construction the work is alb
solu,cly demanded, and for our own part
we should like to see some steps taken TO-
wards commencing it.
"a friend iH Waworth county writes as
iollows-'Thc people in this section of the
Territory are anxious 10 know the politics of
our present executive. If he is democrat
we wish him to remove the wing officers UNI
der his control in this county; and if he is
viii u we wish him re,moyed