Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1882-03-08


all the work and bear all the burdens
The list of subscriptions was then
read, among which were number Of
subscribers whose names had not beer
publicly announced, and showing that
$4,000 had been raised. The persons
present who had not subscribed were
requested to come forward and aid the
good work to the extent of their ability,
Hon. A. w. Comstock was then call
ed upon to give his ideas on the sub
ject. He was in favor CT the road, and
showed how it would benefit persons Of
small means by allowing merchants OF
limited means to do business, the con-
sequence of which would be that ten
dollars would purchase as many of the
necessaries Of life as twelve dollars do
now. During his recent southern trip,
he had come across a new railroad be-
ing constructed through one Of the
pineries, and stated how this new road
was tending to improve and open up
the locality it was running though, and
he believed the railroad to Alpena
would do equally as good work in open
ing up, settling and improving Alpena
county. He had no great landed in
terests in this county, and, therefore,
the railroad would be of no very great
personal benefit to him, but he had
spent the greater part Of his life in
Al pena, and was attached to it; con-
'equently he was in favor of anything
that would tend to improve and bene-
it the place. He spoke of how the
want of railroad prevented immi-
grants and tourists from coming to this
place, and of the dread experienced
by persons unused to navigation, to-
wards a trip across Saginaw Bay.
Hon. A. Pack was then called upon
for a speech. lie remarked that in or
der to raise the bonus, it was necessary
for those who had already subscribed
to subscribe more, and suggested a
raise Of twenty-five per cent. Speak
ing for himself and the firm he repre-
ented, they were prepared TO do so.
He then carelessly ran his hand into
his pocket and pulled out an extra one
thousand dollar bonus note and handed
it to the chairman.
Mr.. Packs example was contagious
and was Immediately followed by in
creased subscriptions from Bolton d
McRae, w. II. & E. X. Potter, E. O.
Avery, Minor Lumber Co., and many
others. Some Of the smaller subscrip-
tions were doubled.
The meeting now began to assume a
lively aspect. The chairman called for
assistance to help to FIJI out the notes
for persons to sign, and the subscrip-
ton table was surrounded by those
who were DESTROYS of helping the en-
terprise. A sort of camp meeting en-
thusiasm began to prevail, and those
who had been converted to the rail-
road faith, became missionaries in the
good cause, and went about the room
in search of converts. As soon as a
man was espied whose modesty had pre-
vented him from coming forward and
declaring his faith, he was attacked and
IN cndeavor made to enthuse him with
the railroad creed, and, as general
rule, very little difficulty was exper,
fenced in making converts.
At the close Of the meeting it was
announced that the sum of $4,000
had been subscribed. The meeting
then adjourned to Tuesday night last.
The subscriptions reported by mem
bers Of the committee last Saturday
night, and those subscribed at that
meeting, are as follows: