Charlevoix county herald., 1909-09-11
Where Western Michigan De.
veIopment Bureau Would
Place This Region.
AIMS TO UNITE WESTERN NIGH
GAN IN BIG COOPERATIVE.
MOVEMENT.

formed and includes within its pro-
posed field of especial activity that
portion of Western Michigan lying in
the counties OF Muskegon, NewaygO,
Oceana, Lake, Mason, Manistee, Wex.
ford, Benzie, Lelanau, Grand Traverse,
Antrim, Charlevoix and Emmett.
This organization has been named
the Western Michigan Development
Bureau.
1t is organized for the purpose Of
thoroughly advertising the resources
OF this section to the land-hungry peo
pie OF the whole country, and by unit.
ed effort to induce the settlement OF
the unoccupied lands, to build up the
towns and cities, and last but not
least to awaken the jewellers in this
region to the wonderful opportunities
of the country in which they live. Co.
operation is the keynote of the Devel-
opment Bureau
In point of cooperative effort the
Western Michigan Development Blu.
reau takes pattern after the work of
similar organizations in the far west.
For instance, the Oregon Development
League includes 80 separate organiza.
lions, all using the same letter-headS,
all working toward one end. The re-
suit has been an intense enthusiasm
on the part of the people in that re.
| gion. They have a real affection for
the community in which they live-a
| power which has made itself felt in
the most remote corners of the Unit
ed States.
One of the best evidences of this
| enthusiasm is that in many instances
communities having a population of
from 500 to 10000 have raised at a
single meeting from $500 to $1,000 to
| support the Oregon Development
League. On several occasions more
than $4,000 have been subscribed, pay
able In monthly amounts, enabling
those communities to employ skilled
advertisers, who had no other business
than to do the executive work and at
tend to the advertising of the CONNER
cial bodies.
1t Is hardly too much to say that
the most valuable result of these
trained advertisers has manifested it.
self in the optimistic spirit, the local
| patriotism and intense enthusiasm of
the people of Oregon for their state.
| There has been created among the
| people OF that region a confidence in
| their natural resources such that no
| visitor fails to catch their contagious
| spirit Of belief in Oregon and its op-
portunities.
This is the first object of the West.
ern Michigan Development Bureau.
| To awaken In the people Of western
Michigan a realization of the wonder.
full opportunities which exist in this
| part of the state. The Development
| Bureau has the avowed intention of
reminding the people that western
Michigan was famous as a fruit re-
gion before Oregon was ever heard
| Of; it will call to the attention OF
| people living here the fact, which
hustling westerners have made the
public forget, namely that Western
Michigan has at its very doors the
markets to reach which Oregon must
ship thousands of miles. 1t will point
out that land can be bought In West
ern Michigan for one-tenth the cost
of the same acreage in the far west,
and that it will produce a far greater
return Oh the investment than the
|
pie of Oregon, Washington, California,
and other western states have made
the people of this region believe that
the west has something better to of
fer than Is to be found in Michigan
even when a moments consideration
suffices to convince of larger opportu-
mites prevailing here. To correct
popular delusion in the minds of our
own people, to awaken them to their
wonderful opportunity is the primary
object of the Western Michigan Devel-
opment Bureau.
1t will make it its object to run
homeseekers' excursions and other
wise COLOMBO this part of the state.
This increase in population will ben
eft alike city and country regions.
First of all this will result in an in
creased valuation of real estate. This
will of course be direct profit to the
present holders. Next 1t will result in
a lowered rate of taxation. For 1t is
a uniform experience that taxes are
lower in well-settled and highly -devel-
oped regions. Next increased popula-
tion will result in improved transpor-
tation facilities. II Is an obvious fact
that with an Increase of traffic there
will be an improved service by the
railroads and boat lines now travers-
ing western Michigan. Besides other
transportation companies will be inev-
itably attracted to this field by the
greater volume of business.
For example, there Is at present but
one electric interurban railroad in the
thirteen counties united in the West.
ern. Michigan Development Bureau
With the present population it l.
hardly likely that more could profit.
ably exist, but with the growth in the
number of inhabitants there is no
question but other interurban lines
will be attracted here.
The resort interests will also be
stimulated by the Western Michigan
Development Bureau. Owing to It's
favorable location along the shore of
the lake western Michigan may right
| fully look to become a big summer
playground for the superheated r.
gions of the middle west and sout
This profitable business is hardly
more than in its infancy and can be
only brought to its true Importance