Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1876-01-27
THERE is nc subject fraught with more
interest to the people of Montana than rlat

LII ~ Nv |'DjN&s otSh WV hiOit
interest to the people of Montana than elat
of railroad communication with the States.
Peace, plenty and prosperity reigns witfr'us
but our people arc not content. They long
for the conveniences and l~uxllries which q
railroad would bring. They have so long
looked forward to the contamination of their
hopes that they are becoming sick at heart.
and they seem to be seized with q fit of des-
peration-a determination to have a road.
and have it at once, regardless of cost. A
few short months ago, our newspapers were
filled with long leaders urging our represent
auVes TO consuinmate some plan during the
present session, which would insure the con.
structlon OF some road at an early day.
IIlere seemed to be a determination to vote
a subsidy upon the people, and we beliey.
that determination still exists. But we hon,
reason may not forsake the masses. and thar
III accepting n Of two evils they may
choose the least.
we dread to see the people of this Terri
tory make any contract or bargain by which
they place their bonds into the hands of any
private corporation whatever. Butwefr frank,
~ confess that we believe there is an element
ID our midst sufficiently strong to vote away
a million and a half or two million dollars
OF our bonds to some railroad corporation.
Believing this to be true, we unhesitatinolv
declare That with us the North Pacific is the
favorite. We believe that our Territory is q
great one; we have %unbounded confidence
III It's resources; we believe with its great
navigable rivers, the Missouri and Yellow.
stone, open for six months in the wear. it is
eventually destined to become a great State.
even without a railroad. Our freights are
comparatively loW-less, perhaps, than W.
would be subjected to if We had q railroad.
But there Is no question but that a great ma
tional highway constructed through o1l
territory, or even to within striking distance.
would insure . degree of prosperity which
cannot be attained without it. We will hail
tie completion of such q work with ioy.
And rather than see a million and a half of
our bonds made a gift to the Utah Northern.
as Is proposed by influential parties about
the Metropolis, we had rather see the prop
osltlon OF the North Pacific accepted. But
this is not necessary; their representatives
invite us to make them a proposition. And
we think it highly probable that to make
some contract with these gentlemen. some
thing after the manner they D would
be accepting the lesser OF two evils. And
Notwithstanding history teaches us that
wherever the people have had to deal with
railroads they have been made to suffer. it is
not necessarily so. In the majority of cases
where swindles have been perpetrated. the
fault has been with those in whom the peo-
pie reposed confidence to act for them. They
have betrayed their constituents into the
hands OF the %monopolist. But if the inter-
ests OF the people be guarded with that de-
gree of care which characterizes Il indi-
vidual transactions, it is possible to make a
contract with a corporation that will be fair
and equitable. We believe that an arrange
ment can be made with the representatives
OF the North Pacific by which we will speed
lily get a railroad without cost. 1t is fair to
presume that the traffic upon a road-that is
provided it be of sufficient length into our
Territory-would be amply sufficient to pay
the interest that would accrue upon one
half OF the cost of its construction, and
also provide a sinking fund that would lioui-
date said cost within twenty-five years. We
may loan our credit under proper ~restric-
tions, and in such a manner as will cost us
nothing, but sJbsidize a railroad, we can
not and do justice to ourselves and those
who. come after us.