The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1888-01-13

results in a very material lessening 81
the trade of that season whenever taxe'
are heavier than usual. The state am
county tax must be collected at iha
time, but why conld we not have III.
city charter SO amended as to allow u,
tn collect portion of our local taxes ia
the summer? If for instance the schoo
tax-aHounting as il dues to over hall
of our entire tax--could be collected
during the warmer months when work
IL plenty AID expenses are light. il
would have Il most beneficial result, not
only in making the burden easier 10
men OF moderate means, but for the
reasons above stated to every merchant
In the city. L commend this matter
to you and hope yon will give it your
careful consideration during the months
to come before any such change can he
effected in our city charter.
WATER WORKS
The great question before the city
to-day TO be solved in the near future is
proper water supply for the use of orr
citizens. Not only must we have II
supply sufficient for a perfect fire pro-
lection, but it must be Of such degree
OF purity as to admit of its use for al
household purposes, for cooking, for
the laundry and for drinking. Not only
must it be free from substances injarions
to health, but il must he soft enough t.,
permit of its economical use with snap
in washing. a water heavily charged
with lime or magnesia would cost the
citizens hundreds of dollars every year
in extra soap bills. All of these points
should be borne in mind, and before
location for any proposed system of water
works is selected We in connect with
the Council should lie assured that all
these requirements are satisfied. In
order that this association may DO kept
informed of the progress of the water
works committee. / recommend that a
special committee he appointed whose
duty it shall be to make Il report on this
subject at eacl, stated meeting of the
association.
The mel chants OF country town, even |
with the amount of manufacturing we
have in Owosso, must draw their support |
largely from the farming community. In |
no way, other things being equal, can this |
trade be so easily reached as by improving |
the main lines of travel leading into our
city. An outlay Of few hundreds of
dollars in connection with the road work
of the various townships in our neighbor-
hood would add greatly to the already
large country trade centering ut Owosso.
Personal investigation has satisfied me that
in one township alone five farmers get
mail at ncighboring towns TO one getting
mail here, and that largely because in
coming here they would DC obliged to pass
oyer two miles of road that is nearly i'm.
passiblc half the year.
suggest that the Association instruct
the improvement committee 10 examine
this subject and make report at some
future meeting Of the Association, at a
date long enough before the time for spring
road work for this Association to take
action on and offer recommendations to
the City Council.
THE COUNTY FAIR.
Ii is apparent TO all of you who arc in
trade that any event that calls people to us
from all parts of the county, is one of the
best advertisements We can have.
People coming here from the more re.
mote sections of the county look over our
stores and become convinced OF the advun.
tages to be derived from trading in a well
stocked market. There is no one or two
events that call as many people to us as our
county fair. Thousands of people from
every town in the county come here at that
time The officers Of the Agricultural As
complain, and not without reason,
that our merchants do not offer sufficient
OF take enough interest in
this institution. present this matter to
you here tonight, and bespeak for it your
careful consideration during the months to
come before the next meeting of the Agri.
cultural Association.
ADVERTISING.
wish TO call your attention TO the plan
Of advertising the cilys business and MGR
chants, presented by Mr. Osborn at our
last mecnling. A careful, judicious, well
advertising scheme of this kind
the truth concerning the city's
business and the advantages we offer the
Trade coming here is set forth, will unques.
Iionably add very largely to our trade.
Have you ever figured up in your own
mind The territory that should come here
10 do business. We have no serious com
petition nearer than Saginaw on the north,
Flint on the east. Lansing on the south,
md Ionia ON tho west. We should draw
tradc from at least 10 TO 20 miles on the
north, 10 to IL miles on the east, 16 TO 90
miles on south, and 10 to ID miles on the
west representing territory 20 To 40