Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1912-05-15
ARE PERTH .TMcHToUcHEs
School Master-Lawyer Miller Tells
Thing or Two


EDITOR CENSOR: Inote in a recent
issue that you say that the state had
bought the "Glenn property in Grant
county for park purposes. !" The appro-
priation for this purpose as am in
formed is $50, 900 for l, 700 acres You
add that this is a beautiful places rich
historic past. 1t would be interest
ing, no doubt, to your many readers to
know why you associate this spot with
Indian memorialsn and historic past
any more than you would any other
Mississippi bluff connected with a tract
of slough land. This is located some
four or five miles from Prairie du Chen
and is no more connected with the his
tory and traditions of that city than is
'Winneshiek bluff" at De Soto; while
the latter has the advantage of the
former in Indian memorials. for it has
one Indian grave on it.
The so-called park is separated from
the city of Prairie du Chen by the Wis
consin river, and in all probability will
always be so unless some other fellow
gets in his graft on the state. 1t is
practically inaccessible so far as Craw-
ford county is concerned. That there
Is beautiful view from The top of the
bluff is admitted, and this can also be
said Of the bluff adjoining and accessible
to the city of Prairie du Chen. upon
which can be made just as beautiful
parks, and parks that would be of some
use to this generation, but
Knowing something of this tract, I
am willing the wager ''doughnuts to
dollars" that nearly If not quite half of
this beautiful park is from five to
twenty feet under water at this time
and is not worth, for practical purposes
to exceed $40 per acre, and up to the
time the ''schemep for making it a
Estate park" was conceived it has been
of little practical value. The promoters
of the outrage on the people ought at
least to have had 'fBlack Hawk" swan
the Mississippi or Wisconsin rivers at
this point, or some sflove sick squaw''
jump Off a ledge of rocks with suicidal
intent. or they might have had jeff
Davis and his girl swim the river at this
point in their fight from the irate
father; anything TO add touch of ro-
nance to "Bob" Glenn's fhoss ranch.
Now, Mr.. Editor, am not opposed
TO parks | am as sincere a friend TO
these peoples play grounds as any man
in this state, but | am opposed to an
extravaganza waste of the peoples money
on sentiment that has but little behind
it except graft" When the bill au-
thorizing this purchase first passed the
legislature, wrote Gov. McGovern, cal
ling his attention to the facts and ask
ing him to veto the bill, but for reasons
best known to himself, he saw fit to
sign the measure. Bps, Mr.. Editor,
am constraind to believe that after the
governor had signedall other appropria-
ton bills, including "Chapter 63I, 1911,
practically mortgagipg the state for
the next generation, he felt that the
people should have one little out-of-the
way spot they could call their own
BY the way, Mr. Editor, did you ever
notice what a splendid job the last leg
islature and the governor and the uni
versity lid in getting up Che session
laws2 IL yot did not just take a look
at Chapter SIG You will notice it was
later amended by section lag, chapter
664, 1911. Read this section and tell
us in your next issue what chapter
GIG means. I will not complain If you
don t answer this. nor will | hold, my.
self responsible for your sanity if you
attempt it. After attempting this Job
myself, | can understand why the leg
islature tried to keep the people from
reading these laws. Yours truly,
G.. l.. MILLER.
Gaslyn, Wisconsin, April 8, 1912.