Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1899-02-24
A Boom for Alma.
PERMANENT INITS BENEFITS.

/
herein of bit of general advice and
explain why feel a deep personal in
terest in the permanancy of anything
done for the general good and welfare
of Alma as business center or the in
dividual gain TO its citizens.
Apropos of the fact that we all be-
| lieve the establishment Of beet sugar
| factory in our midst will be of almost
| incalcuable benefit to our finance, comes
| the axiomotic truth, Blessings seldom
come singly or other than as reward OF
merit, TO secure which additional bene-
! fits should be the united aim OF Alma :
| citizens, and herein We Will endeaVOr to
show where each business man has
share III the work preparatory 10 the re
| ceptiOn of those accrulng DEMENT'S.
In the first place, only unity OF action
| can accomplish best results, this means
the man III business must drop self and
| unite with other business men for the
| common good of all, which done, the
varying lines of business now clashing.
would become one immence Depart
ment Store to all intents and purpose,
| which though run within distinct and
| separate bounds even as now done, the
| interest Of advancement would group
about progl essive Alma, through one
united effort. each individual depart
ment securing its full share of benefit
! for the manager thereof, its present
owner.
The local papers must be all and en-
tire for Alma. Their advertising
and editorial columns being entirely
used III and for the advancement of
Alma : interests, her products, her bust
ness and her men.
Right here we must define what we
consider the geographical bounds of
| Alma and who its citizens are; who
its men of business are and whom IFS
! beneficiaries. We include in these re-
marks as territorial Alma, all tributary,
contiguous country citizens Of Alma,
| all those 10 whom comes benefit from
| Alma's prosperity; its men OF business.
all those who contribute TO the general
success by labor, manufacturing, farm
ing, or any method of producing, dis
pensing or handling understandable
commodities It's beneticiaries, all who
| live within the radius of such a trade
| circle and receive benefit therefrom
As TO the advertising space IN the
| local papers, not one single line should
be bought by an outsider that would
tend 70 turn Il dollar or dime from 10.
|
On these lines our papers would
double their circulation. treble their
advertising value to local dealers, quad
ripple their home Influence. and keep
their job departments busy year in and
year out.
| There is "a recognized ethical fact
| that lit is easier to write a prescription
| than take the medicine" and IA known
| precedent that the physician seldom
prescribes for himself, therefore | plan
what would be hard for personal apph-
cation, yet III writing II | am ready 20
offer IA plan for consideration of the
afore mentioned business men whereby
| the future of Alma may be made sure
| for the betterment of ITS citizens.
In taking things in the regular order
| for trade improvement, we must begiu
at a plan TO get the people in, for we
| know that only by having the people
| here, can we secure their trade, the
thing OF all things 60 be desired if any
place be built on permanent basis.
In order tOget the people in we must
provide three things. First, ii must be
made a pleasure 20 come; second, II
must be made profitable TO come; third
| il must be a mutual benefit.
To secure the first, good roads only
! are essential for the second, good
markets must be maintained, while the
third is assured In gaining these first
mentioned two.
To build up and maintain tirst-claSS
market in Alma, an outlet must be pro-
vided for everything grown produced or
manufactured within reach of Alma
markets, and the means provided 10 get
! the same TO come our way, including
small fruits, vegetables, grain, seeds,
mineral or manufactured wealth. TO
! gain this latter end shall be the burden
of my communication as you already
have planned 10 improve the roads,
which will be first step TO get the peo-
pie and their produce in the place. But
good roads can neither be built nor
maintained without united action of the
interested, which calls upon the farmer
for his share of aid in building and
more than his equitable portion in
maintaining, therefore let the farmer
personally. Individually and collectively
resolve that he will do his share
On the people likewise, rests the res
sponsibility of maintaining local papers
that are first. class and absolutely devot-
ed TO the local interests which can only
be done by those having need therefor,
contracting, paying for and using ali
space therein available for advertising
purposes. Patronize the job departments
TO full extent Of need. This would en-
courage the editors TO exclude all for
eign advertisements, and suppress every
thing that pertains 20 local or public
scandal and gossip which has no claim
on the public ear.
This unity of action tends TO instant
increase Of trade and consequent pros
perity, and i'm this secure its own re-
| ward
In connection with good roads as a
means of conveying goods and chattels
/ would enlarge on, or organize new
telephone service to convey thought.
This would be easily and readily done
| by having lines extended and telephones
placed in farmers homes throughout all
contributary trade territory so that &C
least two phones should be on every
| section within the radius 81 tsaIy con-