The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1903-08-28
OUR MADISON LETTER
Governor LaFolIette's Strength
with the Agricultural
Classes.
SEVEN PER CENT ELECTRIC ROAD
Mad;sOn's Four New Public Build
ings-Catholic Cures" at
Holy Hill.

Valley Electric railway is being
financed by public subscriptions. The
papers Of that section offer the stock
through the leading banks of Chippe-
wa Falls The stock is promised to
pay per cent. and he cumulative; that
is, if 1t fails to pay one year, there
will be twice the dividend due next
year, and u per cent. following the
third year if dividend IL skipped, ana
so on. ThC earnings are shown for
sample weeks during five years. Thus
f"'' ~" weeks cited in the summer Of
1899, the earnings were about $3.50,
and for one week Including July y
$1,114.2O. Coming down the years
there has been an increase, although
he income Of an electric road seems
to be mercurial-thus for the week
were SS13.95; in 1900, $1270.2S; III
1901, $1,259.21; in 1902, S1,11O,31; in
1908, $1,92S.4S. Holidays greatly in
crease the revenues for q given week,
if it means crowds in town; and. on
the other, wet day shrinks the tray
prospectus sets forth: This will pay
you per cent. clear; it is non-assess-
able, nOn-taXabie and carries no stock
holders liability. ANY amount from
500 to $4,000" Nothing is said
about net earnings, for the above are
gross earnings; and nothing is said of
the amount Of stock issued. But no
doubt all details are set forth to the
investor when he calls at the office
People Who Don't Pay Debts.
There IS q GAINESVILLE society which
IS setting up q branch in Madison, the
plan being to apply the Dun and
Bradstreet method to citizens who buy
goods at local stores. The idea came
from Green Bay, where, for nearly a
year, the merchants have been banded
together. In Madison a central office
will always be open with clerk in
charge. The merchants pay S. admis-
sion to the society and ST a month or
S12 4 year. This last makes Il main
tenance fund for the central office
The merchants make out lists of their
customers and the people on their
books; and from these ratings are tab
ulated. Thus. when q stranger comes
into Il shoe store and wants credit. in
quiry at the central office will reveal
his financial recOrd-Whcther he is
prompt or slow, good or q dead
beat" It is said that in every city
there is class of people who make
6C nj nd ~
lines, and pay to none. Without some
system of comparison of accounts,
these "deadbcatS'' cannot be ascer-
tainCd Where individuals pass round
word Of the shortcomings and poor
liability Of n citizen. he is in peril of
the court for libel: but an incorpora-
ton may furnish such information.
The society will also collect bad debts
for the members, and for this service
Il charge is made. A record of names.
residence. occupation and credit stand
ing of every person in the community
will be kept at the office and members
of the association may obtain informal
ton regarding any partyS credit by
calling in person at the Office or by
telephone. In some cities collections
are made through 4 system of persecu-
tiOn--that is. collectors dressed in vel
low. etc, cOnSpicuously call repeatedly
on the debtor. But nothing Of this sort
is proposed by the Madison ass 3cia,
ton.
Holy Hill Controversy.
Catholics are well organized and it
is not often n newspaper controversy
between priests over matters Of reiig
ion is tolerated. But Holy hill continues
bone Of contention. The place can be
seen from trains on the Wisconsin
Central railway near Schleisingerville
Washington county. on the way north
from WaukcSha. 1t is q church sur
mounting a very high hill-it stands
out against the sky. Some Sundays
10000 people. mainly Catholics visit
the place. Last week every hotel and
farm house in the neghborhoOd was
crowded with pilgrims and the church
itself was taxed to its utmost to shell
ter those who had planned to spend
the night in devoti0ns, hut were driv-
EN- by the heavy rain to seek protection
in the chapel. In spite Of the drench-
ing rain a number remained faithful
to vows they had made and continued
at their prayers at the stations until
daylight. The priests on the ground
are prepared. Father Bertram is the
one who has been attacked in the
newspapers by a Fond du Lac priest
for promoting the 'cure" feature of
the hill, and he had seven priests to
aid him. A male choir from NIilwau-
kee made music. Two cures were re-
ported--one leaving crutches and an
other spectacles on the alter. In one
statement Father Bertram says:
There are other reasons why people
make pilgrimages. And suppose they
make them simply for recreation's
sake, is it not pious and innocent rec
reation? 1t is certainly no wasting of
time to sacrifice some of the time, all
of which God has given us, to work
out our salvation, and to sacrifice some
of the superfiuous money and conven-