Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1915-12-08
WOULD ANOTHER RAIL
ROAD HELP OR INJURE ?
Views of a Lancaster Citizen On Con-
ditiOnS of City and Country.

Editor Grant County Herald:
Next Monday, the 18th, there will be
a special stockholders meeting in this
city, consisting of group of our peo-
pie who are interested in certain rail-
road promotion work. We do not
know what the procedures of this
meeting is to be, but it occurs to the
writer that it is a commendable work
by these people, work that should
have strong cooperation.
Lancaster is little city to be proud
Of from many view points, county seat
of Grant county, geographically the
center of the county, the terminal OF
the only railroad coming into the in
terror of this county of nearly twelve
hundred square miles and this terri
tory having an assessed wealth in ex-
cess of sixty millions of dollars.
Looking at our situation analytical
ly we find that possibly more than one
like the writer, is retired from active
business life, while a great number
of our young men leave our homes to
seek their fortunes in other fields
where commercial activities are great
er than here.
1t is a safe venture to say that the
average life of our people in Lancas
ter is well advanced, getting we'll up
to the insurable limit as we would be
advised if we were seeking life insur
ance, and our population is only re-
cruited from the country at large by
the retirement of others from life &C
tivities.
In these things we can see duty
we owe to our community, the duty of
encouraging a change of conditions,
such change as Will make this city
and county attractive enough to our
own people to stay and build their for
tunes here; this can be done by giving
this section more and better transpor-
tation service This is the real rem
edy.
1t is clear that people outside of
Wisconsin have heretofore scarcely
known that Grant county was on the
map, but the persistent effort of those
of us seeking another line of railroad
through this section has brought it
to the attention of moneyed interests
that a splendid railroad proposition
exists here, one which we will materi-
alize on if our local people wake up
and do their share toward the enter
prise.
We have an embryo commercial
club in Lancaster struggling with the
problem for city betterment, things
helpful to the community, intended to
be helpful to our trades-people, but
possibly thinking the job is too big
to tackle, not squeak has emanat-
ed from them thus far in the way of
encouraging railroad promotion.
The endeavor to organize a perma-
nent commercial club is highly COM
mendable undertaking, such organiza-
ton dealing with questions of immed
late needs of our trades and profess
5iOns, then could broaden its field of
operations, by pushing the work for
more transportation service to the
principal interior villages and cities
of the county.
Place the proper transportation SER
vice in a community such as this and
the business opportunities will come,
new vocatiOns for our people, lines of
business that under present conditions
cannot be thought of; still more, if
steel rails become a reality, west,
north and east, the travelling habit
will grow and the ever increasing in
terchange of persons will yield its
benefits 10 all trades and professions
in the section served.
Every business center endeavors to
widen its field of operations. Why
not Lancaster? If this railroad COM
pany is composed of the right kind of
stuff it is bound to succeed. Let it be
your duty and mine to encourage the
in every possible way.
Don't say it cant be DONE" can't
never accomplished anything; more
over, the expression would not be
proper as and from the fact that in
section of country as rich as this in
natural resources, a legitimately cap
italized railroad will surely pay and !
pay well.
Encourage the cause.
Very truly yours.
JAMES ]. JORDAN.