Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1888-04-13

The citizens of Mineral Point in this
campaign year Of 1888, ought not to
allow state and national politics to
wholly monopolize their attention, but
should at once put forth strong,
united effort to advance the material
interests of the city. That Mineral
Point is a good substantial old town
and does large amount of business,
is beyond dispute. That the place has
at least held its own under adverse
circumstances, is alike undeniable; but
that it has not grown as it should have
grown is largely due to the fact that
there has been no organized or long
continued effort on the part of the
people to build up and advance our
business interests. But it is worse
than useless to spend time III mourn
ing over neglected opportunities or
signing about what " might have BEEN"
The part of wisdom is to deal promptly
and intelligently with the situation
with which we are confronted. We
have city of 5000 inhabitants. Our
territory for trade has been gradually
lessened by the construction OF new
| lines of railroad, and the consequent
building up of small towns around us;
and it is therefore evident that If we
would grow and prosper as city we
must secure the establishment here OF
factories and other industrial enter
terprises. The establishment OF the
zinc works few years ago was boom
for Mineral Point, and changed its
declining fortunes. The company
now gives constant employment to
from sixty to seventy men, and there
by distributes throughout the city
upwards of three thousand dollars
monthly. Other enterprises should
now follow. United effort on the part
of our people to secure them is what
is needed. The establishment of a
packing house is talked of, and a
number of our well-to-do citizens ex-
press their willingness to invest the
necessary capital in such an under
taking. 1t is believed by many that
knitting factory and a corset factory
would prove profitable enterprises for
Mineral Point, and it requires no ar
gument to prove that there are various
other industries which can be profit
ably carried on here, without requir-
amount of capital, which would give
employment to our unemployed, and
bring back many of those who have
gone elsewhere to seek for work. The
Democrat would strongly urge the i'm
portance of organization and work on
the part of all who are in any way
directly or indirectly interested III the
prosperity of our city. Opportunities
for improvement and advancement
should be constantly watched for and
carefully improved. While other
towns and cities are putting forth
efforts to secure new lines of railroad, |
we should be alive to our interests in |
HI, 10 = Il no .aifJ
zens of live, progressive, growing |
towns are doing if we would pros
per. We have waited long enough for
something to turn up" for some new
railroad to be built, or some manufact- |
uring enterprise to be established in |
our city. Cities as well as individ- |
uals, are in great measure the makers |
of their own fortunes. Mineral Point |
has many advantages to offer for the
establishment of manufacturing enter
priSes; being already fair sized city, |
and situated as it is in the heart of
one of the richest sections of the
country. The time has come for
prompt and decisive action, and it
behooves every citizen and property
owner in Mineral Point to carefully
consider how he can best advance the
interests of the city. Who will take
the lead in organizing for effective
work in giving our old town boom in
the directions above indicated?