Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1912-06-19
AN OPEN LETTER ABOUT
CHICAGO SHORT LINE
Concise Statement Relative to
the New Railroad.
Thomas Mcdonald, the Promoter, Ex-
plains to the Public Particulars
Concerning the Project.
Lancaster Wis, June 18th, 1912
ditor of The Herald, Lancaster, Wis

Lancaster Wis, June 18th, 1912
Editor of The Herald. Lancaster, Wis
consin:
Dear Sir: The following open
letter. will appear in several of the
county papers this week, and if
deemed Of interest to Herald
readers by you. and if space permits,
you may give it publication; however
with the following as a preface:
Nearly two hundred subscribers for
stock in The Chicago Short Line
Railway Company, of which one-half
are citizens of the city of Lancaster,
are intensity interested in the promo
ton of the new road, and now that a
contract is agreed upon between this
company and the Grant Railroad COM
pany, whereby the latter retires from
its undertaking, and the persons who
composed it will now join the Chi
cago Short Line in the effort to
secure to this section the greatly
needed service which our promotion
Is intended to secure.
The important primary features Of
this work is to increase the capital
stock from the first authorized issue
of $50, 600 to $50, 600, and to interest
the people in voting the aid that
is necessary to carry out the COM
panys plans.
The city of Lancaster will, follow
ing tbs companys' s proposition, be the
first municipality to vote on the ques-
tion Of aid to the company, after
and following the city of Lancaster,
the various towns will vote in groups.
Much has been said on the subject
of the promotion of the proposed
electric railway, The Chicago Short
Line and as yet the actual PROPOSE
tion has not been fully placed before
the people who will determine the
success OF failure of the undertaking.
The company proposes with the aid
of the people, to finance and build ap-
proximateIy 157 miles of standard
constructed, electric operated rail
way, passing over its rails ordinary
standard guage freight equipment
moved with electric motors, while its
passenger service will be standard in
terurban coaches.
That there is nothing to prevent
the success of this movement is con-
coded and believed by those who have
watched the development of the
promotion thus far, and who six
months ago did not believe it
practicable or possible.
The whole question of ultimate
success or failure, rests with the tax
payers and voters; will they, or will
they not support this movement and
vote the aid that is reasonably neces-
saIy.
Every one admits that taxes are
burden, but a legitimate one, to be
borne by those who toll with either
hand or brain, but we believe that
with a successful outcome of this
undertaking. the results or benefits
will be found to far outweigh the
cost, If viewed from an industrial and
commercial standpoint.
The personnel of this new railway
company is representative of the bust
ness interests of this section deserving
of the confidence of all. and only
safe methods will be pursued by them
in the administration of the com
pany affairs
TJa oO,,,,,o,,v, IL irrovooobI houY1d
to policies Of conservatism, thereby
avoiding the usual errors incident to
promotions, and in this case will not
undertake surveys, or expend moneys
for exploitation until the towns and
cities have first voted the necessary
aid to the company, and a positive
guaranty Of at least So, 900. 900, Of
the cOmpany's bonds has been ar
ranged and contracted for.
The statutes of Wisconsin con
templates that the people shall risk
nothing in voting aid to railway
corporations; therefore company
desiring and asking aid of the people
should surely pursue a like policy,
placing all the safeguards possible
about its procedures to protect the
personal interests of its stockholders.
The aid desired by this company
will not be asked as gift or gratuity,
but quite to the contrary, the PROPOSE
tion submitted to the electors will be
that the towns, cities, ETC., shall
subscribe for capital stock of the
company, to pay therefor by voting
issues of bonds payable in 90 years.
transferable only when. given or
stated section of the proposed railway
is constructed and in operation; at
such time of transfer to receive an