Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-04-27
A GOOD SHOWING,


We print elsewhere in this issue the
report of the city clerk Of Mineral
Point, for the year ending April 18th,
and also u report Of the finance com
mittcc of the common council. The
latter includes u statement OF the
bonded indebtedness Of the city, which
shows the total indebtedness 10 be
$li 900. This, in comparison with the
bonded Indebtedness Of ncighboring
cities, IL small. While our public
buildings may not be NJ extensive or
M up-to.datc as in many cities, it is
gratifying to know that the financial
condition Of the city IL perhaps not
cxcellcd by amy place Of similar size
in Wisconsin. 1T Is also II gratifying
to know that there has been quite IN
advance ia the value of city property
and that u general feeling of hopeful
ness prevails. When it Is realized
that during the Inst twenty-five years,
old Mineral Point has contributed
her full share towards wiping out II
county and city railroad bonded in
dehtednoss of upwards of EloO, 100000
some idea of our marvellous resources
may be had And freedom from this
debt, surely means material progress
IN the future. Farm conditions have
changed, and for the better. We have
changed from grain raising aud
grain shipping section to dairytng
and more extensive stock raising; and
our mining interests rs we'll as the
mining interests of southwest Wiscon-
sin In general, give promise Of regain
Ing their old time activity, as the pres
Ont high prices Of ores greatly cncour-
age miners. While we neither expect,
nor want, II boom that will be tompor-
any, Indications point Enthusiastically to
better business and trade conditions
for us than have existed In the inn
mediate pnst.
Those things being SO, Mineral Point
viii undoubtedly share In the general
prosperity. but IN order to SO share,
she must he progressive and keep
abreast with the times IN making
necessary public improvements, We
do not mean by this that we should be
rock less or lavish IN tho expenditure
Of public funds. On the contrary, we
believe that fun returns should he had
for every dollar WE spend, and that
all money used for the Improvement
of our streets should he carefully and
judiciously expended.
The establishment of Mineral Point IS
water works system last year enhanced
the value Of all property IN the city,
rs it was not only n notification To
merchants and other business mon
that all necessary precaution would he
taken by the city To prevent obstruction
of property by fire, but was also an
evidence Of progress IN other direct
ions. While the system is not, ~ yet,
II very extensive one, extensions are
sure to follow until n complete system,
Is established throughout the eutire
city. AS II Is we have u good plant,
and we believe that water works sys.
TENS not rs extensive us ours have
cost many other cities from $1,000 to
NO 900
There are no other improvements
contcmplat Vi in the near future that
will call for largo expenditure of
money. But there will always he work
TO do. The streets and walks Of
the city must be kept in good and safe
repair. We believe that the work Of
advancement should be kept up. Let
each citizen be enlisted in the work OF
putting the city in prcsentable shape.
In many things we are ahead of our
neighboring cities and towns and III
some respects we are far behind, One
of the latter is, that we lack unity of
purpose in advancing and beautifying
our city. Those who travel and OBJ