Charlevoix county herald., 1916-07-14

men who are successfully trying to
bridge the gap, and have several good
industries well started and no doubt
will secure others which-when the
numbering is done, unlike the mills,
will be permanent. Cadillac also has
no special natural advantages to offer
any Of these industries but that East
Jordan, Boyne City or Charlevoix can
offer. Indeed we have one great ad-
vantage over Cadillac, that of water
transportation. We are also favored
with a rich farming country back of
our towns which Cadillac has not.
In striking contrast with Cadillac are
towns like Manistee where great for
tunes have been made from White
Pine and salt, but the millionaires have
taken the money made in Manistee and
gone elsewhere to live. 1t follows that
in short time Manistee will probably
be almost as deserted city as East
Lake.
| believe our true policy is to devel-
op the resources we have and to build
up industries already here rather than
try, by offering bonuses, to draw away
industries from other towns, which to
me seems contemplate form of piracy.
We have fine farming region sur
rounding US. 1t seems to me the farm
ing industry is in its infancy here and
is capable of great expansion, especial
ly along the lines of potato and fruit
raising.
| believe good roads are great fac
tor in the development of the farming
industry and if we may judge by the
experience of others, a good competent
live County Farm Agent would be of
great help. According to government
statistics the average potato crop Of
Maine, where potatoes are scientifically
and Systematically raised, is about
three times that of Michigan. 1t is a
fact that our farmers are not very
prosperous as class and the farms as
rule are becoming poorer They
need the advice of experts as to the
best way to bring up their farms. Many
farmers also lack capital and if this can
be supplied on reasonable terms to
those who can and will make good use
of it, it will set them forward years of
time and contribute much to the gener-
al prosperity.
believe far too little attention has
been given to beautifying and improv-
ing our town-especially is this true of
East Jordan and Boyne City. Charlie
voiX has done much more in this direc-
ton and is well repaid for all she has
done There is nothing which will
bring better cash returns on the in
vestment than money well expended
in improving and beautfying our
homes and our streets and public
places.
With our towns made attractive with
good roads leading to the farms and
with the system of good roads now be-
gun between the towns, completed,
summer resorters would be attracted
and the time should soon come when
the shores of our beautiful lakes will
be lined with the cottages Of summer
visitors.
Speaking Of industries, | believe the
small industry, employing from 3 to IL
men, should be as heartily welcomed
and should receive as much encourage
ment as the larger, for it may be the
plant from which shall grow the great
tree. 1t is much better to have num-
ber of small diversified industries than
to have just one great one, employing
large number of men.
We may prevent largely-perhaps
entirely, the depression and loss which
naturally follows the closing of the saw
mills. Two ways are open to us-we
may drift along until the end and find
ourselves in the condition of Elk
Rapids or East Lake-or we may follow
the example of such towns as Cadillac
Which course shall we take?