Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-02-20
Railroad Meeting.

Mr.. John Rattcn was elected
Chairman; John hegoning, See,
The Chairman in stating the OBJ
jcct Of the meeting said, that Mr..
Williams and others had been here
and addressed the people in behalf
of the Narrow Guage Railroad; that
n committee Of citizens had been
appointed by that meeting TO wait
on Mr., Williams, that after long
conference Mr., Williams could not
tell them the exact amount of ad
he would require OF the towa, but
thought it would be somewhere
from sol 600 to $4,000, and that he
wanted To obtain this aid by what
was known rs the new mode, or
petition plan as laid out in Section
946, Chapter Al, of the Revised
Statutes of 1873,
Mr.. John Lee was called ON Ia
address the meeting, He madc Il
very forciblc argument against the
petition plan of raising money to
aid railroads, and showed by n few
figures that the bonds reported to
be asked for and interest on them
would very greatly exceed the
value of the railroad TO the people
OF Linden. and that the bonds once
given would have to be paid, no
matter TO what extent hog cholera
or chinch bugs may prevail, or to
what extent crops may be in any
way damaged; and suggested the
idea of appointing committee in
every school district in the town to
get up meetings 10 try and inilu-
enco the taxpayers against signing
any petition that may be presented
by railroad men.
Mr., Francis Little was then called
on, who said he thought there were
railroads close enough to the town
Of Linden to accommodate all parties
In every part of the town; that
Linden had already paid enough
money as aid to railroads, and was
most decidedly opposed to burden
ing the town with any more taxa
tion for railroads.
Mr.. Il. $. Smith, Chairman of the
Town Board, was called on, who
said he did not know what this
meeting was tor,-what all this cx-
cltcment was about; that it looked
like fighting man of straw. That
no paper or proposition Of any kind
was received from Judge Williams,
and no saw no necessity for this
meeting, and deprecated the idea Of
holding meetings in all the school
houses Of the town, stirring up
feeling. Mr.. Smith admitted he
was not in favor fthe petition plan
for raising aid, but was in favor Of
the ballot.
Mr. Little replied with much
force that this meeting was not
fighting q man Of straw, but WAS
fighting the railway power, a
mighty power, n giant, whose
arms Of iron are spread III every
TO gather the fruits of
your labor and mine, and Of all the
human family; that was what the
meeting was lighting, and would
continue TO fight.
The Chairman stated that in the
conference with Mr.. Williams, Mr.
Smith did not offer any objection to
Mr.. Williams idea Of raising the
money by the petition plan.
On motion, the following persons
were then appointed rs committees
III Tie several school districts to
convene meetings for the purpose
by Mr.. lee;
District No l--R. $. smith and
j. w. Taylor.
District No. 2 Henry Curry and
john Perry.
District No. 3-Francis Little and
N. C0ad.
District No. 4--John Tregoning and
w. II. Penhallegon.
District No. 5--Joseph IIallam aud
Richard Stevens.
District No. g. Henry Sampson
and Francis Baker.
District 40. 7-Wm. Batten and
Robert Osborne.
ntstrfct No q Wm a DnUaiI owl