Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1875-07-29
MILWAUKEE, AND DUBUQUE RAIL.
ROAD.
Another Correspondents and Whole City In
understanding railroads.&c. as we'll as
Charncteristic-The v citing of Local Aid for
Railroads an Accumulation.


in full, as follows:
s'The GRANT COUNTY HERALD OF
the lst inst. contains a communication
under the head of "Milwaukee and
Dubuque Railroad" purporting to
come from and to speak the senti.
ments of Boscobel, which, by its pre-
sumptuous bearing and its erroneous
statements, seems to need some atten
ton by some one qualified to speak
for Boscobel.
"The people of Boscobel arc not
unmindful OF the efforts which have
been repeatedly made, and are now
being made, TO secure the construc-
ton Of railroads having for their OBJ
iect the withdrawal of trade from this
place. There is, even now, an enter
prise of this kind IN ndme-'dragging
its slow length along'-in the Kicka-
poo valley. Mr.. President Williams
its originator and main, if not only
stay, has so far got along with his job
without any visible means, securing
from the people specially interested,
the expenditure thereon in labor Of
some thousands of dollars, under Law
ish promises and dreamy speculations
never to be- realized; but the whole
effort is too laggard, and the enter
prise is too visionary to disturb for a
moment the business confidence Of
our people. 1t will be found in the
long run, that false and foolish con-
ceptions as to matters of internal i'm
provements especially, will inevitably
bring up severe loss and throw dis
credit if not dishonor upon their
originators; and it is not surprising
that in the case named, the detached
sections of earthwork are washing
away, that the piles of ties and wood.
en- rails dumped promiscuously along
the line in anticipation of early use
are fast Going to decay-sad monu-
ments of mispent labor-and that
blight and midew are settling over
all. This affords a prompt and fresh
d 1onstration of our rule.
"It is unfortunate, perhaps, that
there are no means extant to prevent
men, singly and in masses, from in.
dulging in visionary and suicidal en-.
terprise. In ordinary.cases, the judg
ment is accessible to reason, but it is
proven, that the specious pleas of
interested parties and Of paid agents
on behalf of railroad schemes of how
ever little merit, which hold out a
color of "enhancing the value of the
property" Of any locality appealed to,
have a power beyond the counter
effects ofboth Reason and Experience.
Men thus appealed to, rarely discrim-
mate, and seem 10 "Eat of the insane
root that takes the Reason prisoner. >
"Tbo people Of Boscobel have also
been aware of the efforts and Interior
objects of parties on behalf of rail
road projects to run in Grant county
to the right, to the left and to the
South, yet they have never been
greatly disturbed thereby. We be
lieve that they are disposed to take a
philosophical view of the situation
and to accept with becoming grace
and resignation whatever may be
laid up in store to initiate against
their own commercial advantages.
1t is of no use to fight the inevitable.
In the meantime, however, "they will
60 on the even tenor Of their way"
without allowing themselves to be-
como frantic over the occasional spas
modic displays of interested and II.
responsible persons in aid Of railroad
schemes, too unwise in conception
and too impracticable of construction
to raise in them the slightest appre
tensions Of evil to come. Our PEG.
pie cannot by argument or any affec,
tation of friendly solcitude, prevent
the people of other localities from
fostering plans for the construction
of railroads in impracticable places
or, from vexing and overburthening
themselves by the actual construction
Of lines, sure to entail on them infinite
litigation, disappointment, and tota
loss. We may pity, and even laugh
in some extreme cases Of this kind
but we certainly shall not be guilty 0
| opposing under the dictates Of purel.
local interest any railroad project 0
real merit, if organized upon a soun'
basis and proposing only to use mean
for carrying on the work legitimatell
obtained, if the same shall propose t.
cut seriously into the trade Of Bosco
bel.
No one disputes Che right of ind
viduals to invest their means in an
lawful enterprise; and if Lancaster
Fennimore, Wingville, or any othe
place really desire to secure railroa
facilities to their several localities,
IS not for Boscobel to dissent. B0scC
bel will not dissent unless it is propos
cd TO compel her TO share with thos
places, or either of them, IN pecu
mary liability TO be created to thes
ends especially to their advantag
and 10 her loss. We regret thi
whole plan of voting railroad aid, q
essentially vicious and cruelty opprei
sive to mincrties. Majoritles al
rarely scrupulous in the exercise
their power. The courts have SUI
tanned legislation to authorize tn
voting OF local aid to railroads; bl
experedce has taught us, or ougt
to have taught US l)ng ago, that
would have been far better Tor OF
country if THIS plan bad never bee
, inauguratad. And the consequence
have not all begun to put IN the
appearance. We dread the da
wien the score shall be complete
"sR.' the writer of the article
question, speaks for Boscobel
though by authority. The truth
he is not citizen of this place, NJ
has be taken pains 10 ascertain L
; sentiments Of our people on the SUI
ieot upon which he speaks, Il i
clear case of invention and misrepr
( sentation. The railroad probe