The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1875-04-03

This OIL OF goods is worth, say, $500 at
the usual retail prices for cash
1t is, moreover, fair specimen of the way
accounts are now being allowed by the pres
ent Supervisors.
call attention to the items of tobacco,
pain-killer, powder and shot as being inter
esting charges for the public to read 1t
seems to me that this bill ought to have had
on it one or two boxes of cigars a jug of
whisky, card of cheap Jewclry and some
fish hooks and rat-traps
But may it not be possible, as has been
suggested, that the Board are accommodating
powder to blow the concern up, having gut
ted it--snd the pain killer to supply their
medicine pouch. on the retreat? !? 1t may be-
What, then, has become of almost $780,
oOu spent by Messrs Desimval, Collier. So
derlund & Co. in the five years? We have a
court house and Jail which cost SIS, 200
Some board fencing and cleaning of the
court house grounds, worth say $500. Have
we one additional mile of permanent road
upon which horse can trot? or new
bridge, or new pier, except the one in Up
pc Town, costing about =, ,00u- or anynew
Improvement whatever which can show color
of where our money has gone to?
Rather have not miles of highway been
given up to disrepair and abandoned Look
at the Military Road, in this county, which
in 1870, was passa5le and good, now gone
back to the bowling wilderness.
Four or five wells have been dug that
should not have cost to exceed 81, 900, pumps
and all. They give the pump tinkers un-
failing employment and revenue and that is
about all One half the wells are serviceable
and the rest are useless or not needed The
town has no authority, and never had to ex-
pend cent this way.
Sidewalk has been relaid mainly for droves
of stray horses and COWS to break up and
defile.
1t has cost, say SIT, 500 in the five years
to paw salaries and court expenses.
Seven thousand dollars honestly bestowed
would have given paupers more than
they have had.
And there are those ON the poor list bet
ter able to take care of themselves than
scores who are not on, and would die sooner
than be on.
Now allow Sl5,ooo for all the work on
highways, bridges, etc, and every intelligent
man in this town will say that it more than
covers the cost of all that has been done IN
this direction since the spring of 1870.
Add the foregoing and it makes some S59.-
200. Throw in $4,000 for printing, lawsuits
nd one thing and another not above speci-
fed, and say sos, 900 TO settle all bills of
which ANYBODY knows anything about, since
she spring of that year. What has become
of the other $4,000? You tell
have gathered few scraps out out of
the compost heap, which remain after the
squauderiugs, and these scraps are tainted
with such illegalty as in my opinio to smell
the strongest kind of fraud.
Twenty five hundred dollars TO send envovs
TO Madison or Washington! Whenever the
itch breaks out to 60 somewhere at some
body else's expense, is takes the form of an
eruption of public spirit, and the distemper
will let up only by trip TO see the Governor
or the Legislature. Just as in olden times
the King evil could be cured only by the
touch of the King. Every winter the county
has had to be saved at an expense of from
$500 10 $500.
Some distressing railroad or canal crisis
arises in somebody's mind; petition is cir
culated or public meeting called; the can
ddaie for the Madison mission, himself fired
by the impending peril, enthuses his friends,
and II they oe majority, then the thing
goes of-Supervlsors assemble ana war
rant Is drawn tor the expenses of the EN-
oaSsy Our envoy extraordinary takes his
little vthse and best suit of clothes and hur-
rleS 10 the capital of the State immediately
the danger subsidies, the storm spends itself,
and the skies are serene for 2 whole wear.
Again and again has the same thing been re-
peated, but II any good abroad has ever re-
suited, Il mas been infinitely overbaiauced by
the hurt which has been inflicted At home.
through tie perLIelous e. npie OF using pub
iic funds IN manner for winch the law airss
not the slightest warrant, and 10 which.
therefore, no limit or control can be pIaced.
Ii You can give $500, why not $1,000 or