The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1913-05-30

to the communitie les themselves, and
not retarding any proper, legiti-
mate development of enterprise in
the communities.
The total taxes collected in the
county each year for state, coun-
ty, municipal and school purposes
at the present time aggregate in
the neighborhood of six and one
half million dollars. 1t is not
necessarily a criticism of any par
tlcular community or public body
TO say that there is no question but
that in a great many cases a con-
siderable part of these funds has
been injudiciously expended, and
that a great deal of money has
been extravagantly and in some
instances wastefully used. It is
believed that this is due in a large
measure in a great many cases
simply to want of accurate bust
ness information and data upon
which to- act with reference to any
proposed expenditure. In many
cases municipalities and school
districts simply have seemed to be
Vyng with each other as to which
could put up the largest and most
imposing public buildings and i'm
provemnets, but without any seri-
Gus regard to the actual needs of
the community, Or the best method
OF accomplishing the desired re-
suits. Distinctly, it is not the
purpose Of this association to de-
prlVe any community of any need
ed legitimate improvement, nor to
attempt to have them practice par
slmony In expenditure. The associ
ton intends to encourage the maxi
ing of needed improvements as we'll
as discourage those that are not
needed.
1t is proposed that when public
improvements are contemplated the
association will offer its services
TO assist in getting the right kind
OF improvements at a reasonable
cost, and to see that the value re-
celVed is obtained for the money
expended. The association hopes
and expects to act in a friendly
way with public bodies having
charge of the levying and expendi-
ture of public funds, and will in
vite bodies that are planning pub
lie improvements to let the asso-
citation cooperate with them to OBJ
tain the best and most substantial
results.
1t is planned that as the associ-
alton develops it will collect and
classify information with refer
ence to the erection of public
buildings and other public improve
ments, and will attempt to collect
and preserve information which
may be of assistance in enabling
public bodies charged with the ex-
pendture Of public funds to OBJ
tain the most satisfactory results
for the money which they are to
expend, and it is hoped that as
time goes on the offices of the as
ISOLATION will become a bureau of
information which will be of great
assistance to such public bodies,
and freely will be made use of by
the various officers.
It is planned further, that as the
work develops, and if occasion re-
quires, the association may employ
experts to assist in devising the
best method of working out gen.
eral plans for public improvements
so that such improvements when
once made will be of a permanent
and lasting character, and suffici-
ent to answer not only temporary
but future needs of the commun-
ity.
The primary purpose Of the as
ISOLATION will not be to fsht or
contest taxes, or to assist anyone
in avoiding or attempting to avoid