Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1906-08-27
What Madison Has Done.


IN order to show what may be
done by citizens of a small municipal
ity, / desire briefly to sketch the de-
velopment of the parks and pleasure
drives of the city of Madison. In
1892 the first steps were taken to
form an association for the purpose
of securing a right-of-way for a sys-
tenn of drives along the shores Of
Lake Mendoza. The leader and con-
slant sponsor of this movement was
John M. DIN. During 1906 only four
subscriptions of 800 each were Sc
cured and five of $50. The $25 sub
scription proved popular and III were
secured. The next most popular
amount was $40 with 1863 names, but
it is to the smaller amounts to which
We desire especially to call attention.
There were 422 contributions of S.
apiece and over fifty Of less than S..
Nearly $4,000 were raised by merely
sending out postal cards. 1t is sig
nificant that over a thousand citizens
have combined in an organization TO
make voluntary contributions to make
Madison a better and more beautiful
place in which to live. The results
of this work are found in thirty
three miles of water and park way
connecting the city with the shores
of the lakes and with the surrounding
country. During the last five years
there have been planted, along the
drives and in the parks, over 10000
trees and shrubs. 1t has opened
waterway between Lake Mendoza and
Lake Monona at cost of over $4,000
1t has acquired from wealthy citizens
considerable land held in trust for
the people of the city for park pur-
poses. The association now has UNI
der development several parks which
have been given to the city by wealthy
citizens. The work of the associa-
ton, covering a period of fourteen
years, during which nearly $4,000
has been raised, affords an excellent
Illustration of what may be accom-
plished through the cooperation OF
citizens and the municipality"
Movement in Wisconsin.
The progress of the municipal own
ership movement in Wisconsin was
dealt with in a paper by E. B. Smith
of Madison. Mr.. Smith said in part:
'In Wisconsin electric lighting be-
gan in 1886, and the first municip u
plant was established in 1889. In
1890 there were 2 municipal plants
and 26 private; in 1900, 81 municipal
and 112 private; in 1906, 46 municipal
and 1913 private Thirteen of the
municipal and SO of the private plants
are in places of less than 1000 pop
ulation. Most of the municipal plants
cost between $4,000 and $4,000;
few cost less than $4,000, and those
at Two Rivers and Plymouth are re-
ported at $4,000 The municipal
electric stations in Wisconsin are sit
uated in the following cities and vii
lagos: Aigoma, Arcadia, Barron,
Bayfield,, Black River Falls, Blair
Blanchardville, Boscobel, Cedarburg,
Clintonville, Colby, Columbus, Cum
berland, E,khorn, Elroy, Evansville,
Fennimore, Florence, Fort Atkinson,
Grantsburg, Greenwood, Independence,
Hudson, Jefferson, Kilbourn, Marsh
field, Mazomanie, Monticello, New
Glarus, New London, Oconomowoc,
Plymouth, Princeton, Reedsburg, Rice
Lake. Richland Center, River Falls,
Sank City, Shawano, Spring Green,
Stoughton, Sturgeon Bay, Thorp, Two
Rivers, Waupun and Whitehall. Many
of these cities operate water works
and electric plants together.
in Wisconsin there are 20 coal
and water gas plants, none OF WHICH
are municipal; IA gasoline gas plants
of which 10 are municipal; acety-
lene gas plants, of which 1 is munich
pal. These municipal plants are To-
Gated as follows: Gasoline gas-Al-
toona. Cambria. Clinton, Fox Lake,
Hammond, Hilbert, Horizon, Juneau.
Nekoosa, Wautoma. These cost, on
an average, from S., 900 to $4,000. The
price of gas averages about Sl.z5 per
thousand feet, and the number OF
street lamps in each city averages ~.
Private gasoline plants are located at
Beaver Dam, Hortonville, Marion and
Markesan. Palmyra, Deerfield anu
Milton have acetylene gas plants, OF
which the first named is municipal
There is little opportunity to make
careful comparison of gas rates IN
Wisconsin under private with those
under municipal ownership All OF
the coal and water gas plants in this
state are private, while most of the
gasoline gas plants are municipal
E~nInrinr, IL, HnIIiarM Fatal