Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-02-24
NO PLACE FOR A FURNACE.
Grand Rapids Lacks the Chief Requis-
ite for an Iron City.


Among the visiting Mascne who are
taking side degrees at the Morton
house, are Harry Roberts and c. I.
CrandaIl, of Crystal Falls. Mr.. Roberts
Is monument mine owner AMI Mr..
Crandall inyokes the wrath of the gods
upon those who transgress the rigid
regulations of the etAte OF Michlgans
and the inhabitants of Iron county,
said invoking being performed tor
stipulation liked by law.
"The iron industry is just little bit
dull for some reason or other," re-
marked Mr.. Roberts. 'but We look for
ward to having good year. New mines
are being developed ali the time up IN
our county. Ii the demand keeps up
to its usual greatness there IS no reason
why \ larger amount of IRON shouldn't
be produced sthis year than ever be-
FORE"
While discussing the probabilities of
iron being brought to Grand Rapids
to be smelted in case the city should
secure deep water navigation, Mr.. Rob-
erts said: ~ don't wish to find any
fault with Grand Rapids and her in
dustrics, but think such an idea Is
delusion. Grand Bapids men should
be careful about urging IL as An induce
ment for dredging the river because as
ali argument it won't hold. In the first
place the city hasn't n single thing 10
attract blast furnaces here. The
requisites for conducting a blast
furnace arc coal and lime stone. A
city must have one or the other. and
preferably both. Now Grand Rapids
has neither. All the coal and all the
limestone used would have 30 be
shipped in. Ii would cost as much TO
ship the ore here ~ 1t docs to Cleye-
land, which is right at the entrance OF
an immense valley of coal and lime
stone. To establish blast furnaces re-
quires immense and costly docks, diff
fcrent rolling stock and different men.
If Grand Rapids had the finest harbor
IN existence II would be no inducemcnt
to bring blast furnaces here"
al haven't any fault with Grand
Rapids business schemes" interposed
Mr.. Crandali. as he borrowed cigar
aud q match from Mr.. Roberta. "but /
DO despise their weather. OF all the
thrice-accursed mixtures os climatic
denominations that ever saw this leads
the procession. Now. up IN the north
ern peninsula we have weather. You
can always recognize IL, for IT bears the
trade mark blown on the bottle. When
It's winter we have winter. We don't
con1ure mp mess OF temperatures cal
culsted TO give mau thai tired teel-
ing Ne have three feet OF snow mp
north, aud the weather for three
months has been ideal for winter.
The thermometer has kepi about fifteen
degrees above zero. such weather "a
that snakes the upper peninsuis boom.
Tnis year. IN spite OF ths political es
element. is gong 10 he an excellent
business year for us. We aren't pav-
inz much attention 10 politics. but We
are paying great deal of attention to
busnes. We haven't any squsbt'les
u bother us and Iron county ~ going
% hoon, as never before. As soon as
We Get our homestead troubles nd
iusted with the Lake superior TRANSIT
company, everything IN the county vii
~ quiet. There - little hard feeling
ever certain actions of tue connpz nv.
and some unnecessary opposition per.
hsrs on TIE part cf ths homs.
ss~adefs. tBf they wsii probably
Gel their troubles settled sll
Fseht "a tsate. The homsstesdsrs hsvs
had very prosperous year. aua
- . elsss they are ~ toiefzesv good
eoedit:pa.