Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1908-07-17
Canton Needs a Booster Club.


the assembly drew pretty gooo pic
ture of an optimist and pessimist,
which upon reflection reminds the
LEADER that Canton has few peo-
pie who hold optimistic and pessi-
mistic opinions. A pessimist is one
who always takes the least hopeful
view of everything that goes to make
up our daily life; one who tries to
or that will fail or say something to
crush the hopeful ambition of others.
That's a pessimist and he Is not a
very desirable citizen in any COM
munity.
An optimist is a bright and cheer
full genius, who sees hope and sue
cess In every cloud that fits across
the horizon OF our daily life. He is
never downhearted or discouraged; :;
always ready to lend helping hand
or contribute his share to promote
any public enterprise, or donate to-
wards anything that will aid his
scription paper with a lecture on
"What's the use; you can succeed;
the people do not want 1t: the
people wont appreciate it," He
stands ready to do his share or do
anything that will help; he is an
optimist and the kind of man who
builds up town or helps to keep a
community cheerful.
do that, it takes money and time;
but the Optimist says Canton can do
anything within reason II she goes
after it right and converts the pessi-
mist
Canton has little or no debt to
speak Of; her people are home own
ing people, and as wealth goes Canton
is rich. She has no millionaires but
she has a great many men who are
in comfortable lrcumstances-and
not many poor people.
If circus spreads a canvass at
Sioux Falls hundreds pile onto a
money. If you ask that same crowd
to do a little boosting for Canton,
many of them would say they could
not afford it, and kick because fifty
cents is charged for splendid enter
tainment at home on some special
occasion. This is the spirit that kills
a home enterprise and builds up a
neighboring community.
All people are patriotic in some
degree. There are those of the opti-
mistic class who are ready at all
times to help a home town; and
there are others who think they are
patriotic who will spend five dollars
to visit neighboring town for the
sake Of kicking at home short COM
ings. This class represent the drones,
and belong to the pessimistic congre-
cation.
There is no better town in the
state than Canton but our home in
terests are sadly divided, largely be-
cause our leading town builders don't
pun uO6COAlCI. IL OAo Illdl SUdTUS
something along comes the pessi-
mist and he takes a whack at the
optimist's venture but the optimist
Is the fellow who saves the day and
things are accomplished.
At present there Is a very fatter-
Ing prospect that a new concrete
dam will be built at Beloit and the
river converted into a money maker
by furnishing light and power; and
this improvement Is needed by Can
ton more than anything else we can
name at present aside from a unity
Of purpose and harm ony of action,
lacking that nothing of material ad.
vantage can be accomplished.
Canton is fortunate in having a
splendid river at her door step; but
that splendid river must be harnessed
and made to work for the benefit of
the town and its people, and the op-
portunity calls for patriotic citizens
and enterprise. Adolph Bragstad,
chairman of the committee to solicit
subscriptions to build the much need
ed dam, assures the LEADER that the
money can and will be raised in Can
ton. That's the spirit that over
comes obstacles and brings results.
The Investment Is safe one beyond
dispute, and the spirit of enterprise
that succeeds in Harvesting the river
will have accomplished something o1
great benefit to the town and a mon
ey maker for those who put up the
capital. We all know that watel
power is the cheapest power on earth
and nature has done its share anC
man must do the rest IL Canton is tt
be more than trading point on the
map. The steel tracks of the Mil
waukee railroad furnishes Cantor
with ample facilities In this line
east, west, north and south, anc
home enterprise will bring results.
Nothing can stand in the way O
success when a people are united ant
determined to succeed. There Il
plenty of money in the Canton bank!
drawing a low rate Of interest ant
some of that could be used in this en-
terprise that would bring largely in
creased interest to those who may be
wise enough and public spirited
enough to do something. Our bes
i t,,,rs l>nr ~ 4,