The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1859-01-26
The Comfy Seat.

For a few weeks past tho question of
the removal of the County Seat of this
county has been somewhat agitatcd. We
have hitherto said nothing in regard toit,
as we have not apprehended that any de-
cided action would be taken at present.
But as some parts of the county wish
to have the matter agitated now, and as
the Prescott transcript evidently cncour-
ages that feeling by saying that the soon
er the matter is settled the better, it be-
comes our duty to discuss the question.
Prescott has been, and now is, the bu-
sness centre of the county, and it would
seem reasonable that the County Seat,
for this reason should be located at that
place. But the question arises. how
much of this business is drawn to Prescott
on account of its being the County Seat !?
We think quite q large proportion, and it
would certainly be better for the various
towns to have this business transacted at
home. Some of the business at Prescott
is almost sure to decrease. For instance,
freight for most of the county has hither-
to been landed at, and shipped from Pres
colt, but in all probability, Genmont viii
soon become tue freigh: depot for this
place, and Diamond Bluff for Trimbele
and the Surrounding country. Again,
Prescott being situated in an extreme COR
ner of the county persons having county
business to transact are sub ected to much
travel and inconvenience.
The Transcript thinks considerations
of general good have but little weight in
this agitation, and that it is prompted
wholly by self interest. 1t adds with an
air of defiance, where courtesy would have
been as becoming:
"But you might just as well hang up
your fiddle and let the matter rest where
it for Prescott is the capitol of the Coun-
ty and will be as long rs Prescott, Oak
Grove, and Clifton cast nearly half the
votes and pay one-third of the taxes of
the County" ............
1t might be well for the confident edit
or of tie Transcript to remember that
with the same corresponding ratio of in
crease of wealth and population between
Prescott and other portions of the county
that there has been for two years past, it
cannot much longer be said that "Prescott,
Oak Grove and Clifton cast nearly one
half the votes and pay one third of the
taxes of the whole county,
We regard the removal of the County
Seat as sure thing-a mere matter of
time. 1t will be but short time before
h southern and eastern portions of the
county aoiW be able to do it, and it Will Q
strange if they do not use their power.
If it is to be done, economy would dictate
that it be done before the County build
ings arc erected.
Again, the Transcript says;-.
awe hear it intimatcd that River Falls
will advocate the removal of the County
seat from Prescott. We are very unwill-
M to believe any such story, for it is i'm
possible for us to conceive how that town
can be benefited by q removal to any place
now named, nor why the people of that
t. WIN should not prefer to come distance
of ten or twelve miles over an easy road,
where trade AMI other bushes necessarily
calls he :, than to so an equal distance,
and for q time over miserable road to
Trimbelle or Perry.
The people of this county have it in
their power to settle this question by vote,
and it will come up for their decision eli
ther by vote or common consent, and the
sooner the better. 1t is time somo move
was made by our people towards County
buildings, and the place to build them
must first be settled upon. Then let it
be talked up; agitation is nee ,ssary
W tHc oottISHiCtil u ohy iuOotIOHs Ouf
columns are open. What say you cores
pondents? What say you Lute?'
Well, we have had part of our say
and now propose to finish it. We regret,
Charley, to be obliged to force you to
believe anything SO decidedly against your
will. We have no hostility 10 Prescott
but we may as well remark here, that the
favors she has shown to this place have
not been so large and abundant, her
friendship has not been SO unsclfish and
exhuberant, as to make it matter Of any
special wonder that we should not serve
her to the detriment of ourselves and the
remainder Of the County.
You have not "traveled' lately Char
ley, or you wodld not speak Of a "distance
of ten or twelve miles" to Prescott over
an "easy road" Your livery men will
tellyou better. The distance to Trimbclle
is about three miles less than to Prescott
and the road to-day is an easier one.
2 80 . 49, r.