The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-10-30
Railroad Communication with
Lake Superior.

cation which appeared in the PIONEER. of
Saturday, relative to railroad communi-
cation between the Mississippi and supe
rlor, has revived the old spirit, which our
correspondent alluded to, as the special
and most formidable obstacle to the COM
mencement and completion of such an
enterprise. He said, very truly, that,
"Social jealousies, or personal or political
rivalries, have always interfered to influ-
ence Minnesota Legislatures to such an
extent that their action has constantly
made any prosecution of the work totally
impracticable.
The Press, in its discussion of this
subject, has already become so intemper-
ate in its denunciations of measures and
men, as to give rise to the fear that the
old demon still lives to thwart, and, if
possible, to strangle, one by one, every
scheme which seems likely to promote
Mlnnesota's favorite railroad connection.
Ii We cannot, as citizens of Saint Paul,
approach this subject in a spirit of reason,
can,or and courtesy, it is better not to
discuss it at all. If every man who offers
a suggestion is to be therefor charged with
attempting "to retrieve desperate ven
tures,' and desiring to accomplish some
purpose the result of which is to be a per-
petual tax on the rest of mankind for his
personal and private advantage, it would
be better for US to stand still and let time
and chance work out the problem. Such
charges, however. always give rise to the
suspicion that there are other vital interests
than those attacked, which have deep
stake in the result of the proposed effort
and that such vital interests may be the
personal, peculiar and private property of
those, who, under cover of desire to pro-
mote the public veal, deal in so much de-
annexation and abuse.
In the discussion of an important public
measure like this, we are not conscious of
having any ends to serve which are incom-
patible with the general interests of our
City and State. We are willing to take
every plan which is proposed to effect the
object IN view, upon its own merits; to
consider its advantages and disadvanta-
ges, and, if any shall show merit and
ST. ength enough to make its success posi-
BILE as we'll as desirable, we shall do all in
oui power to render success certain; and
to so shape it that it shall cooperate with
our other railroad enterprises in making
Saint Paul the commercial centre of Min
uesota, and the adjacent region of the
Northwest. Now, in this light, let us for
a moment look at this project for a rail-
road from St Croix river or lake to the
west end of Lake Superior and bayfield,,
SO properly brought to public attention by
our correspondent.
1t appears that this enterprise is now in
the hands of eastern stockholders and
practical railroad men; that the stock
holders have elected a board of directors,
who have determined to complete forty
miles from Hudson, in 1864, and who con-
template commencing operations on the
Lake Superior end of the line at an early
day 1t does not appear that any sub
scriptions to capital stock have been asked
for in St. Paul. We know of no effort in
our midst to secure aid by loan of public
credit, or otherwise, on behalf of this COM
pany The enterprise goes on whether we
will or no. We cannot stop it. We are
not importuned to aid it. Under these
circumstances, can we reasonably hope to
accomplish anything for ourselves by a
vain opposition, made up of abuse of those
who give the Hudson and Lake Superior
project its vitality? How does the Press,
or the advocates of direct line, propose
to prevent this company from accomplish
ing its determined purpose? Perhaps
denunciation of lot-owners in Bayfield, may
do it: and, if so, why not join in thed Q
nunciatiOn, also, those who are unfortu-
nate enough to own lots in Superior? Or,
is here another indication of "local ieal-
ousies, and political and personal rival
ries," which are to be evoked, not for the
public good, but to gain some temporary
advantage, or wreak some petty spite?
We are not sufficiently informed as to
the advantages of the route from Hudson
to the west end of Lake Superior and Bay
field, to judge of its comparative merits.
Nor is this cur concern Stockholders,
the men who invest their means and build
the road, looking to it for return upon
capital expended, are the parties to see to
this. Mere assertion, however, is not
sufficient to satisfy US that Hudson, six
teen miles east of Saint Paul, is very much |
farther from Lake Superior than we are;
or that, if this road shall be built, the
farmers of two-thirds of Minnesota are to
be forced thereby to pay perpetual tax
of thirty-six per cent. on all the freights
received or forwarded by the lakes.