Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-01-30

presented only one claim against the
Acid Plant for damages During that
same period, l declined number of
cases which | might have commenced
against the Zinc company, and since
the Acid Plant started, there has never
been a year in which | did not decline
number of claims. | may safely say
that in my opinion, | have done more
| to discourage claims against the Acid
Plant than all other people in Mineral
Point together.
The only claim I ever presented was
the claim of Mrs. Salladay, and for
this [ offer no apology. On Nov. 20,
1902, Mrs. Salladay purchased piece
| of property adjoining the present site
of the Acid Plant. She paid $4,000
for it and added S400 more in improve
ments and repairs, so that she had
81, 400 invested. This was prior to the
time when property in that vicinity
was being damaged. She gave
mortgage on the property for $500.
Instead of her property approaching
in value as other property in the city
has, it kept constantly depreciating.
| Her house is so close to the Acid
| Plant that at times it is almost impos-
sible to live in the house. During
considerable portion of the time since
she purchased it, the house has been
vacant. She has offered it for sale
for $500. She is willing to sell it
| for less. She has never realized
enough out of it to pay the interest on
the mortgage. The holder of the
mortgage, foreclOsed, as she had a
| perfect right to do, and the time for
redeeming from foreclosure and sale
will expire April 23rd, 1908. Mrs.
| SalIady has tried in vain to realize
enough out OF this property to pay
off the mortgage. Her father was
here last week and made diligent
effort to borrow enough money to pay
| off this mortgage but he failed to find
anyone who would loan that much
on it. Mrs. Salladay has at all times
been ready and willing and is now
| ready and willing to compromise her
! loss. She has no means with which
to carry on litigation. Every dollar
she has on earth is invested in that
property and this will be sold On
| foreclosure sale after April %, 1908.
| A lawyer who would refuse to lend
her his assistance would refuse be-
cause she is too poor or because
public sentiment is against the person,
| who makes the claim against the Acid
Plant. Whether the refusal to lend
to this poor woman professional assis-
tance were based upon one ground or
upon the other, it would be equally
eprehensible: and a lawyer who
would refuse should have his license
| revoked. What is said here must not
be taken in any sense as any criticism
] of the Acid Plant or its officers.
This concern had a perfect right to
refuse to pay any claim, and if it
chose to make Mrs. Salladay's claim
test case it had the right to do so.
| What | say here is not in defense of
myself for | have passed that hyper
sensitive time in life when a man is
worried about the things that are said
of him. l do say that it is unreasou-
able for the property owners in the
business, northern and western por-
tions of this city to ask Mrs. Salladay
who is a nonresident to give up
every dollar she has for the benefit
| of the city. What man is there in
Mineral Point who would give up
his home and all he has for the bene-
fit Of the city? Then why expect Mrs.
Salladay to do it?
The suggestion that an ANTI"
Commercial Club be organized might
result in material benefit to Mineral
Point. 1t would provide refuge for
the "Antis" of the city, The promot-
ers of an ANTI" Commercial Club
adopted an appropriate name with
commendable frankness. They have
beer ANTI in everything that has
ever been proposed for the benefit OF
Mineral Point. If they were ever
aligned with the "pros" it was because
it cost something to be an Anti" 1t
might be interesting to known how ma
ny of the ''Antisn would sign a guar
antee to relieve the Acid Plant from
further liability for damages.
The Acid Plant is an institution we
cannot afford to lose. The good will
of the people of the city toward its in
dustrial institutions is great asset