Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1868-01-21
State Aid to Railroads.

The state cannot aid or furnish
money for building railroads for want
of constitutional ability. 1t is now
proposed to so amend the state con-
stitution as TO enable the Legislature
60 bind the state for the payment OF
$4,000 per mile for all railroads here's
after made in the state. Senator
Webb appears to be at the head Of
this movement TO amend the Consti>
tuition. Webb is we'll known as an
economical distractionist
The people of a state, county or
town have a moral right to tax them
selves for making railroads, and
majority may rightfully tax minor
ity for the like. This is supposing
that enabling laws exist for the like,
which is not the case, only in special
cases. Last year we argued in the
Herald for end some wrote against
such right Of the people to vote
county and town aid for making
railroads. Our design was only to
test the public Of Grant County up
on this subject.
But the right 10 p this and many
other things docs not imply that the
like should be done-or that afiirma
tive right and power necessarily re-
quires Affirmative action We have
many rights which it would be wrong
10 exercise And in this whole mat
ter of taxation our rights and pow
ers over minorities should be exer>
csed with the greatest care, else out
RACES may grow out of an exercise Of
our right in voting burthensome
taxes for the best public improv-
ments, as for railrods, highways and
even schools.
1t is impossible to estimate the
amount OF money that the state
would have to appropriate and the
people have TO raise by taxation for
building railways, were this
amendment proposed by Senator
Webb to be adopted by the egisla~
ture and people Of Wisconsin,. Every
twenty miles Of railroad would cost
the state 100000, and 100 miles cost
half million, Such appropriations
once begun could not stop 50 long
as railroads are to be built, for every
section of the state must be helped
alike-to 50, 900 per mile tor nj! nee
essary and unnecessary railways
The Erie Canal, Cumberland Road,
National Turnpike, and other state
and national improvements will be
referred to as useful enterprises built
at the state aud national expense.
Very we'll. Such works had their
day when he experiment Of opening
great highways at the public ex
pense had to be made at the public
expense or not at all. Capitalists
would not then as now associate their
energy and capital for the like. The
people generally opposed the build
ing OF such works, supposing that
thereby the carrying trade would be
cut off and no demand for horses
But the public mind has changed SO
that such works have the public sup
port and capital to aid them, nothing
required of the state except charters
and the right to force their way
through the lands OF private owners.
On behalf Of the public, therefore,
and while conceding the right of the
people to tax themselves almost
any way they may see fit for
railroads, we protest any action at
this time either authorizing or bind
ing the state to pay S., 900 or any
other sum per milo for making rail
roads. 1t would be unwise in more
ways than one, ana surely cause dis
satisfaction among the people. We
hope our members from Grant will
oppose the Webb amendment.