The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1914-07-25
SAYS MICHIGAN
IS GOOD STATE
Negaunee Man Convinced OF 1t
by Trip Through West

a Negaunee man, who recently re-
turned from an extended trip through
California and otner western states. is
convinced that Michigan is good
enough for MIN, says the Marquette
Journal. Merchants in Los Angeles,
San Francisco and Oakland are COM
planning of duh business. he says. and
are buying only such articles as are
needed for immediate sale. High rent
ais. excessive taxation and heavy costs
of transportation, both by rail and
water. are causes of complaint.
Il would advise workingmen to keep
away from California, as there are so
many unemployed men and women
that il is almost useless for any new
conner to secure employment in the
larger cities" he says. Many vacant
houses and business structures reflect
the slack demand for real estate. A
number of hotels are in the course of
construction at San Francisco, but
these will not be ready until the open
ing of the Panama Pacific exposition.
Manufacturing on the Pacific coast.
especially in California, Is not n very
important industry" the Negaunee
man says. in compiling statistics,
the secretaries of commercial clubs
put down as manufacturing concerns
any establishments that employ two
or more men. Los Angeles is said to
hova . mn monufo cturipy aSta hlic IA
ments, but the figure includes every
place where two men are employed.
For instance, n man whose business
is the repairing Of shoes, with two as
sistant, is n manufacturer.
Several Marquette county men have
within the pat year gone to California
with the intention of purchasing or
chards, but have come back without
doing so. II these meE had invested
out there they would perhaps now be
trying To sell at any price. one Incl
dent reduces my faith in California,
farming and fruit growing. A man
from this section purchased n forty
acre tract, in the southern part Of
the state, for $4,000. The location
was considered favorable and the
equipment Of the ranch seemed to ne
complete. Soon after taking posses
sion, however, he was compelled to ex-
pend $4,000 for additional equipment
and tree stock. A state law regulating
and making compulsory. the spraying
of orchards required an additional eX-
penditure of 5000. Other expenses COM
PEELED him to resort to his bank ac-
count almost every day. The returns
on sales were hardly worth recording
and the heavy frosts of 1913 destroyed
the crop. This year the yield is so
large that the selling price for oranges
is SO low there is but little profit. A
case containing twelve dozen oranges
brings the producer one cent n pound |
for the best oranges. If he tried to |
sell to Eastern markets the excessive
freight rates would forbid.
1.-THE loss of the fruit ranch owner |
of California is not all it may seem
to he. The former resident | refer to |
advises those from this district who |
wanted to invest in farming lands to
put their money into lands either in |
upper Michigan or the lower part Of
the state. The profits are not as great |
here az they are in some years in
but taking II year in AMI |
year out. the sale of the crops from |
a Michigan farm will net the best in
come.
"A former Negaunee man. who owns |
n large fruit ranch near Los Angeles.
lost $4,000 worth of fruit on account |
Of the heavy frosts two years ago. and |
ut the time was compelled to put in
10000 worth of equipment in order
to fight frost in future years.