The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1873-07-31
COLFAX ON RAILROADS.

From Sehxyler CoLtar,s Fourth-et
July Grafton.
Judged by the standard, and tried
by the tests to which have alluded,
a few propositions, automatic in their
character. settle the question.
l. Our government is and must be
"of the people, by the people, for the
people,"
2. A railroad is chartered IS a
public highway, and highways are al
ways cover nmental affairs for public
use. Even on common roads, although
the public may not have the ownership
Of the soil, they have the right Of
way and Of passage on equal terms,
till vacated by legal authority.
3. Turnpikes. plank roads, bridges
and ferries, are public works, although
their ownership may be private. The
State grants the proprietors the right
to charge tolls for service to the pub ic
designating and limiting their amount,
aud reserving its right to alter them if
they prove insufficient on the one hand
or excessive on tho other.
4. Railroads could not he built
without the aid of that important ele-
ment Of State sovereignty, the right
Of eminent domain, by which, ifa pri-
vate property-holder r fuses to accept
fair price for hi, land. the State for
chilly removes him on the payment of
an appraised compensation to him, and
transfers to the railroad the needed
right Of way through private citizens
property.
s. The exercise of this right of
eminent domain can only be justified
as constitutional because = great pub
lie service is expected from railroad !;
that could not be obtained in any 9th
er way. If the highest power of the
State can be exercised rightly by it to
obtain transportation for its people, it
is absurd to say that it cannot use 9th.
er powers to secure that end or that
it is powerless to prevent company
it has created from defeating that end
at will, by rendering it an oppression
instead Of benefit to the people.
6. While absolute pro rata classi-
6cations may be to Procrustean, yet
making up losses at competing points
by higher rates for shorter distances
at intermediate non-competing points,
is as much opposed to the principles
Of equality and Justice as to wise and
judicious administration Of chartered
privileges.
Z. Ifa State, granting charters
With the use of its eminent domain,
cannot fix maximum rates of transpor-
tation to be charged by tho corpora.
tions are higher than the State for
then they will possess the unrestrai ned
authority to fix the values Of every
thing to be transported, as they may
choose to raise or lower the tariff
Bat, ''if the miller who grinds wheat
can be limited by the State in his tolls,
why cannot the railroad, which brings
the wheat to his mill to be ground?'
The following is an extract from let
ter by Senator Window to the State
Oranges inviting cooperation in the
work assigned the Senate committee
on transportation.
knowing that the Patrons of Hus.
baudry have given much attention to
this matter, and believing that. through
their organization, very valuable in
formation may be obtained in aid of
our work l have the honor to re
quest that you will, after consultation
with the Oranges in your jurisdiction
select suitable person, who will ap-
pear before the committee at a conven.
lent time and place to be hereafter
named, and present the views Of the
farmers Of your State in regard to the
defects, abuses, and grievances alleged
to exist under the present system Of
transportation, and also any suggestions
they may desire to make as to the rem.
edy required. Should you deem it ad.
visable to arrange for the conference
suggested, please inform me of your
action, and l will give you due notice
Of the time and place Of the proposed
meeting. Communications similar to
this have been addressed to the mas.
ters Of all State oranges, and I venture
to express the hope that the COMMITTEES
may be favored with the valuable as
sistance and cooperation Of your or
ganization."
Last week Tuesday, Ethelbert 8.
Mills was drowned at Conev Island.