Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1875-12-04
rHk NSEls;c;Essfrq or A DRY DOCK,

THE NECESSITY OF A DRY DOCK,
The sad disasters u the shipping in-
terests of the great lakes which haveoc-
CURED in thisimmediats Vicinity 'luting
the past week, show eonclusively the ne
cessitx of 'hasipga dry dock located at
this p5lpt. At.the same time that these
disastt1 mvs shows the necessity OF
such am establishment at this point, they
have also shown that, beyond doubt,
such an Investment of capital would be
. profitable one. On the east the near
--est dry dock Is at Detroit, while west.
ward Manatowoc isEthe nearest. Thus it
Is that all the vessels which met with ac-
y cidenfs in the straits and vicinity, and
the St. Mary's River all, perhaps, the
e most dangerous sailing ground the yes
sells have to encounter, are compelled at
a . very heavy expense to be towed' clear
= to Detroit. !, Not only is the expense of
towing a great consideration, but the
). danger from loss is also very great. At
the present time there are no less than
six or eight vessels, almost within sight
of Cheboygan, which will require to be
run into dry dock for repairs. Most of
these vessels win be compelled to pay a
tow bill to get to present accommoda-
's tions, which, in amount, would be sufff
~ eient to pay great share of the ex-
pense of repairs, Then, again, the YES
sells are compelled by the terms of IN
- surance in.case of accident, to make for
the nearest dry dock. This would give a
CLOCK here a paying business from the
start. Not only would it ply a large
percentage Upon the money invested,
but it would save the shipping interests
more than, its entire cost every year.
Then there is scarcely any estimating the
benefits which would accrue to Cheboy-
gan from the establishment of such an
enterprise here. 1t would employ a
large number of men, who would add to
the business and population of the place.
sc The money that would come from the
q repairs, and the supplies from the Grip
O. piled vessels, would be very large sum
in 1.-THE aggregate, all of which would tend
largely to the growth of the place.
Ell Certainly another year. should not pass
: before the enterprise should be estab-
lished. OF the necessities and benefits
of the enterprise there are none to deny
The great question is, how is the best
, plan to get the project under way and
secure the benefits. This is a matter
which should occupy the attention of the
Improvement Association" at its next
? meeting. Should there be stock com
i'-panys organized we have no doubt but
that many of our citizens would sub
& scribe stock in fac, we have heard sew
eral signify their willingness to sdo9so,
1still we should doubt it being possible to
:rsecufe enough here to establish, thelen-
sterprise. Most of loGr. citizens, as is usu-
ally tire case in new and growing towns,
have their means investedin such q shape
that it is not an easy matter to take few
thousands or hondreds out to invest ihl
another business, even though it be a
profitable one, nor would it be advisable
for them to DO so. The money is needed
where it is to develop the place. It
would be much better for an enterprise
yof,this magnitude to- have the required
capital brought into the place from the
outside. The more capital that can be
hrdught into this place and proftably in
vested the. better it will be for those al
ready here. Therefore, we think, that
some means should be taken to call the 4
attention to capitalists, vessel owners,
and Insurance companies to the import
ance and proffableness Of dry dock at
~Chebpygan. Let them get their atten-
tion once turned here, and we think there
viii be no doubt of the ultimate result.
81 ysdEdorG ---.- ------..-.- -e-SIiii1