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WAUPACA COUNTY POST March 27, 1924
ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST EXPENDITURE OF A THOUSAND DOLLARS TO IMPROVE PARK
This and Election of City Clerk Seem to Be Principal Local Issues That Interest Waupaca City Voters at the Coming Election. All Should Vote the Referendum Ticket
Waupaca, Wis., Mar. 26, 1924. Editor of the Post: The voters of the city of Waupaca will vote on the question at this Spring election as to whether the city shall spend one thousand dollars for the improvement of the camp site at South Park. We are fortunate to have one of the most beautiful locations for a camp site in the state of Wisconsin and the time is at hand, when, if cities intend to maintain a camp site, it is absolutely necessary, in our opinion, to provide the proper sanitary facilities as well as good, substantial cooking facilities, and to provide for the proper disposal of litter and garbage which, of course, accumulates at all such places. We believe that our city will be known in the future in a large extent by the condition of the camp site and it will be absolutely necessary to either provide for the maintenance of a camp site along the lines stated above or abandon the idea of a camp site entirely. Some may perhaps advance the idea that it is better to put off the improving of a camp site until some local conditions have been improved but are we not taking the chance of waiting too long, when other cities are studying the proposition and putting forth their best efforts to make their camp site attractive and sanitary for the purpose of drawing the tourist and other trade? Should we delay when the principal city south of us is going to maintain two camp sites this next season with the same condition prevailing west of us on Highway 18? Appropriating $1,000 will mean that it will cost the taxpayer about 32 cents for each $1,000 of his assessed valuation, a very small amount to one who knows the value of a camp site properly improved and properly supervised and we might say in this connection that we are in favor of charging a small fee for tourists which should and we believe will provide at least funds enough for its maintenance and supervision. We will say in closing that our tourist camp will, we believe, prove to be quite an asset as a medium through which to distribute our Chain o’ Lakes literature and general information as to the beauty and resources of Waupaca and vicinity. Let’s ;put this vote across. A TAXPAYER. -o-
The Other Side The voters of the City of Waupaca will determine on April 1st, whether $1,000 shall be spent on a Camp Site for tourists in South Park. In the aggregate this is a small amount when spread out among all the taxpayers and, if necessary it is no doubt a better plan than asking donations from those who receive the benefit. It is not the straw which will break the camel’s back but just the same it is $1,000.00 of public money and should be a vital question to taxpayers of this city. Nature has already provided us with one of the most beautiful camp sites in the country and why the need of spending $1,000.00 of the taxpayers money is more than I can fathom. In my opinion the city might well use $1,000.00 a great deal more advantageously, for instance, as a fire truck, for ornamental street lights, or for setting aside a sinking fund for repairs on pavements. We find that by far the largest portion of our property taxes are for local expenditures. Of course, a tax on all property must be protected. Money employed for the purpose of paving streets, building school houses, lighting streets, proper fire and police protection, etc., makes the community better, adds to the comforts of the people, and adds to the value of property. Improvements of this kind such as have been going on in Waupaca the past few years and such as are planned, are to be commended, as is also the support given our band concerts which is a real civic enterprise and an expenditure which I have never heard any taxpayer speak of begrudgingly. As stated before, nature has provided Waupaca with a beautiful camp site. Does the tourist demand or expect all the proposed improvements? I think not. At any rate why not direct more of them to the Chain of Lakes where there is plenty of room. From a purely selfish standpoint why invite the world to litter up our one beauty spot and crowd our own people off the bathing beach which is entirely inadequate for our own use. They have their cars and the Land of Lakes lies before them and our children should not be crowded out of “the old swimming hole.” In my opinion if a small amount of these transient tourists were directed to the Chain of Lakes, it would be the means of renting more cottages out there and even if a very small percent, rented or persuaded friends to rent, still it seems to me that one or two families in a cottage at the Lakes for a week or two would spend more money here than 30 car loads of one night tourists on the average. Why make it so convenient for them at the camp site that they will not have to come down town, Let them buy a few meals in the city. We have first-class hotels and restaurants. Statistics of course show that these tourists spend a lot of money here which is all well and good, but from my observation I think that a good many of them arrive late at night, remain at the camp site and start out early in the morning and probably get along to Oshkosh or Stevens Point before business places are open, so that they can spend their money here. I am greatly in favor of the Camp Site as it now is with possibly some slight improvements as to sanitation but as to spending $1,000.00 I think it is uncalled for at this time. Just one more thought in this respect. As the old saying goes it is not the original cost but the upkeep. One thousand dollars will surely do a lot to the Camp Site but even if we have a paid camp site, which is another thing which I do not favor, would the revenu eso obtained be nearly adequate for theproper policing and for a caretaker. Some tourists are not going to take care of things as they should and a small percentage will actually be destructive which would necessitate constant vigil by the Council the cost of which is very probmatical. It is all right to be philanthropic with your own money but the expenditure of public funds in these times, when we are preaching less taxes and curtailment of expenses all along the line, should be carefully watched. This is not an affair like teapot dome, nor our own state capital dome which we seem to have little control over, but is a fair and square proposition put to the taxpayers in a fair and square way. Whichever way it goes, the majority will decide which is as it should be. MONEY SAVER -o-
A Faithful Servant The present City Clerk Mr. F.A. Houseman, was elected by the Common Council in April, 1916, over Mr. J.F. Knudsen, who had held the office for the preceding five years, succeeding Mr. Jeff Woodnorth. For the entire time since his removal from the office, Mr. Knudsen has tied each year to get the office back and for seven years in succession the Common Council has retained Mr. Housemann. Last year, it is understood, that some of the aldermen were approached by Mr. Knudsen with the suggestion that if he was elected he would work for $1,000.00 against the established salary, but the Council again declined to make any change. Again this year Mr. Knudsen, taking another chance, circulated a petition asking that the office of City Clerk be elected by the people, this was filed and he is now making his canvass for the office on this proposition. Mr. F.A. Houseman has filled the office for the past seven years very satisfactorily and in an efficient manner and there is not one word of complaint as to his work and he has the entire confidence of the Council. In addition to the regular duties of his office he has for the past three years assisted the City Treasurer in his work entirely without any remuneration, and has just finished closing up his books os that it has been impossible for him to get out and solicit votes. It is hoped that in the selection of City Clerk the people will consider these facts fully before casting their ballot on April 1st. ONE WHO KNOWS |