Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1899-03-15


age scheme seriously. When there is
SO much talk OF civil service reform in
the air. the proposition is a wrench of
the hand of progress backward on the
dial of destiny.
LaFoiietss's Editor Tells "A Stery.
The best story told here at the meet
ing of the State Press association was
not by Ex-Governor Hoard, cr ex-Gov-
ernor Peck-both of whoai were much
In evidenee-but by Roger Nj. Andrews
the editor of the LaFolette paper. The
State. The debate wat on the free-pass.
MIR. Rock Flint made brilliant re-
view OF the history of the giving of
pass favofs not only TO lawri ers, but
TO preachers. etc, and traced thu growth
OF the curious custom, and Others had
discussed 1t when Andrews unIoaLed
the following:
lie said an impeeunious newspaper
man was cumming his Wy from Chi
cago TO Louisville, where he had heard
there was vacancy on Henry Waiter
sons Courier Journal He had not a
cent on MS petson, but when the con-
ductor touched him on the shoulder the
traveller made as If 10 present pass.
That's strange" the cheeky newspa-
per man said, feeling in his pockets
I'm city editor o. The Courier Journal
and have lost my transportation
Don't be worried" replied the con-
ductor, politely. Mr. Watterson is in
the Pullman just ahead, and if he'll
identify you. it will be all right"
The penniless Traveller was nearly
dead with fright. but few moments la
10 cd ;x,Aa
car.
MIR. Watterson." said he, this young
man says he is your city editor. You
identify him?''
Certainly" replied the great man.
He has been with us fourteen years
The scribe went back to his car. Fear
had given way to wonder. Finally, his
curiosity could stand 1t not longer He
walked back into the Pullman.
Excuse me, Colonel Watterson, but
would like to know why you made it
so easy for me tonight. l was never in
Louisville l never saw you before in
my life.
Hush" replied the great man. look
ing round, fearfully. Don't say one
word. My name amt Watteison I'm
travelling on his pass"
The story didn't have any particular
point. but it broke us all up for a
number of minutes.
Losing Ground In Clay Products.
The geographical e'lrvey people want
$500 for their work. t may be inter-
esting to know that Wisconsin is fif-
teenth in the list of states in the value
of her granite products; ninth in the
value of her sandstone products. and
eighth in the value of her limestone
products. The total value of the gran
lite quarried in the United States for
1896 was 1894, 994. Wisconsin's share
of this total was only s126639. Out of a
total output of $4.02S.199 of sandstone,
Wisconsin exploited $65, OF worth The
total output of limestone was I3, 022, 657,
of which Wisconsin quarried $751;, 1921
worth In the stone industry, as a
whole, Wisconsin at present ranks
thirteenth, but with a better apprecia-
ton of the value of Wisconsin stone and
knowledge that it is not surpassed
by imported stone, there seems to be
little question but that Wisconsin's rank
will be far above that which it at pres
ent holds.
In a manner similar to that in which
the Quilting STONES nave DeeH lQVeStl-
gated, it is the purpose of the survey to
investigate the clay industry of the
state. Wisconsin now ranks nineteenth
among the states in the value of her
yearl output of clay products. Three
years ago she held twelfth place, The
yearly decadence in this industry has
been about $4,000 in the last three
years.
Oother states have luctuated in the
amount and character f their output.
but few of them show such a steady
decline. Iowa is ninth in rank; Illinois
fourth, Michigan twelfth, Indiana sew
enth: Ohio first: Missouri sixth; Texas
fourteenth, and Wisconsin nineteenth.
Are the clays Of Wisconsin unsuitable
for the ma,.ufa lture Of pottery, terra
Gotta, tile AND brick? Or has the :
been a lack of interest manifested by
the state in developing these resources =?
The survey people say II { latter, The
annual products of the Ohio clay manu-
features amount to over SIC, 000 600,
while Wisconsin's annual output does
not reach $SG0,000 Ohio has a depart
ment which has for a lumber of years
specially devoted itself to the clay in
terests. ORLANDO BURNETT.