The Cairo daily bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1870-1872, 1871-05-21
THE RAUM LETTER.
1hc Reaponst MY Of the Alexander
county Co0rt-A sugg stion, eae.

aIcxander county.
1t will be recollected that in March last
it was announced that arrangements had
been concluded with London capitalists
for money 10 build and equip the road, the
only condition to the closing Of the nego-
tiation being the restoration of the local
assets to their original condition. The
Attorney AID Directors Of the company
Immediately applied to the county and city
authorities along the line Of the road tor
an extension Of time to August LIST to com.
men ,e the work, and for two years to I'm
ish IL.
After a protrscted delay the County
| Court OF Alexander county pretended II
take action upon the application. Tn,
action was of nature that neutralized 10.
self. The Court agreed to issue the 500 .
900 bonds authorized by vote Of tho
people, and to pay them over in two IN
stalments $4,000 when the road should
be completed to Vienna and 500 when
it should be completed to Nincennes. Had
the Court stopped here, it would have
shown disposition to do something to!
wards carrying out the expires sed will the
people, but with nm apparent purpose to
destroy the effect Of what it had done it
declared that the bonds should draw no
interest until after the completion of the
road, and that, in the event of II failure 10
complete the road in two years they should
be absolutely void. Tho donation corr
tract Of November, 1861, which the com.
pany desired revived and extended, and
upon the revival and extension of which
the negotiation for money depends, was
Ignored by the Court, and action taken
which was not only not asked for, but Of
a nature which destroys itself and, we
fear, the railroad project also.
Addressing Judge Bross, General Raun
employs the following emphatic language:
state to you most solemnly, and in all
candOr, that the fate of the Cairo
and Fincennes railroad is in
the hands of the County Court of Alex
ander county. If you wish to defeat the
success Of the work, continue TO refuse TO
carry out the donation contract" II
you earnestly desire the prosperity Of
your city, by securing the completion OF
the road, call your court together and pass
AN order extending the time for the re-
sumption of work, and the completion Of
the road under the donation contract
am no alarmist but l warn you Of the
danger Of the course your Court has taken.
1t is vain delusion 10 think, because
Cairo is at the confluence Of two great riv.
ers, that railroads must necessarily seek
1t as terminus. Already combinations
are made, and making, to divert TO other
points trade that should naturally come TO
Cairo. Evansville by four roads, and
Shawneetown by two, will soon draw of
trade that upon the completion of the c.
& V. K. r., would naturally come to
! Cairo.
Here is a solemn declaration from the
attorney of the company, who is familiar
with the character of the negotiations on
the foot, and with all matters pertaining to
business and ability of the company, that
it is with the County Court of Alexander
county to secure or defeat the completion
, Of the Cairo and Vincennes railroad We
need not say that tn, action of the Court
| has been of an adverse character---hostile
to the enterprise, anc in contempt of the
wishes of four-ffths of the voters and tax
payers Of Carlo and of large majority
of the people Of Alexander county. For
this action Judge Bross is responsible If
he is in doubt as to the will of the people
in the premises; if he believes his action
is Endorsed by majority Of thu people
of the county, let him resign his position
as County Judge, and seek a reelection
upon tho issue raised by the application
of the railroad company for an extension
Of the donation contract entered into
in November, 1867. The matter is one
OF vital consequence not only to Cairo, but
to large portion Of Southern Illinois,
and no man, unless supported by the peo-
| pie has right to shape or control it, 1t
is, therefore, a duty Judge Bross owes to
the public interested, to resign his office,
and seek an Endorsement of his course in
candidacy for reelection. OF the re-
suit of such a contest We entertain no
doubts. Judge Bross toouid not receive one
| hundrcd rotes in the city Of Cairo! His
personal popularity, his social, genial ma
ture, the warm personal friendships he
has formed, would not in such an
issue, rescue him from an over
whelming defeat. In this way tho will Of
our taxpayers could assert itself; Alexan-
der county would restore her subscription
to its original footing, other counties
would follow the lead, and thus the OBJ
staceS, which it is now alleged, stand in
the way of resumption Of work on the
road and delays the payment of the debts
of the company, would be removed.
1t may occur, however, that Judge
Bross may continue "to no. care d-n'
for public opinion in this connection, and
refuse to resign his office. In that event
the only resort left to our people will he
the preparation of a bond for the amount
of the county's subscription, and contain
ing a condition that if, before the expira.
ton of three yeers, Alexander county
does not issue her bonds including all &C,
crued interest, according to the terms