Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1873-02-20
o: .: " w. t,sk:} f:Sk'} FISK Bros, Publishers


WASHINGTON, January 10Th, 1878.
Mcssrs. Hedges, Wheeler, Woolman AMI
others '".' '''''.
GENTLEMEN In answer to your telegram
requesting me to secure appropriation to de
fray the expenses of an extra session of tht
Legislature to be called Immediately, an(
stating that the Governor has written me 8
letter to this effect, beg leave to state that
presume this is for the purpose of taking
steps to secure railroad connection south
proposition of which the papers have been
full for some time past. This requires that
l should give briefly what propose to do in
the premises, and my reasons therefor.
haye carefully read all l have seen in the
public press of Montana on this subject, and
find that there is not single point relating
to the practical methods of securing such
connection upon which there appears to be
anything like substantial harmony among
the people. The point of discord seems to
be the question of subsidy and on this ques-
ton large portion of the people are op-
posed to any subsidy whatever, while its ad-
vocates seem to be divided both as to its
amount and application-some want to sub
sidize the Northern Pacific; others the Gen.
tral Pacific; others the Utah Northern, and
others local corporation controlled by the
people of Montana. AS to the necessity for
a speedy railroad connection there does not
seem to be any difference of opinion. If an
extra session of the Legislature was called
now it could do nothing of a practical ma
ture, except provide by law for subsidizing
some outside road backed up by capital and
influence, as any local road of our own
would be without this outside capital, and
without ii right of way across the public
lands it could not get capital from abroad,
and our own unaided resources could not
build it. The gentlemen who have been
canvassing the Territory on this question |
have, so far as have seen, all committed
themselves to the formation of domestic
corporation, and presume this may be taken
as the plan that will in the end be adopted. !
will suppose an extra session of the Legis- |
lature is called, general railroad incorpora-
ton law passed under the act of Congress of |
last winter, corporation duly formed under
the Territorial law thus passed, a subsidy
authorized to be voted to aid this corporation,
and that this subsidy, whether small or great,
is voted, does any one suppose that this,
without outside capital and without right
of way, would build the road? Your county
bonds would not, if issued in such quantities
as would suffice at par value to build the
road, be worth ten cents on the dollar. They
would only be valuable to some outside COM
pany to build the road without subsidy, and
which could afford to hold on to them until
the construction of the Northern Pacific
would bring them up to par. A domestic
company would not have this capital and
would not, in my judgment, be able to get it
from abroad, for road of the length pro-
posed, without a right of way across the ]
public lands. Imay add that the temper of I
he people of Montana at present seems to l
De SO excited onthis railroad question, and ,
thereto involved in 20 much un- {
certainty and doubt, that no fair or temper
tie discussion of the merits of the several i,
propositions submitted could be had, should {
he Legislature be convened at this time
md knowing that It is in just such states of (
he public mind that crude, reckless, and {
legislation on railroad questions Il
always secured, am unwilling by any act e
If mine to run any risk of such legislation Ia
Until some necessary and ordinary safeguards .
re thrown around this subsidy voting pro- Q
'osition. 1ii" h'a''tsAHIi s'h aio'i 4HihFoh fu
I have introduced a bin granting the Hight d
# way across the public lands to al railroad .
,pimpanies incorporated under our local li!ws, y
ind requiring Z two-{hirds Vote of the TAX .
payers to suthotize u county OF municipal 1
ubsidy, This restriction III some form Or b
eimA yi b9f1f8o ssTads Gsi bgd fsiIed 10 !