Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1875-03-04
THE RAILROAD.
The Policy of Selfishness.

ed by the Athenian State on an en-
bassy with his enemy, Themistocles
said to him "Let US, 0, Themisto-
cles, leave our enmity upon the bor-
ders of Athens returning, if it may
seem best, we will resume it,"
Preaching from such a grand text
as that, one is freed from the necessi-
ty of Calculating it. The gem OF
truth contained is 80 in harmony
with the better instincts of man that
your preacher comes easily to the
more coDgenial task of treading on
his neighbours toes or, as we say,
making the application.
Communities of men are often very
much like the tabled dog in the
manger, differing from him in point
not at all prejudicial to the dog.
| That consistent canine could have
derived no possible satisfaction from
meal of hay, but we often refuse to
be partakers (part-takers) of any
public benefit, simply because we
fear some of our neighbors may be
equally benefited
Now the question absorbing the
attention of many of your readers is,
shall we have a Railroad connection
with the outer world, and if so by
what route shall such connection be
made? Shall it be broad or narrow
gauge? Dubuque, Galena or Mineral
Point? the Bots creek or Platte route?
and so on. The very fact of so many
alternatives in part accounts for the
division of sentiment which we find
among those who are to bear the
burdens and reap the benefits of the
enterprise. No doubt honest differ
ences of opinion exist. But the
great foe to this project, the foe with
which we have most to deal because
in and of us, we shall find to be that
narrow minded selfishness that would
induce us to refuse to be profited
twenty five per cent, if by the same
process a neighbor should be protited
thirty.
Do you remember, Mr.. Editor, the
party of three who used occasionally
to gather in certain east room for
a quiet game of "cut throat? how
often the two younger parties, with
the selfishness and inexperience of
youth, would Saving for march"
and find only disaster, and how the
veteran eucher player would conten-
teddy peg away after one point
We soon learned to make haste SLOW
ly and although since then we have |
both doubtless abjured the game, we
then learned that if we couldn't make |
three points, it was wise to take |
one.
Now wise policy, to say nothing
of morality, would dictate to as to
leave all our petty plans and selfish
ness upon the border and throw our
united energies into the battle to Sc
cure first a road. After that is fix
ed fact, then, if we still think it wise,
we can quarrel and blow our respect
i've trumpets in favor Of our little pet
routes. If we want q depot in our
back ward or side track upon our
forty acre timber tract, then will be
the time to press our claims. But
let us bear in mind that one point is
better than no point. If we can't all
have depots and side tracks shall We
refuse to be benefited at
all? Or if it should actually happen
that, with the increased facilities for
travel, some Of our ladies should
make semi-annual pilgrimage to
Dubuque or elsewhere for their little
personal adornments-or if some
closely calculating farmer would pre-
fer to pay railroad and hotel fare, to
say nothing of his time, to save an ex.
ira half pound in a dollars worth CT
su gar-why all this is an evil to be |
sure, but hardly of sufficient magni~
tude to base thereon dignified pro-
test. Our prospects just now do not
look so rose-colored as to warrant us
in the assumption that we can dictate
terms. One of Dubuque's prominent
business men said to me but few
days ago dubuque don't want the
road ; she has the business of the |
county now" When asked if he |
there was no probability of
this business being diverted, he re-
piled that when Dubuque saw the
danger it would then be time enough |
for her to move.
And when | ses Mr.. Jones's able |
letter to the Times consigned to an
obscure corner, the conspicuous ab-
sence of any favorable note or CON-
ment from any other source, L am led
to infer that now by ST. George the
work is not going on quite so brave
ly as it did o couple of " eeks ago.
The drop has been from fever heat
to collapse, so pronounced that one
is almost led to question whether the
ovation with which our committees
were received was not q facetlous
way the Dubuquers have OF amusing
their country guests.
In spite of her seeming Indifference,
it is still to be hoped that Dubuque
will recognize this as one of the
questions upon the decision of which
hangs her future pre-eminence. Her
liberal and far-sighted railroad policy |
has secured to Chicago the truly
metropolitan position from which 1t
will be impossible ever to dislodge
her. Will her example be thrown
away upon the Key City? Is rot
the business of the extensive tract of
country mapped out by Mr.. Jones
and others, extending through tier
of fertile counties into the pineries Of
Wisconsin worth struggling after?
BADGER.