The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1859-12-30
Wisconsin Rai1roads-their Cost
and Benefits.


First These grants were made by
Congress to the State Of Wisconsin, as
Trustee, for the purpose Of aiding in the
construction Of two important lines Of Rail
yoad-one to run north-westerly from
point Of intersection with Milwaukee
road, to ST. Paul in Minnesota, thence north
TO the head Of Lake Superior-the other
north to Lake Superior, to develope the
almost boundless resources Of a vast ex-
tent Of rich agricultural and mineral re-
gions Of country, by connecting their trade
with the commerce Of the East.
Second. 1t was the design Of Congress
in making these grants, that these Roads
should be located and built on the most
direct and feasible routes between the ex-
treme points to be connected thereby, and
that the consideration for making them
should be secured to the federal govern
ment by the Trustee securing to itself, by
tie proper use Of its own instrumentalites,
the great benefits to flow from the accom-
plishment of the objects proclaimed 10 be
had in view by those seeking these aids
from Congress.
Third These grants Of land were OBJ
tanned through a combined influence. /
Michigan, who desired Railroad to cross
the State in extension Of the two great
Grand Understanding on Lake Mich
igan, one at Grand Haven, and the other
at Pcre Marquette, and connections with
Lake Superior by Road from Manitowoc
via Green Bay, and the Upper Mississippi
BY a Road from Manitowoc to ST. Paul.
2. sheboygan, Mauitowoc, AMI Green Bay
which sought to obtain aid for Roads
respectively, via Stevens Point to the Mis-
sissippi at St. Paul g. St. Paul and 9th
er towns on the Upper Mississippi, which
desired this As the most direct Road con-
Meeting them with the commerce of the
Atlantic coast.
The Representative in Congress from
Milwaukee, in conjunction with the Rep
resentatives from Chicago, which owned OF
controlled the action of the Wisconsin Rep
resentatiye from this Northern District
had sufficient influence to change the pro
posed Eastern and Southern termini o
these two grants, and they could not have
f,rTf for
routes upon the map showing that Sheboy-
gan, Manitowoc, and Green Bay could in
tersect the North western route at Stevens
Point, and the Northern route at Fond du
Lac, Menasha, and Green Bay; and these
routes were taken and adopted as compro.
mise lines by and lc:ween the respective
parties These facts were well known to
the Railroad spectators at Milwaukee, who
went to Madison during the memorable
session Of the Legislature Of 1856, and
endorsed by the press and backed by the
whole combined force of the people of that
city, sought through three of their several
Railroad corporations to obtain the con
troll Of the Northwestern grant, and who,
after corruptly parcelling out upon paper
among themselves considerable portion
of the anticipated value to arise from this
grant, and executing and exchanging con-
tracts, signing and issuing stock and bonds
as representatives. Of that value, organized
Board of Directors composed of promi-
nent fnanciers and leading politicians of
the two political parties residing in Nil.
waukee, who became the managers for tie
time being, of the Lacrosse and Milwaukee
Railroad, that was 20 become by the terms
Of the corrupt bargains made, the recipient
of the grant, and they succeeded in obtain
ing it by purchase from the Legislative and
Executive Departments Of the State Gov
eminent.
1t was al first feared by those through
whose efforts principally this grant was
obtained from Congress. that the Lacrosse
and Milwaukee Railroad Company might,
If they obtained it, use it merely for the
purpose of securing the construction o.
their present Road to tile Mississippi, and
defeat the objects of the grant and tho
the President and Attorney Of that com
pany exhibited their carefully prepared
map locating the line of the Road ric
Stevens Point to the Mississippi river, over
the contemplated and what was regarded
the only feasible as well as generally des
red route, and asservated that it was theil
design to carry out in good faith the OBJ
ject Of the grant By building the Road up
On, or as nearly as practicable to that
route, those fears were not quoted until 4
re organization Of the company, ay the SC.
lection and election of said managers " he
had the confidence Of the whole communi
~ as being men of moral worth, and o
enlarged experience and great fnancia
ability, in whose hands the trust could b,
safely and securely reposed.
Fourth. This important trust, obtained
Ly these managers by false pretepce. ,, !;