Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1876-01-06
General Government of 100000


acres
2. 1t has frightened capital SO that
new companies and old ones 10 VIE
consin, have found it impossible to
borrow money wherewith to carry
on their work. The loss to the peo-
pie who live 10 the sections of the
State that are deprived of railroad
facilities, cannot be accurately esti-
mated, but every intelligent person
knows that it is very great. l sup
pose that any township in Grant
county would be benefited by an in
creased value to every acre of land
to the amount of five dollars on an
average. Any school boy can tell
US just how much that would
amount to in the aggregate. The
farmer who owns q hundred acres of
land, is made $500 better off by the
building of road, and he is brought
nearer to market 80 that all he raises
to sell is worth more. In thousand
other ways he reaps the advantage
of the outlay of other peoples
money. The late Byron Paine, once
Associate Justice of our Supreme
Court, speaks of the value Of rail-
roads in one of his decisions in the
following eloquent language
"Raiiroads are the great highwaye
of the world, along which It's gigan-
tic currents of trade and travel pour
highways compared with which
the most magnificent highways of
antiquity dwindle into insignifcance
They are the most marvellous inven-
ton of modern times. They have
done more to develop the wealth aud
resources, to stimulate the industry,
reward the labor, and promote the
general welfare and prosperity of
the country than any other, and
perhaps all other mere physical
causes combined. There is probably
not man, women or child whose in
terest and comfort have not been in
some degree subserved by them"
3. The Potter law has cost the
taxpayers of the State already more
than 100000 in litigation and in
the expenses Of the three Railroad
Commissioners that are more orna-
mental than useful, and it has Great
ed an antagonism between the rail-
roads and other interests that should
not exist
4. 1t has deprecated the stock
and bonds Of the Wisconsin railroads
more than 100000 in a single year
and it has made it impossible to sell
our railroad securities in any of the
foreign money markets where we
once could borrow large sums where
with to build new lines of road.
And Just here it is we'll to notice a
little bit Of Mr.. LIS sophistry, found
ed upon misrepresentation of the
facts. Mr.. l.. asserted in one of his
articles that the people had ri ght
to exercise supervisory control over
the railroads because they had paid
80 much towards their construction.
Now the truth is that of the 1900
miles of road now in operation in
Wisconsin,, which cost $88, 100000,
only s6,0O0,00O was furnished by
Wisconsin people, the balance $751;
0O0,0 being furnished by non-resi-
dents. Does Mr.. l.. know that the
Hollanders have loaned the Chicago
and Northwestern railroad company
$28, oo0,0 900 that was expended on its
lines in Wisconsin 2 How big slice
of Grant county would it require to
bring $28, 100000? Another remark,
and | close this hurried communica-
ton. By the rates on grain from
st. Paul to New York that the roads
cave established for the winter, a ton
of freight is moUed a mile for one cent
and a quarter. Can Mr.. L. afford to
hitch up his team and draw ton of
freight q mile on its way to market
for cent and quarter !?
STEEL RAIL.