The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1852-04-17
The Aurora Branch.

| The Aurora Branch.
The Chicago 7ii6sne, in noticing an article in
this paper, of the 81 inst, in reference TO Ger.
tain objections that would be rased by the in
habitants of the valies of the FOX and Illinois
rivers. in case of Il coalition between the Central
aud Aurora Branch Railroad Companies, for the
construction Of the latter road, com plains bitterly
OF the want of sympathy existing between Chica,
30 and some OF the surrounding country towns
and especially between her and Ottawa Now,
we admit that there is not as much affection here
for the Garden City as there might be, and in an
other article in to-day's paper give some reasons
for it, which we respectfully commcnl to our
friends Of the Tribune for their p,ru,aL At pre-
sent we shall contine ourselves to the single
statement made by the Tribune, that The Auyo.
IA Extension has good charter
/ Now sc most emphatcally deny that the Au.
rora Extension has a competent charter, and in
the event Of the aforesaid coalition, those enga
ged in it will fed that gao rdrrdn!o will prove
tie correctness of what we say.
We have on former occasion shown that the
provisions contained in the 9Th section Of the An,
rora charter confer no such rglt. precisely
similar provision is in the original charter OF the
Rock Island road, and in number Of others
and no reasonable person will contend tina, under
these provisions, the several companies who have
these roads may run at pleasure TO any and eve,
ry part Of the state, where a road can be found
with which to unite
The Aurora Branch Company is only aahori-
:el by its charter, to build some fourteen miles
Of railr al, but under he clause authorizing
connections TO be made with other roads, this
company claim the right to build hundred, Of
mile, for if they have right to extend forte
miles they have a right to extend a hundred OF
thousand miles; and these provisions in the
charters already granted would render all further
granting OF charters for railroads in this state IN
necessary. Now, we do not believe that any
reasonable mar unless wofully blinded By pre-.
judice and self.interest will insist upon auch 4
construction Of this clause
Does the Tribune suppose that the legislature
ever intended to confer any such powcr' Does
any one believe that the various rival railroad
interests IN the state at the time of the passage Of
this charter which had active and vIgilent repre-
sentatives in the legislature, would have suffered
these numerous grants to have been made (for
there were others before the same session, lS4g)
without struggle if th.se interests had suppo-
sed for moment that they conferred such enor.
nous powers rs are now claimedl Why, tie
power expressly granted in the AURORA charter
sinks into insgnfcance when compared with that
claimed incid ateiiy'
When the Rock Isllnd company, under the
original charter, invited capitalists from the east
20 aid IN the construction Of that road to Peru,
they declined because there was no power to
connect with the roads coming from the east
The clause in the charter, like the one in the Au
rora charter was pointed out rs perhaps confer
ring such authority, and it was examined. and
declared to lie insufficient, as il would be claim
ing more from an incidental provision than was
specified objects for which the charter which con-
taind this clause was granted; claim so en-
tirely at variance with law AMI common sense
that no eastern capitalists would take cents
worth Of stool; until after new charter extend
ing this road from Peru to Chicago was obtained
Now, then il this correcting clause" in the Rock
Island charter was insufficient to extend that
road ditance only Aa'f its original isngth to
connect with the Oswcgo aud Indiana Plank.
road, how can the Aurora Branch company
extend their road, under precisely the same
clause, to a distance nearly four times greater
than its charter Originally contemplated
We hope our friends Of the Tribune, who so
confidently assert that the Aurora Extension have
"a good charter" will publish that charter for the
benefit of their numerous reader. through hi.
section of the state Such publication would
no doubt at once put an end to all opposition ex.
isting here to that road But a mere connecting
clause" won't do.