Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1871-08-18
The Railroad Meeting.

DR.. BRYANT then made a few remarks
on the object of the meeting, after which
Jed Lake, Esq, took the floor and pro-
ceeded to the discussion Of the questions
connected with the construction OF the
projected road, in clear and forcible
manner. After detailing the various
benefits which would accrue to our COM
munity by the building Of the road, the
questi n came up as to the integrity Of
the railroad company in fulfilling its con-
tracts, and the possibility of their getting
the money voted them by the people,
without building the road. On this point
Mr. Lake stated that a reservation had
been made on the part of the trustees,
that no portion of the money so appro-
priated for the railroad company, should
be touched by them until the road was
running to this point.
Some one in the audience suggested
that the company could take the money
in spite. of the above reservation.
TO this Mr.. Lake replied that the laws
of the State contained provision which
etlectually guarded against this, and read
a number of authorities on the subject,
among others the provisions Of our State
laws. We append Section 3, of chapter
102, relating to local tax to aid railroads:
SEC 3. The fund collected under the
provisions of this act shall be paid out
by the county treasurer to the treasurer
of the railroad company, upon the orders
of the president or managing director Of
the railroad company, whose road such
tax has been voted to aid; which orders
shall be accompanied by sworn estimates
of the engineer in charge of the work
on such road showing that double the
amount Of such orders has been expended
for the construction of such road, in ac-
COrdance with the terms of the notice
provided for in section two Of this act,
and also by certificate signed by the
members of the council or board of trus-
tees, or majority of the men,
bers thereof, of the township, city
or town, voting the tax for which
said orders are drawn, to the effect that
the provisions of this act have been so
complied with as to entitle said company
to the amount called for by such orders,
and it is hereby expressly provided
that no part of the finds raised
under the provisions of this act
shall be expended in any other
townships than those specified in the
notice of election: Procided, hoacecer,
That should the said taxes not be drawn
from the county treasury in accordance
with the provisions of this act by the
railroad company in whose favor the
same may have been voted, within two
years after the date of the collection
thereof, then the right of said railroad
company to said funds shall be deemed
forfeited, and the same shall be repaid
by the county treasurer to the persons
from whom the same may have been
collected
Mr. Lake before closing his remarks
said that if any present were in opposi-
ton to the project it would be well for
them to make their objections known in
the meeting that they might be answered
by the solicitor of the company, Mr.. A.
S. Belt, who stepped upon the platform
for the purpose of answering such qucs-
tions as might be propounhed.
Mr. Belt said that he had the most i'm
plicit faith in the purpose of the compa-
ny to honorably fulfill its engagements,
and that not dollar of the peoples mon
ey should be touched until the road was
running through our city. He said that
it was to the advantage Of the company
that their road should touch at 1ndrpcn-
dence. but that unless the necessary aid
was extended to the project, it would
carry its line in another direction; that
there We're other towns near by that were
anxious to get the road, and had offered
pccuniary inducements, but nevertheless
independence should have the preference
if she gave material encouragement.
4 few objections were offered and sat
isflctorily answered by Mr. Belt
A vote WIS then taken and Il resolution
carried, having for its object a contract
between the company and the trustees
for the protection Of the money, if voted
to all the construction of the road, a
copy Of which contract we append
INDEPENDENCE iowa Aug. IS, 1871.
The Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Min
ncsota Railway Company hereby agree
with the citizens of Washington Town
ship, in Buchlnnn county, Iowa, to &C
cept the aid of said Township as set forth
in the notice of the trustees of said Town
ship, calling an election to vote 20
per cent. tax in aid of said Railway, and
they especially agree that they will not
draw or attempt to draw any of the mon
cy so voted from the county treasury un-
til the Railroad is completed and the cars
running from Cedar Rapids to Indepen
dence-
B. C. r. & NJ. r. r.,
BY A. S. Belt, Solicitor.
After some other unimportant discus
sion on the policy Of railway corporations
in different parts of the country, it was
moved and carried that the meeting ad
journ.