Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1849-03-03
THE RAILROAD.


to petition Congress for an appropriation of
land to aid in constructing railroad from
Milwaukee to Cassyille. As has always
heretofore been the case Racine, Sheboy-
gan and all that class of towns along the
shore of lake Michigan, undertook to lug in
their own claims for part of the appropri-
alton, offering amendmenis for this purpose.
This dog-in-the-mauger policy is very prop
erly rebuked in the following remarks by
Mr.. BRIGGs, of Grant:
Mr.. Briggs trusted that at least nothing
would be done to prejudice or retard the
improvement sought tor by the memorial.
That Improvement was a very important
one for the whole State, and ii was time
some measures were adopted to secure IFS
completion. The subject had been agitated
much heretofore and the want of the inn
proyement in question had been very gener-
ally and very deeply felt by the people, but
their local lealousies had always prevented
anything from being done. The amends
ments now sought to be tackled on to this
memorial were intended as riders to kill il,
and if adopted would doubtless have that
effect. All allowed that the improvement
in question was one of vast importance to
the people, and would benefit the whole
State. Should we, then, 10y giving scope to
the party jealouses of rival towns, deprive
the State of the great advantages within IFS
grasp, and drive its trade into foreign chan
nes? 1t was absolutely certain that if this
railroad were not constructed, the trade ci
the west and south part of the State would
be diverted to Galena and Chicago, between
which cities a railroad would soon be in OPP
Grafton. He thought the great interests of
the State should predominant, and that the
jealouses of rival towns on the lake shore
should not be allowed to ruin both them
selves and the interior. His only desire was
that railroad might be constructed from
the Mississippi to the lakes, and he cared
little what point except so far as the point
proposed might be favorable TO It's compile
ton. He would not oppose the amendment
proposed by the gentlemen from Racine and
Sheboygan in their proper time and place,
bat he thought that rs now offered they
would only have the effect TO delay and de-
feat the memorial, and prevent the construc-
don of any road lie wished to see the
memorial stand upon its own merits, aud
when others were got up for appropriations
10 other places he would cheerfully go for
them.
Mr.. Briggs said his only object in wishing
to have the memorial acted on now was,
that 1t might be passed in time to be acted
on by Congress at its present session. A
delay of even a few days might defeat this
He had heard no argument that convinced
him that the view taken by him was wrong
But even if it were jdst that Racine, She
boygan, &c, should receive appropriations
from, the fNoVprnnpnt tyo,ll tho, ba III. ,l,
to secure them by lacking them all on to this
memorial? Was il not almost certain that
such course would XIII the whole2 He
wished to see each stand upon its merits
to see this memorial passed now, and others
for the benefit of the others @when their
friends brought them forward. HIS only
object was to see the proposed railroad built
and TO that end to take the most effective
means to secure the aid of Congress- Ii
was not "A sectional matter because il was 10
terminate at Milwaukee. Ii concerned the
whole State deeply, and its construction
alone could save the trade Of the whole
south and west from being diverted into for
elgn channels. lie could not consider those
who regarded this railroad as great State
interest were selfish and narrow minded be-
cause they were not willing to ask for APP
preparations for every tona on the lake
shore in connection with this. Such di-
yerSity of factions and interests as this indi-
Gates, would insure the rejection Of the
whole. But on the contrary, it the great
State project Of "a railroad from the Mssis-
sippl to the lakes was separately and dis
tnctly presented, il would lead members of
Congress to investigate IL, and such an in
vestlgatIon would be very likely To secure
their favorable action. The attention of
capitalists being thus called TO it by the APP
of Congress, it would he very
Likely TO go forward to completion. The
main road being thus secured, branches
might easily be built TO other towns that
needed them. Ia this were the interests of
the whole State presented. But if the pro-
posed amendments were TO be nov tackled
on as riders, the whole project would be de-
feated.
% The Legislature of Iowa sent a mo-