Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1868-01-28
The Five Thous md Dollar Railroad Aid

county, another along the Mississippi
iver, another from Mineral Point
north 10y the way Of Muscoda,a foutrf
known as the PlatteviIle and Gala
mine-perhaps fifth, known as tht
Southern Wisconsin, all these in ad-
dition to the Milwaukee and Prairie
du Chen road.
Such events then appeared anc
now appear about as probable az any
events wrapt in that future wei
which none are allowed to unwinC
till near the dawn of light Indeed
we looked upon such parts of these
works as must surely be put through
in time as being good for several mil,
lions to the land valuation Of the
whole county.
Well knowing that considerable
local aid must be provided by the
people to help along such improve,
ments, we set about preparing the
public mind therefor. It will be re
membcrcd that we proposed county
and town taxation for helping build
railroads, and published several ar.
articles in the Herald advocating the
same Also, that Mr. W. w. Field
contributed couple of able article
on the same side-the single design
being to feel the public mind so that
it might be certainly judged what the
people would do when called upon
for railroad aid. There was no dis.
tinct method in view by the writers
nor object, further than to call out
opinions and test the peoples minds
The objects were exactly accomplish
cd, for such opponents as TX. Y. T., -
victorious in the discussion-very
plainly carrying the public mind
against Us, and showing US what we
feared would be the case, that the
people would not stand county taxa
ton, if at all town taxation, for rail
roads. Very few indeed appeared
on our side, though there appeared no
particular opposition to the main
views of Mr. Field in his arguments
favoring some reasonable aid of
towns for such and other local enter-
prises of general public utility.
We considered the public mind in
Grant county fairly and intelligently
tried-their verdict being >tenths
against US, in that discussion of the
right and profit Of county aid to rails
roads.
Now, as to the proposed Fire
ThouSan Dollar State Aid to Rail
r0adS"-for every mile hereafter built.
We conclude thus and SO: Thore be
ing no essential difference at all be-
tween state aid and county aid, in
fact state aid being far less objection.
able. because in some counties there
would be no railroads to build, yet
such would have to pay as much
railroad tax as those building many
miles Of railroad and considering
that the questions at issue in this
state aid business were thoroug Iy
discussed last year in Grant county,
and such taxation aid thundcringly
co ymned, we take il that any man,
parry or power now going for the
like will have to stay at home for q
while till the thing is forgotten or
worse dangers arise. In the PIatteville
and Calaminc enterprise-numbers of
farmers seem to prefer hauling their
stuifs TO market at Galena, thirty or
forty miles, for life time Of years to
come, rather than vote a ten or 20
! dollar tax on their lands, and have
therefor a railroad market within
FIVE or eight miles. 1t is just so ev-
erywhere through the state and
when such aids are carried by the
strategy of our public men, the farm
ers to be very largely enriched there
by, the people remain Of the same
opinion still, and repudiate their
bonded debts--as in the case of Iowa
county they have done for tue Min
eral Point railroad.
No richer blessing ever happened
any people than fell upon the people
Of Iowa county in their getting that
railroad to Mineral Point, yet they
would tomorrow forego all rather
than pay the small debt incurred for
that road And so it is everywhere
the people oppose railroad building at
their expense, even to giving the right
of way aud they also complain OF
the railroad transportation charges
although such charges are not third
of what it formerly cost TO cart pro-
duce to Milwaukee with full teams
The SIS 5000 state aid TO railroads
therefore ought to lay on the table :ol
being unpopular-we think justly SO
because Of the clear injustice in max.
ing parts of the state having no in
terest in railroads, pay for the same
in parts already we'll supplied with
railroads. Also, because the people
getting Il railroad through state tax.
alton pay no more than those having
not even hope Of any railroad fol
fifty years County aid and taxation
of IS 600 per mile for railroads woul(
much nearer approximate justice, be-
cause the money expended woulC
surely adu 10 lne county Valuauor
and the farm wealth ten times the
expense. Town aid by taxation
would still be more equitable fol
building railroads, and in some case'
land distriets-say in bounds Of
miles on either side of roads, ought
to lend such aid by taxation
For these reasons aud minor ones
we hope the Legislature will enact nj
law giving a state aid of $4,000 pc
mile for building railroads. This
people oppose the like, as they hav'
a right to-right or wrong.
GENERAL GRANT AMONG Ills OH
NEIGuBoRs.-A Grant Club has beer