The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1904-02-19
Which Shall it Be?
Home Or imported Labor to Build
Our New Library. >'>

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Our New Library. \ ..>'>
The question has come up by some
Of our artisans, what will the libra
ry board do with bids for. construc-
ton Of the new library building
from home mechanics il the bids
are trifie higher than those from
out of town. The natural reply
would be, favor home labor and in
dustry even at some additional ex-
pense. =.
Pipestone has let the contract for
the erection of their library build
ing to home contractors.
In Luverne reeently there were
bids submitted for a certain kind of
work, and Arm located outside of
Luverne bid three hundred dollars
below the local firm, yet, the Luverne
firm was given the work and the re-
liability of their competitor was be-
yond question. This was loyalty to
home industry and condition that
should exist in every town.
1t is cheaper and of more benefit
to town to pay more for the con-
struotion of work at home than to
have the work done abroad. Why9
Because the money expended for la
Dor at home is reinvested at home.
Take the erection of our library for
an example. Our town is to be tax
ed to raise $1,000 every year, with
out limit, for the maintenance of the
library, there is no alternative, and
is somewhat of a burden yet q
worthy one. Now if for any reason,
the building committee we're to let
the construction or erection of any
part of the work that can be done at
home by resident mechanics, or the
material for the same is to be pur-
chased abroad when it can be secur-
ed here our town has suffered f.
nancial loss. The mechanic is out of
employment, the dealers business
has decreased and various channels
of: trade is affected, but the burden
of expense remains just the same
and the tax paying medium is de-
creased in addition to- business de;
PRESTON; pf import lsbot
would provide some increase in vol
ume of business, if this is true, how
much more would business be in
creased if the profit Of the labor re-
NAMED here. Therefore, it is better
to pay even more, to home industry.
than to a. sist in the maintenance of
a foreign one.
While our library is used as an IL.
yet we do not believe any
members of the board will consent
to any work going out Of town if it
can be done at home, even if it will
cause an increase in the expense. 1t
is not believed that they will do as
it is sometimes said is done, If the
hardware dealer wants furniture he
sends out of town, if the furniture
dealer wants hardware he will order
from abroad, if the clothier wants
shoes he sends to Montgomery, Ward
and Co. or if the shoe man wants
clothing he sends to Browning, King
and Co. etc. The library board is
composed of business men and they
are continually feeling the effects Of
farmers sending out of town.for sup
plies, SOFT would be inconsistent for
them to let contracts that require
labor.
Too much home patriotism cannot
be shown in all business channels,
even if sometimes we do pay little
more for certain articles or labor.
To increase home labor increases the
volume of currency circulation and
all lines OF business feels the pulse
of currency circulation, our spirits
are revived, our energy increased
and good feeling pervails from one
end of the town to the 9th er. AL
ways he loyal to home, even though
the expense is greater, we will be re-