Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1873-06-12
DOUBLE TRACK TRUNK RAILWAY.
Memorial to the Congress of the United States
Asking for a Charter for Freight
Road from Chicago to
New York.
TO tie Senate and House Of Representatives Of the
United States:


10 he Senate and House Of Representatives. Of the
United States;
We, the undersigned, citizens of
the several states named below,
would most respectfully present this
memorial:
During the winter months, for
years past, there has been press.
ing want of increased transportation
facili les from tbs West to the sea-
board. The railway companies have
been unable 10 receive and transport
all the property otf,red them, and
inability TO meet their demands up
on them for transportation hfs in
duced them to exact exorbitant rates
of freight, with results alike damag.
ing and disastrous to the agricultur-
al, manufacturing, and business in
terests of the entire country. The
immense elevators and grain ware
houses of Chicago have been Gin mid
winter) filed to overfo wing, COM
polling them partially to suspend
business, so that the railways bring
ing grain from the w est to Chicago
have been unable to unload their
cars, and consequently they have
been obliged to refuse transporta-
ton to their patrons. The ware
houses in the country becoming full,
farmers have in many instances been
unable to find market for their
grain. This winter freight embargo
has also prevented the Western
pork packers and provision dealers
from realizing on millions of dollars
worth of property wanted in Euro
pcan markets. The lmpossibiity of
shipping said property when ready
for market has resulted in severe
stringency ia money matters, de-
ranging and damaging business and
causing financial failures. We would
also, respectfully remind your hons
orable bodies Of the increase of pop-
ulation and Of the agricultural
growth and industrial pursuits of the
vast territory, (more than 100000
square miles, between Lakes Mich.
gan and Superior and the western
boundary line of Nebraska, which, to
very great extent, is tributary to
Chicago in all business matters and
through which city the major por
ton of the surplus products Of that
section of the cOuhtry must pass
during the season Of suspended navi.
CATION of the lakca and rivers, to
reach the great markets of the At.
lantic States and Europe: We have
observed with pleasure the severa
propositions for enlarged aud addi-
tional water facilities between the
East and West to mutually benefit
the producers and consumers of our
produce. We are convinced that
water routes, however improved
and enlarged, will not fully answ er
the purpose desired, especially in
this northern latitude, where lake,
river and canal navigation is SUE
pended for more than one-third Of
the year, which turns the entire
transit business on to the present
railway lines, greatly overtaxing
their rolling stock, at wider rates Of
freight, the effect of which, as has
been shown, is to check grain Ship
ments to the East, thereby filling
the immense warehouses in Lake
Michigan ports at long storage rates
with grain at low prices. The farm
ers who can hold their crop until the
next spring can store it at home for
better rates at the opening of navi-
| CATION, but those who cannot do so
| must often sacrifice their best inter.
ests to meet current expenses and
payments, while at the same time
the consumer at the East is obliged
to pay prices out of proportion With
those received by tho producer, be-
cause the present facilities for trans
porting property are inadequate to
move all, that is pressing forward
and likewise insufficient to move the
quantity demanded by the wants of
the East
What we need and must have as it
appears to us, to afford proper relief
to all intrests, is doubletrack rail-
way between Chicago andlNew York,
to be worked exclusively in the tom
mage business at low speed and at
cheap rates. This road would carry
from Chicago to New York every
years a tonnage equal to $50, 000,00
bushels of wheat. and return as many
tons to Chicago. In case Congress Is
not prepared to order the construc-
ton of such highway as a national
public work, We humbly pray your
honorable bodies to grant charter
for the construction of such road
with Judicious and proper restrictions
as to capital stock, toll rates, speed
of trains, and impartiality in the re,
ception and transportation of freight.
The charter to require the com
pany (to whom it may be granted)
TO receive and transport over its line
with reasonable dispatch and at pre-
scribed maximum and uniform rates
of TOLL all cars whether loaded OF
empty corresponding in guage and
construction. The charter, also, to
require of the company complete and
full responsibility in the care and de-
livery of all property which it re-
ceives. The charter, also, to require
the company to make annual reports
to the Secretary Of the Interior of all
its Operations, including details
statements Of its capital stock paid in
it's receipts and expenditures, and
and such other information as NAV
be required by the said Secretary of
the Interior, and the government, by
order Of the said Secretary, or by vote
of Congress, to have ut any time the
right to iny estigatc all the affairs of
said company for the purpose of ver-
flying said reports or for other pur-
poses.
In the establishment of rates oftoll
or transportation, the company be
allowed TO exact only so mnch AZ