The Goodhue volunteer. [volume] (Red Wing, Goodhue County, Minn.) 1861-1864, 1863-04-29
Railroad Meeting.

NJ the Court House to consider proposition
that had been made by the acting President
OF the St. Paul and Pacific Railroad Com
pany to the citizens Of this placs, in common
with the citizens of the other towns and cities
in the valley of the Mississippi River be-
tween St. Paul aid Winona. That propo
sition Was embodied in communication re-
ceived by the Hon. Chas. Mcclure, and one
OF like import, aid we believe, identical in
language, received by Judge Wilder.
The substance of the communication was
that the Legislature Of this State, at it's last
session, granted to the Company aforesaid,
certain swamp lands to all in the construc-
ton Of a branch road from St. Paul to Wi
nona-that the preliminary survey Of the
road would cost about $4,OCO-that, if that
amount could be raised by the towns, or the
citizens OF the towns through which it pass.
cs, the engineers would be Immediately put
to work and after the survey shall have
been completed, and report thereof made,
the matter will be brought before the public
for subscription to stock, and as soon as
enough is taken to justify the act: the road
will be let on ccntrat for construction All
who shall have advanced anything for the
survey shall receive therefor shares of stock
to the full amount.
The time for the meeting to consider this
proposition, of such vital interest to Red
Wing arrived, and instead of finding the
Court House crowded to its utmost capacity,
as we expected to find it, there were not
more than dozen persons present. Sup
posing that, perhaps, the notice had not
been sufficiently general, the meeting was
adjourned one week, and great efforts made
to get the people out, but with scarcely bet,
ter success than before and we then and
there became settled in the disagreeabe
conviction we he'd long harborcd, that the
men Of Rcd Wing who profe, IS TO be bust.
ness men are altogether void Of that enter
prise that is requisite to the proper and sue
ccsstul conduct Of business. They always
refuse to let one dollar go unless just one
dollar and twenty cents is to find it's way
back Immediately. a larger profit horrifies
them, smaller one they consider poor
investment. Less than bakers dozen was
out at the SECOND meeting, and they con
cluded to make one more effort to get the
people together. Not dime was subscribed.
Contrast that with the liberality with which
the people OF Hastings responded to the pro-
position, and We ought to hide our heads in
very shame at the supremacy Of our mean
ness. At the meeting held in that city
week ago last Saturday evening, $475 was
subscribed, and in less than a week from
that time the subscription had reached over
81, 900. See how it looks on paper. Hast
ings, $1,000. Red Wing, $4,000. Who
likes the comparison ?
We have never seen a place where the
business men were so narrow in their views,
and so 10th to extend the facilities Of bust
ness. Where is tho community on the face
OF tn" earth that would look quietly on and
see so largo and rapidly increasing trade as
that Of Pierce county, Wis. going off every
day because it is unable to get here
Five hundred dollars would build a ferry
that would secure to Red Wing a yearly
trade Of not less than $l5, 900; but not one
OF them will start in the matte. for fear that
some other one will &c. some share Of il.
Where is the community that would be 50
utterly careless OF their interests as to allow
their neighboss to monopolize the benefits
and advantages Of the railroad system, when,
by the asking, they could Come in for a
share ? We have never heard such tlimsev
excuses given for not being interested in
matter as is given BY the opposers to this
Valley Railroad. Every ono Of them say
at will be disadvantage to the town."
In the name Of good sense, how? L, will
furnish means Of communication and trans
portation to our citizens will that damage
them Or do they consider j. an exquisite
luxury {" cart goods and tramp on foot
through the mud every spring from La
Crosse, to be deprived OF which would be
a disadvantage to them. The river, per-
haps. is also a disadvantage to the place
it runs BY, and its passengers 60 right By
Red Wing without stopping. II railroad
is damage to place. on the same srouad
that that fact is established We affirm tina,
the river is public nuisance. Why ? why
because it carries away our produce it
brings our mails; it affords Us An easy means
OF conveyance. In every one Of these re
spec.s thu railroad is side BY side with the
river But il the river is a benefit, then the
railroad is greater. because its benefits ex.
tend through The whole year, while those
OF the river are taken away half Of the time.
There il one argument used that would
look we'll ia frame That is the rs;,rr,as3