The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1870-11-11
From the Ssw Albany Ledger
The State Law Of Indiana to Aid
Railroads.

Twcniy y-fyc Years ago, before the era
of railroads IN Indiana had been inaugu-
r'atod. but little, comparatively, was
known of Southern Indiana. The great
W ave Of emigration that had then fairly
commenced rolling westward, barely
touched this section of the state, as il
bore t. Hundreds oil thousands onward
10 the grand prairieS and the more favor
lably located areas of the Great West. II
iis true that there lay buried under the
soil of Southern Indiana at that period
~ now, millions Of acres of the best coal
land iron. and other minerals that are
needed in manufactures and com
incrce. ard that 70 10 make UP the wealth
and revenues OF States and nations, as
W eli as the communities where they eX-
iSi. 1t il true that immense forests ol
valuable timber covered lands of un.
known richness for agricultural purposes
which are unucrlaid with a. fine build
ing stone and sand pits and salt beds a.
have ever been discovered in the w est
still the tide OF emigration rolled on
ward and further westward, 10 those
localities where the spirit OF progress
had demanded railroads and taken the
initial steps To secure them. why stoi
'hcrc IN Southcri Indiana Z" asked the
lcmigIant. "whcre there are no railroads
buii or prospective, to carry the prod
lucts OF your mines and rich land tc
market, when can find home. further
laway. 10 be sure. in localiiies where tht
locomotives whistle will soon wake The
echoes. and bring thrift and prosperity
snd wealth 10 the poOplc:' And thu
! lie argued, and passed by on the othcl
side: for ii was only too true that South
lcrii Indiana was then doing nothing 10
ward securing The iron highways by
" hich alone il has been proved her vas
mineral and agricultural and forcs
wealth can bc Developed, and her popu
llation and commercial and Ilanuiactur
ling importance brought 10 that poin
land prominence that her natural adyan
itsges entitlc them 90 occupy AnC
ltlius Southern Indiana lost most Of th'
advantages OF the vast emigration Of th,
last two or three decades.
Within the past two or three years
however, ~othcn Indiana has iairl.
aroused herself 10 the importance o
railroads. She has felt that hcrmillion
OF acres Of rich wheat, corn. tobacco
imcadow. and pasture lands /; her hun
ldreds OF thousands Of acres of coal ant
iron lands her broad forests of the fines
liinber: her incxhausiible quarrieS 0
building and grit stone: and her mine
OF salt oclIres aud emery; all these re
sources Of untold wealth were yalueless
and but as so many arid wastes. unlcs
lihe avenues Of transportation, upon
which to carry their products 70 markc
were greatly multiplied and Spcedil,
constrll ted. And acting upon this sole
fact FROM positive conviction Of lis irrc
lsistable force, The people OF these South
lern counties sent TO the State Iegislatur
men of lively enterprise and iar-seeinl
Intelligence and liberal views, 10 enact
law that would enable them TO do a
communities municipalities, township
land counties what they could neye
lhope 10 do as separate individuals. =
THESE men framed and passed, after th,
mos; careful investigation and dispas
lsionatc discussion, the present excellen
lrailroad law OF Indiana, that permit
cities. towns, townships, and counties L
.lsubscribc to the stock OF railroad com
lpanics. SO as TO secure the general well
fare and prosperity Of tho masses by tn
lconstruction of railroads where the,
larc needed and whore the people. b,
their expressed VIII through the ballot
box. say they are willing TO be taxed TO
,thcir construction.
I This law was based upon the sam
iequi,y, and framed upon the identica
lprinciple, of our common school law
That taxes the people for cducationa
lpurposes. 1t is therefore an equitabl
law, and in no regard is il any NOR
Objectionable. so far as raising the mo
ncy for the purposes expressed in is goes
/, .bon Tho rapmnuy Sglnol lnw IL