Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1868-03-21
River Falls. March I6. 1867.


Our readers are probably aware Of the ma
ture Of the amendment to the State Consti-
tuition. introduced into the Senate year ago.
by Senator NJ A. FULros, Of this District,
providing that the State should pay $1,000
per mile to any Railroad company for each
| mile of Railroad built in the State and equip
ped in first class manner, no money to be
paid until at least twenty miles was thus
built and equipped. The amendment was
carefully drawn, and fully guarded against
the payment of any money until the work
was satisfactorily done.
This amendment required to bC passed by
| two successive Legislatures and ratified by
the vote Of the people before going into eff
feet.
The proposition at first was received with
but little favor, but discussion of its merits,
and better understanding of its prospective
advantages, gained it many friends, and it
passed the Senate year ago BY nearly
unanimous vote, and the Assembly by large
majority. 1t was confidently expected by
| the friends of the measure that it would pass
the last Legislature and be submitted to the
| people for their action.
We regret to say that it was defeated in the
the Senate on close vote. 1t finally passed
with some notifications, so changing its
character that its passage by the previous
Legislature was of no effect and in this mu-
| tilated form it was sent into the Assembly the
| last day of the session, where Mr.. Fulton, then
| in that House, moved its indefinite postpone
ment. The measure had clear majority OF
friends in the Assembly, but lit was understood
| that it would be killed in the Senate. and as
the important business of the session was
over, many of the members, including most
of those from the North, had left, and only
about so were in attendance. The bill re-
| quiring at least 81 affirmative votes, it was
useless to expect them under the circumstan-
ces, even if in its amended form its friends
had desired 10 pass it, and So Mr.. Fulton done
wisely in seeing it deeently buried for the
present.
We regret TO say that the measure met with
steady opposition from oar Senator, Mr.. Copp,
and its defeat is probably attributable to him
We accuse him Of no unworthy motive, but
regret that his judgement led him to differ
with most Of his constituents, and with all the
Senators and Assemblyman from the North
ern part of the state, both East and West.
| II is true that this measure was not ma-e an
issue in the election last fall, but we suppose
- -. ,ee,,x,..l ~, "a, ,,,a fr,v, hf-. -,,,I -
| in favor of it, and we do not think any man
could have been elected whoswas known to
be hostile to it,,
We will not discuss the merits of this meas
ure, nor show bow vital it is 10 the prosperi-
| ty of the Northwest and indeed to most OF
the State. 1t rests substantially on the same
a, gunents which induce Congress to grant
aid to rallroads-on the fact that Railroads.
are the great agents in developing the resour-
ces. increasing the activity and augmenting
the wealth of community, and can hardly
be secured at too great q cost. 1t is capable
of convincing demonstration, that the propos-
ed aid, if granted, would decrease rather than
| augment taxation. With thin help the st.
Croix and Tomah Road would be speedily
completed, aud the aid granted would be but
triie compared with the increased valae Of
real estate alone which would result from its
completion. The same beneficial result
would accrue to other sections which have
projected lines Of road that would start into
vigorous life under the stimulus of this meas
| ure.
The friends of The measure VIII spare no
effort to secure its adoption, but its recent de-
feat necessitates an irksome delay OF at least
two years Mr.. Fulton can have the satisfac-
ton of knowing that he labored faithfully
for its adoption, and deserves the gratitude es-
pecially of the Northern portion of the State
That it failed was no fault of his, as he
successfully carried it through each House
| of which be was a member.