Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-06-12

| COuIldCl stHu uNduIHoiihCu' AhooS ga
the points as we understand them, as
set forth bv the Plaintiff and certain
ly as stated in the resolution Some
of these points may be termed matters
of fact, while others must be adjudicat-
ed upon before legal determination,
! or rather Interpretation can be arrived
at.
It is a matter of regret that circum-
stances should have so shaped them
selves as to even make it seem proper
or necessary for any citizen in Wood
County to commence proceedings
against any corporation interest or en-
terprise identified with the development
and advancement of the county. Every
railroad builled is a civilizcr, and
promoter of public as we'll as Of private
interests, and to do aught that threat
ems embarrassment, or looks in the di-
rection Of detention, or works procras-
tination, savors of error, and must pre-
sent such phases of justice as to pre-
! sent warrantable claim to action, else
such action must be looked upon in the
light Of interlopation, and the party
or parties be adjuiged traitors to pub
! lie interest We do not propose to as
sumo the role of Judge, neither to ar
rogate to ourslf the power of a jury
in determining right or wrong in the
action Of either party to the suit pend.
ing. There are some facts however,
in connection with the case it were well
to recapitulate. We think the almost
unanimous opinions Of our people is,
that the officers representing the Tomah
Railroad interests have acted unwiselv,
and most certainly not in good faith in
many respects, iu matters wherein our
people have been deeply intereste |.
1t was as distinctly understood as it
could we'll have been that as one of
the conditions Of the voting Of $50, 600
to the road, it was to be constructed to
within one half mile of Centralia by a
given period, and if not so constructed,
the county was no longer to be holden
! for the amount SO voted. Again, the
Bonds issued were to have been iepos-
tied with the State Treasurer, whereas,
the off GERS arrogated to themselves the
power of dictators, and instead of COM
plying with the terms of the contract,
positively ignored them, and the bonds
were everywhere and anywhere monies
: belonging to the tax payers of the
county were in the pockets or out o.
the pockets Of A. E. or y, bit where
could not be determined, and finely
were deposited on Of he sta'e, to be
use1 at such time as the officers shoull
see fit to appropriate the same to build
ing Of the road, even though it should
be ten or twenty years hence. These
facts, and these alone tended to create
prejudice against the enterprise, and
while a large ma ority of the taxpayers
as we believe, were friends of the road
they looked upon the action Of its Off
GERS as unvarrantel anl unjust The
Repor'er has from the first advocated
the cause Of the Tomah road, but the
acts Just recounted, it has spoken
against as all wrong, tyrannical, and
savoring, to say the least, of DISPOSE
ton on the part Of the managers to
override the people We, with others
sufi cent to have carried vote in the
affirmative, would have voted for re
newal of the contract, and an extern
sion to the company Of all the snfra .es
they woull have relinluishe |. hal they
frankly confessed their inability to per-
form on their p,rt; but through fear
of the result, they chose rather to lille
gally Gas we beIievc) hold on to what
they looked upon as to good thing to
be lost, and have thereby cast olium
upon themselves, however honest may
have been their intentions.
Whether it be wholly an unselfsh
regard for the interests of the people,
or the promptings of selfish purpose
and unmeasured prejudice that has
actaated this litigation we don propose
to discuss. This we will leave to the
option of the public mind to deter
mine. What will be the outcome Of
this litigation we cannot conjecture.
If it shall be decided against the com
pany, the almost unanimous verdict of
the people will be, ''served them right,
while on the other hand, if the decis-