The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1898-03-23
Chipmunks and Pumpkins.

Under date of March 9. our friend
Woodman strives to inform us that the
n. G.. r. r. has been feeding US on gall
for many years, although he has stated
the former fare nearly double what it has
been for several years. This argument
has no bearing on the bond matter what
ever, as the exorbtant charges, stealing
of the former wide gauge to Lawton, and
all the evils that our little town has suf-
fered from this our only road (the COW
path, as we often call it,, are deeds of
men not now interested, and to hear
such talk reminds us of youth about
to buy horse, when his grandfather
steps up and says boy, you want ter
look out; that ere animile's mother wus
stolen once and he is mighty liable ter
be-" The past has gone and gone for
ever, the present and future are what we
make them As to the ID cent taffy, the
present low price of passenger transpor-
tation between Paw Paw and Lawton is
to compete with the teams and furnish a
more satisfactory connection with the
NJ. G. r. r., which would not be as es-
sential when we have trains in connec-
ton with the railroad center at Benton
Harbor.
As to the reliability of the amount of
trees, vines etc. given in my estimate of
February Is, | am prepared to fully
prove the statements therein. There
may be an occasional over -estimate but
] can refer to several that are far under.
| am in position to know. AS TO an av
erage crop of peaches, | wish to inform
my friend Woodman that even last year
the average crop of the state was near to
my estimate. My estimate of one bushel
to the tree is based on the experience of
peach growers in our section for the past
twenty years, and are statistics that any
peach grower will verify |, however,
thank Mr.. Woodman for the extra 112
cars of pumpkins, although they will
not need icing. think Lake Cora is an
excellent shipping point for him tolocate
his factory (should he have the benefits
of a wide gauge on which to export) and
he certainly should be in some industry.
He is so public spirited
AS to frosts, etc, the estimate was for
an average crop, one year with another
as they come. 1t is entirely unnecessary
for me to mention apples, they are easily
transferred in barrels, while we have
dryer to consume the bulk stock. How
ever, better prices could be obtained
should we be able to ship in bulk. |
wish to inform Mr.. Woodman that while
| am in sympathy with the cannery, we
rieh l..
their mercy. The facts are, they had
more of that delicious raspberry taffy
last year than they could consume and ]
cannot see the room for peaches, grapes,
tomatoes, corn, etc, after the canning of
that immense load of pumpkins.
As to my swing through the five town
ships In the wheat estimate, / am willing
to leave that to the Judgment of our pub
lie at what it is worth, as the general
comment on that portion of my article is
that it was too low.
AS to the icing of the 125 cars at Lake
Cora being saving of $3.50 to the pub
lie over icing at Kalamazoo, let him
prove his assertions in figures. Is every
body going to take his word for itY Let
him figure and know whereof he speaks
before he accuses his neighbor falsely.
As to my plea for the railroad, Mr..
Woodman has so misconstrued and mis-
represented the article that it does not
even have trace Of the original senti-
ment. The facts are: We are to raise the
required bonds or wait until the profits
of the present n. G.. road are sufficient
before we have a railroad; not that the
company would expect to request money
to build the NJ, b. III. & G. on through In
diana, as would our ingenious construer
mislead us to think
AS to South Haven, my personal inter
est is greater in South Haven than in
my own town; but what has she done for
usS Are we obligated to her because she
is our rivalf We want competing boat
lines, and with the wide gauge we have