Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1883-04-26

munity, made up of merchants, manu-.
facturers, mechanics shops, hotels. liv-
cry stables, mills, warehouses, etc. -
Some have lived there all their lives.
Others for longer or shorter period.
A larger portion of the business men
own their stores, warehouses, mills or
shops; also their homes. stocks of mer-
chn"diSe md other property. Upon
ti.is iropeu! t0.es nave Geen Pala iot
years, School houses have been built
and teachers paid; roads have been
made and rivers bridged; the officers
of justice have been paid, and the un-
fortunate poor Supported; county and
State taxes have .bc-n collected :;
eharehes emit and ministers provided
for. All this has been done cheerfully.
knowing it to be for the best interest
of the community.
The town is surrounded with an en-
terprising farming country; between
the town and country there is n recip-
rocal interchange of trade. The off
ferent branches of business have adap.
ted themselves to circumstances, so
that no one portion is overdone, but
all moves along smoothly and prosper
ously. Competition among sellers gives
the lowest price for merchandise, etc.
while competition among buyers gives
be highest price for products. The
buyer is satisfied, while the seller can
not complain, Circumstances giving
the producer that absolute protection
which no law could do. Merchants
are looking for the best and cheapest
goods in order to compete for the pro
ducers money, while the buyeris seek
ing the best markets that he may be
able to compete for his produce. This
condition of things cannot help but
make self sustaining communities,
which, when taken as whole, make
up n self-sustaining nation, for a ma.
ton is but combination of communi.
ties.
This condition of things may have
existed for years, with everyone salts
fed and generally prosperous. Some
fine morning the business men of the
town discover, out on the public square,
strange unloading and offering fol
sale all kinds of goods, wares and mer
chandise, that are sold or manufactur
ed in that city or village. Dry goods,
groceries, drugs, farming implements
flour, furniture, etc, lie sells five, tel
or fifteen per cent cheaper than these
goods have been sold heretofore, and
everyone who can get money buys all
they want.
Farmers, mechanics, lawyers, doc
tors, everyone buys what he wants.
When that is done the stranger packs
up the remainder of his goods, pock
cts the money he has taken and goes
away. Teader, the man was a free
trader, free -booter. Look at the re
silt. The manufacturer closes hi
business, for there is no one to buy hi
goods, his workmen are idle in conse
quence, merchants are doing nothing
everyone has bought what he needs
business is at standstill. Merchant
cannot sell their goods for the stran
ger has taken the money that the.
ought TO have received. The farme
cannot sell his produce because TIN
merchant has no money; neither cal
pay his taxes, the farmer because tber
+. 10 .cne - ~ his pro,'uce, the mei
chant lyI t.e ge.lior .D- tner. 81 U
one to buy ms goods, consequently ia
farmer keeps his grain, the merchan
his goods. The schools are closed, tn
churches are closed. The grass grow
in the streets, want and distress is see
on every hand, because the strange
has taken away the money that be
longs to the community. They bough
where thcy-could buy the cheapest,