Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1876-04-27
AN UNHAPPY SUBSIDY.

tons Of the Territory, are somewhat indig-
nant since the defeat of the Northern Pacific
Railroad Act, because we did not haul of
our coat, swing our hat and hurrah for the
road. To such, we would say our course
has been consistent throughout, as the files
of the H%UsBANDMAN show. Our position
was clearly, and faithfully defined from the
beginning. While we were..Willing that peo-
pie should exercise their own judgment
vote for the bill or not, as they saw fit, we
were not willing to try to induce them to
vote for it. We are indebted to the Near
North Vest for the following, which is but
one of a thousand instances, where expert
ence raises its warning voice, saying: Be
ware of Railroad Corporations.
Something like a year ago the citizens OF
Walla Walla county very much desired a
narrow-gauge railroad from Wallula to
Walla Walla-a distance. Of 80 miles. The
immense exports Of grain and produce and
imports of merchandise seemed to render it
imperatiyely necessary to connect by rail
with water transportation. The company
agreed to build the road if subsidized to
the amount Of $25,0OO. That amount was
eventually raised and the road built. The
company claims cit is the best and most
cheaply constructed narrow gauge railroad
in the Union" They now charge SIS pei
ton freight on the 80 miles, and claim il
costs the company Is cents per mile to
move it. The Walla Walla people are in
dignant. Teamsters' rates are lower by
wagon, n noW.a large proportion OF
freights are shipped no wagons, notwith-
standing the railroad destroyed the old
wagon road in grading for theirs. The
matter has come to such q pass that the
County Commissioners have appropriated
$4,000 to re-establish a good wagon-road.
and the press and people are making a de
termined fight against the imposition. The
following proceeding of the. District Coun-
Gil of the Walla Walla Grange, p. of H.,
held March is, 1876, will serve to- show the
status Of affairs. 1t may also show to some
otour Montana people that the gates of Par
adise are not always butted open by locomo-
tives:
From the Walla Walla Union, March e5th.
At a meeting Of the District Council of
the Patrons of Husbandry of Wala Walla,
Columbia and Umatilla counties, held at
Walla Walla, Saturday. March Is, 1876. the
following preamble and resolutions were
adopted /:
WHEREAS, The action of the WaIla Walla
and Columbia River Railroad Company. in
adopting an unreasonable and exhorbitant
rate OF freight charges, is not only detrimen-
tai. but ruinous. to the agricultural interests
OF the counties, and
WHEREAS, These oppressive rates are
not demanded by sound policy on the part
OF the railroad company, whose true interest
IS to foster the settlement and stimulate the
productions. of the country, and
WHEREAS, It is an admitted fact that rail-
ROADS can transport for one-tenth the cost
OF transporting by wagons and teams, and
yet we have the spectacle in Walla Walla of
teams successfully competing with the rail
roads; therefore, be it
fesot0ed, That we deem the charges ex-
acted by said railroad company as oppres-
siVe and injurious to the interest of the
farming and producing classes.
1fesoeped, That the fragrant Injustice of
.lese charges is best illustrated by compar-
lson with the rates adopted by the o. S. N.