Advancement Association Organized

Waupaca Republican

November 19, 1897

Advancement Association

Nearly every business man in the city met at the council room last Tuesday evening to organize an advancement association for Waupaca. W.B. Baker stated the objects of the meeting, saying that the time was ripe for all to work for the interests of Waupaca. He explained the aims of the proposed organization. C.A. Spencer was elected temporary president and W.B. Baker was elected temporary secretary.

A committee of A.G. Nelson, E.L. Browne, F.F. Wheeler and J.L. Sturtevant was appointed to draft constitution and by-laws for the organization and report at the next meeting when a permanent organization is to be effected.

Inasmuch as there had been apparent unnecessary delay in granting a franchise for an electric railroad, Mr. Wheeler, who had a franchise, which the railway committee of the common council were endeavoring to formulate satisfactorily, was asked to read it. The document was read and there were several lively speeches called forth from several who thought the document was loaded with conditions so heavy that the franchise could not be accepted, notably the building of a bridge on Sessions street and the “one mile a year clause”. Mayor Whipple and Alderman Williams of the committee said it was their purpose to try and formulate a document and present it to both parties asking for a franchise get their objections or suggestions and then try and get it satisfactory so that when the applicants legally published it, but few changes if any would be necessary. It was the sense of the meeting to leave it optional with the street railway company in regard to extensions and to let them have the route across the river on Division street to the DeVoin corner if that route was preferable to them and let them build such a bridge as they liked. At any rate it was evident the people present were willing to leave the matter about as the committee were working only they counseled more speed and voted that ten days for acceptance be substituted for sixty.