Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1853-06-29

EncOurascm ment TO Railroads.
The opponents Of any innovation or traus
portatien by six horse teams aud stage coaches I
have pursued TWO lines ofhostility equallycal.
culated to retard the progress Of the age. The
first is, to prevent the accumulation of the
capital necessary toaccomplish to railway en-
terprise. II the combined action Of individuals |
who compose city, borough or country can be
broken, like the bundle Of sticks in the fable,
by dissolving into fragments. there will be
little hope Of Locomotive wandering beyond
the tracks now laid aud paid for. We cannot
appreciate the logic which denies to con,-
munity or municipal corporation the owner to
promote its own prosperity, by such means as
its members may coussiyet to be the best adapt
| sa = attsiA the yes1ss 4 would ksrdly be
denied, thSt " BifSI0yf'aM need . 4 supply
of pnrer vsser than sAn be obtained from the
Mononsahela, the people Of that active village
could, in their cooperate capacity take measures
for obtaining better article, at an increased
contended, that, in such case each individual
must content himself by subscribing to the
undertaking alone? If a corporation Of this
| kind can build market hcuse, why cannot 1t
construct road by which to bring produce to
it's doorsy But we leave the grave question of
the constitutionaity of municipal subscrip.
tions to railroads to the proper tribual. Until
we are enlightened by judicial decision. we
shall persist in believing that city has as
clear right to build a road to any part of the
country, as it has to build town halls, water
works or to light its streets with gas. 1t was
not incorporated for any of these purposes but
if they are conducive to the health, happiness
and prosperity Of the people. that is sufii.
cient authority for undertaking them.
Some men are becoming so exceedingly con
siderate for the rights of the minority, that WI
are in danger Of seeing the day when few
owners of real estate shall be able to dictate Il
q great commercial community how far it shal
J go aud no further, in tie progressive move
ments of the day. We presume il railroad sub
scriptons by counties and towns are decided
, to be unconstitutional the next thing in orde
! to secure the tranquility Of fat old lot owners
, will be to declare water tax. Improvement Ia:
and school tax ituional because soeiet.
! was not organized either TO make new grade
and water works, or provide for the educatio
e of every bod'ys children. -# ...a
e But beside this direct opposition to tn
4; greatest enterprises of the day, in their inceT
e tion. there is a manifest disposition anon
: some persons to give them all possible annoy
: ance after their completion. Every aecider
/. is magnified into awful proportions, and Ii
y most bitter denunciations are meated o,
!. against all railroad managers. conductors an
h engineers. They are denounced if they ~
dd tqp lazs. and ykey ars csnsured more bitterly
= 1ss3 saisy 1astnS :
j. awaf6es 6gaffst compaeics IN all cases. b
e cause they are able to pay. In short, the e
tire community seems to array itself in opp
is sition to men who are supposed. W means
e those funetionares appropriately termed brea
IS men, to mash passenger cars and locomotive
v as a matter OF amusement.
d There are other means by which we thin
!, an unreasonable opposition is manifested
:. the progress Of improvements and one of these
d unnecessary impediments to free transrortatio
}. 1t has been the policy Of New York and Il
people OF Erie to give most perfect examp
of the absurdity of an interference with Il
8 natural laws Of trade. Goods sent by the Er
y road are subject to pay tribute at three tow
on the route, for no conceivable purpose but u
g incidental ad, antage to the villages in que
d ton. Now what will be the inevitable rest
e of such a restriction? Simply this, that Il
u New Workers will desert The old track al
10 make new one free from such interruption
= farther soatb. whenever practicable. VIII
'e would be the natural consequence to Pit,sbu
y ifthe efforts OF some men were successful in
&c tempting to put unnecessary duties and della
ID on all through trade and travel which pa
y over the Pennsylvania Railroad and pub
works? The result must be that business W
Nv in a measure forsake our improvements, a
g contemplated lines, that have for their purpc
!" to avoid our city, will be aided and probal
'h hastened TO completion. Trade will be FRI
&c whether ON the sea or on the land. aud tho
Nv who stand in the way of the principle 1
o destined to learn that the laws of nature c
- never be permanently thwarted d.-Pittsbu
: Union.