River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1874-01-23


state, and would prove equally beneficial to
other northern states bordering on the Missis-
slppi A memorial to congress on this sub
Jet might serve 10 call the attention OF that
body 70 the nature and importance OF this
route.
FOX AND Wisconsin RIVERS.
Intimately connected with the question Of
cheap transportation, is the commcndable
undertaking of Congress to complete practl-
cal aud permanent water route between the
Mississippi river and the great lakes, by
means OF the Fox aud Wisconsin rivers. For
the first time the national government as
sumed the active and exclusive responsibility
OF this important national enterprise IN Octo-
Der, 1872. At that time the work was trans
leTred from the Green Bay and Mississippi
Canal Company TO the United states govern
mcnt, and during the past year the improve.
ment has been effectively prosecuted, Under
the immediate direction Of Assistant United
states Engineer, Capt John Nader. IN his
recent report OF progress, Col. Houston, in
general charge OF this Improvement, states
that there Is no public work more national in
It's character In this that by this route the
products OF the southwest will find eheap
transportation to the seaboard, aud the luui-
Der and ron Of the northwest to the Mississippi
ri Valley, aud that "there is no other route
which viii meet the necessities Of 50 large a
rSbNluu VI Aut GhlNtu Cbdkfh III SO 6l1dll an
expense" Capt Nader estimates that thu
whole work may be completed il accordance
with the plan early in the year 1876, aud at
an expense TO the nation triflng in compafi-
son with the bentits anticipated.
CHEAP TRANSPORTATION BY LAND.
The permanent lmprc vement Of natural
water channels OF a national character doubt.
less furnishes partial solution of the cues.
ton OF cheap transportation. But the prob
lem Is one OF vital significance in all H.
phases, an / also must be- iearlesslv and iutel
llgently considered in relation TO land car.
riage, with view TO every possible relief from
existing evils. Wisconsin has a territorial
area approximating that of all the New Eng
land states combined, and its sell abounds
with many sources of agricultural and min.
eral wealth, now comparatively yaluelees
because OF the obstacles TO q quick aud cheap
/ transit OF freight to distant markets Every
reduction IN the cost Of exchanges between
] the producer and the consumer necessarily
enhances the value of every acre of our ter.
rltoTy, and induces corresponding invest.
ment OF capital and labor IN tho development
/ OF our material prosperity. The serious con.
sIderaton OF this matter can no longer bt
\ prudcntly postponed. The agricultural
/ classes, upon whom rest the heavier burdens
/ Of governments, and who are ordinarily the
last 10 claim or receive special protection al
/ the hands If the legislative power. are bu;
reasonable in their demand for security in the
future against the wrongs of the past, aud
+ for such intervention on the part of their rep
re,entatives as sh all secure that Just reward
for intelligent labor already generally assured
! to the American people in nearly all other de.
| Dartments OF labor and enterprise We can.
/ not be blind t. the general truth that classes
\ favored by government, or conspicuous in the
management OF corporate interests, have be.
. faftN mo. TIs,E l. g..
man want, or the natural fruits OF human in
dustry, while the average farmer of our state
scarcely realizes the ordinary wages OF his
hard and protracted daily labor, and is com
PEELED to rely upon the indirect influences OF
immigration, mostly from foreign nations, for
any visible increase in his landed possessions.
Certain it is, that Wisconsin, with large aud
constant accessions to her private capital and
working population, with soil naturally Pre-.
ductive far beyond the average of American
states, and with an amount of exports large
m proportion to her population, should have
reached at this time a rank in the scale OF ma
terial progress much higher than she nov oc-
cupies.
doubt the propriety of appeals to the fed.
eral government for relief from abuses in the
operation of railways Apart from the ques.
ton OF constitutional power, always worthy ct
grave consideration IN connection with in
ternal enterprises Of this kind, II must be con-
tessed that experience has not given occasion
for unlimited confidence in the ability, purity
or impartiality OF congress 10 the management
OF enterprises OF this class
Fortunately no doubt en- exist as to the
plenary power of our own state over corpora
tiOns OF ITS own creation. By constitutional
provision all existing enactmcnts on the sub
iect may be altered or repealed.
The duty Of the legislature to exercise this
power to the full extent Of preventing or abol.
ishng the evils OF monopoly and extorticn, is
equally clear. 4 corporation which transpires
to plumber the people by whose consent it
exists, betiays its trust and justly fOrfeits its
claim e. existence.
II must be admitted, however that railway
companies are necessary to the prosperity
and development Of the state, and that ia the
discharge OF their honorable obligations to the
public, they are entitled to the gratitude and
pOstl and uniform protection OF legislative
authority. In this matter the people will
make no peace with enemies, but they seek no
war with friends. While they are willing to
encourage to the fullest extent the develop.
mcnt OF the railway system of our State, they
caunot submit to manifest injustice, nor per
init the abuse of chartered privileges
The great problem then is, bow shall the
state afford proper protection and encourage
mCnt TO all its varied industries and at the
same time, mcte out equal aud exact justice to
all lts citizens.
The precise manner IL which the state can
best exercise its power for the protection Of
the people against the abuses OF railway cor.
poratons, is r question not now presented
Tor the first time. There Is no aspect of the
subject which has not been the occasion Of
rigid Investigation 10y tho wisest Statesmen OF
tins country aud Europe, and there Is no con-
ceiyable expedicnt Of legislation which has
not been reported 10 on both continents t0r the
attainment Of the most desirable Icsults In
matter SO complicated audimpol can't, IL can.
not be expected Of me to recommend, or tho
Legislature 20 adopt saccidG measures o, re-
lief, without much research anil mature dee
liberation. Permit me 90 briefly suggest.
however, few general propositions 1T a
practical character, as basis OF legislative
action
/. Railway companies are entitled "a full
return of al proper expenditure tor running
aud repairing roads, With fair interest on the
CAPITA. so invested IN the construction and
outfit OF such roads aud this interest an tbt
capital SO invested shoul he sufficient IN
amount 10 encourage ihe continuous employ.
meut uf capital 200 the Same direction.
and m ~, construction 81 new aud lndc7eud.
emit lines,
. Every stock-hulier IN railway company
ls entitled 20 "a pruportlonate consideration
tor MI. investment. aud no action ui mai rity
of the stock holders in any company rhuuld
bu permitted 10 jtepardi2c the equitable rights
a the minority, OF tO deny the minority an
equitable representation M boards 81 direc
ton.
3. The privileges of railway companies
l.ff 49,. f.Nt.tt..Ie ItV,sf.l a. sIt tfFt,.-Ya q,