The Calumet news., 1914-08-12
LAUNCH PLAN TO
IMPROVE ROADS
Supervisors Asked to Help Pro-
vide for Unemployed
Continued From First Page.

|
world that the industrial organiza
tion Of the copper country, such as il
is, is absolutely sound
Referring TO the present industrial
situation. Mr.. Galbraith called atten-
ton to the fact that the curtailment
and the effect of the European war,
means a long hard pull for the copper
country, for even war Of ninety days
duration will leave it's effect long after
peace has been restored The only
way the copper country can prevent
the exodus Of a large number Of work
ers, men who form parts Of the great
industrial organization Of the district,
is to do something for them at home
we need roads" said Mr. Galbraith
we need trunJ lines.
we need laterals.
The state provides a state road sys-
TEN which aims to connect the county
seats of all Of the counties in the state
with good roads. We have good coun-
~ roads and what we need most is
laterals.
why couldn't we bond Houghton
county for say 100000. and eXpend
| this amount on our roads The repay
ment of the bonds might be spread
| over a period of twenty years, and it
would only require $4,000 per year to
retire the amount. Make the bonds in
denominations of $3.50, $500 and $1,000,
and let them bear four per cent inter-
est and our own people would take
them gladly. We have almost S15,0O0,-
! coo in deposits in the banks of the
copper country, about $3,O0O,OO0 OF
which is in certified deposits bearing
three and four per cent interest. The
bonds could be floated easily.
Burden Not a Heavy One.
100000 in bonds at four per cent
interest would mean an average annual
interest throughout the twenty years
of $4,000. This in addition TO the $15,-
OO0 to be paid on the principal, would !
mean an annual payment of $4,000, |
about one fourth OF one mill on the |
SS3O0O,O 600 assessed valuation of the
county"
Mr.. Galbraith met the objection
for public improvements, with the
statement that such step makes it |
possible for both the present and the
future generations to enjoy the inn
provemonts, and both generations
would share in paying for them.
In addition TO providing employment
for men left without work, the bond |
81,
would increase the value of every acre
OK farm land, every cord Of standing
timber, every town lot, every residence
and every building in Houghton
county.
II would keep intact the great body
.of trained and skilled workmen in the
copper country, until such a time as
normal conditions are restored.
Fisher is Toastmaster.
James T. Fisher acted as postmaster
and called on numerous prominent
residents OF the district for short talks.
Mr.. Fisher and many OF those who fol-
lowed him expressed their pleasure
that the Arlington hotel has been re-
opened To the public, and various plans
more substantial support to this hos
telry and to the Michigan and the
Central Hotels, both of which were
represented. than they had enjoyed be-
fore The thought most freely ex-
pressed is that businessmen can now
very reasonably ask transients with |
whom they do business to make Calu
met their headquarters during at least
a portion Of the time they are in the
copper country.
W. J. Reynolds OF Laurum, the first
speaker referred briefly to the benefits
10 be derived from good fellowship and
get together meetings of this kind.
we should have been ashamed long
ago to let this hotel remain idle in our
midst" he said, and now that it is
opened, / feel sure that we will all do
our best to see that the venture is a
success and / am sure that success will
be helpful TO the community.
Superintendent T.. j. Hall of the CAL
umet public schools gave an interest
ing talk in which he stated that dur
ing the last seven years, 700 students
have been graduated from the high |
school, averaging 100 per year. Thirty |
per cent Of these students have been |
prepared for business life and twenty |
per cent for work in the shops. In June |
the bookkeepers often find no books |
70 keep and the shop men no factories |
90 work in They are forced to leave |
Calumet Mr.. Hall endorsed enthus-
| iastically the plans which have recent |
| ly been set in motion in the copper |
country to provide suitable employ
ment for these boys and girls in the
copper country.
Among the other speakers of tho
evening were William b. Anderson, |
James +. Virgins, Edward Ulseth, |
| Frank :. Carlton, John ID. Cuddihy |
( and others. Each of these business
men expressed his appreciation at the
opening Of the Arlington and his ear
| nest desire To assist in making the
venture a success as we'll as helping
other hotels in this locality.
Tho & a II orchestra assisted with