Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1856-08-19
=. WAsHBUR.t.
RAIL ROAD GRANT.

RAIL ROAD GRANT.
1t is generally known that Congress has re-
Gently granted to Wisconsin, lands to aid in the
building of two important lines of Rail Road
within the State.
For one Road the points of ter minus are fixed
by the act of Congress, Fon du Lac onhhe South
Lake Superior the North,
For the other, although the points were made
certain in the first place by those most inter-
ested in the measure, and these points
Lake Superior the North West aad the city
Of Madison the South East. let to accom-
modate the wishes and obtain the vote of one
of the members of Congress, who in this ease
at least, represented private and local interest
at the village of Columbus. this latter place
also inserted in the blu in alternative compcti-
ton with Madison.
This makes it the duty Of the State to choose
between these two points, for the South Eastern
termination Of the longest and most important
Road.
In determining this point, we of the county
of Iowa, have no very direct interest one way
or the other. But when two lines Of Railroad
of such extent, are to be constructed within the
State, by the aid of Government grant,
feel an interest in common with all parts Of the
State in having these lines so located as to
cure the most general and common benefit con-
sistently with the feasibility of the enterprise.
/ We shall therefore candidiy state what in our
opinion the comparative claims Of the village
of Columbus, aad the Capitol Of the State, to
4 be the terminus of the Lake Superior and st.
! Croix line.
/ In favor of Columbus. il NAV be said that from
Lake St. Croix, by the way Of Portage city to
/ the city or Milwaukee, the lire is nearly di-
rect, and
/ ID. That at Columbus the road would be met
1 by one already in process of construction from
! Milwaukee.
i Sd. That this line will intersect a road in
contemplation from Fon du Lac TO Chicago.
| But against this will be urged,
! LIST. That it is no object TO secure Il direct
line to Milwaukee, unless such line can be ex-
tended eastwardly TO connect with the main
roads toward New York. If TO make the line
direct to Milwaukee involves the necessity Of
/ passing right angle Oh the Lake Shore to get
to the South end of the Lake, and then another
right angle at Chicago to get east, then very lit
tie is gained aud very much is lost by such
/ line
/
Milwaukee 10 Columbus is very near and it is
thought by some to conflict with the Milwau-
kee and LaCross Road already far advanced to-
wards completion by private capitol and enter
prise. And it would be unwise policy, as well
as the most fragrant injustice to cripple and de-
stroy such an Improvement by which that part
of the State is to be amply benefited, by an OPP
position Road to be built by a Government gra-
tuity.
Sd. Tie Road from Fon duLac TO Chicago will
meet the Road to be built 10y the grant, and if
it is also intersected by this Road it will carry
+ through part of the State all the patronage
from the Roads constructed by both grants to-
wards Chicago, leaving aregion ofcountrv near
ly one hundred and fifty miles east and west
including nearly all the southc and Yves
tern portions of the State, without any benefit
from either grant.
9TH Perhaps the greatest objection to grants
of land for Railroad purposes which can be
made, is that they have the effect to discourage
and break down Roads built by private enter
prise Now if these grants can be so managed
ana expended as 10 benefit and aid Roads al
ready completed or being constructed by pri-
waite capital of stock holders, this great obiec-
ton would be obviated
By termination at the Vi Ilage of Columbus.
1t would aid but one single road and that a short
one, from Columbus to Milwaukee, While it
would be IN direct competition and iniurc two
other most important roads, in the building of
which, millions of dollars ofprivate capital have
already been expended and all the other roads
OF the State would not only receive no benefit,
but hdlrectly great INJURY from this local an
plication OF the grant
Ia favor of the city Of Madison as the termi-
nus, 1t may be said:
lst 1t is the Capitol of the State and sur
passes all the other Capitols in the Union for
health and beauty.
I'd 1t will be connected by the grant with
St Paul, the Capitol of Minnesota
3D. 1t Is as yet nearly the geographical CEN
ter OF the settled and improved part of the
State.
4th. Madison must be quite Rail Road CEN
ter OF the State From this point several Roads
already IN process of construction by private en-
terprlse radiate In various directions, and all
these roads would be directly benefited by the
grant, as well as become important feeders TO
the business of the grant road. BY this connec-
ton at the Capitol of the State, life and vigor
would be infused into all of them alike. and
they would combine TO distribute into all parts
OF the State the benefactions Of The grant.