The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1873-05-24
THE .sI7UA TI0N AT SUPERIOR.


in4ten, Ky District, is worthy Of the con
slderaton of all interested in the develop
ment Of this important point. It explains
and speaks for itself
ST. PAUL, Mimi, May II, 1878.
'E w. Anderson Esq, Superior
Dear Sir: received your letter this morning urg-
ing to retarn Superior, and expressing the de-
sire OF your citizens hear my views relative to the
proposed action be taken in regard to the bonds OF
the county, now held by Messrs Walbridge Bro. &
Sargent. l am unable return, and could not re-
smain, as advised ar. Perry, who with many Others
had requested to do So
|, seems to me however plain that Mr. Walbridge
has right, legal equitable to withhold from the
county authorities any portion of the bonds for $3.50
0oo n0v in his possession, that l asonished that
he doesnot at once surrender them. IL is the clear
duty OF ME county authorities to make demand for /,
their rettrn and on refusal Gf he should reiuse) in
sttue and prosecute vigorously legal proceedings for
their recotery. Your attorney Mr.. setter, has the
ability and information requisite do So as well in
deed think better shan any counsel you could employ
No one knows better than Mr. Wabridge that the
City of Superior and County of Douglas though des-
tined to become important in spite Of all combinations
Iror and reproductive because isolated from
the lines # commerce and travel their people in an
earnest Effort obtain railroad connection with the
Northern Pacific railroad at Komoko twenty-five
miles disaut voluntarily taxed their unproductive
property the of S35O,000, aid such was their
confidence in Mr. Wabrdge, that they placed their
bonds forthat amount in his hands, bis agreement
to build e road by the let day of January 1873 The
fact that be large properly holder, doubtless in
duced yotr authorities TO pursue that very unusual
course and exhibit such implicit confidence III his
surances He has failed to comply with his agree
ment; me road is not buit; the taxpayers have re-
ceved 10 benefit from any expenditure he has made
they are injured by the delay his failure has caused
surely he ought not be permitted add additional
burdens on the unproductive property of already
heavily taxed people, by levying pay bonds
which be holds when he has utterly failed to comply
with Ids contract do not charge that he obtained
these bonds in bad faith admit that he intended to
build he road when he received them think it pro
bable that he hoped to obtain aid from parties who
afterwards failed render it; but / know that the /
great of the payers whose property is mort
gagged to pay these bonds and whose taxes will be
doubled if they gwen up, not only threw no
obstacles in his way but forwarded his enterprise by
every means in their power | therefore regard his
Withholding the bonds, after his breach Of con
tract, when the tax payers not in default, i"
legal, ungenerous and unjust"
I An act was obtained by some of the friends of Mr.
Walbridge, from the last Legislature of Wisconsin,
authorizing the Board of Supervisors to settle with
him on equitable terms; it is a most remarkable act
; AZ.
Walbrdge seeks equity he must do equity; he must
fist deliver the proper authorities of the County
the bonds wrongfullY withheld from them until
that is done Botrd of Supervisors having decent
sdfrespect, proper regard for the rights of the
taxpayers they represent can entertain for moment
any proposition for equitable adjustment. When Mr.
Wabrdge comes before them with clean hands, re-
stores the bonds admits his failure shows the reasons
Tor it, and the amount he lost in honest effort to
fulfil his contract, then and not till then, the Su-
pervisors listen to any proposition from him for equi
table adjustment. II he fails to put himself in that
position, and retains the bonds means of extort
iag settlement, prompt and energetic legal proceed
/ iug5 to obtain them, and firm refusal to allow him
more than the courts of the country would award him.
il the only remedy. expressed these views before
Z
Walbridge; they are my convictions now, and if had
time and opportunity would gladly lay them before
/ your people.
/ The only interest have is one in common with all
the taxpayers | a railroad connection with the
Northern Pacific r. r. at Komoko and the S35u,d0o,
of bonds which we must al help pay, applied
cording to the original design, accomplish that
object. deny the authority of your supervisors to
appropriate them either to the of Mr.. Walbridge
or any body else, except far they have promoted
and chcapened the construction of that road Its
length believe is only twenty FIVE miles, its maximum
grade is under forty feet the mile, It's cost cannot
as am advised exceed $4,000. When its working
profile compared with that of the present line from
Komoko to Duluth, as compared them in Mr. Refs
Office the other day, no intelligent doubt for
a moment that it will be built early day Gen1
Cass, now the President of the Northern Pacific r r
is toe distinguished railroad man, rot to know that
the present line from the Junction Duluth with its
feet grades its sliding banks and its frighful curved
trestlework from which raven on top OF the trees
beneath his feet appears to the of the passenger
who dares to look down. smaller than backbird, is
rot only wholly INADEQUATE carry the commerce of
bis road but the repairs of the single track to which
it is necessarily limited will in the next five
wears than it would build road from komokO
TO SUPERIOR even if did not give the s35ooo0 of
aid which ought be now ready TO be applied for
that purpose.
GenI Cass knows full well that his great road must
of necessity run east along the south Shore of the
Lake: that Slperor is seven miles further on his east
ward than Duluth, and Is only the same distance
from the Komoko junction; he has too much sense to
continue into pocket, where there Is no con-
tnuation of transportation for FIVE months in the year
and none at anv time eastward by rail- unless he runs
through Superior back to Komoko; hence his pres
ent contract with the Governor of Wisconsin TO build