Mexico weekly ledger., 1888-02-23
Our Railroad.
To the Edlser OF the Ledger.

ssO0tteh butlt IL. SQA StuiIty
Court House because Audrain
County was taxed TO build it and
every citizen has an interest in it,
a financial interest. Our public
roads, because they through whose
section of county it runs opened it
and paid the damages. and get the
advantages arising from its loca-
ton. There is one part of a line
of railroad in Audrain which we
cannot calls our road, for Audrain
did not give a dollar towards its
construction, but that was an ex-
tension that was necessity. Not
so with the proposed c., II. & S.
railroad, that company having
been granted the right of way from
the City of Hannibal to the north
ern borders of Audrain County is
left entirely untrammeled and I'M
der no obligations to locate its road
through any particular part of Au-
drain, or to any town in Audrain
County. That company simply
stands on our county line and says,
"Where do you want the road?"
and, GLOW much do you want ito"
1t is high time the people of Au-
drain were waking up TO their in
terest. The road will not be built
without the right of way or money,
or, we should say, the right of way
and money. Is there a farmer
within five miles of this proposed
road on either side but who can
plainly see Thai his land will be in
creased in value, his shipping facil-
aties increased, his rate of trans
porting farm products, stock and
merchandise reduced, and his
profits thereby increased? Is there
a man or woman along this line
but can see that every dozen of
eggs, every pound of butter, feath-
ers, wool, corn, and seed can be put
on the market for less money, a
more ready sale made and at bet
ter figures than your present isolat-
ed condition from railroad adj
vantages can ever afford? Now
think of it, people, and give tothis
enterprise somewhat in accordance
with the advantages you are sure
Ito derive from its location. You
say the company is rich and can
build its road and let you in as a
fred partner to its business and
profits. The Racine Plow Works
are rich, but did they give you a
pillow ; do they give you threshing
machines? Your county is rich,
but does it make your roads and
build your bridges free of cost to
you? Your school district is rich,
but does it pay a teachers to educate
your children free of cost to you?
1.-The church of which you are a
member is rich, but do youlet your
preacher take you to heaven on
"fowery beds of e~ase," while your
brethren foot the bill? No; none
of these advantages are yours OF
a right to enjoy at the expense Of
your State, county or neighbors,
You pay a part and get every ad.
vantage you are capable of ap.
propriating. Do the people o.
Audrain county realize that into
every school district in the county
the railroads that now run through
the county pay more money t.
educate your children than thu
heaviest taxpayer among you
Will not another road proportion
ately increase your school revenue
{ enable you to have longer termi
of school, more competent teacher
and better school houses? Gu
schools receive from the two rail
roads s4,257 annually. Don't yo'
2
want $685. paid in every year a
almost free gift, outside of othe
advantages? If so, subscribe to tn
new road. Our two roads paid las
year into our county revenue fun'
$4,000. Wouldn't you like t
t make it $4,000, SO your tax lev.
could be reduced with safety to tn
+. county? We got $1,000 with tn
public road fund lastyear. Woul'
: you not like to have 81, 500 and hav
i. better roads and a levy of 5 cent
on the 500, in place of 10 cents
Gentlemen, the way to get thes
/, advantages is to build up tn
sources of revenue that make on
! county prosperous, our taxes ligh
!. and our homes comfortable, an
our business profitable. We wi
not make any invidious compar
sons between our county and he
neighbors, our town and her siste,
cities, but the figures are on recor
that demonstrate the praetic;
utilityofour citizens at once availin
themselves of an offer nor ma!
unanimous than was ever offered b
q any previous corporation in I'll
! whole great State of Missouri, vi
After you get the road, after yot
e land has materially increased j
: price, after your school district
: made more beneficial, after you
roads are improved, after MOI
bridges are built and your shil
ping facilities increased and yol
q prices Reconsideration, aft,
g all this of the amount you subscril
y ed, a great part will have bee
= received back by you before ye
rar Io11ar IF Fer xral