The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1868-10-09
Railroads.

submitted report recommending achange
Of the Constitution to.enable the State to-
render aid to railroads hereafter to be con-
structed within.its limits, From that re-
port we give below few extracts
Railroads have nov became the right
hand of internal Improvements.
To imagine for moment what would be
Cur condition without them, would be to
realize Their great importance in relation to
our national prosperity, and to cause a de,
sire that our own State may not be left be-
hind her sister States in the march of pro-
gress, In population and wealth, for want OF
material aid by the whole people, in the
construction of new lines OF railroad, ims
peratively demanded by the best interests
of the State l'5-f
Wisconsin possesses geographical, COM
merclal and other advantages inferior to
none Of the now northwestern states, and if
we would have our state maintain that pos
ition among its neighbors, which nature
seems to have designed, We must not
stand still in regard tosnew railroad enter
prises, while they are being pushed forward
around US by individual capital and enter
prise aided and stimulated by the fostering
care of the several states. ;.
Precedents In this direction have been
set by northern Atlantic and many western
states, as We'll as the general government,
the wisdom and propriety of which are not
now seriously questioned.
Extensive grants of the pu bic domain
have, from time to time, been made in
trust to various states and corporations, to
aid in the construction of lines of railroad
IN ho a.
directions through the several states, uni
ting them all and their several parts with
the commerce of the east, and across the
continent, binding the Pacific with the At
lantic by bands not to be broken.
To the Union Pacific railroad and Gem
trail Pacific united from the Missouri river
to California, IS, 600, 900 acres.
10 the Northern Pacific railroad from
Lake Superior to Puget's Sound, in which
Wisconsin has deep interest, 10000
acres.
10 the, Atlantic and Pacific, from Mis-
sour to the Pacific, IL ,O00, 900 acres
Neither OF these lines of road, Of such
vast National Importance, could, with such
aid alone, united to private and corporate
capital, be constructed, and the general
government most wisely loaned its credit to
ton OF the Union Pacific road, now reach
ing the dignity of National benefaction.
There is but little doubt that the general
government will extend like aid to the
Northern Pacific road, for beyond uues-
ton the increased wealth that will be de,
veloped and diffuscd throughout the coun-
try by the completion of these great Ma
tlonal highways across our continent, will
ho 81 IL
vestment, and may perhaps become the
prop and salvation of our National credit
In more limited, but equally strong de-
gree, the reasons for granting aid to rail
roads, apply to this state, and her relations
to her internal improvements the princi.
Piles involved in the former are of eoua! ap-
plication and weight in the determination
of the latter.
The railroad enterprises of this State
have been heretofore pushed forward with
commendable degree of zeal and enterprise,
and have experienced various fortunes and
In many cases have only been saved from
bankruptcy and ruin by the rapid growth
and development of the country through
which they passed; most of these roads
could not have been constructed without
corpor te aid, Joined with individual capi-
tai and credit; and the people in commu-
mites more Immediately interested in the
several projects, were under the necessity
OF applying to the Legislature for Grants of
authority under which aid could be ex-
tended BY the people in their corporate ca
pacity such grants we're made, and under
them counties, towns, incorporated cities
and villages issued their bonds, which were
generally delivered and thrown upon the
market before the roads, which they were
severally designed to aid, had been cons
pleted, and sold at 1uinous rates Of dis
count, while the roads not being under
skillful or honest management, were made
to cost nomlnally twice and three times the
amount necessary to he expended in their
construction, or not built at ALL
The evils which have resulted to commu>
mites from this system of loaning their
corporate credit in aid of railroads can
easily, and should be guarded against in
the future to protect the people against
fraud and speculation, or the squandering
OF their securities, the legislature should
prohibit all municipal corporations from
delivering their bonds to railroad compa-
MES before the completion of their roads,
or the purchase of the iron and eouip.s
ments therefor such legislative restriction
trous consequences to municipal or state
credit that might otherwise, and witkous
such restriction, result from municipal Sc
curities in advance, upon rival routes of
road, before the necessary means, sith
such aid, are first assured for the compile
ton of the roads but taxes may be prop
erly ordered to be levied for the purchase
OF the right of way, depot grounds and
grading. ~. :
Wisconsin has territorial extent of So,
924 square miles, or 1851, 800 acres
what portion OF this great extent of terrific
ry is trayersed by our LOCO miles of rail
road, and what have been the results Of
these roads upon it's population, industries
and wealth? What are the resources and
capabilities and advantages of that portion
which has not received the direct benefit of
railroads?
The only railroad constructed and in on.
Grafton in the State in the year 1850, was
between Milwaukee and Waukesha-
twenty miles, In the year 1856, there was
less than three hundred miles in operation,
and those leading principally from the city
OF Milwaukee. In 1850 there was nine
hundred miles, and in 1865 there were
over one thousand miles.
The population of Milwaukee was in