Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1889-03-27
Wednesday, March q. 1889.
A Chance for a Flour Mill.

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Such system is not beneficial to the
county. 1t drains the city of large
amount of money every year, and the
sooner that the leak is stopped the
better it is for all of us. A commu-
nifty may earn large amount of
wealth each year, but if the wealth
has to be sent to other places to pur-
chase needed goods, the community
has only a temporary gain. The less
articles the citizens have to import,
the better it is for every one in the
county. Of course every article need
ed by Alpena citizens can not be made
here, but great many things that
are now bought at other places, could
and should be produced here. Such
for instance is -four. Every pound of
-four consumed here should be made
at an Alpena mill. Experience has
shown that this county can grow as
good wheat, and as much to the acre,
as any portion of the State. We have
no statistics to show how many bar
rels of -four are used by the people of
this county every year. We believe
that from 10000 to $4,000 barrels are
needed per annum. The greater part
of this is imported, and the amount
paid by the citizens each year must be
at least $4,000. The beneficial re-
suits that would come from circulating
that large amount of money among
the people here, instead of sending it
to other cities, is apparent to every
thinking person.
For many weeks past the ARGUS
has spoken of this subject, and the re-
suit has been that the attention Of
persons interested in the flour bust
ness, has been drawn to this city. Last
week the following letter was received
at this office, and was addressed to the
ARGUS, as the writer was evidently
not acquainted with the business men
of the place, and also because a news
paper is the best medium through
which to address the citizens:
r., L. of
Dear Strive see by your paper that
you want good flour mill. Now we have
a one hundred and twenty five barrel, full
roller, all latest improved machinery, and
only two years old, that we think Of moving
to some good place, as the place we are in
is too small. What inducements would
you offer for the removal of our mill to
your town.
Hoping to have an early reply, we remain
MONROE & BURLING.
Monroe d Burling are the proprie-
tors of the Anchor Mills, at Muir,
Michigan.
We refer the letter to the citizens,
and as the firm has requested us to
state what inducements the city offers
for such needed industry, we will
present the following in regard to this
county:
The principal inducement is the To-
cal market Of this we have already |
spoken. In addition, the adjoining
counties are large buyers of -four, and
we are Of the opinion that Alpena and
counties, including other
counties near by, have to purchase at
present over 10000 barrels of flour
every year. In this county alone we
think 10000 barrels are imported
yearly. A fine market is therefore
ready and waiting for a flour mill, and
must certainly be one good induce
ment.
The y. S. census of 1880 made the
Of inhabitants in Alpena
county $3.50, and the State census Of
1884 showed the inhabitants to have
increased to 1911, of which 9,210
were in the city. At present the pop
ulation is believed to be over $4,000.
In the city there are now IL saw
mills, a single mills, one large facto-
ry for making paper pulp from spruce
and balsam wood, 2 foundries, A plan
ing mills-a small -four mill is attach
ed to one of the planning mills. The
city has gas, works, electric light, tele-
phone, telegraph, first class Holly
water works system, railway commu-
nication, daily line of steamboats, to
Bay City, and two lines of steamboats,
10 Detroit. Three miles of streets are
paved with cedar blocks. The lum-
Der exported last year amounted to
200, 2O4, $50 feet, and S,343, 900 pounds
Of paper pulp were shipped. Other
large exports were lath. shingles, ced-
ar posts, railway ties, and other forest
products, also many thousand pounds
Of fish.
The county contains large forests Of
maple, beech, hemlock, spruce, cedar,
and other woods, and the supply Of
pine is. estimated to last at least five
years at the present rate of consump-
ton. The soil is fertile and has been
proved to produce good crops of wheat,
oats, and other grains. A better place
for growing vegetables can not be
found. Apples, plums, cherries, straw
berries and other fruits grow luxuri-
antly.