Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1897-04-30
INJECTED NEW LIFE.
HON. A moRlBUNo TOWN WAS RE-
JUvEEkTED.

good results attained by the united eff
forts of the residents Of a town 10 relu-
venate what had already begun 10 de-
cay il told by a citizen Of Peru, Neh,
in communication TO the Omaha
World Herald he thus relates the story;
Some ~ or II years ago the Missouri
Pacific railroad built its north and south
line up through this region, intersect.
ing the Burlington near the center OF
this county, Eemaha, and the thriving
little city of Auburn sprang into life.
The county seat was removed from
Brownyillc to the new town, taking
with it the prestige and trade of not
only the old historic town of Brown
vile, but likewise Of Peru and Nemaha
City, two thriving little river towns on
either side.
Peru, having somewhat the advan.
tage of the other two, because Of the To-
cation of the state normal school at
this point, did not decline so rapidly,
but nevertheless il soon became evident
we were on the down grade. Within a
few years we had reached point that
was alarming-business Of all kinds de.
creasing, population dwindling, proper.
ty values ditto, no new buildings being
erected or improvements made-in fact,
we were going to seed generally. And
then, to cap the climax, the only hotel
IN town. "a rickety old wooden struc
ture of the early days" burned down,
leaving us without any place of enter.
tainment for the travelling public, and
no one seemed disposed to invest in q
new building for the purpose
About this time movement was SET
on foot to remove the state normal
school to a more central location in the
state. The news of this latter fact
brought CONSERVATION to the minds OF
our people-even the most ultra conserv-
alive. Something must be done at once
to stem the tide, if possible. A mass
meeting of the citizens was called and
the matter fully discussed in all its
phases and the following conclusions
reached: 1t was decided that certain
public improvements, such as grading
streets, bu; lding new sidewalks, etc,
and q new hotel of neat and modest
proportions, but ample for the needs OF
a town Of this size, were the first in or.
der and absolutely essential to return
of confidence in our future.
A committee was appointed to solicit
funds and carry out the proposed i'm
provements on streets, also u committee
to solicit subscriptions and organize a
stock company to build a hotel. The
first committee took hold of the matter
in earnest. Several hundred dollars was
subscribed and the improvements COM
pleted as per programme.
Not SO, however, with the hotel prof.
ect. The committee took hold of the
matter all right and succeeded in getting
about 5000 of stock subscribed. and then
it got stalled-couldn't raise another
dollar apparently. Therefore the project
was allowed to lapse for the time being
Some of the heaviest property owners
could not be convinced that it would be
good investment. They argued that il
would bring no tangible returns and
that if hotel would pay private capital
would build one.
The matter thus drifted along for sew.
eral months until gentleman of means
from a neighboring town put in an up.
pearance one day looking over the field
with view of erecting brick block
and starting bank. However, he was
not long in discovering the status Of
affairs, and was about to leave in dis.
gust with town that had not enough
enterprise to support hotel. Some Of
the more enterprising citizens got wind
Z of the situation and went to the gentle,
man and told him to hold on little be.
fore locating elsewhere, and they would
see what could be done.
And now, to make long story short,
( the citizens of Peru once more awoke tC
{ the situation, and within three days
they had about 81, 900 of stock subscrib.
j ed to build hotel. A grand Jubilee
4 meeting was held to celebrate the success
of the enterprise. Almost every citizen
D of the town had become interested and
y was stakeholder. A company was le-
!, gally organized, and neat. commodi
: Gus structure erected.
U The enterprise thus displayed SO pleas
o ed the gentleman before mentioned tha
y he decided to locate with us. The bricl
block was erected, the bank went in
, and Peru started on the up grade, will
U all hands rejoicing 1t is estimated tina
b since that period, some six or sever
years ago, nearly or quite 500, 900 ha
{ been expended in buildings and perma
l. nent Improvements here in this villag
4 and suburbs.
y Property values have increased no
e less than one-third; population like
wise No one wishes to sell out now
whereas formerly nearly all wanted Il
J, get away. The state normal school i
u Furnishing, attendance and prestige in
creasing from year to year. In fact, not
II withstanding the disastrous hard time
p of the last three or four years. Peru ha
II been steadily on the up grade. 1t is
matter of frequent comment by the trav
u cling statesmen with whom the write
u comes in frequent contact that Peru
Is one Of the best towns of its size in tn
r, state, and that especially during tn
v past two or three years it is outstriI
ping nearly all other small towns in tn
matter of growth and business.
70 Now, the milk in the cocoanut of a.
10 this is that the turning point i'll on
IS career was at the time when that hott
u project became assured. The success {
az that enterprise was the foundation {
10 faith, which brought capital to us. TIL
Ve stockholders did not expect to receiy
es any direct dividends upon the capit'
invested, and up to the present tim
e. they have not. But none of them, eve
Ve the most parsimonious and conservative