The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1875-02-25
THE MANITOWOO RAILROAD,
What shall be the Basis ofCompromise

Some three years ago or thereabouts
the city of Appleton voted aid to the
Manitowoc Railroad to the extent $780,
600 in bonds Oh condition that one half
of the amount should be delivered if the
road was completed to the Wolf River
within a certain time which was also
specified. The bonds were regularly is
sued and signed and delivered to the
designated trustee.
The company failed 80 fulfill its part
of the contract, and the specified time
mentioned in the ordinance for the COM
pletion of the road expired. The city
having complied with the terms of the
proposition, was thus relieved of all OBJ
legations in the matter, and the bonds
which had been issued We're publicly
destroyed by the Common Council.
Since that time the management of the
Company has been changed, and under
the new regime, the road has been com
pleted to this city and placed In opera
ton. The company now proposes to ex-
tend its line to New London. provided o
compromise can be effected with the
city, and the original proposition is Of
fered as a basis for negotiations. We
have thus far said nothing about the in
juction which had been served upon the
city, prohibiting the authorities from
issuing the bonds, and which was twice
declared perpetual by the Circuit Court
and also by the highest Judicial tribunal
in the state, Oh the grounds that the
proceedings had been illegal from begin
ming 60 end; but such was the case.
Under these circumstances the Com
pany approaches the city, with the olive
branch Ill OF e hand and the sword in the
other, and If we are to believe it's mouth
pieces, makes oVertureS upon basis
something like the following: Give us
the amount of aid which our original
proposition calls for and everything will
be serene and beautiful but fail to do
this, and we will prosecute our claim to
the bitter end. Verify, the company
could afford to display friendly relations
to our people, if it could obtain a COM
promise O. of this kind. There is nocn-
ing that reminds us SO much of this
overture of the company as the PROPOSE
ton made by an Ethiopian expounder
of the gospel to his hearers.
''Dar are two roads III dis life. De
one am broad and narrow road which
leads to destruction de odder is a narrow
and broad road which leads TO perdition."
IF dat am de case," said one of his
hearers, 'dis darkey IS going to take to
de woods"
This seems to be about the relative
position occupied by the Manitowoc
Railroad Company and the people OF
this city. And manifestly, there Is no
alternative for the latter but to 'take to
the woods" as the pursuing of either
OF the two courses laid out by the former
would involvea sacrifice of $4,000 Or
thereabouts.
The truth is that the city is neither
morally nor legally bound to pay this
company a dollar for the work which it
has already done, or for that which it
may volunteer to do. This is not to
say that We would counsel such course.
We would entirely approve of 81 policy
to pay this company moderate amount
for the extension of it's road to some
point ON the Wolf River, SO as to CON
meet with the Green Bay and Minnesota
Railroad. If done at all it should not
be In the way OF q compromise, but as
an entirely new proceeding, independent
of all dictation. The opinion of the
Post is that this amount should not eY-
coed S25, 900 which we believe would
represent the full value of the road to
this city; and we question even if this
outlay would be advisable under the cir
cumstances. 1t is we'll known, or at
least it has recently come to light, that
the Manitowoc Railroad Company has
an arrangement with the Chicago and
Northwestern Railroad, whereby it IS
bound by contract to charge the same
rates for freight of all kinds And there
is no reason to doubt that this agreement
will continue for all time If any rpa-
son could be urged. with force, in favor
of rendering material aid to this road, Is
would be that it would serve as p con-
peting line to our business men for ship
ping goods and manufactured wares.
But as it is under the control of pow
erful corporation, this advantage entirely
disappears. One railroad is as good IS
dozen, unless by their multiplication,
competition and low freights Is the re
suit. Hence, we insist that this com
pany must deal more literally with the
manufacturing and commercial interests
of this city before it can expect to re
ceive any aid whatever from these
| sources.
It seems that the corporation has
found no difficulty whatever III securing
the cooperation of the Crescent and
Butternut organ in pressing its eztoI-
| tiOnate claims against the city without
any direct or remote equivalent for the
assistance which it demands. The Post
| prefers TO examine into this matter more
thoroughly and carefully and to take a
position which is more consistent win
material interests, regardless Of whose
! displeasure it may thus incar.
| When the terms of the compromise are
made definitely known, we shall have
! more tD 13y on Tins Gubipct
| / SHOCKING accilent occurred Il. Tie