The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1899-09-08
RAILROADS. BIG TAXES
NorthWestern's Increase S42,-
Over 1898.
A SURE SIGN OF PROSPERITY.

|
Thinks 1879 Ancient History Su.
perior's Hope of Digness-Bigger Com.
nierce Than Suez CanaI-A scheme &c
Mako Madison World Resort-Toc
Many Game Laws Other Gossip.
Madison, Wis, Sept. 5.-The in
crease in the revenue to the state from
railroad taxation is encouraging. State
Treasurer Davidson cheered the legis-
lature with such prophecy last winter
and it is coming true
There are sixty railroad companies
that pay taxes, and they are due twice
year-February and August. The St.
Paul made it's second payment Aug. 10,
and paid total for the year of $685.
1925, an increase over last year Of
$23,671.
The Chicago and Northwestern lifted
it's tax payment from $406,598 to $448,-
400, an increase of some 2,OOO-quite
an item that will go some way toward
paying salaries. The Omaha system
paid this year two payments of $685.
426, total of $13S,852, against S127, OS9
Ao0C OCA, OH 1AC1 CdSC VI Pill, lOO. l. liz
Burlington increased from $47,66S to
$49,688. The Wisconsin Central from
STAT, 921 to $161, 400, an increase of S13,-
979. The increase of the "Soo's' taxes
is marked, 81, 900 more than it's $42,-
044 paid in 1898.
AS is we'll known, the volume of rail-
road business is one of the most trust
worthy indications of general prosper
ity or stagnation.
Histories of the State.
The historical meet at Green Bay is
not the first local rally of the kind.
There was a gathering with papers,
addresses, etc., at Madison during the
semi-centennial, but a more analogous
occasion was the visit to the Bad Axe
battle ground, from Soldiers Grove
and Viroqua. Secretary Thwaites took
along some antiquarians and leading
citizens" on the pilgrimage Mr..
Thwaites was formerly a writer on the
Madison State Journal under David At
wood. He is a busy, accurate little
man and good executive, as shown
by the excellent efficiency of the his
torical library, in the operation of
which he is associated with |. G. Brad
ley, the librarian. Mr.. Thwaites has
gradually drifted into historical pro-
ductiOn, until now he has a recognized
standing in the country. His descrip-
tive style is animated and f1ecked with
humor, and now that Moses Strong of
Mineral Point is gone, probably he and
Henry Legler of Milwaukee know as
much Wisconsin history as anybody
Both have written books on the sub
ject. Moses M. Strong's work is his
tory of the territorial days-1S36 to
1848. Old Preacher Brunson of Prairie
du Chen, who lived to be very old,
left book of state history. Tuttles
history tdated 1879 was one of Sc
ries of state histories. It's author had
a knack of readily accommodating and
and digesting historical data, and it
was no effort for him to drop down
into an entirely new commonwealth
and dash off quite a readable book.
"The Story of Wisconsin" Qndian
spelling retained) was by Donald Nc
Leod, ScOtchman, who wrote in the
forties. William r. Smith was also
authorized by the legislature of 1854
to write state history, which he did.
And there are others-enough mate
rial for every young person, or old
either, who desires to know of the be-
ginning of things.
Ancient History Not Far Away.
1t seems strange that 1872" should
seem ancient history, yet Ashland is
thoughtful at the tearing down of two
buildings. An Ashland paper says
citizens are reminded of the early days
in Ashland, when the present city was
a tangled mass of wildwood, and that
old store building was the only place
in the scanty village to buy life's
necessities. The people used to gather
there to learn tn news. It was during
the days of Julius Austrian's venture
in this northern country. One of the
old buildings was his store, and it was
the first ever built in Ashland. The
profits from this store helped in the
establishment of the great lake carry
ing business of Leopold & Austrian. 1t
was here, in 1872, that the people of
the village gathered to witness the ar
rival of the steamer Peerless, just
built, and on it's maiden trip to Lake
Superior. Only last year it's sturdy
frame was pounded to pieces by ter
rife storm, which drove it aground at
some place along the shore of Lake
Michigan.
Superior's Big Commerce.
Superior people believe, and with
reason, that they have a city of des-
tiny. Looking at the map, it seems clear
that in time there must be great
city at the end of the lakes. Whether
interest and taxes will eat up the pro-
fit on investments before that big pop
ulation comes is question each must
settle for himself
A gentleman returning from Tacoma
tells me values are woefulIy fiat. One
party living there for some
years was offered $4,000 for his hold
ings when coming away. Today the
price might be $4,000 if a purchaser
could be found.
But speaking of Superior it has
more railroads than any other Wis
consin city. Railroad Commissioner
Rice notes that it is the receiving of
a vast commerce extending into twelve
states of the union, large portion of
the British possessions, and across the
bo Dooifo tn Acioti0 countries