Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1874-02-13


THE. NEW RAILROAD BILL
AND IT'S DEFEAT-"WE
CAN STAND 1T"
The new Railroad Bill introduced
and defeated by a large majority in the
lower house Of the Legislature, last
week, was, in our opinion, the most
satisfactory measure of the kind that
could have been drafted, and we view
its defeat by tho House as great
public calamity. It seemed not to
have a single Objectionable feature.
It was in no sense sectional in cllarac-
ter, but was calculated, if carried into
effect, to benefit all sections Of the
Territory alike and it was so planned
financially that our taxpayers would
scarcely have felt the burdens it i'm
posed. The proposition was to loa"
the credit of the Territory at the rate
of FIVE thousand dollars mile, bonds
deliverable as the road should be CON-
pleted and put in working condition in
divisions Of twenty-five miles each, for
three hundred miles, and no further.
The bonds, payable in twenty years,
were to bear interest at the rate OF
seven per cent. year, the principal to
be secured by second mortgage on the
road. So nothing would have gone
from the Territorial treasury but the
accruing interest, and that our In
crease of population and taxable prop
erty as the road advanced would have
thrown more into the treasury than
the interest disbursements would have
carried out is an assumption too reas-
enable to be doubted. Then-an i'm
portant consideration to this end 9TH
or sections-under the law certain
counties would not have been unjustly
taxed for the especial benefit Of 9th.
ers, as Territorial aid having been lin
tied to three hundred miles, the road
could only have been extended to
rival points by individual or county
means. In its terms probable corrup-
ton was completely guarded against.
The Territory could not have been de-
frauded out of a cent, as no oop-holes
were left open for conniving specula-
tors to crawl in at. 1t was emphati-
cally a measure for the people, and
the best that could have been devised
to revive the languishing interests OF
this country. We are confident it
would have been approved at the polls
by even the Changers Of Gallatin
county; and those Legislators who
voted against the salutary measure, as
it contained provision requiring its
submission to a general vote, insulted
the intelligence of their constituents
and comm1rred an outrage Oh popular
rights. They could not have struck
our afflicted Territory a more fatal
blow. Gallatin county has never been
fairly represented on this important
question. Our front door opens to the
eastward, it is true, but the side door,
on tho south, should not be kept
barred. A corner site is better than
no other, if it attracts trade from only
one direction.
It is wonder the members Of the
House who defeated the railroad
measure did not carry their policy of
Chinese cxclusiveness q little further,
and memorabilia Congress ito sink a
few iron-clads at the mouth Of the
Yellowstone. There is great danger
that steamboats, will get to running
on that river, flooding us with "out:
side Barbarians," who will destroy our
cattle ranges by opening new farms,
and tear our mines all to pieces and
rob them of their rich stores of gold
and silver.
Since putting the above in type we
have received advices from the capital
to the effect that the Lewis and Clarke
delegation "sold out" the railroad in
order to secure the passage Of the
Capital Bill. Then has Helena gained
worse than barren victory. Through
her unfaithful representatives she has
covered herself with ineffable dis
grace, and will not gain the prize in
the vain hope of getting which she
has bartered her honor and the best
interests OF the people. How pitiable
her condition! In sack-cloth and
ashes nvnr thn miSfnr%,,noo oor% xlo