Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1867-08-06
Milwaukee, Platteville and Dubuque Rail
road Almost Pos We Work.

road Almost Pos We Work.
1t is understood that if the people
of the several towns along this route, |
which is laid down by way of Platte
Mounds, can raise about $4,000, or
enough to grade and iron the road.
they can have a railroad. These
are dear terms, it may seem but then
as they will own the whole amount in
first and second class mortgage stock
and thus own the road, and control
1T In great measure. they will have
one of the best bargains ever made
in the railroad line of business. And
were all the railroads thus made and
owned by the people we should not
hear complaints of railroad taritfmo-s
nopolies-perhaps not. However,we
doubt whether farmers are less mo-
nopolists than other great people
when the power falls into their hands
But still, we should rather Judge ia
vorably of the farmers owning the
railroads, instead of the railroads
owning the farmers.
Well, in this matter, Patteville, il
is well understood, must do the big
thing toward railroad, or The work
fail. Plattevi lie must build the fire,
conduct the blast and strike when
the iron is hot; she must WELD the
sledge that is TO overcome what is
inert, and must supply q mountain
part of the revenues
The subscriptions thus far stand as
follows
Beecher Of the Mineral Point r.. R., $4,000
Citizens Of Plattevilie, $4,000
$4,000
TO which may be added tao amount
voted Saturday last by the town of
PlattcvIlle, 100000, to be paid in
yearly instruments Of $4,000 for ten
years without interest. The vote up>
on the question of raising said sum
was as follows: For the aid, 476
otes-against, 40, the total vote cast
$40. 1t was remarkably unanimous.
1t IS understood that those opposing
the aid will give their assent just so
soon as they can see that the road
is to be built-which is of a piece
with any other Irish Bull As
matter of course the road will be built
if money enough is raised. But these
forty negatives only stand in the
way to hinder what they profess to
favor ,cheneUer moneu enough shall be
raised If they. and their like will
just step aside or get over on the
other platform the work cannot fail.
The towns Of Lima and Harrison,
in Grant County, and OF Bashford,
Belmont and Kendall, in Lafayette,
are expected, in justice to themselves
and this great work, to do reason
able part in raising what remains to
be pledged of the S450,000.
The farmers Of said towns may
have some doubts as to what they
ought to do and what aid they ought
to offer. In view of Judging rightly,
let committees of farmers represent
ing each farm vicinity or town, start
and visit Warren, Belyidiere, Rock
ford and other towns which, same as
Platteville, had made starts in the
world before any railroad came near
them. And let them go q few miles
into the country back of said great
towns and inquire Of farmers what
have been the benefits, if any, of
railroad We should expect these
questions propounded "What was
the rise Of land Immediately upon the
prospect Of the old Galena and Chioa-
60 railroad, and what the rise soon
after the road was finished and the
present value of farm lands? And
what of market facilities-how much
per cent. more is bushel of grain
worth than if it had to be hauled ID
to 20 miles to some other railroad ?
And how much greater IS the real
worth of lands with q railroad than
without %
We should expect to hear just such
answers rs these returned, because
we happened in the year 1850-at
which time the road was building, to
have travelled q dozen times along
the old road from Scales Mound to
Chicago, stopping much Of our time
at Warren, Belvedere and Rockford
"Srs, the rise of land was at least
100 per cent. upon the fact being
made known that we were to have
railroad then when the road was
finished, orr lands rose another loo
per cent. Before the road was built
the markets were poor, but first rate
ever since the road was finished
Grain Just rose at once in proportion
to the distance gained in hauling
The real worth Of lands is much
greater with raiIways--should say al
least double"
Now, we should be pleased to hear
the reports Of such committees of
such farmers upon their return home
charged to the muzzle with rail-
road ammunition and discharging with
laundering effects. Here is u way
to settle all the points as to what
one ought to subscribe and pay for
q railroad to Platteville, and wheth-
er it will pay for towns to vote aid
and all the like matters. Platteville
is not yet sure of a railroad, and will
not be sure till the people of neigh>
boring towns respond favorably. =
The non. action of few men, even
of one man, may cause the whole
work to fail. Whoever, in view of
self>iustiication in refusing to aid
the work, thinking to play the sneak
and yet in the end have the profits
of railroad, really does more to kill
the work than he can afford to. No
man can afford to refuse an out-and>
ont railway aid for this great work.
MAGooN FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL
1t is said that Attorney General Gill |
does not desire denomination. The |