The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1898-03-09
"Taffy" and "Air Castles.'


The n. q. r. r., after feeding us on
gall for many years, has at last changed
its policy and adopted for us diet of
tatfy, as any casual observer can easily
discover from the fact that the road is |
carrying passengers from Lawton TO their
homes i'm Paw Paw for fifteen cents.
Until teams were put on the wagon road.
we were requiredto pay % cents 10 cents
a mile) and be left away over towards
Lawton at that. But the railroad is not
alone i'm the tatfy business, as | propose
to show. Mr.. q. h. Prater Jr. says in
the Northerner of February Is: I'VE find
that his stomach" referring To mel either
was not in shape to receive tally, or that
he had come to the feast unprepared.
not knowing the amount of the article
there really was in the western part OF
the township" No, not until | saw our
friends admission of the fact did | sus
pect the existence of such an industry in
the western part of our township. But
such being the fact, and Mr.. Prater the
informer. we must assume that ne is the
head of the firm. as well as the dispenser
of the manufactured article.
Mr.. Prater gives the number of the
fruit growers in the western part of this
township at 80, and the estimated amount
of fruit tributary to Lake Cora and the
average yield of fruit, computed on the
past experience of an average crop as
follows: Peaches 112 cars, which he says
is but half of full crop" "a full crop
would be 224 cars, % cars of grapes and
Is of small fruits, making "A grand total
of 337 cars. O my Isn't that 'some
pumpkins?" Just think of solid train
near half mile long, loaded down with
fruits raised in little corner Of Paw
Paw township, including few growers
in Lawrence! Well, that is only trifie
over eleven car loads to each fruit grow
err. Several peach orchards in the list
contain only 200 or less trees. | am
credibly informed Mr.. Prater's estimate
of the number of fruit trees is much
above the actual number. Wonder if
the average of peaches as computed on
past experience. was based on last years
crop? AS Mr.. Prater did not state the
reliability of the peach crop, or the liabil
ity of its being ruined by freezes, frosts
or insects, or the trees being destroyed
| bv disease or otherwise, we are left to
our own conclusion i'm regard to the mat
ter
While friend Prater's figures and est
mates show well on paper they are in
reality Ito a great extent, at least air
castles he has ingeniously constructed.
He must have forgotten our apple in
dustry. especially last years crop as well
as the fact that we have canning estab
lshment in our village capable of hand
| ling all the perishable fruits Mr.. Prater
and others i'm his locality may have to
spare.
do not propose to follow Mr.. Prater
in his swing through five townships, or
his estimate of the wheat crop and the
saving to producers if we had broad
gauge. elevators. etc. Anyone familiar
with the situation of other railroads and
their proximity to- the townships referred
to- can see at glance that his figures
and estimates are largely visionary.
Then Mr. Prater kindly informs us
that the l25 cars which are to convey the
perishable fruits raised by my friend and
a few of his neighbors could be iced at
Four Mile lake at saving of $3.50.
Well. this is another wee bit of an air
castle yet to loom up in western Paw
Paw.
Then our friend proceeds To make a
very pathetic plea that we get out of the
back woods" and place ourselves apace
with the 10Th century, by looking
into our pocketbooks right side up.
Continuing his plea for this poor railroad
he says: They did intend to make the
change of gauge last season, but their
capital fell short and they are financially
unable to complete the track and equip
ment, to say nothing of depots, eleva-
tors, etc" He goes on to inform us that
a greater part of the company's means
will be diverted to the completion of
another more profitable line, and our
friend begs piteously that we come to its
aid. Well, the scheme seems to be for
the company to expend their means on
another more profitable line, then try to
coax or compel this township to furnish
means for their benefit.
In regard to South Haven, Mr.. Prater
say: Let them bail their own boat; they
: are able to-" Very likely; and so are the
; other townships for whose benefit he
would have Paw Paw build railroads
7 elevators and stock yards.