Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1878-12-19
NORTHERN PACIFIC OR UTAH
NOETHERN-VgyI

This is the mighty problem that will b,
."iven the members of the next legislativ,
) assembly OF Montana to solve: this is tn,
stuppndiOuS conundrI,m that will have tt
be unravelled; this is the momentous
question that will have to he answered
And how many OF the members feel them
selves competent to orapple with this i'm
Portant question: how many of them I'M
derstanu the feelings and wishes Of their
constituents on the subject. and can act
inteligently in the matter:
| am fearful that like too many of our
modern Legislatures. when this question
has to be met. that those who will act fear
lessly. patriotically and conscieniionsly.
will be in hopeless minority. Montana
has lived and grown without the aid of Il
railroad. despite the croakings OF Journals
hired in the interests of certain railroad
nlagnateS: ut the same time ( is not to be
denied that railroad communications with
the East and West will materially benefit
the Territory. bnt we must also consider
that many evils will be brought upon us
through the same medium. and we contend
that those people who seem so anxious to
secure railroad communication with us
should have their wish ut their own en-
pcnse. The granting of a subsidy to
either Of the above roads would, in a,ldi-
ton to establishing dangerous precedent
entail upon the people OF the Territory an
expense that would he entirely unsatisf,c-
tory and Improbable. Parties Of gentle
",en ~epresonti"sx e.-i. @f .i.e .-~nri- .lr
proach us. saying: I'VE are entirely dis
interested in this matter: we See your
Territory languishing. your growth and
retarded. your productive ca
pacity shrinking all for the want of rail
road communication with the Eastern
and we are willing to sacrifice !
our lives and fortunes upon tie altar of
public improvement by securing this much |
needed open avenue for the products OF
your fields and mines, if yon will only |
give us a subsidy of few millions. or in
lieu thereof. exemi ton from taxation for
4 term OF years Think of it! The Van
lerbits. Goulds and others who have
lived by bleeding the public. only want a
ew millions to build road. the entire
benefit of which VIII accrue to themselves.
And will our Legislators. who are
sworn to protect the interests OF the Terri
Dry. lend themselves to such Il scheme
scheme that will serve only to dcplete
lie treasury without the ghost OLA chance
or any return. The refusal Of the Union
'aciiic to pay into the u. $. Treasury The
egal dues of the Government-thc per {
entage of their earnings. is only too |
resi-, in orr memories TO need any COM
ncnt. Let the Legislators understand the /
all and complete meaning Of the spirit of ,
mr. Republican institutions, which says ,
Equal rights TOR all especial privileges |
Or none" They should also understand :.
hat by their refusal to grant this subsidy. ,
r especial privileges" they will in no t
wise prevent the building of railroads into G
he Territory, for the Eastern capitalists \
now full well the rich fell that is wait l.
lg the investment of their capital. and Q
hey will in no way be backward about v
liking advantage Of the promising return "
Dad is spanning the prairies of Utah and s
lalo,on its way TO Montana. and we hear II
t the gigantic efforts that are being made Il
, rush the Northern Pacific through to Il
re Yellowstone; and thea when they O
Zach us we will have Eastern and South d
n outlets. and the competition for the #
lrrying trade Of Montana will necessar- S,
benefit the Territory. Let the Lcgisli- "
RS do their duty and stand by the inter- ir
IT'S OF their constituents, and in defeating Il
lis attempt of certain individuals to foisl !:
BON the Territory 4 yeritable ''white ele- fl
lant" they can come home with the IL
'oud consciousness Of having done that "
+ which they were sent to the halls of OI
G Legislative Assembly. ia
They have before them the terrible cx- c;
nple of the several States whose Leyis- til
lures are the exclusive property Of the III
ilroad corporations. particularly Cali Il
rnia. where they have secured the pass TO
e OF an act entitle the Eminent Do ar
ain Bill which gives the company the Is,
yht Of Selling and appropriating to their tn
IN use any piece OF property that may OF
necessary tor an extension Of their road kr
side track. laying the burden Of contest pa
the owner OF the land aud we all know tn
nat generally becomes Of suits ut law in wi
iich corporations are either plaintiffs or
iendants. We can thoroughly under
md the amount of satisfaction to be de-
ed from Il tilt at law with sOul-less cor
ration. Therefore. if we never let them
foothOld in our Territory then we, I"
Il never have them electing and contrOll- W -.
. our Legislatures for us.
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