Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-08-07
METHODS OF
MUNICIPALITIES
&a
Discussed al the Annual MeetinQ
of the Minnesota Municipaf
and Commercial League.
MATTERS OF VITAL IMPORT
TO RESIDENTS OF CITIES

The editor of the Tribune was
honored by being sent to represent
the Willmar Commercial Club at
the annual meeting of the Mime
sofa Municipal ana Commercial
League, which was held at Duluth
last week. Those who have attend
ed former meetings say that this
meeting was the best from prac-
tical standpoint of any meeting yet
held. The idea Of the organization
is to assemble delegates from the
municipalities and commercial clubs
of the state to discuss matters in
which all are interested. It is
largely to the preliminary discus
sion and action of this League that
the credit belongs for the recipro-
cal demurrage and rate laws and
other benificent legislation. The
league furnishes a means for con-
certed action among the different
parts of the state. Besides this
benefit, the various questions of
vital Importance regarding village
and city government discussed at
the meetings and the opportunity af-
forded delegates to get any inform
alton they desire about the expert
ences of other cities and towns
makes the meeting valuable. The
league is good thing and every
municipality in the county should
become a member and send delega-
lions to attend the next meeting.
We were unable to attend the
first days session, which included
President Rosing's annual address,
the usual preliminaries and the dis
cussion of railroad rates, the latter
subject being introduced by an ad-
dress by Attorney General Young.
On Wednesday the question of
public health and sanitation, was
taken up. DR.. D. D. Murray of
the Duluth Board of Health made
an able address, in which he out
lined what has been accomplished
at Duluth to make it one Of the
most healthy cities in the world.
The perfect system Of inspection of
the milk supply, by which the dan.
ger of infection from tuberculosis
has been entirely eliminated was
one which stirred up a great deal
of interest among the delegates.
DR.. Murray has a method Of deal.
ing with problems of law enforce.
ment in his line which he claims is
infallible. Anything that he finds
necessary to be accomplished he
first inculcates into the public
mind thru the means of the press
and by object lessons. When HI
has aroused public opinion the bat
tie is won. No milkman of Duluth
now dares buy a COW that has no
been examined and found free from
tuberculosis, and by the aid Of tn
State Board of Health the herds il
all the country tributary to Dulutl
have been inspected and the affected
animals killed. The fact that
COW may appear to be in first-clas
condition and yet be rotten with tn
berculosis was brought out. Us
ually it is more common among
highbred and well-housed animal
than among the scrubs. Too littl
attention is paid to ventilation il
barns, fresh air being as necessar
for perfect health to COWS as t
human beings. The question o
the disposal of city sewage was ais
discussed, and thru the courtesy 0
the city engineer the delegates VIII
. so desired were given a chance t
!; inspect a continuance built by hir
for lifting sewage. The actus
cost to the city has proven to b
but go cents per million gallons
> The total cost of the pump wa
only $500, exclusive Of the cost c
installation, and this takes care c
the sewage from a tract Of sixt
acres which lies too low along tn
lake shore to provide natural fal
This meeting would have proven
golden opportunity for the cit
, fathers Of Willmar to get in touc
with a numberaof mayors and a
dermen from towns that have ha
| experience with septic tanks. D.
1 luth has made a success of munic
: pal ownership. First in takin
over the water works and providin
, an absolutely pure water suppl
and lastly in taking over the g;
i plant. The latter has reduced Il
S price Of gas from 81. 10 to Is cen