Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1912-03-13
INSIDE INFORMATION
ON RAILROAD MATTERS
Concerning Building of the Chi.
cago Short Line.
An Open Letter TO the Public From
Thomas Mcdonald, Promoter of
the New Electric Road.

public generally to better understand
the proposition of the proposed Chi
cago Short Line Railway, this letter
is written which if space permits [
trust may be given publication.
It is needless to dwell on the needs
of additional railway facilities fer
this section of Southwest Wisconsin.
The fact is apparent, else this promo
ton would not have its present strong
support.
Organization of railway companies
is of course foreign to the average
farmer or business man. In fact it
NAV be said that but few know the
real difference between public service
corporations and private corporations.
The railroad company is the public
service corporation, i. e., serving the
public in carrying of freight and
passengers movement of mail and ex
press, etc.
This proposed line of road, belt
line through western Grant county
and main line passing through city
of Platteville, reaching city of
ShuIlsburg, Wis and Apple River
and Stockton, Illinois, with a branch.
line west from Shullsburg, Wisconsin
to Benton, Wis. is an undertaking
in railroad building of considerable
Importance.
If this undertaking was in new
or perhaps half developed section of
country, he question might be very
properly raised: Will such road
pay? One of the most competent and
reliable engineering films in the
United States, having before them
the statistics of production of this
section. and typographical maps,
have already advised the writer that
a standard road, properly equipped is
feasible OIL the proposed line; that it
will meet its interest on its bonded
indebtedness and become a good
dividend payer as we'll.
The question so often asked.
"WILL the road be built2'' is easily
answered.
The company organized out of the
people who actually want road is
the first requirement. This company,
capitalized at a sum of more than
twice the amount of all pUssible
preliminary costs in order that there
shall be no doubt or question as to
their continued solvencey, is the
second requirement. This company
then, before they proceed to business.
to enter into contract with the proper
house who will become the guarantors
of their legitimate bond issue on the
proposed line of road, is the third
requirement-one of the most i'm
portant matters connected with the
promotion, as this absolutely guaran-
tees the getting of three fourths of
the money necessary to construct and
equip, etc.
The subsidies that will be offered
by the various municipalities will
compose the other one fourth of the
legitimate cost. By such means the
Chicago Short Line Railway will
come into existence be constructed and
put in operation.
Let one thing be fully understood !:
That the business of this company is
and will be in the hands of the sub.
scribers to it's capital stock, neither
the writer nor any one else having
any authority with the company.
While they will have. when the work
is actually undertaken. in their en-
ploy and service consulting engineers
of long experience talented in
economic railway construction, opera
tion and every phase of railway bust
ness-be it understood that the
writer's work in connection with
this enterprise is ministerial only,
exerting his offices to bring together
the necessary elements to obtain con-
structive action.
The matter of financing is in
sense a business problem, but not an
intricate one when business methods
are employed, and as will be the case
in this enterprise, the affairs of the
corporation administered advisedly by
business men.
It may be fairly said that the very
life of commercial and industrial
activities depends on transportation
and the demand of the hour is for
rapid transit. more frequent service.
And it is a we'll known fact to the
railway world that only standard,
electric-operated road can render such
service This is the service that will
benefit the farmer, the merchant, the
professional man, the investor in
lands, and open opportunities to