Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1868-04-17
The Railroad.

In our last issue We puDilSned tue law
authorizing the town and village of Dodge
vile to issue bonds in aid of the extension
of the Mineral Point railroad. We pre-
sumo our readers have become somewhat
familiar with its provisions, and are pre-
pared to answer at the ballot box whether
they will pledge their faith in the construc-
ton of the road or not. Without our peo-
pie grant the aid, the road cannot be built.
With that aid, communication will be
opened by rail with the east, north and
south and west. 1t is question, practic-
al and business-like, one that appeals to
our pride and our ambition, one that we
should meet without murmur, knowing
that the benefits to be accrued are ten.
fold. We do not believe that any man
having the welfare of the town at heart
will oppose this great project. 1t does
not seem possible that any would oppose
public improvement after the experience
of the last few years. The want of a rail.
road is felt SO much, that its acquisition
has become necessity. We see in other
towns the marks of improvement. Manu-
lectures and all manner of trades neces-
sarily centering wherever the communica.
tions are the best, while we as town and
village are quietly looking on, knowing
that we are daily losing ground, and grad
ually one by one, our people are seeking
other parts, where business is more lucra-
tive, and better facilities are offered for
transportation, and where other improve
ments, especially schools, are had. Can
we longer see this, withoutan effort9 We
have long slept, imagining that some day
a Vanderbilt or Beecher would construct
a road, saving us the trouble Of touching
our own pockets. We have feared the
cost, and stood aloof from the great work
not daring to grasp when within our reach.
We have ridiculed the prosperity Of our
neighbors, not thinking that we were con-
stantly driving from our midst those who
would have been giants in this matter, and
who had patiently waited for US as peo-
pie to fall into the ranks and assume pro-
gressive state.
These remarks may be thought harsh
and unkind, yet our readers, if they think
a moment, will join with us and declare
them but too true. The great trouble is,
we have neglected our interests, and al
lowed ourselves to look on the blind side.
While we have been patient, waiting for
something to turn up favorable to us, we
have seen the golden moments pass, and
drawn a sigh Of regret, awoke but for a
moment, then sleep, forgetting the necessi-
ties arising from the want of a firm resolve
to advance our own positions in life, and
prepare an onward course for those that
shall follow us in the great work of i'm
provement.
Let us now throw off this lethargy, and
commence anew in earnest. We appeal to
all our citizens to unite and meet this
question fairly and squarely, and ere
another year rolls around,we shall have a
railroad to Dodgeville.
We believe that in the construction of
this road, Dodgeyille may become the com
msrciali center OF the county. The pop
ulation will naturally enough increase, and
property advancing, compel us to rise in
the scale of greatness. We have every ia
cility around us, and boasting as we do of
farming country second to none in the
state, the completion of the road gives a
ready market for the produce for miles
about the town. 1t may be safely estima-
ted that in and around Dodgeville there
was raised duringlast year: