Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-01-17
RAILROADS.

The railroads of Wisconsin are to be counted as
among the foremost factors which have brought
the state 10 its present high development. For
tunately for the best interests of al concerned
there has existed for years friendly spirit Of
cooperation between the people and the roads.
evolved from economic consideration of their
mutual and correlative dependence. Our terri
tory is traversed by not less than twelve i'm
p0rtant lines which connect the east with the
great northwest Besides this, we enjoy the great
advantage of water navigation on three sides of
the state for nearly the whole year. Lying thus
in the commercial pathway of the continent, in
ter tate as well as domestic. commerce is de
pendent upon the wisdom or the laws which may
be enacted for the control of these great interests
The memorable struggle which took place in 1874
settled forever the right Of the people to control
corporations.
The problems of legislation at the present time.
therefore, are not so much for supremacy as for
the right adjustment of the relations between the
people and their servants. All laws should b.
tempered largely with the desire to do tn Ut which
is for the best for the future of Wisconsin as a
whole.
1t has been qrite too common in recent years
to represent the agricultural element in our
ponuation as entertaining hostile and ayr ripn
sentiments toward railroads and other corpora
tions. and demagagues have sought to commend
themselves to this element by advocating legiSla-
ton of most radical and destructive character.
Tint they have hitherto failea in Visions n is due
to the well-informed conservatism Of the far
mers. l feel myself authorized to say in their
behalf that they have no Symrathy. as | have
none with any effort at legislation. on any queS-
ton, which springs from prejudice Present laws
NAV not be perfect, but proposed amen lnents
shou d be scrutinized with care, and matnred
well with reference to future conditions as to
present exigencies. Commercial problems-and
raj road transportation is one of them-have
always been the most difficult to inclo~e in legal
definition. and SO at the best large promotion
of the difficulties which confront IFS. VIII Their
real or imaginary must find their solution in the
great unwritten law of common sense and
mutual interest.
As nearly as can be ascertained the entire
mileage # the state is s. 178 miles, increase in
two years of 400 miles. OF this $40 miles We're
built in 1887 and six miles in 1888. The entire
cost of railroads of Wisconsin as Hrted on The
30th day of June. 1888, was S0S S67, SOC. %. The
amount of capital stock at the same date
So, 1893. SIS. IS. The amount of debt (funded or
bonded) and unfunded WIS S117547, 9O9 IS. or
total capital stock and debt S2 941 421 81 There
was earned on Wisconsin railroads for the year
er ding June 80, 1888. S24 sol 619.06 of which S.
$685. 59 IS was for the transportation of passengers
and S17165.959 "a for transportation of freight,
and 81. ass, 400.47 for the transportion of mails
express, etc. The number of passengers carried
in same year. 6799. 93l. at expense of a little
less than 2.52 cents per mile. The number of
tons freight carried during same year, II 6g7 Az
and the rate per ton per mile was 1854 of one
cent per mile. There has been decrease in the
cost of freight carnage in ten years of over fifty
per cent. The total earnir gS per mile OF roa !, on
an estimate of 5.S4S miles of operated tracka ge.
was S4,7429S OF this 81 1913 06 per mill was for
passengers; S3,210. 81 per mile for freight and
s 74.o3 for mails express and miscellaneous N at
ter.
In the past the Wisconsin railroad commission
er has been the medium of adjusting matters of
difference between aggrieved parties complaining
against the railroad companies and the companies
themselves. In most. all the cases satisfactory
adjustment has been had If in any respect the
interests of the peo le need more protection by
should receive your deliberate thought and ubias-
ed action