The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1870-03-03
OUR RAILROAD INTERESTS.

tNet, unQef date or the 10th ult. Nr
Schmidt was right when he said there is
not man in Manitowoc who would put
a dollar into the present management:
The Assembly, only, held a session
last evening. The special order for the
evening was the bill ''to incorporate the
Milwaukee, Manitowoc, Mississippi and
Minnesota Railroad Company, referred
to in my communication Of yesterday.
Mr. Schmidt, who introduced the bill,
stated that the opposition to it came
from the holders of an old charter, who
have held the same for many years and
done nothing. He did not think they
should have any rights left under it. He
said the new company wanted no land
grants; all they asked was permission
to put their money into the road: The
lncorporators were waiting for the pas
sage Of the bill. and they were ready with
their greenbacks to build the road. Mr..
Schmidt offered an amendment, provid
ing that the company should build ten
miles OF road every eighteen months,
which was adopted.
MIR. Balch offered an amendment pro-
viding that the road shall be built from
| Milwaukee to Manitowoc, before build
| ing westward from hIanitowoc. Mr..
Balch gave a brief history of the old
company. The charter was granted a
| long time ago, and some work was done
under it. When the hard times CT
1878 came on, the work was suspend
! ed. The directors disagreed, and in 1868
new charter was granted, and a new
organization formed under it. 4 con-
tract has been made under the new char
ter, with certain parties who had agreed
to build the road within five years.
These parties have gone on ngood faith.
The road is partly graded between Mani
towoc and Menasha, and some west of
Menasha. The people west of Manito-
voc, on the line Of the road, are all in
sympathy with the present corporation,
aud are opposed to the granting Of this
charter. Those who have put money
into the road do not want to lose what
money they have put 10. We are viii
railroad from Milwaukee to Manitowcc, and
the new company get to Manitowoc with
their road, we shall rest content.
Mr.. SchEidt, in turn, said the old
Mr.. Balch were the same, except in
name. They always promise and never
do anything, and the people of 1Ianito-
voc have got tired of waiting. The peo-
pie of Manitowoc have 10 confidence in
the present anagers-they know they
are paupers. There is not a business
man in Manitowoc who would pat
dollar into the road under the present
management. We don't want to inter
fere with their rights, but we do not in
ct that b1ua -Uh 70
money into road We will build west,
and also the road from Milwaukee to
Manitowoc-but of course we can't do it
Immediately.
Mr. Pease said that if the friends of
this measure are to have this charter at
all, they should have it as they want it
such a charter as those who are to
furnish the money to build the road may
desire.
Mr.. Burdick, of Green Lake county,
entered his protest against this bill. after
$4,000 have been expended on the
road
Mr.. Foster, Of Winnebago County, de-
sired to enter his solemn protest against
the fiching Of those who have vested
rights in this road. He wanted the new
company to wait until they see whether
we will build the road
Dir. Schmidt said again that the new
company did not wish to take away any
rlghts-the old company can build their
road If they want to. We do not say
that we will build the road to Menasha,
but we will build west, to Appleton, New
London, ETC.
Mr.. Maxon favored granting tie char
ter and al charters that would facilitate
the building of railroads He was in
favor of free fight" The more rail
roads we have the better. Let anybody
and everybody build roads who wish to
do so. No party under the constitution,
has the right to tie up our railroads. He
was surprised that there was any oppo-
sition in the LEGISLATURE to granting this
charter.
Mr. Foster explained that the opposi-
ton to this measure comes from those
who are directly interested. We do not
seek to keep out ocapital, but we do
want to keep people from usurping our
rights and franchises. He thou ght that
should this charter be granted then 90
years instead of Is would ensue before
any road would be built.
The ayes and noes were called on the
amendment offered by Mr.. Balch, and
the amendment was adopted by a vote
of 45 to 81
Nh Schmidt then stated that the
amendment made the bill worthless,
and moved its reference to the delega-
ton from Manltowoc county. 1t was SO
referred.
have given you brief synopsis Of
the debate upon this bill, because it is
one that has excited unusual interest and
upon which there has been great d.
versity of opinion. The bill was beaten
because it was evident that there was no
intention upon the part of the new com
pany to build any part OF the road between
Milwaukee and Manitowoc, as was pre-
tended by its supporters.
So they don want to clean Reed out
of the 100000 he put into the road !
It is a well known fact that he has never
invested one cent Of his own money in
any road and then whining around the
State Capitol with tears in his eyes, max
ing believe that the people of Manitowoc
want to cheat him out Of the fruits of
his fifteen years toll Oh, Reed Would
to God that you never had more morsels
Of food than you have invested dollars in
your Railroad project, for then you would
not be standing in the way Of whole
community who are straining every nerve
to advance the interests of the people
You kaoao you never will build road to
Manitowoc yourself; you know you are
daily lying to the members of our Senate
and Legislature: you know that you ob-
tanned the control of the old road by
| cheating and hriherr and ,-nu I.nn1r or