The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1872-06-06
RAILROAD MEETING,

SdulZeO ny appointing 1iOh' l. . y Oi'ASsoh,
| Chairman and A. NJ. Richter, Secretary.
J. D. Markham, ESQ.,, being unanimous
| II called for, addressed the meeting in his
| plain, pointed and convincing manner,
stating that he had acted as one Of the
Directors of the NJ. NJ. & G. B. Railroad,
and also as Attorney for said Railroad
Company, but not as their paid Attorney;
that he had acted in connection with the
President and other Gentlemen solely
with the view to get a. road built in the
shortest possible time and for the lowest
possible amount, that he wished simply
to talk business to the meeting and be
responsible for what be said, as be would
in any other transaction.
At the commencement of this enterprise
Messrs. Easton & Cozzens stated to this
community, that our road North, South
and West could be built, if $3.50, 900. 90
aid was voted without further question
the County voted it.
Mr.. Villas was elected President after
some delay and went to New York but
| readily learned that the necessary amount
| of money could not be raised with the
| aid voted. Hiram L. Barney, formerly
| Collector of the Port of New York and
Railroad man, we'll known in the East
and West, was sent over the line of both
roads by the r,en in New York who pro-
posed to invest their money and author
lied him, if the route was what it was
represented to be, to negotiate with the
several localities on the line of the Lake
Shore Road as follows: Port Washing
ton $4,000, Sheboygan $4,000, Mani
towoc City $4,000, Village of Two Riv-
ers S25, 900 in addition to the County aid
already granted. Every effort was made
in the power of the officers of the road
to reduce the amount, but men having
three million of capital to loan, usually
dictate their own terms and they simply
told US, that we could accept or not, as
we choose that like opportunities to
ours were open on every hand aud the
only object in coming here was the pros
pect, that the road would pay. Our bu-
siness men and tax payers were consulted
and an arrangement was made, that the
road be built on the basis named; there
fore 10 road from Sheboygan here is now
contracted for,or can be, only on condition
that the aid required shall first be voted
When not voted, the contractors are re-
leased from even making survey and
can a new company be found, that will
build the road cheaper, no one of the
present officers of the road will stand in
the way.
Mr.. Markham further stated, that the
| only reason why the vote was not taken
| here at first and the work commenced at
Manitowoc, was because all agreed, that
it was best, if possible, to satisfy the pro-
jectors ofthe Milwaukee & Northern Road
that we meant business and that it would
be useless for them to build a line of road
so near our own; but in that we have
failed and now it is certain, that, unless
| we do build, part of our trade from the
West will go to Milwaukee oyer their line
of road and leave US out in the cold.
Now, if we vote the aid, the work will
be completed this present season and no
more aid will be asked fer by this or any
other company.
The speaker closed by saying that our
Harbor was the best On the Lake, that
the public expenditure of the money in
building it and the increased facilities for
doing business on account of 1t and the
million dollars expended In building the
short piece of road West had increased
the population of our City more than one
| thousand In the last twelve months that
| the business men and laborers had more
money now, than ever before in the
history of Manitowoc that our taxes
were high-$7s, 100000 last year, that the
interest on this Railroad tax would be
$1,000 making, as Mr.. Wood had here.
tofore stated, the man who paid 81 &C
last year, would pay los this year, but
| that MS idea was, that it would be much
less, as it cost just as much to pay the
expenses Of our City now, as it would, il
we had $4,000 inhabitants, which VIC
would have within three years, if the
roads were completed this season, and
three times the amount of capital that
we now have, which would reduce oul
taxes to one third Of what they are now
| that lie did not know of any way to buile
upa town or deyelope a new country
without the aid of Railroads with then
we could build up business places for on,
young men and pleasant homes and
splendid resorts for the comfort of all.
This speech seemed to carry general
satisfaction and conviction with it and
Mr.. Markham withdrew loudly app,eud-
ed.
He was followed by our German
orator, Mr.. Esslinger, who spoke in his
usual happy style and seemed to carry
with him the universal approval and full
satisfaction of the large German repre-
sentation there assembled.
Mr.. Villas then introduced Deacon
Smith from Two Rivers, who wa.
loudly called for and spoke for some min
utes of his long residence IN this County
l-2? years; of his large experience dur
ing that time and before. and expressed
his confidence that his labors would vel
be crowned with the sight of Railroad
along the Lake Shore to Two Rivers and
beyond. that be was satisfied, that the
| Aid ocCoI frox,, Tro L