The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-02-24

back 10 an earlier period than the mid
die OF the last century, let a grateful
country hear from you.
Philo d. Beckwith dropped in on
Dowagiac, Michigan. one spring day
in 1849. Dowagiac at that time was
little more than whistling post for
train that crawled along through
the wilderness every now and then.
Finding raw materials near at hand,
Beckwith, who was OF cn inventive
turn of mind, set up little foundry
and proceeded to manufacture tools
for his fellow earIy.settIers. He was
as broad of mind as he was OF back.
and he not only welcomed comrett'
ton. but sent word back east that he
had found the promised land OF bust
ness.
Dowagiac grew amazingly under the
impetus given it by this pioneer. Soon
the surrounding country was fairly
we'll filled with white folks, the In
dams being pressed farther back into
the wilderness.
Then came the cold winter Of 1859,
when Michigan was frozen almost
through to China. Compelled by neces.
sity. Beckwith fashioned :, StoYe-'not
big one nor one OF great beauty, but
stove that turned Wood into heat
Others wanted to be warm and more
stoves we're manufactured Pretty
soon MIR. Beckwith found his stove
foundry profit paying institution.
Still, he wasn't satisfied. He wanted
10 nut stove into every house in
Michigan.
To advertise his wares he hit upon
the Home Market Week, only he did
MT call II that. He called it Il Fair"
and he persuaded all Of the other busl'
ness men OF Dowagiac to join him in
| the enterprise.
The fair lasted an entire week and
/ 1t was great success. Everything
manufactured or sold in Dowaglac was
on display, OF course there were
/ sports and feaStings anu other things
( to attract the crowd,
! But the end desired By fMr. Beck
with was accomplished. The stove
that was being made in his Round
Oak factory was thoroughly adver
tiscd, and If he did not place one In
every house in Michigan h" did moi
fall far short Of doing so.
That was an ideal Home Market
Week. It was all Dowagiac.
Now why not have Home Market
Week in this Town aud make 1t the
best that has been held in Gfty years
1t could be done, and it would be !
winner In every way. 1t would bring
heavy returns for every dollar invest
cd, and it would stir enterprise In 4
manner that would surprise all Of you
When Rockford, Illinois, planned its
first Home Market Week, one of thu
live merchants OF that city promised
10 have display. He was not
manufactures but he had determine
tion and ability,
with a couple of batteries from al
automobile, and with som" other hit
and.miss material he manufactured
portable electric light plan and put il
on exhibition. Then he got so inter
ested in his display tha4 he decided
to manufacture similar plants ant
offer them for sale to those living II
| the country or in small villages.
The result was the establishment
Of Il business that. though now only
Jew years old, is paying rich dtv'
dends.
Start right now with a survey Of tn
industries of this Town and max
Iiready for the Home Market Week
A You are manufacturing many thing
4 mere. and moreover, when you e
taFted SoiIdaillI % many etilsl
tlslns t6atS shptad BE csiFeI
laisfe that ron 8sIi nsis apop INN rs