Telegram-herald., 1889-11-17
THE OBSERVER


Let oar ulalul4- tasel- al merchants
1dogt az 4rrsr,se s4eal ~ ~ 49, prove
mutual lQr tle arot-eC.ea of tAelr Ia
duslr.ss. Let then 40 tnat waieh w.ii
result IA The hnai interests of the city,
nOt 10 one part, Cat ~ Al directions.
Let the people 0f Grand Rapids woyk
as 4 unit for Grand Rapids. More a.
tenLlOn should be- pald % the imp0r-
tanE matter OF lower shipping rates.
more cars and quicker transit Other
c-tles are 0atHitung as they are jump
lng ahead Of Us N the securing OF rates
ana business wlich Will prove damag-
ing u our city. Small surrounding
towns are becoming our strong com
pet,tors- They are picking up the trade
which really belongs 10 Grand Rapids.
The Valley City manufactures and
merchants viii Ue obliged 10 pat forth
special efforts for quicker and better
railroad communication and lower
rates, OF they Will surely lose their grip,
And with it their business. Once lost,
always lost. Other cltlesand towns are
making heavy InFOats on our trade
along the different railroad lines. THIS
business ls surely worth making an
effort for, and u save lt II once secured.
Railroads are being built on al sides
Oi us, which viii eventually tap those
sections vi country nov tributary 10
Grand Rapids.
There Is big trade growing up
around Us, bat Il IS beng largely
gathered ia by other towns and cities,
winch with quick and proper shipping
facilities should be enjoyed by tnc
merchants OF tins city. Grand Rapids
}, the metropolis OF Western Mlch gan,
and the natural outlet Tor trade.
The various railroad lines are con
stantly short OF cars, and dOnOt handle
all the treights as quickly rs they
should for the interests of our mer-
chants and manufacturers. nor city.
Their neglect 20 furnish sufficient
number OF ears has been runOus 10
many an enterprise. Something ought
- be done before II IS too late. Every
neglect % Us and our tributaries proves
favor 10 our competing cities III tins
and other States. The moment rail
roads VIII give US equal chances with
Chicago, Detroit and other points, that
moment Grand Rapids Will largely IN
crease its trade, which IS certainly in
favor OF the railroads themselves.
What use Is there IN securing 4 rade
| when we have not the facilities 10 take
care Of 1t? ARISE, ye citizens, and de-
wise some plans for your protection.
The talk OF English capital to be en-
barked in milling business, combinations
| OF mills and mlllers, consultations OF
frafs
| OF the trade, goes on throughout the
| country from week to week. and lndl-
Gates, II nothing else, that there exists
a widespread dissatisfaction with the
present condition of the trade. 1t does
| not Indicate that every miller in the
United states is going into bankruptcy;
neither does 1t show that the business
| Is altogether Improbable, though Il
| has been ruinOus to many during the
| past five years. 1t does emphasize the
| fact that for the vast amOuntOf mon, Y
invested in this gigantic interest, there
! Is returned a minimum of profit and a
maximum of hard work, risk and
anxiety. 1t shows the existence OF a
| widespread sentimentwhich is impatient
of the clog. which so constantly hani-
| per the progress of the trade, and 4
| desire, hopeful in its very intensity, TO
achieve a better condition OF things.
| We like to see the intelligent Amer
lean manage his own business and en-
| JOY the hard earnings TO which he Is
| justly entitled. There is money enough
and ability enough back of this trade,
If II would only exert itself promptly
and intellIgently, for its own protection
and relief. If 1t would only sincerely
believe in its own strength and push its
advantages; If 1t would only resolve to
rid itself of the abuses which, in years
| Of prosperity, 1t has suffered to grow
| up around it like rank weeds. choking
Its own development. These things are
not AL TO be set right by a one
| hours meeting once month 10y farm
ers and millers. They must receive a
| strong. continued and united effort on
| the part of the wheat growers, flour
makers and bread consumers. Tne
| better the demand for flour, the better
| the demand fer wheat, and the demand
for both brings about the demand for
trade, and the sooner we can bring
these demands about the better for IN
country, farmer, miller, business man
and country.
Good, honest, intelligent business