Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1888-09-19


the tax on whisky, tobacco and bogus
butter. The Democrats propose to re-
duce the tax on clothing, blankets,
sugar, rice and other necessaries of
life, and remove the tax on many raw
materials.
The question for the voter is, which
system is best for him and his family.
If you vote with the Democrats you
vote for reduction in the taxes on
the necessaries of life. If you vote
with the Republicans YOU vote for a
reduction in the tax OH whisky, tobac'
CO and bogus butter.
As regards Alpena people, their
duty is to examine the question and
see how it effects them. If they are
wise they will vote for what will bepe-
fit them, their families and their city
and county. The prosperity of Alpe-
ma is more to the voters here, than il
the prosperity of monopolies and
trusts in other sections of the country
Let us reason together on this subject
The Democratic reduction bill places
on the free list three things-lumber
salt and wool. How does it affect the
people here? Salt is not produced
here, so that we are not interested ex.
cept to get it as cheaply as possible
In regard to wool, not much is grown
in this county, but a very large
amount is needed by the people here
for clothes and blankets. We are
therefore buyers of wool, not sellers
and a reduction in the price of wool
en- goods must be beneficial to all OF
us. How will placing lumber on the
free list affect us Will it stop our
prosperous industries, decrease the de-
mand for labor and lower wages !
Let us examine the questions and see.
Lumber is the main industry of
this city. Lumber has built up AL
pena; has paved her streets has
drained her grounds f; has caused COM
MERGE to flow its benefits here has
built bridges has furnished work for
thousands of people; has built and
furnished the hundreds of comfortable
homes in the city, and has given the
people the comforts and many of the
luxuries of life. The life of the city
and the prosperity of the people still
depends on the lumber business. 1t
is vet necessary for the prosperity of
the city and the happiness of her PEG.
pie. Anything that affects lumber,
therefore affects the people here, no
matter whether they are Democrats
or Republicans. The men who work
on the booms are interested, the men
who work in the mills are interested,
the longshoremen are interested, the
mechanics are interested, the business
men are interested, the farmers are
interested, and nearly every one here
is interested, because his living de-
ponds uponit. 1t is then serious ques-
ton. Discontinue the lumber interest
and what will become of the city :!
What will the laboring men do for
employment! Every person can cas-
lily answer that question, and the an
swer is no industries in motion; no
work to be had no prosperity; a
great depreciation in the value of
property, and at least 5000 persons
without any means Of livelihood.
A continuance Of the lumber bust
ness until the fine agricultural inter
ests of the county are fully developed,
is absolutely necessary. 1t will be
many years before all the farm lands
here are under cultivation, as an agri-
cultural growth lie slow. We believe
that fifteen years from now the agri-
cultural interests of this county will
be so far developed as to maintain a
larger city than Alpena now is. 1t is
the situation here for the next ten or
fifteen years that concerns all of us at
present, and this is what makes so
many people anxious.
How long will the timber here sup
ply the mills of this city at their pres
ent capacityi It is very well known
that the supply will not last over five
years. We know then the business
future for the next FIVE years. After
that, what is to be done? Can sup
ply of logs be obtained ?
The Democratic tariff reduction
bill provides for placing Canadian
lumber on the free list. providing
the export tax placed on logs by Can
adams be taken of. How will that
affect US During the past few years
Alpena lumbermen have purchased
immense tracts of pine land in the
Georgian Bay region, in Canada.
Their object was to cut the timber
and raft it here to be manufactured
into lumber. They knew that the
supply here was diminishing rapidly
and, if their mills were to continue
in operation, logs would have to be
obtained from other places. The Ca
madam government said, you Ameri-
cans will not allow our lumber to en-