Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1876-03-31
NORTHERN PACIFIC II. n
A Few Thoughts Of an Honest
Thinker.
To the Editor Av.nt Courier:

hat they accept the PROPOSITIONS 5f a,
Act passed by the l. .oislaturr OF this
Territory TO encourage the construction Of
the Northern Pacific X .ilroa il the Ter
rtory of Montana. The voters Of sal
Territory will o. the Sd day Of April next
b. called upon to cast vote. fraught witt
more interest to tax payers than any vot'
cast in said Territory since Its formation
10 my opinion.
Permit me to give few facts and Fl g
ures for the consideration Of those inter
|ested understand from the r. a ling ol
the Act that if the people ratify said
proposition we then propose to loan to
sa Company $1,000 600 IN bonds Of the
Territory, and they agree on their part to
cOmplete the road 10 the mou Ii OF Shields
river in three years from the time the
contract Is entered into between said com
pany and commissioners to BE- chosen BY
each county. This will bring the rO,d a.
least 400 miles into the Territory. 10 Sc
cure the pay mrit ct principal ard inter
rst, which shall fall due h"re ,iter, said
company shall pledge Ill IT'S gross rrceirts
in money or credit for passengers or
freight on that portion of its railroa,' he.
tween Bismarck and the terminus of said
westerly extension from business urfgina
ting or terminating in Montana. 1t is fur
'h"r provided by said Act that Sal re-
re pts failing, then sal: principal atd in
terest to he paid bv the Territory O
Montana; said company to charge the
same ra's rer nile for fr islt an'i pas
srnger> over said road ". st from Bismarck
as is or may BE- charged for the me east
f-oin said Bismarck; saih comp ny 10 de-
posit with the Farmers Lean and Trust
Com .,afy in tue city OF New York the
Whole M sal arnings, Or % much thereof
as may b sufficient o Ie - m the cOui .On>
a they tall due, and such further amounr
II viii. with a,cslmul ting interest, co,.-
>titu'e u sinking fund sufficient I" pay IL
said bonds at maturity. And if said North
pssif fff II Sross ersPn dtiief
Of the road as Aforesaid, then the road
bed and other prop r,y of the cor pany
within the Territory Of Montana shall b.
held and bound for the Satisfaction an !.
payment of the bonds and interest 'hcr' or
to be issued bv This Act and
the lien thereby created shall take prtce :
dence to and priority over any and ali
other liens or in,u;n b. rances tn. rcfore OF
created or imposed upon said
except all Ia~fu taxes 'ue Or !"
b. cotbe due theteon; which co ditions
stall ne irtor porAted in and form o." o.
Tie conditions OF the said bonds proposed
70 be issued by this Act. Said Act I'ro-
vid es Tor tho election OF Q, Trustee from
pacil ounty in the Territory Who, with
The Governor, shall composr Board o.
Territorial Trustees. Said Trustees re
authorized to enter intOan ayr. em."t with
the North. rn Pacific Railroad Company
that eaih Company snail. within two
years from the date Of such agrre'nen'
construct at their own cost and pot in gp
Grafton said rod from Bismar' k in Da-
kota Territory to the Yellowstone river a
or above Glehilve cf. ek. which is at leas
fifty miles into Montana Territory. A"c
in three years it must b. finished TO tn
mo. th of Shields river
Now the QUESTION is: is it the duty anf
interest bf the voters and tax payers "1
this Territory to vote to incur such q
enormous liability, or 10 r'j' ct the prop"
sition, nni.r all Che surroundings? Iso
lated as We are, and labori. 6 under tn
NUMEROUS disadvantages which We d..
shall, tor the following reasons. vote "Fo
approva! Of railroad Act YES"
First. Becstse I believe the presen
Company, composed of 'he bondhold-r
|of the road, honestly and IN good fin
sent couple Of candid agents here Z
make propositions TO our people with |
view to procure the use Of our credit 4
enable thu N to proceed with the cons'rnc
ton OF the road. which they are not sbl
to do without backing, at ;.:ia time. owi'.i
to the pressure n financial mat FRS.
Second. Brca use l think the Lrgislat"r
|or the members Who advocated said meas
ure have taken extra care TO gu I'd an
protect the people of the Territory aRAius
loss by the provisions Of said Act
II the eaid proposition is ratified BY tn
voters on the 81 Of April, tile" | can ee
but one way by which We can LOSE dol
lar, that could ONLY arise by .lect'ng un
ithful Trustees. Il we cannon select on
good AMI true man to protect our insrrrs
~ each county. 1t matters hut little hO'
much our liabilities are. Ruin would on;
be matter of time.
Some are saying that the Government
he Uoited Safes gave 10 the Nortter
Pacific Company . liberal grant Of ls''
land. they deserve no more aid.
The Company did receive liberal lar
.|prsnt. aud tor alsght know, there ma
have been much mss'nanagemens oy q
former Companyr fne aid given BY Z
nl0overnm, nj cost Il nothing. Since 4
! alternate sections were reserved aud >
I worth more aud srll faster ~ the road
built ct 81 80 than II 81 Is pr acre b
,fI,ore. But l sm not sctuat~d by love {
lthe Interest of the railrOzd company Q
= purely from stli interest.
81 70 illustrst~.' Suppose one hurdr'
y Grangers settle Id tho valley Of ths 8
s|Horn and 20 to farming. N It proves
lbe fertile valley 'or gram. (ss have