USA > Missouri > Linn County > The history of Linn county, Missouri. An encyclopedia of useful information > Part 29
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290
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
State school fund
$2,909,457.11
State seminary fund
122,000.00
County school fund 2,333,211.88
Township school fund
1,984,316.65
Special school fund
193,240.08
Total $ 7,542,225.72
The school property of the State amounted, January
1, 1880, to
7,146,904.15
Total school fund $14,689,129.87
Here then is a fund and property exclusively for educational purposes, which sheds a bright luster upon the escutcheon of our State. When the fact is known that in 1842 the total school fund of the State was only $575,- 564, something can be seen of the enlightened policy of the rulers of the State when that sum has grown to millions within a little over a generation, while other millions have been invested in school-houses, land, etc., which gives tangible evidence of the liberality and broad views of the people in educational matters.
When there is to be taken into account, besides this fourteen and a half million of property, the annual expenses paid out the past forty years, the sum contributed by the people of Missouri for educating the children of the State, she will be found to have few equals in this department of en- lightened progress. The State distributed $3,202,273.58 in the year 1879 alone; add to this distribution county, township levy, and the real sum as can be seen, is immense. 1
It has been this liberal and broad system which has given Missouri a high standing among her sister States. She ranks from first to fifth in all that goes to make a people healthy, wealthy, and wise, and standing thus, in the great sisterhood of States, she is a bright example for other and older States to follow and younger ones to emulate. This spirit of educa- tional progress is not evanescent, but is engrafted upon the constitution of the State, and will ever be the proudest monument of the wisdom of her people.
It is building upon a rock foundation,-the storm of ignorance cannot shake it, and the folly of fanatics can have no foothold in her border. Her people, swayed by the light of reason, educated to form their own opinions, firm in their resolve to do right, there is nothing to prevent the onward and upward progress of the State.
291
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
CHAPTER XII.
THE IRON HORSE, AND WHAT IT COST LINN COUNTY.
Opening Chorus-The Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad Company-Donations-Sub- scription of $25,000 and its Forfeiture-69,470 Acres of Linn County Land Given to the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad-About What the Road Cost to Linn County-The Missouri Central, The North Missouri Central and Several Other Changes of Name too Numerous to Mention-Taxation and Assessed Valuation-Subscription to the Central Missouri Branch of the Iowa & St. Joseph Railroad-The History of This Branch, Bonds Voted, etc., from Alpha to Omega.
RAILROADS.
The railroad history of Missouri is in many respects a fearful one, and the records of her courts show that her people, though badly swindled and vic- timized, have not altogether given up their hard-earned property without a struggle. There was hardly a railroad in the early history of their build- ing in this State that did not in every way possible seek to make the people, either by fair means or foul, pay from one-half to two thirds the cost of building the roads. To be sure blocks of stock were given them, to be frozen out by first mortgage bonds, and all this was asked for and given when Congress or the State had donated enough lands to build and equip the road. Take the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad, for instance. That company built twenty-seven and one-half miles of railroad in Linn county. Now, what has this county done for them? Perhaps not much directly but a great deal indirectly.
MONEY WANTED.
The first we hear of this company was in 1849, and of course, when it was heard of, they wanted Linn county to give them a little money. There- fore the County Court obligingly donated the company $200 to help pay their surveying expenses in Linn county. This donation was made October 10, 1849, and the money paid on December 17th, 1849.
The next appearance of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad Company in Linn county was in the spring of 1851. As usual, a little donation was asked for, and again did the County Court meet their impecunious desire by a contribution of $500 for the purpose of locating the road through the county. Stock to the amount of $25,000 was subscribed later at an election ordered, and the desire was to have the road pass through Linneus.
To effect this it was necessary to have an agent to look after the location of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad tract through Linn county, there- fore the County Court at its adjourned term, July 5, 1853, made the fol- lowing order; to-wit,
292
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
" It is ordered by the court here, that A. W. Flournoy be appointed agent for Linn county to confer with the board of directors for the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad Company, concerning the location of said road, and if said location should be made through the town of Linneus, then said Flour- noy, for and in behalf of said county of Linn, shall renew the subscription of $25,000 heretofore made to said road, and in the same behalf to subscribe $30,000 in addition thereto, to be paid to said company from the proceeds of the sale of the swamp and overflowed lands belonging to said county, and in the event that said location shall not be made as above specified, to notify the board of directors of said road of the withdrawal of the whole amount heretofore subscribed."
On November 5th, 1855, at the November term of the County Court the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad Company made application for the right of way through Linn county. This was granted by the court in the words and manner following:
" On the application of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad Company, by Edward B. Talcott, agent, it is ordered by the court here as follows: That as the above named company have filed in the office of the Circuit Court a plat of said railroad, and the manner in which it is proposed that the same shall pass along and across State and county roads and streams, in this the county of Linn, and as this court is satisfied that no great in- jury will be done to the public by the use sought to be made of said county and State roads and streams; now the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad Company are fully authorized and empowered to build and construct said railroad on or along or across any of the State and county roads and streams within the limits of this county so far as the same may be necessary and desirable. It is provided, however, that said company in using said State and county roads and streams, as above allowed, shall in all things conform to the law of their incorporation, and all other laws of this State in regard to such matters."
WHAT RAILROADS COST LINN COUNTY.
As will be seen, Linn county never subscribed any funds for railroad pur- poses as a county, and the question was asked a few years since, why should she? Railroads have cost Linn county, in one way and another, over $1,000,000, and if her people have not subscribed stock, to be given away a few years. later, she has done her part, and the railroad companies have no cause to complain, especially the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad. That road received in its land grant no less than 69,470 acres of Linn county land, and for years paid no taxes, and with what has been foolishly voted by townships to another road, certainly Linn has done her share to build up powerful corporations which use their immense, power and resources, not for the benefit of Linn county, but for the enriching of their own coffers.
293
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
Now there is no question but what railroads are a great benefit to the State and county in which they are located; so are manufacturing establishments and other projects of enterprise, but they are private corporations, and no matter if the people gave them the road ready equipped for service or use, they, the corporations, would manage it for their own especial use and ben- efit. This would not be complained of, for it is to be expected, but what caused the people of Missouri to curse railroad corporations has been that want of gratitude for favors conferred, and the use of their power to oppress, by extortion and other means in their power, the very people who had given them the means and the power to do so. It has cost the rail- road company millions of dollars by this system of extortion and monopoly, and the loss came to them because they vainly imagined in their arrogance that they were stronger than the people. Not only had the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad Company millions of acres of land given them, the value of which fully built and equipped their road for them, thus giving them a property worth millions of dollars, but when they once got it in their pos- session, wished to avoid what every farmer and laboring man had to pay, taxes. Not satisfied with the gift of millions, they declined and refused until forced to pay the simple taxes upon a property which cost them noth- ing. If ingratitude can go further, it has not yet been recorded in history. It is not of one road, but it is the history of nine-tenths of those built in Missouri. Thus it is that by this want of appreciation of the favors con- ferred, the railroad companies of the State, with but few exceptions, are looked upon as a robber horde, and the name in many instances is appro- priate.
INCREASE OF VALUATION.
A strong belief, which kept growing, was that the railroad companies of the State, by avoiding taxation in some instances, and by under valuation in others, have escaped paying their just dues to the State, and this belief proved to have been well founded. Some action had been taken by the State authorities upon the subject and the savans of the legislative halls passed an act giving the County Courts of the respective counties of the State the power to increase the assessed valuation of railroad property, and of lands owned by railroads in the several counties. In regard to ownership of land the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad was the only company in the State owning land in Linn county, and in 1865 the County Court of this county placed all the lands belonging to the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad Company at the valuation of four dollars per acre lying in townships fifty- seven and fifty-eight. As this land was held by the railroad company at from five to fifteen dollars per acre, being contiguous to their road, the valuation was not high.
294
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
TAXATION.
In the matter of assessing railroad property the assessment in Linn county was too high. The year 1873 the assessed valuation of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad was placed at $1,080,000; at the same time the Burlington & Southwestern at $255,000, and the St. Louis & Omaha at $45,000. The first had twenty-seven and a half miles of road, the second eighteen and a half miles and the last three miles. A fight against paying taxes was made by all three of the roads, and a compromise was not effected until 1876 and 1877, and up to this January there is still a portion to be settled. In 1875 the assessment was reduced in the order above named, to $814,319.95, $150,000, and $25,000. Its present assessed valuation (1882) is at the rate of $9,000 a mile for the Hannibal & St. Joseph, $3,500 for the Burlington & Southwestern, and $5,000 for the St. Louis & Omaha.
BURLINGTON & SOUTHWESTERN.
The inception of this road dates back to the twenty-second day of Janu- ary, 1868. Two companies were organized to build a railroad from Lin- nens to Stanley, a point on the Brunswick & Chillicothe road, the latter then in course of construction. The companies were named, respectively, the Missouri Central Railroad Company and the North Missouri Central Rail- road Company, the former to build south from Laclede to a junction with the Brunswick road, and the latter south from Linneus to connect with the other at Laclede. The Missouri Central Company was organized first, and seeking aid had promised to build to Linnens, but insisted upon using all the subscription on that part of the road south of Laclede. This wasn't just what the Linneus people wanted. They insisted that the work should first commence at Linneus, or if not, if at Laclede, the money must be used upon work north as well as south of that town in equal proportions. La- clede would not consent to this and so the North Missouri Central Company was organized.
This last company proposed to strike southwest from Linneus, leaving Laclede entirely ont of their programme, and make their connecting point at Fountain Grove, in the southwest corner of the county. Had this pro- gramme been followed out it would have been better for Linneus, or if they had made their connection on the Livingston county line west of Meadville, on the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad. it would have been still better.
This move brought the Missouri Central Company to terms, and on the fourteenth day of October, 1868, they entered into a contract first to bind themselves each to build certain portions of the road, -the North Missouri Central to commence at Linneus and prepare the road-bed for the iron to Laclede and the Missouri Central from Laclede, south to the junction with the Brunswick road above mentioned, and when both portions were com
295
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
pleted then the two companies to be consolidated. They went to work under this contract and expended all the money they could get, and then came to a halt, the work being suspended over the entire line. There was a further contract between these companies, made on the ninth day of the following June. The first contract was signed on the part of the North Mis- souri Central Company by Ambrose D. Christy, president, and on the part of the Missouri Central Company by I. V. Pratt, president. The second contract was signed by the above named for the Missouri Central Company and by George W. Stephens on the part of the North Missouri Central Company, the last contract being an agreement on the part of the latter company to build the road of the former. In fact, Linneus was ahead.
THE NEXT MOVE.
The road having come to a stand still on account of funds, there was nothing besides talk and keeping the organization intact until 1871, B. F. Northcott, the then president of the North Missouri Central Company con- cluded to make an effort to resurrect the dead, and the North Missouri Central Road became a branch of the St. Joseph & Iowa Railroad Com- pany, headquarters at St. Joseph. The object was to get a northern outlet to reach Burlington and Chicago, and if possible get some of the northern companies to take hold and equip the road if it was a success in preparing the road-bed.
In the spring of 1871 the following contract was entered into:
OFFICE OF THE ST. JOSEPH & IOWA RAILROAD COMPANY, -
ST. JOSEPH, MISSOURI, April 12, 1871.
At a regular meeting of the executive committee duly appointed by the board of directors of said company, and authorized to act in these prem- ises, this day held, there were present John Severance, William M. Albin, James A. Matney, and Jefferson Chandler, constituting a quorum of said committee. The following action was had:
WHEREAS, The St. Joseph & Iowa Railroad Company have undertaken the construction of a branch railroad, under the name of the Central North Missouri Branch of the St. Joseph & Iowa Railroad; therefore,
Resolved, That B. F. Northcott, Joseph Combs, and Marion Cave be and are hereby authorized to act as agents to receive the donations, and for the procuring and receiving of subscriptions to stock to aid in con- struction, and to act for said branch until the subscribers to stock in the same shall otherwise instruct, and the form herein underwritten shall be sufficient subscription to snch stock, and shall be binding on such company when ratified by said company. We, the undersigned, agree to take the number of shares of the capital stock set opposite our names, respectively, in the name of the Central North Missouri Branch of the St. Joseph & Iowa
296
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
Railroad for the purpose of aiding in the construction of said branch, and do promise to pay to the St. Joseph & Iowa Railroad Company one hun- dred dollars for each of said shares. Said money to be applied to the con- struction of said branch, and to be for its exclusive use and benefit.
2d, Resolved, That the president of this company be and is hereby di- rected to furnish to said agents a certified copy of the foregoing preamble and resolutions.
STATE OF MISSOURI, - COUNTY OF BUCHANAN .. SS.
I, John Severance, president of the said committee and president of the St. Joseph & Iowa Railroad Company, do hereby certify that the above and foregoing preamble and resolutions are a true and perfect copy of the rec- ords of the said company, relating to the action of said committee in the appointment of said agents.
[L. s.]
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name and caused the seal of our said company to be affixed at our office, in the city of St Joseph, the day and date herein above written. JOHN SEVERANCE,
Attest:
President of the St. Joseph & Iowa R. R. Co.
JAMES A. MATNEY,
Secretary of the St. Joseph & Iowa R. R. Co.
DEEDED THEIR RIGHTS.
At the time of the appointment of the above agents the St. Joseph & Iowa Railroad Company did not boast of a seal, and Mr. Northcott had one made and presented it to the company, and the first use of it was to stamp the above instrument. The arrangement somewhat upset the calculations of the Missouri Central Railroad Company, but they thought they saw a prospect of getting their road built south of Laclede, and so, on the thirty- first day of May. 1871, they deeded all their rights, privileges, and franchise to the Central Branch of the St. Joseph & Iowa Railroad Company, with adequate provisions, it would seem, for the completion of their part of the road, yet eleven years after the road south of Laclede remains unbuilt, with, however, some hopes of an early start in that direction at this time.
In the meantime township subscription had been solicited and voted, and strong efforts made to have the road built from the connection with the St. Joseph & Iowa Railroad Company's main line down to a junction, at La- clede, with the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad. Sullivan county voted $200,000, and Putnam $150,000, and there was every probability of means being raised to carry through the work. The St. Joseph & Iowa, and those connected, at last turned over all the matter to a company called the Bur- lington & Southwestern, supposed to have had the Chicago, Burlington &
the Whitaker
299
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
Quincy Company at its back, but, if so, they, the latter company, have been so busy with their western extension as to leave this road to go on the best it could.
ORDER FOR ELECTION.
The first move in this direction which is found of record, are the following orders, made at the May term of the county court, May 19, 1868. They are as follows:
" Ordered by the court that an election be held in Locust Creek town- ship, on the thirtieth day of May, 1868, to determine if a subscription of $4,000 shall be made by said township to the capital stock of the North Missouri Railroad Company, and that bonds be issued for that sum to run for the period of twenty years, bearing interest at the rate of ten per cent per annum, payable yearly, and one-tenth of the principal to become due and payable eleven years after the issue thereof, and one-tenth of said prin- cipal to become due and payable cach year thereafter till the whole amount of principal and interest is paid.
"Ordered by the court that an election be held in Parson Creek township on the sixth day of June, 1868, to determine if a subscription of $2,000 shall be made by said township to the capital stock of the North Missouri Railroad Company, and that bonds be issued for that sum to run for the period of twenty years, bearing interest at the rate of ten per cent per an- num, payable yearly, and one-tenth part of the principal to become due and payable eleven years after the issue thereof, and one-tenth of said prin- cipal to become due and payable each year thereafter till the whole amount of principal and interest is paid.
" Ordered by the court that an election be held in Jefferson township on the thirteenth day of June, 1868, to determine if a subscription of $30,000 shall be voted by said township to the capital stock of the Missouri Central Rail- road Company, proposing to build a road through said township, and that bonds be issued for that sum to run for the period of twenty years, bearing interest at the rate of ten per cent per annum, payable yearly, one-tenth part of principal to become due and payable eleven years after the issuing of said bonds, and one-tenth become due and payable each year thereafter till the whole amount of principal and interest is paid."
There was no record of any election in Parson Creek township at the time set, June 6, 1868, but the one for Locust Creek township came off on May 30th, as per order, and resulted in the carrying of the subscription. The order calling for an election distinctly puts down the sum of $4,000 in figures as here shown, but the following, announcing the result, places the amount at forty thousand dollars, and it is so expressed and is probably correct. The order reads:
" WHEREAS, it appearing to the court that at a township election held by
19
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HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
the voters of Locust Creek township on the thirtieth day of May, 1868, not less than two-thirds of the qualified voters of said township voting at said election, voting that a subscription of forty thousand dollars should be made by said township to the capital stock of the North Missouri Central Rail- road Company, that bonds be issued for that sum to run for the period of twenty years, bearing interest at the rate of ten per cent per annum, paya- ble yearly, and one-tenth part of the principal to become due and payable eleven years after date of the issue thereof, and one-tenth to become due and payable each year thereafter till the whole amount of the principal and interest is paid.
" It is therefore ordered by the court that said township subscribe, and that the court does hereby subscribe in behalf of said township, the said sum of forty thousand dollars according to the terms and conditions afore- said."
The above order was made June 2, 1868, but there is found at the July term of said court, held July 20, a revocation, and in regard to the Jeffer- son township subscription, a flat refusal to subscribe. The why and the wherefore of this action may be given hereafter.
REFUSAL AND REVOCATION.
The first reads:
"It is ordered by the court that the court do refuse to make a subscrip- tion in behalf of Jefferson township, to the capital stock of the North Mis- souri Central Railroad Company."
And the revocation is worded as follows:
" Ordered by the court that the order for the subscription of forty thou- sand dollars by Locust Creek township, to the North Missouri Central Railroad Company, made.on the second day of June, 1868, be and the same is hereby revoked. And it is further ordered that the court do refuse to issue bonds in behalf of said township for the benefit of said railroad com- pany."
The following order, it seems, should have appeared of record, previous to the refusal of the County Court to subscribe, but it did not, and is entered in the County Court record at the August term following, which was the third day of said month.
ORDER OF SUBSCRIPTION.
"WHEREAS, It appears to the County Court that at a township election had by the voters of Jefferson township, on the thirteenth day of June, 1868, not less than two-thirds of the qualified voters of said township vot- ing at said election, voted that a subscription of $30,000 should be made by said township to the capital stock of the Missouri Central Railroad Com- pany, and that bonds be issued for that sum, to run for the period of twenty
301
HISTORY OF LINN COUNTY.
years, bearing interest at the rate of ten per cent per annum, payable annually, and one-tenth part of the principal to become due and payable each year thereafter, till the whole amount of the principal and interest shall be paid. It is therefore ordered by the court that said township sub- scribe and that the court do hereby subscribe in behalf of said township the said sum of $30,000, according to the terms and conditions aforesaid. Carlos Boardman, justice, dissenting."
The order subscribing, by Locust Creek township, was again entered August 4, 1868, after its revocation, these last orders remaining upon the record until the November term of the County Court, when at an adjourned session, held December 22, 1868, the order for issuing the Locust Creek township bonds to the railroad company was made. It was as follows:
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