The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1898-01-01
1S97-IS9S.

This friday night at - pm. 1897
will hobble off the stage of life, and 1898
come before the footIights and make
his bow to an appreciative world.
1t has been our custom each New
Year, for sixteen years, to glance back
ward over the twelve months Just pre-
ceding, making reference to the chief
occurrences during that SPACE Of time,
and to indulge in Il forecast of what the
new year is likely to bring and lay as
an Offering at the feet of humanity.
While it is easy to refer to the past with
out stumbling, as II is an open book to
us ali, at least those who have read the
TINES, when We look forward, however.
we are Immediately made aware Of our
heIplessness, and our inability to pre-
diet with any certainty what a day
will bring forth. This fact has been
brought to our minds very forciblv in
connection with our predictions last
year IN reference to local matters, cur
forecast having proved to be, thanks to
the unTeliablcncss Of our city fathers,
woefu,ly out of joint We expressed
the BELIEF that the city would be lifted
ont Of the financial rut in which it has
been laundering, during the year, but
the city is still, financially, here it was
last year. with the difference ONLY that
refunling scheme has been adopted
and a gentleman experienced in finan-
sIal affairs entrusted with the duty of
working 1t out successfully. Whether
he Will succeed or not remains to be
seen, but we trust he will The hopes
of the people, however, have been
raised several points during the wear,
from na.ul al and Irresistible causes, not
on account Of any action of the city
council, for it has, rs We have said. ac-
compllshei little or nothing for the
good of the city. 1t is still tiLbtIng the
Water, Light & Power company, as it
was year ago, with no visible change
TOR the better. The water is still far
from what it ought to be, while The
rates for both water and light are out
rsgeously high. As for the Rapid Tran
sit company, it, a few months ago, in
response to the demands Of the public.
and doubtless for its own convenience
and financial benefit, adopted a trans
fer system which, while not altogether
satisfactory, is vast Improvement on
the old one, This is about the only
boon the public have been granted,
while valuable telephone franchise
was handed oyer to a rich corporation
without any compromising advantages
80 the oppressed taXpayers of the city.
and an ordinance WAS passed granting
special privileges to Union printing Of
fcer, IN violation Of the state constitu-
ton, common honesty and the cherished
doctrine that all men are born equal.
True. the Duiuth-S Superior bridge was
opened to the pubic with a great -four
lsh of spreadeagle eloquence pro-
Phetic of glorious results, but. as vet.
the harvest Of blessings has been small
except to the bridge company. The re-
trenchnent cry also failed to hcaranv
fruit to speak of, and the useless hang
rrs-on are still milking the municipal
boylne, while the MAYOR wonders-;o
hlnself-whilc lie looks on. that the
poor beast does not run dry. 4 fire hall
Is IN course Of construction on the cor
ner OF Fourth street and Thompson
avenue, necessitated by the burning of
the old one on the corner of Fourth and
Becker; but it had scarcely been com
menced when the contractors were
caught at the old game Of swindling the
taxpayers, and later on it deveIoped
That bride had been forced upon the
architect III order to induce him to al
low the use of poor material As il
stands, 1t contains quantity of bad
brick. and it Will be no surprise to us if,
i year from now, its walls are cracked
from top to bottom. We trust, how
ever, for the sake of the oppressed
taxpayers, that the new building viii
weather the storms Of many wears, and
that the hremen NAV slumLcr in their
cots untroubied with the thought that
1t may souc night fail down on ton Of
them. No. we cannot, from a muuicipal
point OF view, see that the city has
made any Improvement worth speaking
of, due TO the wisdom of the city coun-
cIi. Whatever Improvement there has
been Is due TO natural causes, 10 its ire
eIetinic and lrrepr rssibic tendency to
expand despite all opposition. In the
llgut Of these facts, We shall not venture
to forecast any great things. but simply
express the hone that the next wear
VIII not be less lavish with is mercics
than the past
Since last New Years day a rev al
nlnistration has taken control Of ma
tional affairs, with the result that the
country Is fast recovering rom the q IS
astrouS results of four wears of Demo-
cratic rule. Not only have We been
blessed with wise Republican admin
istration, which has given protection to
American manufactures. and thus gwen
work to thousands az men and women,
but the products Of the farm have in
creased in value, aud there is smile on
The face Of every Industrious tiiler Of
the soil within the limits Of the republic,
Tor all of which blessings We have reason
10 be, and We believe the people are,
grateful.
Cuba, We are sorry to say. is stu \
dlcatlons that before another year rolls