Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1871-05-23
Communicated
MINERAL POINT.
Central Points-A City In Prospect and City
in ReaIIty-Eariy "Reminiscences and
Late Prosperity-R. n. Bonds
and r. II. Extension.

ana ~, II BttoustOus
j. Proctor Knott recently spoke of
Duluth as being the centre OF the uni
verse because all places were the
same distance from Duluth as they
were to it aud he illustrated his as
sertion by map which represented
the aforesaid city as the focus OF nu-
merous circles that environed the
place, and were graded according 10
the distance they were from IT Per-
.haps some of the old settlers will re-
mem Der having seen a map that pic
tured the subject of this sketch with
like surroundings in which the last
circle of distances came within half
dozen miles of Gaena, as If TO infor
that that city was outside the pales
of civilization. 1t always seemed to
me that the point where the compass
was fixed represented the spot on
which the old Court House stood, in
which the democratic politicians of
territorial times, congregated to con-
trive means to fasten their grip upon
the political fortunes Of the day, and
all the loose whiskey whereabouts.
But, alack, time is fate The old
map is now a relic of the past or is
forgotten. Nothing remains to the
place of such import that it must
still be the guiding star to the world
around. It's democratic strength is
feeting; which, weakened by wee
and corruption, is no longer feared
for its Vaccinations, as in former
days. There is no spot here now Of
such prestige that incipient geogra-
piers must choose it for the central
point of their circumscribed circles.
The old Court House has long since
been converted into a town hall, and
the Land Office has hurried far to
the West to meet the wants OF adj
vancing civilization.
A few of the old political hacks
still exc out an uncertain existence,
as though they chung to life on pur-
pose to relate tales Of PALMER days,
when they were melted out fat APP
portionments from the purse Of
Uncle Sam. They yet regard Min
eral Point patrician name amidst q
numerous progeny of plebian rela-
tivcs, forgetful it was but few years
anterior to those fascinating times
that the village went by the sonorous
name of Shake Rag, and its streets
were laid out in the direction OF COW
paths.
The real prosperity of the city,
however, begins within the last de-
cade. The Jacksonian politicians
pulled it up with false flesh to con-
siderable prominence, yet its sinew
and muscle and nerve are of recent
growth. The mineral interest in its
Immediate neighborhood is on the
decline, and with it, hazardous spec
ulations are becoming less frequent
and employment more regular
Grain and stock buying is an impor-
tant accessory to trade. Zinc works,
agricultural depots and boundaries
are among the modern improvements
The Methodist Episcopal society
erected during the last season, a
house of worship of such architect
ure and size that it must have been
quite virtue for tax paying mem
bers of the congregation to have list.
ened to the pulpit exhortations. |
noticed considerable building in pro-
gress this. season. | judge the pop
ulatioE of the place TO be about four
thousand inhabitants.
One great incubus yet broods over
the city, and not only over the city
but over all Iowa county. A rail-
road debt of half million dollars
has been saddled upon it. 1t consti-
tutes about per cent. of the assess
ed value of all its taxable property
Like huge monster it sits ready to
devour the hard earnings alike OF
both innocent and guilty it prevents
an equitable adjustment of the laws,
sows discussions among its victims,
retards the development of the re-
sources of the county, and drives
away foreign capital. Whether the
debt is o just one is not for me TO say
The courts have decided it must b c
paid And of all places in the coun.
ty, it least becomes Mineral Point to
refuse to perform her share not
only because of the part she took in
creating the debt, but on account OF
the immense benefit the railroad has
been to her in comparison with what
it has done for other townsTof the
county. The railroad company now
offer these terms of compromise
They propose to extend the railroad
through the county to the Wisconsin
river, and for every dollar the towns
vote to aid this object, they offer to
cancel like amount of Indebtedness.
1t is uncertain whether the people
will accept the proposition. Many
lack confidence in the men who pro-
pose it. But whether they be honest
or not, it seems to me to be in the
interest of the people not to pass
this proposition by, Even should
this company have offered it from
other motives, and should afterward
back down from their stipulations,
adding additional stigma to their
reputation for integrity OF purpose,
it will yet debar them from appear
ing before the court to plead that
they haveeoffered an amicable settle
ment of the claim and have been re-
fused, and that they now seek for
the aid of the extreme processes o!
the law. While should both parties
accept the proposition, twill be the
means of casting off burden that
almost suffocates one of the fairest
counties under the sun.
One more statement and | am
done. A recent editorial Of the
Grant County Democrat states that a
bank has been organized at Lincoln,
Nebraska, by Gen. Cobb, with a cap
ital of $500, 900, and infers therefrom
that he vas corrupt while in Con-
gress. An opportunity was offered
me while at Mineral Point last week
to investigate these assertions. l
found the bank was organized, not