Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1922-01-27
Cooperation Community Need, Says Co. Agent Gibson

doing as a community co-operatively
if you please to further our best in
terests both present and future?
ask this question in order that | may
take issue with what 1 am led to be-
lieye is your idea of your own best
interests.
To what limits would you not go
as a community to locate a Mill here;
an adequate Hotel, an increased Tour.
ist trade. You are known widely and
favorab1y as a Summer Resort Centre
and what has it brought you? What
does it offer you for the future?
A recent issue of a local paper states
that tourists leave annually $4,000
900 in Wisconsin and with out doubt
Villas County receives her full share
of this money but agriculture is bring
ing Wisconsin $487, 100000 annually.
We still have 1O,500,000 acres which
are fit for agricultural purposes and
unimproved. Villas County lies in the
therefore in position to profit most
by careful thought and effort along
lines of development In other words
she stands to gain to an unlimited
degree by directing her erG4gie5 -
ward increasing her agricultural in.
come.
Someone is going to say, Eyes, but
of this $10,0O0OOO spent by Tourists,
Was County receives a larger share
proportionally than she does of the
$4S7 100000 derived from our farms"
True, brother, but this is largely
your own fault. You have been spend
ing your best time, effort and thought
on the Tourist, NOT ON THE FARM
Err You have neighboring counties
far less favorably situated from an
agricultural standpoint, which are be-
ing settled up at rate three or four
times as fast as our county. There is
a saying current among you that it
takes three generations to make a
farm.
If this be true it is a DEPLORABLE
fact and l cannot but entertain the
opinion that we hold within ourselves
the remedy.
I want what I have said to bear a
somewhat closer relationship to the
correct answer than the little girls
reply in physiology class. When asked
what the stomach was used for she
replied, ITO hold up the petticoat'
Our natural resources which are be
ing enjoyed annually by the thousands
of tourists, Are An Asset. They will
always be an asset, but by no means
let this blind us to our. greater posi-
bilities in agriculture.
And looking to the final accomplish
ment of this purpose let me suggest
first of all cooperation among our
selves as citizens of Eagle River
am sometimes led to believe that vol
umns could be written upon this sub
ject alone and second, enlarge the
scope of your Development Associa-
ton.
| recently attended banquet given
by the Commercial Club Of town
similar to ours located in the western
part of the state. At this banquet fully
fifty per cent Of the membership were
farmers. They were not silent part
ners but took an active part in the
program and each one had something
concrete and definite to offer. I need
not add that this is one of the com
munities which is out-distancing us in
agricultural development and further
i than that their town is forging to the
point at a pace which would amaze US
here in Eagle River do not believe
there is any doubt but what their ac-
complishments are due in a large
measure to the splendid spirit of CO
operation manifest The farmers and
the town are One.
Urge farmers to become members
Make their problems your problems.
Meet them with friendly heart, upon
even terms-and together give the ag-
riculture of Villas County chance to
make not only itself, but Eagle River
the city which you hope it will some
day become.