Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1867-06-13
Oshkosh g. Mississippi Rail Hoad.


kosh lately passed an ordinance TO submit
the Question to the people Of aiding IN the
construction of the above road by sub
scribing to the capital stock. The ordin-
ance was vetoed by the mayor, ne giving
his reasons for SO doing. An election has
since Seen held in the fourth ward Of the
city for an alderman, to fill a vacancy.
Two candidates were before the people, and
as they were both of the same political
faith, and did not differ on other issues,
the only issue between them was the grant
ing Of aid to the railroad and the 1o'7"-
sestsrn informs US that the msjorit IN Ia
vor of the candidate who opposed the or
dinance was so overwhelming that it must
be considered an emphatic rejection Of the
proposition. We make the following ex-
tract from an editorial in that paper:
"Briehy, the situation may be stated
thus:
No railroad will be built unless an am
cunt Of stock is subscribed sufficient to
prepare the road bed for considerable
section Of the road.
No individual will subscribe largely to
the stock, unless there is probability
that enough will be subscribed to secure
that result No body expects that enough
20 secure that result will be subscribed by
individuals without aid from the towns,
cities and villages especially interested.
Oshkosh, being the largest and most i'm
portant point on the line, the headquarters
Of the company, and most deeply interest
ed in the construction of the road, no 9TH
er village, city or town on the line will
take any action in the matter until the IN
itiatory steps are taken here.
If the authorities of this city were au-
thorized to subscribe to the capital stock,
they could enter into contract with the
company to do SO, whenever a sufficient
amount is secured by similar contracts
with other municipal corporations and by
individual subscriptions, to insure the COM
pletion of reasonable section Of road bed,
ready for the iron. All experience justi-
fies the assumption that if this was done,
the road could be put IN running condition
upon that section.
1t seems that the people of Oshkosh are
not disposed to take the first necessary
step of granting this power to the city au-
thorities. L ~a
Why?
The veto message Of the mayor, and the
whole discussion at the polls of the fourth
ward election, served to show conclusively
that the principal objection to granting
this authority, was based upon the facts
81 ck c1cc <xff ha
that $l5, 900 shall be paid or rendered to
the owners of the road bed, right of way
and other property, of the Winnebago rail
road company, as a condition precedent to
doing anything else, and that those who
claim to be the owners Of the property, un-
der sale by order of the U. S. court, are
represented in the board Of directors of
this company. 1t is not our purpose to
discuss the question whether the prejudice
thereby created against the project is well
founded. We arc simply trying to state
clearly the existing facts, to account for the
evident public sentiment which now pre-
walls in this city upon the subject. The
prejudice exists, created mainly by the
causes above stated, and, SO long as like
causes produce like effects, is likely to con
to argue upon the facts that it would cost
more money to do the work already done
than to buy it, that the owners Of the SIS,
600 claim, offer to give an extension o
time and let the work 60 on, and that M
body desires that the city authorized by +;
vote of the electors, shall subscribe dol
lar excepting upon condition that enough
shall be subscribed elsewhere to secure
valuable results, and under satisfactory re
strictions, by contract as to the mode o.
expanding the money.
All such arguments are futile against
the knowledge that there are those con
nected with the organization who have q
separate, distinct and adverse interest,
greater than their interest in the projected
enterprise, and that the charter seems tC
play directly into their hands,
Under these circumstances, it seems un
fortunate for all concerned that the condi
ton was ever urged, or admitted into this
charter. 1t is unfortunate for the holder.
of the claim, because there is no human
probability that any company constructing
railroad upon that route would make
new grade in preference to buying the ole
one at the price fixed, and, unfortunate fol
them and for the project, because it is diff
ficult to see now, how the condition prece
dent, SO long as it remains, can operate
otherwise than as an absolute bar to any
action at all !; while, without it, speedy &C
ton would at least be probable. We say thu
because we have no doubt that the pcopl
Of our city arc strongly in favor Of the pro
ject upon its merits, and willing to give i
substantial aid. We believe also that, TO
the reasons above stated, they would b
willing to vote the authority which seems
to be a necessary preliminary step to an,
movement to ascertain what can be don
elsewhere on the line. We are certain
that any who should construe any actor
which has been taken, as an indication Q
hostility to the PROTECTED railroad upon tn
part of any portion Of our people, woul,
fall into a great error. The statement Q
the cause Of the present difficulty suggest
remedy. The condition precedent in tn
railroad charter, which is furnishing tn
weapon to beat the life out of the Who'll
project, must be disposed Of, by repea
or other satisfactory arrangement, or it wi
dispose Of the project itself, and add or
more to tho list of brilliantly conceive
abortions to be looked back upon in OF
history, when greater enterprise and unit
of action may have placed other cities Fl
Ahead Of us in the race for prosperity an
greatness. -
We say the above things in all good vi
towards every one concerned. We do M