Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-03-13
Correspondence.
Culdrum, March 5, 1879.

- y y
publicity. I will be brief in making
few remarks in regard to the propo~
sition to bond Morrison county to, aid
in the construction of the proposed
Little Falls & Dakota railroad, not for
the purpose Of ridiculing others who
have expressed their. views, but to
show how men will sometimes work
against their own interests. It is an ca
sy matter for an ingenious person 10
discover failures, if any exist, in new
invention ; but the same person might
be incapable Of originating a similar
invention: The same rule is good in
other matters. Nature has so consti-
tuted US that we are too apt to see the
faults Of others, and too blind to DIS
cover our own. The general opinion
concerning some Of the persons who
have expressed their views in regard
to bonding the county is that they be-
long to a class that would not be mates
rally effected whether the railroad is
built or not. In my opinion if the
bonds we're payable in five years, it
might distress the tax payers to pay
them; but if the road should be conn
pleted within reasonable time, in five
years there would be a third more tax
es paid in the county than there are
now, without increasing the rate of
taxation. Morrison county has as
good natural advantages, and in some
points better, than any other county in
the State, and all that is lacking for the
development of the county IS immigra-
ton, capital and the completion ofthe
above named road. AS soon as it. is
known that the above named road
will be built, immigration will com.
mence to pour in, capital will follow,
and the result is prosperity and wealth.
This fact is illustrated by the North
ern Pacific railroad, and also by the
Brainerd branch in this county.
Since the branch road was finished
nonresldents have paid up a large
amount of delinquent taxes that would
otherwise yet be unpaid. and many
are trying to reclaim lands that have
long been forfeited. The building of
the road has caused this change.
Four years ago I tried to sell No. l
wheat in Little Falls and take my pay
in dry goods, and could not sell it at
any price. At the same time you
could not buy -four for less than 81
per barrel. To-day wheat is quick
sale at 70 cts. cash. The railroad
caused this change. IF we eau Sc
cure the building of the road by issu>
ing bonds to the amount Of FIVE per
cent of the assessed valuation Of the
county, I say let US do so. I think
Morrison county will be as much ben
Gifted by the road as any other county
along the route. If we are satisfied
to toll and labor under disadvantages
and deprive ourselves of enlightened
methods Of living, then let us vote no
bonds. If any of US farmers were in
another State trying to sell our farms
after We had given a description Of
the farm the following questions would
be asked: What kind of market have
you? How near is your farm to a rail.
road ? Is the country settled up
How near are you to school house
IF unfavora5le answers were received
to these questions, the reply would
be, I don't want your farm. There
are men in this county who are op,
posed to issuing bonds and who have
hauled potatoes with oxen to Brain,
erd, taking four days to make a trip
to sell for fifty cents a bushel before
the Brainerd branch was completed
Now, if the proposition to bond the
county is defeated, such men as this
will be the cause Of the defeat. One
more fact. At our last election the
voters voted on issuing bonds to build
free bridge across the Mississippi
river at Little Falls, and the measure
was defeated by nearly one hundred
majority. 1t was defeated in Culdrun
by men who pay from So to SO eact
season for ferriage. IF bonds had
been issued these men would probably
not have had to pay over fifty cents
each annually on an average. The
same men complain about paying fer.
riage. do not wish to criticise 9TH
ers, but when I see men working
against their own interests, and injur~
ing me by so doing, T am not afraid
to speak about it. Shall we stand in
our own light and if any persons make
a move to do something for US, accuse
them of selfshness, fraud and robbery
or will we try to do something for our
selves?. Where there is will there
is way. Unity makes strength. ]
am no more in favor of bonding tn.
county than any one else, if we car
get what we need without. It is un
necessary to speak Of all the benefit
that the proposed road would be to u:
I have not room here, and any sensi