Omaha daily bee., 1881-08-29

want not merely railroads, but
good and competing roads, and the G.
& N. W., AZ also the st. p. & NJ. are
such roads.
The BEE has no desire to throw a
single straw in the path of Lincoln's
growth. Whatever legitimate means
are used to increase the prosperity of
the capital city, or any other young
and growing city in the state, will re-
ccive The BEES hearty approval and
cordial support. Mo- than this, what
ever honest and fair trade competition
may exist between the two cities,
although so far apart in population
and wealth, we believe will be for the
benefit Of both and to the advan-
tage Of the state at large.
The opposition of this paper to the
railroad scheme which has lately been
organized in Lincoln, has no connec-
ton with Omaha or with the rivalry
which the Lincoln Democrat supposes
to exist between the two cities. The
BEE opposes the project because it has
for its object the building of a line Of
roads on the peoples money, with the
sole view of enriching a few specula-
tors. Its protests against the proposed
railroad because its construction
on the plan contemplated will
place additional mortgages on
every farm and dwelling
in Saunders and Dodge CO counties.
This state has had enough experience
in building railroads for corporations
and afterwards paying dividends on
their stock. THE BEE believes that
the time has come when local aid to
railroad schemes should cease. In q
number of other states such reckless
donations of bonds by towns and
counties is prohibited by law because
experience has shown that the prac-
tice is ruinous to financial stability
and that the promises are broken
Just as soon as the managers of
competing roads can agree upon a
pooling contract. Lincoln's business
men have not seen fit to invest one
million dollars in a railroad-or even
one-tenth or one twentieth of that
sum. A few lawyers, bankers and
contractors have formed a corporation
and subscribed for q million of stock
ON paper, which stock is to be paid
for by the proceeds of bonds, which
these enterprising capitalists expect to
get as a bonus for building a road
which they intend to turn over to the
Chicago q Northwestern just as soon
as tho $4,000 subsidy is voted.
Aconstructionc company will be formed
of the original promoters of the road,
and the only actual investment of
capital will be the amount temporarily
advanced to the construction company
on tho bonds. If Mr.. John fitzgerald
and his associates desire to build a
road to connect with the Chicago &
Northwestern, and do it with their own
money, we'll and good. No one can find
fault with such q speculation. 1t will
,e their privilege and right, which no
journal or individual is likely to OPP
pose. Nebraska wants more railroads
and The BEE is in favor of such an
extension of our railway system as is
consistent with honest construction
and fair management. But Nebraska
does not want another mile of road
for whose construction her people will
be compelled to mortgage their homes
and tax their industry. And if we
are not seriously mistaken the pro-
~jectors of the Lincoln and Fremont
railroad will discover this fact just as
soon as any bond project is laid before
the farmers of Saunders and Dodge
counties. Incidentally let us remark
that the Platte river is not a Chinese
wall which Omaha Wholesale dealers
are forbidden to scale. The sectional
division north and south has no exis-
tence except on the map. The me-
tropolis of Nebraska has as extern
sive traffic south of tho Platte as on
this side of hat river, and the time
has long since past when any road
that leads in or out Of Lincoln could
bar Omaha wholesale dealers out of
the South Platte country.
THE London Fortnight'y RevieW,