Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-01-21


the railwaysI distinguished counsel for the cor,
porations arhigned the agricultural classes OF
the Northwet on the charge Of forming combina-
tions, Of RESTING just administration oil inc
laws. of fostaing the spirit OF communism ana
instigating anew distribution of land, by taking
from those VI have TO give to those who have
not and thu dsparaging discourse has been
widely circulated in the annual report OF oY OF
the companies represented. cannot permit
this spersioA upon the mass of our people TO
pass without contradiction and rebuke. The
agricultural &asses of the Northwest are not con-
spra.ors. They are not agrariaDs. They are
not the esemies of public order or the
public faith Their lives of peaceful industry
are stained IL no offensive record Of repudaton
bankruptcy. ignorance crime. They earn an
honest living, as all men should They pay
their honest lebts as promptly as most men DO
They are obedient to law, and in peace or III
war prompt to defend their Government ana
It's laws trm open or secret assault Ihey
have assented to no encroachment upon vested
rights. unless IL be upon rights vested by their
own Constitution in themselves. They have de-
fed the Inandles Of no statute by Ingenious
specous and protracted appeals to courts OF last
resort They have never throngcd the doors OF
our legislatiyeballs to clamor for an increase OF
special privileges and al enlargement OF their
property rights They have employed no profess
-ional Lobbyists to infest your presence or to cor
rupt the fountain of law. They have con
structed no mountains of county or municipal
debt tor any but themselves to pay. They have
avoided no burden of taxation demanded by
equity or law. They have resorted to no political
or legislative legcrdeman to forestall or subyert
public opinion. They have coined no mammoth
fortunes from property that fails to pay interest
upon itself They have encouraged no appor-
tionment Of lands to the landless, except as
they have appioyed free and frequent dona-
tioAs Of the common domain, or mortgaged
the homes of their wives and children, that
they might enhance the hard-earned wages OIL
their daily labor and contribute TO the general
welfare of the State. They have encouraged no
colossal associations OF moneyed power, or organ
lied concentration Of influence, within or without
the forms OF law. not indnged In by all Intelligent
men for the promDtion Of their own and the COM
mon good Bit If in any OF these things they
have indeed offended they will look elsewhere for
warning and for Judgment than to those whose
eloquence is too often the purchased product
| the impressions they condemn.
The agricultural classes are not, and cannot be,
| the enemies Of honestly -managed railroads. On
the contrary, their natural relation TO all hon
orable undertakings OF this kind Is that OF
| patrons. allies and friends. This relation they
viii endeayor to maintain. In demanding the
| upright management OF railways by law they
aspire TO no exercise of public influence not jlst-
fled by their numbers, their intelligence, the dig
nifty OF their calling and the vast interests they
| have at stake. Limited in their mutual inter-
coarse by the stern necessities OF their occnpa-
| ton and moved by no ambition but that OF pro
noting the general welfare, they are not likely to
! conspire against the general principles OF pub
c justice, or consciously to subyert the progress
of enterprises which contribute so largely to the
| prosperity of all.
! If the crave charges go sedulously circulated,
| duplicating the good faith of our State toward
invested capital have truly impaired the credit
81 our corporations and their ability to com
| pletc or extend their lines, they alone are re-
| ~ponsble who should have been prompt TO de-
fend the interests they represent by indicating
the honor of our people. But facts that are in.
coniroverible prove that capital itself has failed
To share largely in the alarm thus Jealous and
wautonly ongepdered. The year has been
noted for financial conservatism In all things
and everywhere prices have gravtated to lower
/ la,snt I'm .if,.u and I'm al M n
| capped the reyerses Of labor and laboring men.
| Production has been restrained. Exchanges
! have been limited All the avenues of trade bear
abundant evidence of the reaction that inevitably
| succeeds an era of careless government, specu
|, latise thrift and luxurious expenditure Railway
enterprise within and without the State has sharet
the common fortune
The whole number of miles Of railroad con
strueted in the United States during the yeal
1872 was 1065. The number Of miles constructed
In 1879 was 3,taG. or about one-half the number
constructed in ls,2 The number of miles con
gtructed in 1874 was ,as. or barely one.half The
number constructed in 1873 The number o
! miles Of road constructed in Wisconsin dur
ing the same period has been more than the
/ average for the other States proving that the
causes of decline in this department of public
Improvement are general, aud possess no special
relation to the structure of our Constitution ol
the character OF our legislation.
Just how to develop our immense resources tc
their fullest eXtcnt-to best promote the great
and varied industries of our Statc-and at the
same time to metn out equal and exact Justice To
all our citizens, Is II problem which yet remains
unsolyed.
In the consideration of questions for the de
yclopmont of the physical energies of our state
| We reminded of the fact that the railway
system OF transportation is comparatively new
The roads of today are not those Of yesterday
and the possibilities OF the future are far beyond
the reach of present estimate. The noblest in
telccts of modern times. rs yet, have failed "a
accomplish such complete results a. 10 arrest the
tirrless spirit Of progress or forbid the proba
, hlly IF more wondronS achievements in time tc
come, Apparently tue railways now con
strueted are but the main lines OF II complicated
system of artificial highways, ultimately to enrich
| ana utilize the remoiest territory Inhabited by
man. The siNfoot gauge has disappeared The
advantages OF speed now contest the merits o
weight and strength. To-day the great aud com
pick question apparently uppermost III the minds
/ nt en- giuecrs j. how 10 multiply the number ans
length ot lines by reducing weight speed aut
cost, Narrower gauge, less expensive grades
lighter equipment and more miles OF road are thl
promised fruit of present inquiry and expert
ment, the final results OF which we can only hope
fully await.
Railway legislation like railway construction
must progress toward perfection by slow degrees
The almost perfect Jaw for common carriers WA
, the product ~ ages But in controlling railroad
t by law We are confronted by new conditions ant
are advancing upon comparatively new and nm
o. tried ground oar progress, though unhesitat
. ing, should nevertheless I've duly guarded All,
restrained. our people have declared that the
will not endure acknowledgements or cXtortiou
Bat in demanding justice Tor ourselves LET II
be doubly sure that We do no injustice 10 Others
+ The power If redress hereafter remains cuntiu
, uously aud forever within cur reach. The yer
existence OF that power l. "a permanent safe
guard against persistent vuCroachment and abuse
. ruE POTTER Law NOTIFICATIONS.
+ In the dis barge OF the specific duties 81 Ia
b Executive Department the past year have no
e regarded thc particular provisions ~ tht law e.
last winter as IN issue. II = nnt my opinion tha
This law Nprsssed the best iulgmcut at the Leg
, iSlaturc which enacted H.. While the genera
/ principles upon which IL j. founded toWmaut
our unqualified APPRECIATION, and can never ~
, surrendered, 1t must be conceded thar the law i
defective In some OF irs details. The great ohrc
, , sought To he accomplished by our people j. go
, the management of railroad property hy them
selves but 20 prevent its Acknowledgements D,
others SGch should be the purpose aud III,