Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1871-03-15

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and jolly good time may be expected.
Purse strings are growing elastic from
use. and now is the time to try their ut
most tension.
There is sort Of vapory efferverence
which fills the air in, around and about
the city of Hudson, and, finally, like fog.
seems to stretch away up the St. Croix
to Saltwater, and down the Lake to
Prescott. With this fog it is dangerous
to come in contact. since it rises from the
disturbed remains Of dead issues, in the
main. mingled with the feverish exhala-
tons from declining railroad body
The Doctor Of Laws-even the Legisla
ture of Wisconsin-has been called upon
to examine the patient and prescribe a
compulsory remedy. But what looks
dark and mysterious about this matter, is
the fact that this "act" (of christian char
ity) needs so many words of apology.
A just act needs no apology. Remem
Der that.
Now without impugning the motive
of any one, let US by way of comparison
raise few inquiries with regard to
the right of any locality to claim special
compulsory Legislation for its own benefit.
Suppose Prescott had put in its claim
for the railroad terminus, where would
have been her defendersi Where would
have been the justice of the actG Sup
pose Glenmunt and River Falls, with far
more propriety than Hudson can urge,
had essayed to procure legislation to
compel the Railroad Company to touch
these points, and who would have raised
violent hue and cryi Verify, Hudson,
aud that with justice. She would,
doubtless. have exploded with virtuous
indignation.
Let us look nj his matter in its full
length and breadth. and give it few can.
did thoughts. The charter was given
by the state in good faith, to the Com.
pany which received it in equally good
faith, with fair understanding that
the Company through its own engineers.
should select its own route, and especial
ly its own terminus on the Lake. Under
this contract the work has been com.
menced and three fourths of the distance
already comprised, and now up starts a
faction which proposes TO dictate the 10.
cation and final terminus of the balance
of the road. This location and terminus
may be utterly impracticable, or. at least,
very expensive, and yet the state brings
down its ponderous arm of compulsion,
which means nothing less than extortion,
or extinction. Withholding the lands is
extortion, and aunualling the charter is
extinction.
This Railroad Company is supposed
to know its own business quite as well
as private individuals, and if the man.
ayers deem j. for the interest Of the Com
pany to cross the st. Croix at Hudson,
what right have we to interfere? If
thew prefer to cross at Geumont, what
right has Hudson to complaint Or, if
they would cross at Saltwater, why
should Prescott enjoin them? Why these
invilious distinctions! This looks like
''cIass legislation" and that with a ven-
geance.
We offer no opinion as to the legal
hearing of this act, but only speak of i,s
Justice, and Of this we entertain serious
doubts. The fact that it met with no op.
position in either house, argues nothing.
The rankest injustice has often met with
universal approval. and the fact the in.
justice is done to a company instead Of
an individual, is no apology. Ii the
passage of this act is to be precedent
for future Legislation, then no company is
safe in seeking or obtaining charter
This act directs the Company to Hudson,
but il the road is not completed to that
place before the next session of the legis.
lature, perhaps an edict viii be issued
that some point on the bluffs ia Clifton
shaI. be made the terminus. If vacilla.
ton Is the order of our Legislature. and
it is to be run at the dictatiop Of few
local lobbyists, where is the safety for
companies, communities or individualsi
Il should be remembered thst River