Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-06-05

other rain-growing country opening up in the
Nortnwest, these evils to our special farming IN
creased in the future W. may add that the unjust
determinations OF railroad corporations have ag-
graValed ana intensified this evil DENOMINATIONS
are unouly exciting and building up the prosperity
OF competing points, and depressing and destroy
ing that Of other points. Real estate is
a .paa manufactures and agriculture
depopulated by reason Of unjust dis
examinations. In view of these facts, your Com
mltee DeieVe that due encouragement should De
given 10 the opening of new routes, ana the I'M
provement of old ones so as to furnish transporta-
ton at cheap rates between all parts or the re-
pubic Among these. we would call attention 10
lne Following which, from cursory exaln,nalion,
seem to have more or less merit: The Niagara
Snip Canal; the Caughnawaga Champlaln Canal
route from the ST. Lawrence to New CORK the Fox
River Canal, of Wisconsin; the James River and
kanawha through water line: the Illinois & Michi-
gan Canal and the Illinois River improvement; the
Atlantic 81 Great Western Canal, ana the Mlssls-
The southern Pacific and Northern Pacific Rail
roads are already aided by grants OF lands, and
their construction 1t is believed secured, and
we believe will be important means OF re-
lleVln9 the pressure of transcontlnental trans
porIahoh The scheme or the Eastern
q Western transportation Company also promises
valuable new through route from the Northwest
TO the Atlantic. We call attention to and ask an
investigation Of the merits of the narrow gauge
railroads, as much cheaper III their construcu non
and operation than the existing railways OF freight
transportation, and of tram railways land upon the
common highways of the country, which we be,
eve can be done at cost nor eaesetg , atr 9l
be made and presevered in until all railway cor
poralons shall be subject to the regulation OF Inc
General and State Governments SO as TO insure the
absolute and perpetual prohibition and prevention
Of exortionate charges and unjust discrimlnat tons
We recommend that all men who believe the
rights OF the people should be protected
from the extortions and determinations of trans
portatlon monopolies should unite in reforming
the Executive. Judicial and Legislative Depart
ments of our National and State Governments by
excluding therefrom the proprietors and servants
of such monOpoes. We deprecate, finally, the
practice of the Executive, judicial and Legislative
officers in accepting favors from transportation
corporations, whose interests are more or less IN
conflict with those of the people whom such Off
GERS were elected TO serve.
The following resolutions were presented
WHEREAS, We recognize the railroads of the
country as an effective means Of developing its
agricultural resources. and az having an interest in
common and inseparable with the country through
which they pass: and
WHEREAS We have in times past fostered and
aided them by liberal charters and concessions,
made by public and private parties, and still de-
sire to encourage farther development OF the rail-
way system: therefore,
Res0tced That fair degree of reciprocity would
suggest that corporations having common in
terest and public aid should in their turn endeavor
to subserve the interests of the country through
which they pass by charging fair for freight,
points along their lines
ReS0Ered That, on the contrary, railroad corpora
tons in many instances have been eXOrbant in
their charges. have Disseminated uniustlv between
localities, and have failed to respond to the gcner
GUS grants Of power and moneys that have been
given them by our national and local Governments,
ReS0!red That the system adopted and now
practiced in the building of railroads. the soliciting
of stock subscriptions from individuals, corpora
lions and counties, and after receiving these sub
sides 10 deprtss the value of said stock by forcing
he IN Epf and aZSip n Suc
an extent "a to enable a few spectators to have
control of the road, thereby deprving those who
aided in its construction Of all voice III it, manage
ment, increasing its cost four or five times above
the amount it wonld have cost if those managing it
in the outset had had the foresight to have had the
funds on hand at the start to build and equip the
road, then requiring the producer and shipper to
pay dividends upon the fictitious cost by charging
excessive freight and passenger tariffs, operates
most nurously to the best interests of the farming
class. and calls loudly for reform and restraint by
adequate legislation.
Res0tced, That we recommend all farmers to
withhold their votes and their aid from railway cor
porations unless il be fully conceded that corpora
tons aided are subie to regulation by the
power Incorporating them, and will not. after re-
ceiving the advantages conferred by public author
lty, claim the lmmunltles OF private corporation.
ReSOlred That we indorse, and Will support, the
doctrine promulgated by some of our courts, that a
railway corporation receiving and exercising the
States right of eminent domain. and receiving aid
raised by taxation from public authorities, has
thereby accepted and admitted itself TO be corpo-
ration with public function and subject to the
power from which it has received its charter in the
limitation of its rates; and
Resotped, That a railway being practically a
monopoly, controlling the transportation of nearly
all the country through which ii passes, and that
competitor except at few points cannot be relied
upon 10 fix rates, that therefore it becomes the duty
Of the State to fix reasonable and medium rates,
atfording a fair remuneration to the ransporters,
and without being an onerOue charge TO the pro-
Queer and consumer.
Resotred That inasmuch as Belgium has succeed
ed in regulating the rates upon railways by Govern
ment lines, ask an investigation of the PROPOSE
ton TO control the rates upon existing railways by
trunk lines, and controlled by the State authorities
and run at uniform and cheap rates.
ReSOtted That the consolidation of parallel lines
OF railways is contrary TO public policy, and should
be prohibited by law.
Resolred That whenever a railway corporation
owns or controls line or lines in two or more
States it Is the right and duty of the General Gov
eminent TO regulate the rates of freight and fare
upon such lines under the constitutional power TO
regulate commerce between the States.
ResOlre0. That recommend thorough organ
ization of local. county and State organizations for
the purpose Of reforming these great abuses, and
dealing equal and exact justice to all men.
Considerable discussion of the report en-
sued, when it was rccommitted to TIE Com
mittee, and returned with amendments strik-
ing out the estimate of Quincy and Ferguson,
and making the paragraph referring to Legis-
ative control read as follows: 'Railway cor
porations shallbe subject to legislative control,
so as, etc.
After a lengthy discussion the report as
amended was adopted.
The Committee also recommended the ad-
option of a resolution endorsing the James
River and kanawha Canal in connection with
the Improvement of the Ohio and Kanawha
Rivers, and requesting Congress to make ap-
preparations therefor. The resolutions pre-.
sented and recommended by the Committee
were then unanimously adopted
The following officers were elected for the
ensuing year: President-W. II. Jackson, of
Tennessee. ce-Presdents-D Spur, of
Kentucky; A. Boyd, of Pennsylvania; Cover
nor r. w. Furness, Nebraska; General Mere
dith, Indiana W. Lawton, South Carolina; A.
NJ. Garland Illinois; Col Charleton, Tennes-
see; Norman Coleman, Missouri; j. X. Hud-
son, Kansas; {. G. Langdon, Alabama
Eli Wilson, wisconsin,; Colman Younger,
G. NJ. Miliken, Ohio; O. s
Bliss, Vermont; W. S. King, Mimi; NJ W.
Phillips, Mississippi; w. N. Byers, Colorado;
Il: j. Walker, West Virginia; Henry E. Peyton,
Virginia. Secretary-Chas. W Greene, Tenn;
Treasurer-Joseph Pool, Ind
The Congress decided to hold the next an
nual meeting on the second Tuesday in Nav,
1874, at Atlanta. Adjourned to the 3Oth
THIRD DAY.
The Meteorological and Crop Report Com
mittee presented resolutions, which were ad
pted-approving the meteorological reports
now furnished from Washington; urging upon
Congress the extension of the system, so that
the farmers could receive daily reports at all
post offices and railway stations; recognizing
the Importance of national system of crop
reports; indorsing the plan laid down by the
late Commodore Maury, and providing for
urging these points on the Government
~ motion was made to take from the fable