Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-01-08
WESTBY'S BIG JUBILEE;
OPENING OF HOTEL EVANS.

This banquet to celebrate the opening
/ of Hotel Evans. at Westby, on New
/ Years eve, developed into somathing
| approaching n jubilee festival of that
/ thrifty. growing and intensely public
/ spirited municipality To noa-resi.
/ dent fully aware. as far as an outside,
/ could be. of its prosperity and public
! spirit the features of the celebration
1 proved in many respects nothing short
| of a revelation and series of surprises
The evidence afforded again and ag4dr
! during the evening of enthu siastic com
| inunal devotion and unity We're absolute
ly convincing Such unity and practi-
cal unanimity in purpose and unselfisb
action and effort for the common good
is essential TO the rapid and well round
ed development of any community.
Demonstrably, Westby is blessed with
those only too rare attributes and her
final and complete success, as a model
American city, can only be retarded or
rendered impossible by factional and
internal strife. Fortunately. at this
time such calamity seems impossible
but eternal vigilance il the price of pro-
gress, as of liberty, He who advances
not, goes backward TO the student of
litical economy and civic government
the village of Westby in particular and
the adjoining townships of hristiana
Coon, Viroqua and Clinton, afford au
a most unique opportunity for an objer.
lessen in and demonstration Of the pow
ers Ct the natives of the Old World with
mother tongue and national traditions
other than those of En- Slish speaking
peoples, for not only successful, but for
the highest degree of reasonable attain
ment, in pure, honest business. like and
intelligent self government We believe
the community under consiG Grafton will
provide ths successful demonstration
andiesson Without fuss aud fea shers, -
without pr9nunciamentos and crusades,
Westby ls, ~ community. successful
ly assuming rs her own. public works
and functions which have, mistakenly
and with the result of sapping the indie.
pendence and self respect Of the citizen,
too long been left to private, initia-
tive and engerprise The water works,
amply sufficient for fire and domestic
purposes, not only for present demands
but for a city Of 3, 900 people, have been
constructed at a cost Of 50, 600 The
business streets macadamizad in spien-
did shape at an expense of IS, 900. Sew
istence and in good repair This all
within three years, Hon A H. Dahl,
in his speech replete with facts Justify
ing the consuming pride which he ex-
| hibited, in his home village of which
pride he has no cause to be ashamed,
stated that the revenue from the sales
of water would, this year, meet the an
nual installment of principal and inter
est on bonds issued for this purpose; and
q saving of $500 year on insurance.
/ How Is that Tor government and
municipal ownership? But Westby il
not resting on its oars Whilst business
methods, pay as You 60 policy and
| old country conservatism. wisely hold
| the lines IN the near future, her pro
! gresslve citizens see a park ro1nd hei
waterworks, free library. al, electric
| light plant, a c ty hall for public meet
| ings and purposes, and last but not least
a full grade and high school Ia oul
! opinion before arother decade has passed
! she will have them. Specifications might
| be both unjust and invidious, but if any
doubt the grounds for our confidence lei
those who know the men, consider the
| speakers The Reverends H. HolverseI
md Gulbrandson Messrs DIR. Schreiner
Hon A. II. Dahl, Station Agent johnson
Prof. e II. Smith, G. T. Shannon, AL
derman Spellum, John Michelet At
] II ~ Mulick Prof Chorlog, Jeni
davidson, DR.. Holmberg, paul Steenson
Banker G. O. Brye. Then look around
the banquet board. men and women, ole
and young. the faces of all beamins
with pride, civic patriotism and deter
mination. Then answer Are we ovel
confident in Westby's future? We be
lieve not.