Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1875-08-25

} relatively capable OF, the ability to
control present qualification fol
future good, the possession of fore
thought in short. The savage is
without it; the morrow is dimly
felt; the limit of his horizon is but
a few days off; while, in state Of
civilization a powerful feeling Of
the future is the main incentive to
industry and saving. Man comes
to learn that present forbearance
is the most fruitful source of ulti-
mate gain.
The promptings of self-interest
give a wonderful stimulus TO the
faculties of even the most unedu-
Gated; and for ourselves We do
not intend to put such an insult
upon the understanding of the
manufacturers Of lumber, as to as
sumo that they are incapable OF
acting upon the dictates of an en-
lightened self-interest. The career
of those of them whom we know
precludes such an assumption.
Organization by manufacturing
and other interests and by traders,
is one Of the most marked char
acteristics Of modern civilization.
We might go farther and say that
ii is one of the necessities of the
age.
Organized cooperation regulat-
ing various details of supplys and
demand may be seen on all sides,
and while they are, of course, some
failures, there are more successful
efforts.
The subject of over-production
has been agitated some time, and
as yet but little has been accom-
plished. 1t has been demonstrated
we think, to the satisfaction of all
who have taken pains to investi-
gate the matter, that the curtail-
ment of the lumber product must
result from something beside sim
pie resolutions adopted by the few
manufacturers who may attend a
public gathering in the interests of
the trade. The result of last win
tiers operations in the woods shows
that in many instances operators,
instead of curtailing, actually in
creased their cut, each one acting
upon the idea that his neighbors
were doing but little, and a search
ty of logs would be naturally fol-
lowed by a high price. The re-
suit is already APPARENT. A saturat-
ed solution will remain liquid in
definitely if kept in state Of rest
but let it get a sudden jar and
instantly the salts will hy into
crystals.
The feeling in favor of curtail-
mcnt among lumbermen has been
in solution a good while. 1t would
seem that this seasons operations
was enough of q rap to crystalize
it into action.
Let whatever compact is agreed
upon be entered into earnestly and
lived up to vigorously by every
honorable man in the business, and
there will be a moral pressure
brought to bear upon the slippery
ones that they viii find hard to re-
sist-a weight of reprobation that
they could not well stand up under.
There is such thing as compul-
sion by public opinion, and although
it cannot be expected that it would
wholly prevent trickery, it still
does not seem too much to hope
that it would exercise sufficient in
fluence to make an attempt at con-
troll by organization, virtually sue
cessful.
There is little doubt that should
there be large gathering at Chi
cago next month, that much good
will result. Men will meet and
become acquainted with those Of
whom they have never heard
Those who have perhaps consider
ed themselves irresistible will find
plenty Of others from various quar-
tiers with means as abundant and
determination as fixed as theirs.
They can measure their strength, as
it were, and the result to be hoped
for is that facts and figures there
to be presented, the interchange
of opinions and wise deliberations,
will induce that union of sentiment
this trade has always lacked and
so greatly needs.
The Indinm Frauds.