The independent. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Kan.) 1860-1874, 1865-09-23

IS q QueSsiOu WISH al 10 consiuei
calmly. both friends and opponents Of
the measure proposed.
Still further: In any even, the pro-
posed road will run near enough to
Jackson county to be Of considerable
advantage to the people there; for while
the benefits of the road eastwardly will
not reach to exceed eight or ten miles
because the market-towns are all TO
The eastward, westwardly the benefits
will reach twenty or twenty miles,
and for The same. reason that they SO
eastwardly-or towards the road In
their case-to get to market at any rate.
and the road will bring the market that
much nearer 10 them. This, also. is
self-evident. Now. shall We tax our
selves for the benefit Of Jackson county?
Another thing. Has any one ever
known single case of county sub
scribing TO the stock of railroad and
not coming off swindled in the end !? If
any one has he will do the public ia
.0n --i---5- ---i --L--.e-i f..-..;,L
the proof. There are citizens Of this
county who know ,ha, contracts and
bonds have been lost or destroyed,
where conditions were made to the SUBJ
scribiug of stock. and the counties COM
PEELED to pay the stock without the ben
eft of the conditions; and these cases
have been, 10 all appearances. just as
strong and well guarded as the one be-
fore US now. May We not be defrauied
in the same way? May bonds no: be
lost? or some flaw be found in the con
tract? or some other dod ge resorted 10
10 over-reach the county? We all know
this has been the history OF railroad
projects from the beginning; and human
nature and railroad companies are the
same now they ever were. Corpora
tions are soulIess and not to be trusted.
More yet. Ii was stated by the friends
of this measure on Wednesday evening
that the Missouri river was no, navi-
gable stream in the face of fifty years
experience TO the conirary-of the fact
that lha, river alone has built up Leav-
enwOr,h and Kansas cities, and in good
part Atchison and St. Joseph. righ, on
our borders. Now, l ask. is not a cause
that requires giving the lie directly 10
the works Of the Almighty. a desperate
one? Il is awell established principle
of law. that il a witness clearly tells
falsehood in one part OF bis testimony,
it destroys the whole Of it. And the
same rule holds 10 petition TO bring
suit or other legal paper. BY this rule
is no, the entire evidence Of the friends
of the measure rendered null and void,
and oil their promises and pledges OF
no account?
l believe in railroads; they are indes-
pensable in these days: but l don't be-
lieve in the promises of railroad compa-
MES. for the simple reason that never
knew them lived up to in single in
stance; and if they conclude 10 cEea; us
they have the money and Tie power TO
do it; and we shall not be able to help
ourselves.
II is thought our plan is hedged in
and we'll guarded; and SO it appears; but
as strong guards have been broken
down BY other companies, aud We have
nc assurance that it will not be done in
this instance.
l make this s,a,emen, fearless!y; that
if We subscribe Sl50.OOO stock to the
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Rail-
road Company. We will have it TO PAR,
whefI.er the conditions are complied Nth
or not.
Look at the matier The conditions
are exposed in the notice Of the com
missioners. Who are tie parties to the
contract? Why only tie commissioners
No pledge Of the railroad company; no
pledge even of its President. The con-
ditions are not signed by him, and il
they were The signature would be OF no
force unless he was authorized to enter
into the agreement, sign and seal the
same by the company. Nothing Of this
kind has been done. The bargain is
all on one side. IL is we, The people 0
Jefferson county making a bargain with
ourselves, aud upon this onesided af-
fair we are are asked TO risk Sl50, 900 |
principal and $4,000 interest, or
S420, 900 iu all! Are the people SO
blind as not TO see this )? What do our
conditions with ourselves amount 10
when We are in the power Of souIless
corporation
Take = stronger case than this. There
was prosposiiion to build an air-line
road in Warren county. Ohio. and sub |