The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1912-09-05
What's the Use?

StOIy SGuL Oub uhuNA SPA'NhA
date line, purporting TO tell how the
two towns Of Branson and Hollister had
been fighting each other for years for
the commercial supremacy OF this part
Of the country, and how when Bran
son was swept by fire on Thursday
the people Of the rival city CD gath
cred on the opposite bank of White
river and sat and watched the town go
up in smoke until they were invited
over to help fight the flames, when one
thousand of them very CALAMITY went
to the aid Of the afflicted town,
The people who live in this part OF
the country know just as we'll who
wrote that story, or had it written, as
if the authors name was signed to 1t,
There is no other like him in this or
any other country that the writer has
ever lived in, and we honestly believe
that this same party has done about as
much to give this part Of the state
black eye with people who have money
to invest and who would aid in devel-
oping the country, as have the old time
bald knobber troubles and the fraud
ulent Spanish titles TO land together,
As Branson is now bu! a waste Of
ashes, so far as the business section is
concerned, and their only newspaper
went with the rest Of the concerns, we
believe that we owe this much to the
people Of that town to set straight as
we'll as we can in our own small way
the people who read such stories. And
it is not only at this particular time
that things OF this character have been
printed, but always something Of a
character TO boost the particular town
that this person is interested in at the
expense OF the balance Of the country.
For instance, when work was begun
on the power dam, which is located
about two and one-hall miles above
Forsyth on White River, the Springfield
papers were kept full Of items relating
how the material for the dam was be-
ing sent to Hollister and would be
either taken by boat to the site Of the
dam or hauled across country, when
as a matter Of fact the town Of Hollistel
is not situated on the river at all, but
is over hali-a-mile from the river, and
also as matter Of fact there never ha;
been five pounds Of material for the
dam shipped TO tnat town, nor was
there ever any intention on the part o
the engineers or builders to use it al
a shipping point. Branson was sc
lected as the railroad base OF supplies
and the railroad put in a spur track 81
that cars could be unloaded right init
the bnges without any haul. AS 70
hauling supplies from Hollister to tn
dam, the haul would be two or thre
miles longer than from Branson, ant
end at the top Of sheer rock blu
some 200 or 800 feet above where tn
work is being done. We do not reca
the name Of any city that was bui
by such advertising as is being use
for that place. While it is beautiir
location for summer homes and and a
that, and the directors Of the Main
club, located just west Of the place
have built fine station, principally f
their own convenience, it is not a cit
and not likely to be soon. The di
tance between the stations at Branso
and at Hollister is about two mile
the bridge across White river beir
about midway between them. Th
Is the nearest approach Of the river
Hollister, but on the Branson side Il
river and railroad are approximate
parallel for over mile, being only
hundred yards apart in front Of Il
town.
As for the people Of the other toV
gathering on the river bank and watc
ing the flames until the Bransonit
appealed TO them for help, this is
foul SANDER. The people Of Hollis'
are not built that way. Nobody
this county waits TO be asked in su
cases. Aud as 10 the fights betwe
the two towns, they have taken pla
entirely In the heated imagination