The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1900-11-30
THE OWOSSO TIMES.
EDMUND O. DEWEY. EDITOR.
OWOSSO. FRIDAY. NOV. 80, 1900.

Now that the cause of prosperity and
progress has won another victory In this
country and its industries are to be I'M
hampered by any threatened change In
vital policies for four more years, Owosso
would celebrate this week of national
thanksgiving with even greater enthusiasm,
and certainly with far greater sense of
localized tbankfulness If some individual
or individuals could only be found who
would establish beet sugar factory in this
city. If there is any other industry among
those which might possibly be secured for
this city which would benefit 1t to any
greater extent than the putting in operation
Of a beet sugar factory in this place, THE
TIMES has not yetihad it called to its atten-
ton.
The city has had little experience with
iron and brass working Industries. Freights
on the pig iron, the brass, and the heavy
finished products are too high, and there is
slight chance for competition with places
which have lake ports from which to ship.
been Its making, aud are yet but each year
brings nearer the time when the factories
will be placed under the necessity of moving
to places nearer the forests from which their
supplies must come or when they will have
to pay the penalty of heavy freights on
bulky materials 'carried for an increasing
number of miles. The source of the supply
for the factories is each year gradually re-
treating farther and farther from them
although it may yet be many years before it
gets so far away as to seriously cripple them
In their competition with the factories of
other cities, which are to great extent
similarly situated.
But that is where the beet sugar industry
has great advantage to offer to such cities
as 0wosso which still wish to grow and to
keep at the front In every way. Unlike the
forests, the farm lands of the surrounding
country are going to stay here and they will
raise immense crops of sugar beets. One
hundred years from now they will still be
here. and IL they are properly cultivated
they will not only still be here but will be
even more productive than they are now
1t is to them that the city must apparently
look for its future. 1t is to its natural
advantages that any city must look for any
thing that will be of permanent value In its
growth, and 1t is only by attempting to dis
cover what the natural advantages of Owes
so are that 1t can hope for any future which
shall be in keeping with the splendid and
virile past which it has shown to the other
cities of Michigan. Any other industries
which might be established would in time
have to face the disadvantages of being
oblgedLto compete with these more favora-
bly, situated.
Bearing these lsimple, though fuDda-
mental, principles in mind then, The
TIMES is willing to admit that IL there are
any other industries which would lend
themselves in any. better degree and any
more naturally to the further advance of
our city than would the establishment Of a
beet ugarsindustry here, 1t does not know
what 1t is. 1t hopes, however, that there
> are others, and indeed believes that there
are othersk which will be found by some
wideawake citizens or investors at some
time, and 1t hopes that all such possible in
dustries may be found out and developed,
but in the meantime OwOssO would very
much,like the privilege of being thankful
for the establishment of beet sugar factory
within her borders. She would be glad to
take the promise Of such an industry for q
Christmas 'spresent. Indeed, any person
who has the establishment and location OF
beet sugar factory within his power will
confer q. great favor on the city and the
acknowledgement by letting the fact be-
come known.
But more lseriously again, while 1t takes a
large amount of money to properly build
and equip such factory, the future OF
Owosso, and,of the surrounding country as
well would warrant the expenditure Of nc
mean smount of money In interesting thu
necessarily mount of capital In that way.
II Owosso Is to have future as well as Q
past, someone will have to devise some
plan which will allow her to make use Of heI
natural resources and advantages, and al
preeent there does not seem to be anything
which would do more for the city and sur
rounding country than would the operation
of beet sugar factory within her limits
She has the room within her limits. Sb'
has farming lands Of the very best sort OF
every side and has besides railroad facili
tiee, In every direction, to bring In the pro
ducts from outlying districts. The oppor
tunity lie here, the capital only Is lacking.