The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1871-02-23
panic. shall during The ars.s.hre. ys.ru.'

l ps0tos 0oSst QVI1u& mo ut0Ssk0keO sagAsssa
after thirty miles Of their roads are in
operation, pay into the State treasury
one per cent. Of their gross earnings,
and during the next seven years, two
per cent, and thereafter, each year,
three per cent. of their gross earnings;
| and it authorizes the Governor to take
measures to see that the reports of such
gross earnings are true and correct.
Section nineteen provides that all
roads constructed by aid Of the gran,
shall be forever tree for the transpo,-
tation of tho United States mail and
the passage Of troops and munitions Of.
var Of the federal government without
the payment Of any toll Whatever, and
that they shall be Of the uniform width
Of track Of, four feet eight and one
half inches, aud shall At al times. car.
~ freights and passengers on equal and
reasonable terms.
:, Section twenty declares the lands to
be subject to taxation At the expiration
Of five years after they have been deed
ed to the companies.
Section tweuty-one declares this to
DO public act, and in force from and
after its passage.
The bill, as reported from the Senate,
came mp in the House on Tuesday. 1t
will be discussed in Committee of the
Whole to-day, and probably come to a
vote on Saturday.
When, on Saturday, the St. Paul
papers arrived containing the bill IN
full, much excitement and deep feeling
were caused by certain features of Sec
tons nine an twelve, providing that
the St. Cloud and Mankato road should
run from Forest City via the south
bend Of the Sank River Gold Spnngs)
to St. Cloud, and that the Sank Valley
road might start either from St. Cloud
Or from the point on Sank River where
the Mankato road should touch the said
river-thus opening wido door of
possibilities for junction Of the two
roads At Cold Springs instead Of St.
Cloud. It had always been expected
and desired by the people Of this city
that tho Msnkato r I'D should run in rs
direct line - possible from Forest
City to St. Cloud, thus tapping n we'll
as accommodating the old aud well-set-
tied towns of Maine Prairie and Fair
Haven. And it was further expected
that the Sank Valley road would, with.
out the slightest doubt, start from this
place. The people telt that not Only
had the interests Of this city not been
properly guarded, but that they had
been very seriously jeopardized, aud
that under the provisions Of this bill the
most unfortunate results were possible
for the future. of the town. As Seua-
tor Wait came up on Saturday, an in-
formal meeting Of some Of the busi-
hess men was called and Mr.. Wait in
vited to be present. Ho accepted, and
stated at length the reasons whish had
operated with him in giving to sections
nine and twelve Of the bill their pres
ent form. These reasons were not sat-
isfactory to majority Of those present,
aud they continued in the belief that
the prosperity Of this city had been
thrown At the mercy Of adverse possl-
bilities without the interests of other
parts Of the district being commensura.
/ bly, subserved. As Senator Wait OBJ
jected to any committee being appoint
ed by that meeting to go to St. Paul, as
representatives CT the wishes of the
people Of this place, public meeting
was called for Monday evening. At the
appointed hour, Brokers' Hall was filled
to its utmost capacity with an inter-
ested and earnest gathering Of citizens.
There was no denunciation or undue ex-
element. Judge Hamlin's remarks
we're dispasslonate and fair, and the
resolutions adopted (see local columns)
were a respectful request that the bill
be so amended ss to guard with certain
ty the interests of the town. The COM
mlttee selected comprised some Of on,
best and most substantial business men:
What the result'will be remains to be
seen.
Laying a,;'a entirely tho many
charges Of personal interest and aggran-
dizement which have been made against
the delegation from this district, and
giving them credit for perfect honesty
Of intention, We feel compelled to say
that We believe a grave blunder has
been committed in the framing of sec-
tions nine and twelve. While such q
result may not have been intended, the
language Of these sections render, not
OILY possible but probable a junction of
these two lines of railroad At Cold
Springs, thereby marking it rs focus
toward which other railroads running
north.westerly shall tend. St. Cloud is
this natural center, and her people have
certainly the right to expect that the
delegation elected in her Interests shall
not use their position to divert wealth
and trade tributary to this place into
other channels.
| TIE foreign news il Of NO special
importance. The French Assembly
has almost unanimously chosen Theirs
as chief executive pending the discus
sion upon definite institutions. II ID
stated the German terms Of peace will