, 1874-04-04
THE RAILROAD AND TAXATION QUESTIONS.

A1EDo, Mercer Co., ILL.,, March 81, 1874.
TO tho Editor ~ The Chfcaqa 1fibuno:
III your sauo Of March 25 I Beo this statement; :;
"I1e bad effect of tho Railroad Inv is shown in
tho experience Of the people living along tho
limo OF tho Galona l. Koithsburg Branch OF tho
Chicago, Burlington !, Quincy Road. The Com
pany Withdrew one passengor-train because it
did not pay, as they are not allowed by Inv to
charge higher rate for short line, though tho
people aro willing aud anxious to pay It,"
Now, If tho Ra,lroad Company arc 80 anxious
to avoid violating the law, why do they not tako
off the freight-train alDo, us they are violating
tho law III thoir charges for freight, and also
for passengers, notwithstanding thoy carry thom
OIL the hog ani cattle trims They did not take
tho train of bocnuso they wished to avoid yiolat-
ing tho law, but to make the low odious. We
firmly hollovo it thoy wonll comply with tho
law the peasongor-train would pay bottor than
It did before, boca1lso there would bo groat
deal moro travel; aud wo helioYo tho people
along the Koithybnrg Branch, M mass, aro yory
unwilling to pay tho extortionato rates OF fare.
ln this connection cantot forboar to notice
that petitions in the interest Of tho railroads
have heon circulated along tue lines, for ropcal
Of tue Rallroad law, and l1ayo boon algucd by
quito number; aud 1t las boeu represented that
the people along thono signed tho1n without dis
tinotion but this is not e.-they wore sgned
tA!o!1I ~ LILO HGotAAo ~ k44C fluAEGS, at4l tN0
mlddlemon,- knowing that tho extortionate
rates do not como ont OF tllonl, but out of the
prodncers alone. How, thon. can they presume
to speak for tho farmora, worry fow, II any, Of
whom eignol thosc potitions7 Nor will they,
until tho railroads give tho law fRir trial mud
thon, If thoy could not do business with roason-
nblo profit, tho producers would be willing to
have tho law repealed, d,-for tho producers OF tho
country do not want my person or company to
work for tlen without their making lair and
But tho fact OF the btlslneas Is, tl.aa producers
along the Keltlshnrg Branch are determined to
"aght 1t out on this liue. for they contributed
towards building this road noarly ono-thrd its
yet hayo no inluenco~in tue control Of tho rond,
but are plundorod every time thoy wish to travel
or ah!p on tue road, aud arc insulted by balng
carried OIL tho cattle aud hog trains, for apito
ninod nayor to yIold until thoy giyo tho law a
fair trial, and. II worse comes to worst, we will
ask tho State to taka away their charter,-for
wo hold that tho State has as good II right to
exercise tho power Or right Of eminent domain
in taking tl!olr chartor awny from tAo.n as 1t had
to exercise Il III tho lrst place iu condemnlug
TINT tract Of lanl and transferring from itu law
full owners to tho lsatlroad Company. It is truo,
in taking tho road from thom, thoy would have
to DO paid for It what dlainterestel parties would
value it at. This Is what We want We think It
would not bo difficult to fluid parties that would
taLe 1t at tha valuation. and agroo to comply
with tho law; and, IN this eyont, tho people
along tlis limo will oxpoot to hayo their monoyod
interest In tho road n,atlo aoouro to thoul. TAis
is our position a1,d feeng. and By. 1t wo will
stand. unless we got some moro light which
might polnt III another direction.
I1opo you will speak out strong against pro-
tecttyo tariffs aud strongly In favor OF tho Hon
nepin Il Rock Island Canal, aud for roform ir
State royenuo. Thore are ono or two
mon in tho Legislature on tho right track.
We arc al wrong. think. n raising our
royonuo OF tho industries Of tho country 1t
should, I think, be raised mainly on inconaos,
and from tho amount Or extent Of protection tho
State gives mon and oo,npauoa IN busiuoHs.
Hitherto roal estate haH borslq tho burden aud
it y, In oireut taxing the productive RESOURCES
Of tho pooplo mud State. Ihis call, In tho end,
but work an injury to tho interests OF the poo
plo at layge.
VIII you do us tho favor to publish this ln
your papor, to show how wo stand lu this Q,,nr-
torf have not boon requested 10 write thia
artlrlo, but know speatl the sentiments Of a
largo numbor Of our oltizens jn this county.
JOIN uoLuEA