The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-01-29
CAPITOL GROUNDS EXTENSION.

The DeS MOlneS Register ana Lead
err, following it's usual custom OF ap-
pealing to authority rather than to
reason, directs the attention OF TINS
newspaper to Madison, capital city
of Wisconsin, as an example OF what
one state is doing in the way OF beau
tifying it's capitol.
The Register and Leader has I'M
consciously dug a pit for itself and
jumped in. 1t could not have known
the history Of the same fight upon
which we are entering in Iowa, and
which has been finished in Wiscon-
sin, or it would not have invited this
newspaper to look at Madison 1t
would not, had it Informed itself be-
fore it took a chance leap III the
dark, have held up Wisconsin as
authority for Iowa.
Some four years ago, II memory
as to time serves US right, there was
introduced in the Wisconsin leglsla-
ture a bill proposing the expenditure
of $1,700,000 in the purchase OF four
city blocks to admit extension OF the
capitol grounds to the lake. The ar
guments put forth in support of this
bill were precisely the same argu-
eAA-
passed by the Iowa legislature at the
instance of Governor Clarke and ap-
proved by the Register and Leader.
The bill was beaten,-beaten because
the legislature did not feel 1t to be
the states duty to further beauty
Madison at the expense OF the people
of the state, and because there was
no justice in requiring the state to
provide parks for Madison, and to
enrich the holders of Madison real
estate. This is the record. written
where he who runs may read. Yet
Iowa, with a population no greater
than Wisconsin, has appropriated a
sum that will not be less than ST.
100000 and may 60 up to $3,O0O,0oo
for the purchase of property to give
Des Moines a greater park around
the capitol, and the expense is to be
born by the people of the state,-the
people of the other cities OF Iowa
and the farmers of Iowa, who Will
not get a cents benefit from the out
lay.
Since the Register and Leader has
invited attention to Madison, i is
distinctly worth while to set out in
justice to the Badger state capitol
that it is not, like Des Moines, hog
seeking all for itself and giving moth
ing. The fact with regard to Madi-
son is that this city, with popula-
ton in 1910 one-third less than Du-
buque's, had that year an assessed
valuation one-third greater. This
was not due to industrial or trade
importance, for in these particulars
Dubuque is far ahead Of Madison.
Nor was it due to local taxation of
the capitol buildings and grounds, or
the state university buildings or
grounds all of which are Of course
exempt from taxation. 1t was due
to Madison's determination TO make
herself the city beautiful at her
own expense. Wastes were reclaim
ed and converted into parks. hand
some bridges constructed and thirty
miles of macamedized road built, all
at the expense OF the abuttinS prop
erty or the general funds OF the city.
The state in establishing the Capt.
tOl Park about the state house at
Madison co-operated in the general
scheme Of improvement only as the
general government has co-operateo
with Dubuque's plan for small parks
by allowing the parking OF small
areas about the custom house. This.
by the way, was done at the expense
of local friends of the Des Mojnes
plan," they would have sought con-
gressional appropriation TO cover the
expense For it seems to be part
of the Capital City's religion, an in
grained part, that the city shall pear
90
pose which an amicable legislature
may be induced to impose on the
state.-Teiegraph Herald.