Belding banner., 1916-07-26
\ NEWSPAPER MEN
INVADE NORTHERN
MICHIGAN IN BODY

CONTINUED from Page One)
ries grown in the region. They were
then driven over the peninsula,
through some of the finest fruit farms
in the state and back to Traverse
City. In the evening they attended
performance at the new Lyric
theatre, especially arranged for their
benefit by the Chamber of Commerce.
The first stop after the start from
Grand Rapids was made at Cedar
Springs, which appeared to the thirs-
ty travellers like an oasis in the des-
ert, for from the freight house plat
form, G.. A. Link, editor of the Cedar
Springs Liberal, dispensed ice cold le-
monade with the assistance of Mayor
Skinner, who cordially welcomed the
members of the association and ex-
pressed regret that they could not
stay longer.
Swinging onto a siding at Sand
Lake, surprise awaited the crowd in
the shape of fresh buttermilk served
by the creamery, representative of
which passed through the train while
it awaited the meeting of south
bound passenger train. This grace
full attention was greatly appreciated.
where under the supervision of ]. b.
Haskins, editor of the Howard City
Record, and president of the Howard
City Board of Trade, elaborate pre-
parations had been made for the COM
fort and entertainment of the visit
ors. On the arrival of the special
train at o'clock, about thirty-fve
automobiles met the guests and took
them for a 12-mile ride among Mont
calm county farms, developed and un-
developed lands, and this gave the
newspaper people a fine chance to
make an impartial survey of the op-
portunities there. Some as fine farms
as any in the state are located east
of the city.
James Stephens Haskins and Harry
Simkins were dressed up in costume
as regular printers little DEVILS"
and as the people stepped off the
train these lads handed them pro-
grams for the day. The youngsters
made hit and excited lot of COM
ment.
The first night out was spent at
this place and after a fine supper
served by the ladies in the M. K.
church meeting was held in the Con-
gregational church auditorium. 1t
was the unanimous decision that the
supper and its service was a really
wonderful demonstration of resource
fulness and the go-ahead spirit which
has placed Howard City on the map
right. An evening meeting at the
Congregational church at 8 o'clock
was presided over by j. b. Haskins.
The address of real welcome was de-
livered by that pioneer resident, War
rem B. Lisk, and responded to by f..
b. Blett, president of the association.
Mayor j. III. Prout gave a straight
from the shoulder exposition of Mont
calm county's part in the states de-
velopment. 1t was full of the spirit
of cooperation and energy, which is
making Montcalm one Of the most
prosperous counties of the state. Paul
Leake, vice president of the associa-
ton, briefly responded to "West Mich
igan"-the Kingdom of Plenty" Hon.
G.. j. Diekema, responding to "The
Things We Would Like to See," set
before his audience high ideal of
citizenhip, an ideal he is confident
will be realized in Michigan.
1t fas at Howard City that the edi-
tors were given an opportunity to in
spect the experimental farm loacated
two miles north of the city. The COM
pany owns thousands of acres of light
farm land and demonstration is be-
ing made to test out its productive
qualities. These farms are intend
ed to be educational institutions ana
to demonstrate by experiments and
otherwise just what the land will do
under average normal conditions. The
farm comprises 80 acres, 40 of which
have been cleared and under cultiva-
tion and shows that with proper care
the sand farm can be made produc-
tive. Corn, wheat. oats, rye, clover,
cucumbers, small fruits, a young or
chard of apples. pears, peaches and
plums, all look vigorous and with fer
tilizing conditions show most gratify-
ing results. Fine wells of water at
107 feet depth give a good supply and
will be forced into the buildings from
a pressure tank.
The company seems to have recog-
nized one of the first principles that
must be met in the "Btay y-on-the-
farm" and "back-to-the farm" move
ment-that of more attractive and
more sanitary home living conditions.
Another very interesting feature of
the farm is the Community Grove,
comprising about five acres, which
has been reserved exclusively for pic
MICS and other community meetings.
The farmers and merchants have got