The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1888-02-16
SURPLUS.

Pilot with the greatest satisfaction. It
shows that journalist, when some one
points out to him his erroneous ways,
will admit his mistake OF course ex-
cuse him for not giving up the warfare
all at once, although he acknowledges
defeat as far as it progressed. Like a
good general, he retreats from the field
as graciously as possible and to make
show of another stand, he challenges the
answers which 1 omitted in my last.
BE seems not yet quite satisfied before
finish him up whole, and as generally
don't do things by halves, always prefer
ing clean sweep, am only too glad OF
the opportunity to crafty his wishes
He asks: If I were member OF the
county board would be in favor of dis
posing of county surplus on the same
plan that proposed to congress? I an
swer, yes.
For instance, if the preceding board
had for some reason or other allowed too
much funds to accumulate and if the
county had no court house or any other
building or thing which would be neces-
sary and general benefit to the county,
1 should advocate the disposal of the
surplus for such purposes. Now, you
may say there is no comparison. But to
make it still palmer: Suppose it was
customary for county boards to furnish
school-houses in all the different towns
or districts, the wealthy and most influ-
entail districts had large luxurious school
buildings while others had old rookeries
leased by the county at rental equaling
Wondering in the county treasury, would
1 dispose of this surplus as proposed to
congress? You bet I would / would
resurrect it with spirit of lightning and
have it scattered over all the county, in
every district, converting it into neat
school buildings 20 the satisfaction Of the
old and the benefit and Joy of the young.
And this is just precisely the same plan.
(2) This is most pleasant duty because
could not air this under any other form
of communication with better grace.
You say you doubt that l had drawn
my plan from my own business methods"
I answer, I have. You add, "that I have
had in my mill and store, frequent OPP
portunity to deal with surplus" have
had for which 1 am truly grateful to my
patrons. Next you come to the main
point: did ever think of dividing the
surplus among them as / propose the
government shall do?" To this l answer:
Most assuredly I have. Let me give you
the little history:
When my first modest surplus pre-
sented itself, I exercised my ingenuity
to determine what to do with it. Nat
urally the first thought was selfish, but
the second Was cant [ apply it SO that
while benefting me, share of it may
return Indirectly to those who had been
so kind in assisting me in its creation?
/ thought / could. I bought small
schooner by which l could freight the
products of the farm and the stock of the
| merchant, and in consequence paid more
for farm produce while selling merchan-
disc lower, thus returning part of the
surplus.
The second surplus had to deal with
1 came to the conclusion that Touring
mill would be public benefit for the
reason that many localities encouraged
their erection by offering bonuses. So
built Touring mill, charged the bonus
to surplus fund which reduced the sur
plus. The erection of the mill increased
the price of wheat in the county few
cents per bushel, which will amount to
many thousands each year" although
wheat is fearfully low still,"-labor was
employed. In this way again diminish
ed my surplus.
The third surplus / was confronted
with I disposed of in building a Plaster
Mill, by which plaster was reduced in
price at least 20 per cent, labor again
employed, and thus third time distri-
buted my surplus to my customers.
When further surplus came still crowd
ing on me and when I had enough other
matters to attend to, looked around for
relief, giving up the idea of having all
under my control and supervisors.
This found in distributing thousands
of dollars among those who could use 1t
in building up the Industries of my coun-
ty, and so I have been and hope to be
further able to distribute my surplus,
although in this last item of distribution
I have no selfish pecuniary motives in
view, otherwise than feeling that owe
an act of gratitude to the public which
1 wish in some way or other to recipro-
cate.
So you see that I did not at any time
hoard surplus, allow it to get mouldy
in the vaults as the government does, but
kept it circulating.
You say that good plan of an individ-
ual in the distribution of surplus can
safely be applied by the government, the
only difference being in its magnitude.
Just so. This is just precisely what I
have suggested being done and I hope
that you will concede considering my ex-
perience in dealing with SURPRISES, that
l am more competent to deal with the
problem than you supposed was.
REDUCTION.