River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-04-26
Letter from Rev. A. S. Collins.
PoRTAeE. Wis, April Is.

PORTAGE, YVES hpIh ~
EDITOR JOURNAL: Yielding to an impress
sion OF the hour, we find ourselves engaged
in the Ito us) pleasing occupation of writing
to the Home Paper" whose weekly visits
are hailed with delight by the adult portion
of our family.
Taking it for granted land where Ignorance
is bliss It's folly to be wisel that letter from
this quarter will not be an unwelcome guest.
we kindly % offer to occupy little space in
your columns, thereby causing 'much valu-
able matter to lie over until next week"
Affairs in this city can be of no particular
interest to your readers, hence We shall not
enter into detail. On general matters we
are not different from the majority of cities
of this size in this or any other state, and the
things which are apt to grow out OF a mixed
population do most certainly grow out here,
some of commendable character, but more
of that stamp which leads one to see defects
in our system OF government from which
arises questionings in the application of law.
Of late, Portage has had her share of crimes
and misdemeanors, which give her an unen-
viable reputation, by furnishing that kind OF
sensationalism so detrimental to true progress
in all its forms. Our sources OF education
are numerous, and as varied as the greatest
advocate of "personal liberty could desire.
To enumerate: Ten churches, two church
schools, six public schools employing from
seventeen to twenty teachers, two or three
large breweries and from twenty five to
thirty saloons. Tue graduates Of the latter
upon our police court or visit to the Jail
viii easily prove. Licenses are fixed at Slo0,
which according to one of your frequent
correspondents is mistake, as it shuts out
some poor fellow who would like to make
living i'll this way, and thus increase the inn
morality of our people.
The same authority who believes (Yl that
the multiplicity OF saloons lessons crime,
etc., certainly has an excellent field in which
to carry forward his argument. Oh, well,
the world moves and possibly he lives AHEAD
OF the times, and cannonnow be fully appre-
ciated. In little book, full OF gems and
practical sayings, this one appears: 81 count
him great man who iuhabits higher
sphere of thought, into which other men
rise with labor and difficulty 1t is evident
that the mass Of thinkers have not risen into
THAT sphere of thought. Go congratulate
yourself, friend Morse, on having at least
one GREAT MAN on your list OF contributors.
The Fox and Wisconsin river canal runs
directly through this city, and at present
several government boats are safely quartered
therein and are likely to remain there, as
the "River and Harbor Bill" failed to re-
ceive the attention its merits demand ~.
Said bill is popular here, and navigation
from Green Bay to the Mississippi" is
theme which lies near the heart of The gram
eloquent orators of this section. Other
things may grow old and wear out. but this,
never. ''When we get decent congress
these boats win move out and navigation
will be resumed
And SO River Falls is to be without license
this year, is it? Pm glad. Yes, Mr.. Editor,
Pm glad. Even though ten times as much
liquor be sold, which do not believe posi-
BILE, rejoice that one Of the fairest villages
in this great commonwealth will not be
cursed with an open traffic of this sort.
The midnight lamp goes out for lack OF
oil, and with the summer breeze blowing
through the open window, producing feel
ing Of sleepiness, I'll stop for this time.
A. S ColLlNs