The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1940-02-22

very conceivably be written up in the Red
wood Falls centennial edition of the Gazette
1964-as one of the important dates in the
clty's history.
Two momentous decisions, historians
may say, were made by the Civic and Com
merce association assembled that evening
CD To promote and finance community
hospital. (2) To hire a full time man as
secretary of the association to promote the
civic and commercial interests of the city.
Doth decisions were made subject to sue
cessful solicitation of sufficient funds)
We were impressed this summer during
preparation of the diamond jubilee edition,
with how frequently dates were recorded
and set down for posterity as if the little
group founding a city department, church
or lodge or some other permanent institu-
ton was fully conscious that perhaps so or
100 years hence, someone would want to
know just when it all began
Several dates have already been record
ed in the community hospitals brief history,
although no doubt the actual launching of a
campaign counts as the most important.
The paid secretary matter has been suggest
ed frequently over a period of years but
really became live issue with the jubilee
celebration.
There appears to be little argument but
what the Redwood Falls community needs
and can amply support hospital with sew
eral times present facilities. Many persons
who come to Redwood Falls for everything
else go to rival towns which have larger
hospitals for medical care. The county
itself spends huge sums every year with in
stitutions outside the county from which it
draws no tax revenue.
The plan suggested of buying present
hospital facilities on an appraisal basis and
,1orC fhn h,,iil I;ofo
later additions to be built as needed, seems
entirely equitable and good business from
every angle.
The need for paid secretary may be
described as one of the city's growing pains
Partly through our good fortune in our lOca-
ton but mainly because of the aggressive
y efforts of our citizens, Redwood Falls has
eadvanced quite steadily in recent years.
There can be no doubt about substantial
lgrowth in population, or the gradual WIDEN
ling of the city's trade area.
paid secretary will not take over the
post as a doctor coming to cure ills. Few
Isuch ills exist. Rather he will relieve group
Iof citizens who have sacrificed much time
from their businesses to do the community's
ichores, extend the responsibility for such
work and at the same time launch new acti-
Ivities for the improvement of the business
community which could not be ATTEMPTED
under the old system.
Both projects, as mentioned above,
await the successful completion of cam
paigns for funds. Committee members
handling solicitation of these funds, are not
only making large donations in cash, but of
valuable time as we'll. Fellow citizens owe
it to them and to themselves to give a
friendly audience.
A SPEECH BY CHARLES MUM OF
the Minnesota railroad and warehouse COM
mission before the recent convention of ru-
raj telephone men contains some interesting
historical material. Early in the history of
the telephone, little thought was given to
providing rural phone service. 1t was forced
on the companies, more or less, when town
people chose to patronize the one which
could show the greatest number of rural
connections.
Assistance was given in organizing ear
ly rural lines, apparently on somewhat the
same basis as REA helps bring electricity
to the rural customer.
Telephone brOadcaSting preceded the
radio, Mum says, the early photograph and
local talent providing entertainment, an
nounced with the general ring Listening
in, he adds, became an indoor sport early in
phone history.
depression losses IN rural phones
amounted to rs per cent, according to the
commissioner, of which about 10 per cent
has been regained. He advised company
managers to provide better service through
better lines and new equipment, to induce
lost subscribers back onto the lines
OUT IN OREGON A MUNICIPALITY
owned light company recently turned down
contract offered by the federal government
for power from the Bonneville hydroeectric
plant, decided to build it's own generators.
In this state REA units are given every en-
enlargement to beat down the rates at pow
er sources, whether municipal or private,
and there is talk in government circles of
financing power production projects where
rate demands aren't met. Whether it's gov
eminent or individual, the attitude changes
when the buyer changes roles with the sell
err.