The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1915-04-03
THE EVENING ARGUS
0wosso, Michigan
March IL, 1918.
Mr.. G. Il. Woodworth,
Iron River, Mich.
NV Dear Mr. White.

Iron River Mich
My Dear Mr. Whte:--
Ihave your recent letter asking for information to
the effect of local option business in Shiawassee county
note that claimed the advocates of the license system that
Shawassee county, taxes higher business poorer the town
has less money for improvements and the community less
prosperous than when licensed saloons in operation Also
that travelling statesmen from mercantile houses dislike to visit
cur countybecause of business conditions.
Every statement above is false. The contrary is true in
every respect With reference to taxes OF course every IN
man knows they vary from year to year owing to the
public improvements being made and this item also into
consideration because OF the excessive state tax OF year two
but generally speaking our taxes are not as high as or
dinarily.
e. Az business when Owosso became dry five ago the
first Of the coming May there in operation IN TINS Guy
twenyone twenty-five saloons 1t freely predicted tnat
the business places would remain unoccuped which had Tor
merry housed saoons that farmers would remain away from
the city, preerng to trade where they could procure liquor
The above dire prophecies failed of fulment Every building
that vacated by saloon promptly reoccued by some
other business in instances at higher rent than they re-
ceved from the saloons Some the of held for
time by soft drink paro the parties hoping that the saloon
would be restored but those individuals became discouraged
the buildings rented for legitimate business purposes and
while additional store have been built in the city in the
five years. all occupied Notwithstanding the depression OF
eight months There but store building
occupied the city, and that of the three that erect
ed in block couple of years ago
As to the town having less money for improvements the
city of Owosso spent improvements last year than
before and got FOR money for the reason that we
under the commission government system last May and
the results have been very satisfactory.
The community whole is in prosperous condition
would not say was the most prosperous in It's history for the
recent months has affected though not to great extent
many other localities industrial interests diver
sed we by excellent agricultural region
The which referred above that farmers would
where they could drink infamous libel
upon the farming community, and conditions existing in
this county have proven this to be the
Relative to commercial travellers avoiding the city,
hotels four and five nights Of every week We
in need Of better hotel facilities as well known fact that
at least ghs week travelling obliged go
private homes in the city for accommodations Twice within
the last six weeks have home train reaching the
city at ll:l9 and in each instance travelling who came
down taxi with unable room, and
been the city the last thirty days considering the matter of
erecting $4,000 hotel ample proof that there truth in
the claim that city being avoided by the travelling public
option went into effect marked great manyvho doubt
ed the ACCESSIBILITY of the nosaoon policy have been converted
TO it. Our streets absolutely free from drkars If there
blind pigs they exceedingly bnd", and would
need to know the ropes pretty well to find them Young
growing the city without knowledge of the appearance
of the saloon and its attendant evils Business is certainly
good and many claim better than under the license SYSTEM
and there is question but that manymen who in the
habit of drinking when thesaoons existence have
least very largely refraned from ndugng under present
SYSTEM and their being used in the support Of their
families
enclosing herewith cards and slips that were
used last local option campaign which be of
benefit to you sincerely hope that will succeed in win
ming your county to the dry cause
With kindest Wishes am
Very truly yours,
m