Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1875-11-06
cHEBorGAN,s GREAT OPPORTUNITY.

CHEBOYGAN's GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
In the life of every man there is point
when great possibilities open up before
him If he sec these opportunities. and
has the nerve to cope with them, and
take advantage Of them, his life is sue
cess. If, on the other hand he fails to
comprehend these opportunities, and al
lows them to pass unimproved. his life is
failure. This point rarely comes more
than once in lifetime. We can look
around us and see examples without
number. In this respect the lives of
towns and villages are similar to the
lives of men. Cheboygan's great oppor-
tunity is now before it. Whether it will
thoroughly comprehend it and take adj
vantage of it, is for its citizens to deter
mine. The full consumation of the pro-
ject of the navigation of our inland wa
tiers is that great opportunity. Thus far
the work which has placed the project
in its present hopeful shape has been
done by lew. They have labored hard
and earnestly, spending time and money
without stint. The time has now come
when all must take an interest in the
matter or we shall fail i'm receiving the
full benefits that should accrue to us, and
the opportunity once neglected will
never come again.
There is reasonable certainty that the
state authorities will see fit to give the
aid required to complete this great work.
Although this is the most important en-
terprise that has ever attracted the atten-
ton or solicited the aid of our citizens,
its completion will not alone make this
place or its residents wealthy. The adj
vantages which are thus opened out to
this place must be appreciated and i'm
proved. The small trading and towing
vessels will enter upon the waters thus
opened up to them without encourage
ment. They will assist in the improve
ment of the country, for they are already
here waiting to navigate these waters
But to secure the full benefits that should
come to us, and the large scope of coun-
try surrounding us, a line of fast boats
must be put upon the route to ply be-
tween Ma,kinaw and the head of navi-
CATION to connect with the Grand Rapids
and Indiana Railroad. The benefits
which would accrue to this town and
country are incalculable. During the
summer months there would be con-
tinual line of travel northward and south
ward through this lice. Dur n !,
the season thousands of people
from all parts Of the United States would
see the beautiful country surround
ing these inland lakes, and it would
not be many years before the tide
of immigration would turn this way, and
the best farming lands in the state of
Michigan would be under cultivation.
The advantages of Cheboygan as point
of business would also be seen, and the
growth Of the town would be proper
tionally with that of the country. Each
would help the other. This is no sketch
from the imagination, but what every
practical business man who passes over
the route and sees its advantages must
comprehend, and tSe result which will
certainly come if advantage Is taken of
the great opportunity which is now
placed before us.
There is yet anotl er matter which we
have not befc re mentioned i'm connection
with this subject, and that is the noto-
riety which this country would re, lave
advertising, if it may properly be called
that. The Grand Rapids and Indiana
Road will throw their already large and
certainly increasing summer tIavel over
this route. To do this they must neces-
sarily advertise the route very extern
siyely, and in doing this the country will
receive consequential benefits which
could not be obtained in any other way,
by the expenditure upon this point alone
of much more than the entire cost of the
Improvement and equipment. Shall
Cheboygan take advantage of her great
opportunity?
1t is highly important also that the
improvement and equipment shall be
made for next seasons business. If it is
not done the great opportunity is lost.
lift is not done by that time the railroad
company will be compelled to make fur
Their investments in the route established
this season, and i'm another year will
have so much money invested, and the
route so thoroughly advertised that they
would not sacrifice it. nor could they be
expected to. 1t is now or never.
Next year is the great Centennial. a
year in which there will be more travel
i'm this country than ever before. Instead
OF there being a great rush to Europe the
line of pleasure travel will be from Eu-
rope to this country. Europeans will come
and see the Centennial at Philadelphia,
but they will afterwards take ''conti-
mental tour" as is their wont, but it will
be over continent in comparison to
which theirs is but small affair. They
will doubtless be surprised at many
things, and not least among them will be
the energy displayed in this country i'm
pushing railroads into new countries and
thus developing them. Of the immense
travel that will be through this country
this section will doubtless receive its
share, if we as village do our duty.
Let this route through our inland lakes
be established and the travel to and from