The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1870-04-12
For the Palladium
To the Public.


CINCINNATI, r. 81 FIT WAYNE r. R.
Recent movements in this much mooted
question Of ito be or not to be-" indi-
Gates the latter phase Of the problem, to
an extent that almost arouses indigna-
ton.
A short time siuce, committee com
posed of the best business men of the
Board, prepared an able report of the
condition and prospects of the work, and
succeeded through it, and such other in
fuences as were brought to bear. judi
ciously, it was thought, in securing the
aid of prominent railroad parties look
ing directly to the purchase of Iron, and
indicating speedy completion. Imme
diately on the heels of which ther par
ties turned up, or other co1ncils pre-
vailed with propositions similar to what
had been previously entertained from
the same source aa unreliable and only
tending to certain defeat, ignoring the
arrangements Of their committee even
before its action was investigated-thu
subverting the only practicable plen of
completing the road by the use of it's
own bonds, and curtailing its length to
one third Of the line, if not destroying
the project entirely-as on a former oc
casion.
Any practical business man could
buy railroad Iron and other equipments
for cash, or on time, by giving satisiac-
tory security and paying interest; and
it is certainly no merit in Billy Parry to
present a contract to this effect, rcquir-
ing fifty responsible men to guarantee
the payment of fifty Thousand dollars as
forfeiture in the event of failure to
collect and pay over promptly the sum
of two hundred and one thousand dol
lars Of subscriptions to this work, most
of which is q proposed tax on til town
ships through which the road runs, with
contingent provision in regard to It's
being placed upon tee duplicate for col
lection
We Lave had full confidence in the
honesty and integrity Of Mr.. Parry, and
have given him two years 10 work his
way through, on such principles as he
profes sed, with hopes Of snccess-but it
is an undenable fact that he has exhaus
ted all his powers in this direction and
as yet accomplished rothng but the in
vestment Of large city subscription at
great sacrifice for which the public
may be to blame for pla cling too many
burdens on any one man though his self
conceit may crave it ever much.
The question now is, not as to VIM.
Parry or any other man. in carrying out
abe interests OF commanity-THEsE IN
TEREsTS ALONE, SHOULD De LOOKED TO,
and when the council cast the vote OF
the city, the merits Of all plaIs and pros
poets should have been taken into ac-
count, and no hasty action had on mat
ters Of such vital Importance.
1t is now known that it is not an easy
iah 70 10 ,x,I,; IL,
of tbs one shows, having relation to
roads already made, and subserve the
interest Of all-and it is decidedly nee
essary to secure the aid of, or associa-
aion with the most powerful or most in
alnential parties with whom to form con-
nections on any practicable terms, a
short line, or plug road, is forever at
the mercy OF all through lines having
any relation to it, and is never profitable
to the hailders, and very little use to the
public In this case, if completed to
Winchester, il would not even be ex-
tended to Ridgeville, from the fact that
it would cut eff or turn southwark some
of the business of the PENNSYLVANIA
Central, who will control it in the event
that Board Of the directors are sus-
.ained in the present plan Of operation,
and that plan succeeds at al therefore,,
the freight and travel will be carried on
as at present except with the country
which lies between Richmond ant Win
chester, doing limited business, and
cannot be expected to pay an equiva-
lent Tor the investment or even making
expenses.
1t IS not probable however that the
proposition purporting to be from Jno.
Edgar Thompson, President Of Pennsyl
vanla Central, can be met, or its condi-
tions complied with, and my object is to
urge speedy re action, and the consul
nation OF arrangements made by the
committee with the Cincinnati, Hamilton
ana Dayton, and Baltimore and Ohio
Companies before l. is too late, which it
is rroba ole can yet be done if all the
parties to this contract can be induced
to take hold OF it again, and no opposi-
ton made by any portion of our citizens
without thorough investigation, and
would say that such memt ers of the
present Board as can not affiliate with
this plan of operations should unhesita-
tingly withdraw and allow their places
to be filled by those who can. No man
should allow himself to stand in the way
of public enterprises when he cannot fa-
cilitate them, and no man should hesi-
tate to favor those who can, however
much he may dislike the man. Our in
terests as city are mutual while we are
all in the same bOat-tsink or swim, sur
vive or perish'--we should go hand in
| hand for the welfare of Richmond, and
if possible avoid increased TAXATION