The diamond drill., 1915-08-21
MUCH ROAD WORK
IN EASTERN U. P,
an Important point for touristss
Agricultural Advantages Great
lcontinned rro,n pAge -

Agricultural Advantages Great
Howeve, the people OF Mackinac
county are not all automobilists nor
interested in summer traffic. There is
a very large proportion on farms. The
writer was greatly surprised upon
making a tour through Mackinac
county early in the year, at the number
OF settlements hid away from the out
side world because OF the lack OF good
roads. Strung along through the
county on the 500 line are settlements
wonderfully rich in agricultural re-
sources. The soil is very rich clay
upon which crops grow In abundance.
There are Gould City and Engadine-
among the largest and most prosper
Gus OF the settlements. These places
started as numbering centers and from
them came the agricultural sections
that are in evidence today.
One Of the arguments advanced by
the Baraga county anti-road advocates
is that the farmers want roads to the
railroad and not TO the outside world
The farmers and trades people of
Mackinaw county have just the oppo
site and they have learned by exper-
ience there is nothing OF more advan-
tage TO the settler than an access TO
outside markets by means OF wagon
roads. We talked with a number OF
the progressive people of Mackinaw
county and they all say the same
thing: viz that II they had roads by
means OF which they could get to and
from their surrounding towns their
prosperity would be greatly advanced.
Therefore the farmers in those towns
are glad to see the roads. All that
they ask Is that the money be spent
judlciously and that roads be got and
not allow the money raised to be
squandered.
The Personal Equation
And, therein lies the personal equa-
ton that is no necessary in any move
ment The men at the head OF the
movement In Mackinaw county have
the confidence OF their people At the
OF the road commission is f. II. Hotch-
kiss, cashier OF the First National
Bank OF st. Ignace and man well
known and highly regarded In the
financial world. He has associated
with him on the board. Mr.. McLain is a
resident OF Gould City and man high
ly thought or. He is a son-in-law OF
Archie MacEchren, who represented
Mackinaw county for many terms In
the legislature. Men who served with
Mr.. MacEchren used to say, "You
can always figure Archie MacEchren
right. He's Scotch and makes up his
mind slowly and carefully but when
he makes II up and tells you what he's
going to do. his word is as good as his
bond" Mr. Mclean is spoken OF as
one OF the MacEchren school. square
toed and OF good judgment. Then there
is Mr.. Holdeck prosperous
farmer in another end OF the county
and a man who is regarded in his com
munity just as highly as is Mr. Nc
Lean.
The commission In Mackinaw county
is managed along the same line as In
Iron county The commissioners hire
an engineer and entrust the work 10
hin, AR n nrothorto. ,,t,o -.
city engineer in Crystal Falls a couple
OF years ago is the engineer for the
county and is doing an immense a
mount OF work.
One OF the first decisions arrived at
by the commission was to put the
money raised into roads and NOT into
machinery. With that end In view the
work is divided so that the farmers and
small contractors In the county can
get chance at the work that they can
do and the more difficult work is given
out TO larger contractors. An outside
contractor wrote TO the commission
last spring and asked what machinery
was furnished by the county. He got
an answer back I'VE furnish the
money. only, and to this policy the
commissioners have rigidly adhered.
All OF the money goes into the roads.
VIII Reap Big Benefits
The county is traversed by trunk
line from 81. Ignace west TO the
Schoolcraft line. a distance OF about
so miles. Then there Is a road east TO
connect with Chippewa county 30
miles and another road north to Trout
Lake distance OF about 10 miles
from the junction OF the east and west
roads
The commissioners are not trying
TO make macadam road OF all OF this
| stretch but the most diFlcuIf afrafrboa