Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1873-05-15
The Railroad Com binatiou.

Public feeling in regard to railroad
charges is at such pitch at the present
time that rhe people look with jealous
eyes upon all their movements, and es-
pecialy upon all combinations of rival
lines. Ii is not strange, therefore, that
the reported agreement between the two
great competing roads in this State 10
pool their earnings for seven year, is
regarded W tn feelings of suspicion by
the people Of Wisconsin. If the agree
ment has been entered into at all, it has
been done with the intention Of Destroy
ing all competition between the two
routes, and making it possible for their
directors to levy such freight and pas
senger charges rs will best suit Them
selves. In this State the people are at
the mercy Of these two corporations.
They own all The lines leading to Chicago.
and nearly all the lines leading out of
the city of Milwaukee to the interior,
and into other States So far as we
know, there is not a Jaw on our statute
book that lays any restriction upon any
railroad as to the rates they shall or
shall not charge either for freight or
passengers. They can charge ten cents
mile for passengers, if they wish, and
they can fix their freight tariff a high as
they please and the law does not inter-
fere to protect the citizen. Other States
have taken the precaution to fix a certain
limit beyond which they cannot step, but
not 50 in Wisconsin. During the past
year the competition between these two
roads has been such that the people Of
the State began to feel secure against
the inordinate greed that is characteris-
tic OF all corporations, and to cherish the
hope that this healthy rivalry would
secure to them reasonable rate of
charges and operate as check upon
their rapacious tendencies. The con-
struction by the st. Paul of line to
Chicago, and the building Of direct
line to Fond du Lac by the Northwestern,
with The promise of a branch to Lodi at
no distant day, were all encouraging
signs for this city and State. This city
has suffered immensely for years in its
business and material prosperity for the
lack OF proper railroad facilities, and the
prospect of competing lines was looked
upon with much favor; but now, under
this new arrangement, it Will be for the
interest OF both companies to levy the
highest possible charges that the people
can bear, and there is no redress, or hope
of any, in any quarter. The combina-
ton is undoubtedly for the pecuniary
benefit of the two corporations, but it is
In din ect antagonism with the interests
of the people and the Development and
prosperity of the commonwealth 1t is
made to enrich the few and against the
permanent good of the many The read
ers of the Sentinel will not be surprised
at these encroachments Of these corpor-
ations, for they have been repeatedly
warned of their aggressive polict-and
the conflict between them and the people
that was sure TO come 1t looks now as
though it nj ght eliminate sooner than
any one anticipates, but we feel quite
sure that The crisis will not find the peo>
pie altogether unprepared. The present
generation has been sch0olcd in the
ordeal Of great national emergency,
and will not quail before King Railroad
any more than they did before King Cot
ten. Much will depend upon the discre-
ton and moderation of the directors and
managers of the two roads Their bus
mess directly affects the business of
every man and woman in Wisconsin, and
1t is eyerybodys prerogative to discuss
this question fairly and candidy. The
people have already paid enormous sums
In order to build these roads, and are not
disposed to ply for them the second time
in the way of exorbitant charges to sat-
Isiy the RIGHTEOUSNESS Of capitalists.
here Is scarcely city that is not over
burdened with an immense corporate
debt that was contracted TO a;d these
public highways. Milwaukee bleeds at
every pore because of its liberaEty, and
thousands of farmers have contributed
the earnings Of lifetime toward their
construction. The people have paid,
suffered and granted enough to enttle
them to have their rights respected, and
they have power enough under the Com
stitnlion to compel respect ilwauLee
Sentinel