The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1898-02-17
OUR FUTURE.

ANOC oil CIIltS pOSSeSS oil luueTeut
promise Of future development. Many
town retains its trade and local i'm
portance merely from the fact that its
people must live and transact bust
ness and must strive to prosper with
what lies at their hands This has
been the condition of Manitowoc for
many years, as the population of the
contiguous territory, being purely
agricultural, the energy of the city in
abitants has been chiefly directed to
wards handling their offerings of
produce, and in turn furnishing them
supplies. Thus manufacturing estab-
lishments of great magnitude have
not been developed to any great ex-
tent for the laborer or mechanic,
though we have several wholesale and
retail establishments in the line of
stores and coal docks which are decid
eddy modern in their business methods.
Manitowoc however unless held back
by the inertia or the mercantile igDor-
ance of her Inhabitants, will in the
course of years, probably few in mum
Der, command a great amount of the
output of the nations activity. and Of
necessity, and by the force of events
expand into immense Importance, to
occupy commanding position in the
trade and manufacturing life of the
country. Geographically resting on
Lake Michigan, she stands as center
line most convenient to trade and
commerce between the Atlantic and
Pacific coast. Through nature her
harbor is unequalled 10y any on the
great lakes and as distributing point
between the East and West and other
sections, she is assuredly the possessor
of future of limitless and untold DOS
sibilities. Manitowoc commands those
wonderful conditions to make her a
metropolis of commanding Importance.
The fact however that sagacious out
side corporations have never invested
their capital, and created large manu-
featuring enterprises in our city, may
we'll serve as an object lesson, and
should induce the thoughtful citizens
of which there are SO many to investi
gate the reasons and causes In this
age of fierce and keen commercial
competition where each centre is
struggling for trade connections on
the best and most economical basis,
any burden however light Will defect
into neighboring channels, and attract
capital and enterprise, which other
wise would have established itself,
where it first sought to anchor. Deep
waterway, quick transit, direct com
munication, and cheap handling are
the determining questions of trade re-
lations, also to reach quickly a given
destination, and that without breaking
bulk, Tightening or reloading. This is
the desideratum most convenient to
trade and commerce, and commands
an economy which furnishes the Jarg-
est margin of profit. No outlay be it
of millions is considered too great by
large corporations, seeking invest
ments providing the foregoing results
are reached. For this reason and to
obviate the handling of freight, and
its useless and onerous transfer, rail
roads are nov adopting the belt line
system and Manitowoc through her
natural advantages has already been
recognized by her choice as shipping
point for routine commercial trans
actions, which are the principles from
which she has lately grown to stupen-
dous proportions. To further the in
terests of our city the question of an
noyance or Inconvenience or even of
loss to some few should not deter from
the establishment and maintenance of
facilities absolutely requisite, or the
of them to railroads, in order
that the great bulk of the trade, and
commerce of the town be advantaged.
If the carriers, traders, railroads and
ships be forced by the restrictive laws
of locality to expenditures AID in
convenience not existing in neichbor-
ing towns, it goes without saying that
they will choose the route and those
connections most advantageously pre-
sented to them. The carriers are Il 9
lungs of trade and their location or |
absence means comm erciaI prosperity |
Or asphy xiation. Therefore theoby:ous-
y correct policy would be to present |
every possible inducement and facility