The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1858-11-25
state Aid to Railroads.


The symptoms are daily becoming stronger
and more unmistakable, that this project to in
volve the State il heavy indebtedness to aid
railroads, will be miserable abortion. 1t is
even regarded doubtful whether the convention,
pnrposed TO be held at Iowa City, next month,
will meet at all. or il it should be held, wheth-
er more than half dozen counties will be
represented. Most or the papers in the State
are strongly opposed to the proposition, and
we doubt not they reflect truly the sentiments
of large majority Of the people.
Five Of the principal of our lines Of Rail-
road have received the aid Of large donations
OF land. four Of them certainly, and the Fifth,
the X. Fl. d. & M. we hope will receive the
residue of the Des Moines Grant. These are
our most important roads, and If the counties
along these Ines will aid them. in addition, to
the extent of the deep local interest which
they have in their construction, they can be
built at comparatively early day, at least in
favorable condition Of the money market
These roads form the basis Of our railroad sys-
TEN, and we can get along very well with them,
with such short connecting roads as may be
required by local interests, and which local in
terest will find way TO build in due season.
We are opposed to this scheme any how,
whether railroads can be built without it or
not, for many reasons. We will ehamerate
fcw of them. We are opposed to it because
it requires the infringement of a plain provi-
s,cn of the constitution, forbidding the crea-
ton Of State debt exceeding $3.50 0)0. We
are opposed to it because it will uble or
thribble tie taxes Of the people, already, one
would think, sufficiently burdened in that way.
We are opposed to it because it demands an
extra session of the Legislature, the expense
OF which we think, ought to be spared
the peoplethese hard times. We are especial
ly opposed to it because it will inaugurate sys-
tenn Of log rolling and corruption, under which
cebt of fearful amount would be lnevita BILE,
impoverishing the people for an indefinite
period Of time. We are also opposed to it for
reasons which seem to commend the plan to
others. 1t is said that the adoption Of such a
system would enhance the value of our vacant
lands. Doubtless it would; but we don't
think such enhancement would benefit the
State. Lands in this State have been too
high, and that fact has done more than any
thing else 10 stop and keep out emigration
The accumulation Of large quantities of lands
in the hands Of spectators, who held on to
them for an "enhanced value" coupled with
the closing Of the Land Offices at the time of
the Railroad Grant, were the principal causes
Of emigration stopping. 1t is not the duty Of
the State not its interest to invest $50, 900 000
or upwards, to enable these spectators to
realize their dreams Of wealth by an enhanced
value Of the lands which they have monopo-
fixed. The necessity which they are now un-
der, or soon will be, of selling at fair profit
to settlers, and a State free from the incubus
OF debt, will do more to invite emigration than
anything else.
A meeting, we see, is to be held at the
Court House next Saturday, the 9th, to con-
slider this matter, and to determine whether
this county will be represented in the Conven-
tion at Iowa City, if it is held. We hope the
farmers and tax payers OF the county will
turn out in such numbers as to reflect fully the
sentiments Of our people in relation to this, as
it seems to us, most dangerous and unwise
proposition. At all events, il general at
tendence of the people cannot be obtained and
we can hardly expect it, as probably not one in
ten will hear Of the meeting. or its object, We
do hope that few individuals will not nuder-
take to represent the sentiments of the people
Of this county, upon question of SO serious
and momentous character.