Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1906-02-26
Citizens Meeting
Largely Attended

Gu I)dIlOuS luIlcu OuG " GuC AlCCtih
held at the Court House last Saturday
evening to discuss the question OF
building the Otter Rapids dam. Most
OF the farmers of the town beng pres
ent and taking lively interest.
After waiting until after eight o.
clock to enable all who wished to be
present ample time to arrive, the
meeting was called to order, Mr. Hig-
gins, president of the Advancement
Association, who stated in a few we'll
chosen remarks the purposes for
which the meeting was called.
Mr.. Higgins invited each and every
one to freely join in the discussion
when it opened and to state what in
their opinion might be the best thing
for the town to do.
A number of the citizens took adj
vantage of the opportunity and spoke
on the subject. 1t very soon devel-
oped that there was no diversity of
opinion on the question as to whether
or not the dam should be built,
Every one thought the dam should
be built Most of those present were
in favor of having the town build and
own and control the dam if that could
be done within n reasonable time and
without involving the town in costly
and long drawn out litigation.
A few of the more radical wanted
the town to 90 ahead and build or at
tie npt to build regadiess of conse-
quences, The more conservative
seemed to DE of the opinion that it
would be the better way to go slowly
until we know just what we can and
cannot do. They reasoned that even
if the town could build the dam still
that should not be decided finally
until after we had learned what might
be secured for the benefit of the town
from any propositions which the down
river interests might have to offer.
The town would not need to accept
any such proposition if after hearing
it the majority of the citizens decided
that it would not be for the best in
terests of the town to do so.
The sentiment seemed to be that the
town was in q good position in the
matter and that it should seek to
make as good a bargain for the benefit
of the citizens as under all Of the Cir
cumstances might be possible.
Mr.. Higgins in opening stated that
be had received telegram from d. E.
Riorden in which Mr.. Riorden stated
that he could net be present as it
was necessary for him to be III Wash
ington ID. c., but that he could and
would return the first of the week and
at that time if t he citizens wished he
would state tn position which the Eagle
River Light and Water Company
would take in the matter Of the town
obtaining the plant of his company.
For the purpose of learning what
could be done with the Eagle River
Light & Water Company it was decid-
ed that another meeting should be
held at some time when Mr.. Riorden
could be present.
On the whole the meeting was
success and we believe it helped to
clear up many questions upon which
apparently our citizens were of differ
ent minds. As the discussion pro-
ceeded it became clear that those as
sem5led were practically unanimous in
wanting the dam and that the town
should endeavor to secure it with as
little delay as possible and in such a
manner as to give the town as much
benefit in the way OF factories, etc. as
under all the stances could be
done.
The citizeus fully realize the i'm
portance to the towns future which
the building OF the proposed dam will
have. They realize that the town in
it's charter has valuable possession
and one which should be handled so
that the greatest possible good to
each and everyone will be secured.
They want to do that, which in
their Judgment, will be best and if any
one has anything to offer they will.
be willing to give them hearing and
in deciding the pros and cons OF the
entire matter, they will give to such
offers, if any be made, careful and I'M
preiudiced consideration.
The meeting was on motion adjour-
ned to meet again on Thursday, March
1st. at 1880 P NJ. at the Court House
We urge and hope that every citizen
of Eagle River will make an effort to
{