River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1873-10-21


care Of himself, but they are few. In
saying what have, | do not mean to say
that our railways are managed worse than
in other states. Our water communica-
ton on the north, east and west has no
doubt had healthy influence upon them.
But we do not know what day our great
leading lines win pass into hands that
will have no interest in the public well
fare, and whose only object will be to
grind the last dollar out Of the people.
POOLING EARNINGS.
Indeed, an effort was made last spring
to destroy competition between the two
great lines, by pooling the earnings
clear violation of the laws of the state,
and which, if carried out, would have re.
suited in the repeal Of the charter of both
companies. / know the temper of the
people, and while obeying the law them
selves, they are determined that no crea.
ture of theirs shall set itself up as above
it.
ADVANCE ON FREIGHTs.
II Is but the other day that all the lead.
ing railroads of the state entered into a
combination TO advance the freight on
wheat three cents per bushel, and the uni.
versal clamor hat went up from the peo-
pie has been powerless TO prevent it. This
action only shows the necessity for legis.
lative control. The Republican press
nobly responded TO the public demand
and denounced this attempt in fitting
terms, but am sorry to say that the lead
ing Democratic paper of the state had
nothing but words of apology for the out
rage.
PEOPLE NOT WITHOUT REMEDY.
But If railroads become too overbear-
ing and eXtortionate, and legislative con-
troll shall fail to reach them, the people
are not without remedy, AS was said by
Burke, "when bad men combine, the
good must associate, else they will fall
one by one an unpitied sacrifice in a con.
temptible struggle" If necessary, they
must associate and do their own transpor
tation. A road on the narrow gauge prin
ciple can be built upon any of the great
lines in the state and fully stocked for
$4,000 per mile Such a road has capac.
ity to do double the business that is done
by any road in the state, and, so far as the
farmers are concerned, would move their
freight just as speedily and satisfactorily
as a broad gauge road As passenger
road it would answer the purpose, even If
notquit cas- comfort able as broad gauge.
Such a road is within the ability of any
settled community in the state TO build,
own and operate in their own interest.
WHAT COUNTIES CAN DO.
If need be, the counties of Milwaukee,
Waukesha, Jefferson, Dane, Iowa and
4 nA,,lI aaa,1,v f,pIr e.. It,st1
such a road from the Mississippi to the
lake, each county contributing in proper
ton to the mileage within its jurisdiction,
and the chairman of the board Of super.
visors of each county forming board Of
directors for the road. In this way the
citizens of each county would be inter-
ested in the success of the road-would
give their business TO it, and jealousy
watch its management Such a road,
costing not over one half of existing
roads along side which il was laid, and
operated tor three-tilths, would drive ex.
listing roads TO inevitable bankruptcy
But | have not time to dwell upon this
transportation question any further, than
to say, that see great log-rolling schemes
growing up fer depicting the public
treasury under the pretence of cheapening
transportation. II is proposed to open
sundry water communications, and, if all
the schemes are received with favor, a
vast outlay must be incurred. Some OF
the schemes have merit, but most of them
have private speculation at the bottom
The improvement of the mouth of the
Mississippi is a great national work, and
should not be neglected one day, and Of
course, we all believe in improving the
great national highway between the Miss
issippi and Green Bay, it being the first
line traversed by civilized men between
the lake and the Father of Waters.
NATURAL HIGHWAYS.
To prove that | fully understand the
importance of what the Almighty has
done for us in the way of providing great
natural highways, and the necessity OF
improving the same and preserving them
from unnecessary obstruction, need only
to refer 10 my public record in the past
fifteen years. AS early as 1858, endeav-
ored TO interest Congress in the improve
ment Of the Mississippi river, from st.
Paul down, by holding the water in the
spring, when there was great surplus
over the wants of navigation, in the many
large lakes near the source, and letting il
come down in the season Of drouth
CONGRESSIONAL ACTION.
To that end, introduced a resolution,
which was referred 90 the committee on
Commerce, and also had correspondence
with the late Chas. Ellet, very distin-
guished engineer, who had given the sub.
iect Of improving rivers in that way, great
attention, also with Captain G. ii.
Bigelow, Of Lawrence, Mass, under whose
observation the capacity of the Merrimac
river had been nearly doubled by holding
the surplus in the great reservoir Of Lake
Winnepiseogee. Both gentlemen pro
nounced the opportunity the very best for
improving great navigable stream at a
very insignificant cost. Before anything
was done or any plan or survey made for
the improvement of the Des Moines and
Rock Island rapids other than that made
in 1893, by Robert Il. Lee, with n view Of
attracting the attention of eastern men,
bers Of Congress 30 the necessity OF
cheapening transportation on the Missis.
sippi river. ! addressed communica.
ton 20 the Boston Duly AdCertiser, dated
October %, 1865, showing the Decessity
of that great improvement, and pointing
out the way il should be done, the plan
being different from that of Gen. Lee, and
being the precise plan the government
afterwards adopted With your permis-
sion, / will read the opening paragraph
Of that communication, written eight