Decatur's Mayor Targets Lincoln Visitors

Decatur Mayor Paul Osborne wants to jump on the Lincoln bandwagon by moving something known locally as the Transfer House back to its original location at Lincoln Square.

Don't know exactly what he is talking about, but his basic idea appears to be sound. In the last few days Mayor Tim Davlin of Springfield has noted that the capitol town's sales taxes grew $315,304 in the first five months of this year compared to last.

Davlin credits the opening of the new Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum as the reason.

Decatur's Osborne is smart to mine his town's heritage to develop its tourism. That generates jobs and revenue. It also helps preserve, and in this case enhance, his city's downtown and quality of life.