The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1879-03-27
Big Rapids vs.. Reed City as a Railroad
l.EiHEr. .L.nl NJ


Under the above heading, the Rig
Rapids Current, o: last week has the
following.
The Clarion of last week clips few
lines from an article ib IA former NUM-
Der of the Current, upon the above nam
cd subject, aiid puts It's foot in bad when
il attempts to use Figures" anil "facts''
In behalf OF the cross-rOads town as
against Big Rapids. The crossing of
the Il. X. " j. and +. IL II. nj. called
Reed City into being, and has given il
all the Importance. Ii ever had, except
in its own eyes. Big Rapids, by it's nc
knowledged Importance as cOmmer-
cial center, drew to itself the Grand
Rapids and Indiana, the Chicago and
Michigan Lake Shore and the Grand
Rapids and Newaygo Railroads, and
tie attempt of the Clarion to set big
Rapids hack by an aliusion To its iIi-
debtedness Is very unfrtunate-for
Reed City. The returns to the Auditor
General show that the taxes of Biz
Rapids are lower than those of Reed
City 10y one half per cent, exclusive oi
the corporation tax, which would prob
ably increase the difference to not less
than two per cent. It Is expensive for
little burg to put OH even village airs
and call itself u city. Where p0pula-
ton and wealth are centered, there
may extensive improvements be made
and enjoyed, as are the Big Rapids
water works, but small community
cannot run even "a board of trustees OF
six members without burdening it's in
habitants with heavy taxes.
| Ollr lOntpm pnr.lrv dNalls at lopoih
and with apparent delight, upon tile
subsequent extension from Reed CITY
to Manistee, evidently not aware that
the railroad company would save the
construction Of about ten miles OF road
IN that direction 10y coming to Big Rap
ltts and running Out OH its AIuskegOri
line to Hungcrford, thence through
Lake county to Manistee, thus taking
IN baldwin, another county seat. These
county seats are Mo points for railroads
to make, as they furnish much perna-
nent local patronage which corner
towns do not; and the Detroit, Lansing
and Northern. Company is evidently
aware Of this fact, us will be seen from
the fact that its line runs through not
only the seat of government of tile state,
but or every county through which it
passes, except lngham, and nobody but
"a Reed City bigot would imagile for a
| moment that IL would pass 10y two ot
these Important centers for the sake Oi
giving a little cross-road village anotll-
!. crOss-road BOOST nor would anyone
else suppose that q shrewd railroad
corporation like the ID. l.. d N. would
run to Reed City for the purpose. of ear
tering into sharp competition with the
F.& L. NJ, itself All eastern road, rum
ming to the same great metropolis lof
the State. And now that we have sub.
scquent extensions under considera-
ton, let Us call the attention OF oul
neiglbOring burg to another which il
sure to be made, by the same company,
in the near future, viz, from Big Rap.
ids to Evart, the future county seat oi
Osceola county, thence to HOugi,tor
Lake and Aipeiih. rhus.th this railroad
company will make Big Rapids its own
grand junction wit,i lines from every
quarter OF the State, ,connecting the 0lJ
agricultural district with the heavy
pineries and newly developed agricui.
tural sections. But we care not to foo
away our time and space in noticing
farther the colored statements OF the
| Clarion, for We are satisfied that II docs
not believe Its own statements, nor yer
indulge in u hope that the estcnslor
will bc made to that town; IL II does
we are willing 1t should hug It's delu'
sion to its hearts content for ,lisap
pointment awaits Il, and we shall re
frain from all unkind words whicl
would mar the tender feelings Of oul
verdant neighbor. a,T h