Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1889-01-17

The railroads 81 Wisconsin are 70 be counted as
among ths foremost factors which have brought
the state p IFS present high Development For
turatcly t1g che best interests of al concerned
there has existed fr years a frieudly spitjt Of
cooperation between the people and the roa,ls
evolved trOm economic consideration Of heir
mutual and correlatiye dependence. Our terri
toy Is traverseh bY not itSs than twelve inn
p rtlut lines which connect the e4st with the
grv8t northwest. Besides this. We enjoy the great
advantage of water navigation on threo sides Of
the state Tor neatly the whole year Living thus
Ia TIE commercial pathway OF the continent, in
tr tate as well rs domestic, commerce is de
pendent upon the wisdom ~ the laws which may
he enacted for the control these great Interests
Tn memorable struggle which took place N 1874
settled forever The right OF the people 70 control
corporations,
The prob ems oflegislation at the present time.
therefore, are not so much for supremacy as for
the right adjustment OF the relations between the
people aud their servants. All laws should b.
tempered largely with the desire 10 do th which
is f r the best for The future Of Wisconsin as a
whole
It has been tite too common in recent years
to represent the agricultural element Ia our
popu alton as entertaining hostile and acr 'rtgu
sentiments toward railroads and other corpora
unus. and dem0g 'gUce have sought to commend
thems, Ives To This element hv advocate X legi -la-
ton OF mostradc9l and destructive character
That they have hitherto faiiel ion Visions Is due
tn the Vel-'nformnd conservatism of the far
mefs. ] feel myself authorized 90 s8y IN their
behalf fhat they have no Sympathy, as hSyc
nome WIZ any NiANiI NN tfMelAllNus Nl any u les
uon, which springs from prejudice Present laws
may not he perfect, but proposed amen lWents
should be sCwtiniged with care, and INIT red as
well with reference 20 future conditions as 20
present rSigences Commercial problems and
railroad transportation rs one OF them-have
always been The most difficult TO iuClnse la legal
definition and So at the test q large Iropnttlou
OF the difficulties which confront MS, whether
real or imaginary, must lind their solution la the
great unwr,tten law OK common sense and
mutual interest.
As nearly as can be ascertaiued the entire
mileage ~ the state Is alis miles; an increase IN
two years Of 400 mil r. OF his $40 miles We're
built M 1887 and SIX miles In lSSS The entire
cost ot railroads 90 Wisconsin as rep rtei on the
S0ih day ~ June. 1883 was S20S, $50 6o6T The
amount ~ capt stock at the same date was
sg7. 9q} sl5S3 The amount Of debt ffun Ted or
bonded aud Wfupded WIS Sll9 $4,000 83. or a
total capitol stock and debit S2ii 4G q. There
was earned on Wisconsin r nroads Tor the year
az ding june 30, lsSS Sl4Su biao6 of which g.
800 2'9 3S for the transportation Of pas senEers
and Sii lG5qi0 y for trauSuortat ON Of freight
and 3 ll59 q for the tr9nsportion Of mails
express, etc. The number OF passengers carr,ed
Ia same ear, 6,19 q8i, at 90 expense OF = littlt
less Than % cents per mile The number oi
tons freight carried during same year. ,tyl ilN
ana the rate per ton per M le was .QGi OF oVt
cent per mile. There has been decrease IN the
cost Of freight carnage in ten years of over ufty
per cent, TIE total ca uirg' per mile OF roa :, ot
an estimate OF a..4s mile az operated trackngt
WAS SiTi1gs or this 81 1893 90 per NIL, was t"l
pms copor- s4aiO Sc per mile for freight md
S.ci03 for mails, express and miscellaneous IN ,t
ter
In the past the Wisconsin railroad commission
cr has been The medium 81 adjusting matters oil
difference between agEl ieyed parties cOmpaininl
against the railroad companies aud the cumpauis'
Themselves. In most, or all the cases satisfactory
ajiu, tmeut has been had. II I'm any respect The
interests # the PEG le need more protection 10y
clearer definition OF his powers or II hts q
should receive your deliberate thought and ubias
ed action
STATE SOLDIERS HOME
desire TO ga your attention TO the advisable
itv OF such legislation as shall place the Waupac
Suldie,s' Home under State supervision an,
control Such action "a dcemed advisable q
enable each inmate 90 receive the sum Of $40
annHllv from tho United states. IN accordance
with the provisions OF law passed by Congress
iu 1883.
our State 70 M exceptional extent is thD
home 90 a complex population. Over seventy
per cent Of It's people are Of foreign birth or the
childgen of tureiyu-burn parents hnnY de- no
speak he language OF the country, while other
acquaintance with our laws aud institutions and
with current afftirs is largely gaiuet
through the medium q a foreign tongue
They have been invited here y
our liberal policy. They have come q
make our country their home and the hoWe o
their children. They have common intercs
with other citizens Ia the general welfare, aud ~
are being moulded INTO Homogeneous whole
{ In community thus composed. each retaining
4 something Of the pecuir sentiments and TIA
di ions brought from ether lands, Il becomes th
dut, Of the legislator 10 cou.i icr well ia all gen
CrIl Legislation the character uf those Whu vii
hp affected by it. IN a government OF prupN
and by the people the laws must be adjusted q
the general temper and sentlm MT Fl tlu
eat majority, They must have the sup
port. not merely OF o comparatively faw adj
yarcea ami radical spirits but of The great ho,
Of ctlzcus or such laws win prove more thai
unayRliiug. WILLIAM d. HOARD.
R ..Ii lad, WI