Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1921-02-10


Every town has Self Made Orator
who can 60 10 the Mat with the Die
tionary on short notice and Comes in
Handy when The Regular Speaker
can't Get There.
come to Alma by giving them good
roads. Just last week a man who is
buying provisions for over one hun
dred people said to me, 81 prefer to
trade in Alma but because Of the
roads, | go to Howard City" We
should have markets that will buy
anything the farmer may have to
sell and at the best possible price
Likewise, the people about Alma
should be made to feel that this is
the best place to buy. Hundreds Of
dollars IN trade are going to other
towns because of the poor condition
Of the roads which lead out of Alma.
The city's part of this work should
not be neglected.
Some of the worst roads TO be
found anywhere are to be found
within the city and within one-half
block of our main streets. The ed
itor Of this paper told me he could
not get into his own yard because of
the condition of the road in front
Of his house and that he was COM
PEELED 70 drive TO the next corner
and drive back on the side of the
street. This condition is within a
half block of the pavement and on a
street that has been in use for thirty
years. Delivery wagons get stuck
within few blocks distance from
the Wright House. Grading and q
few einders will work wonders %
such streets.
Alma should have more factories
and industrial concerns but should
not take everything that comes along
for the sake Of locating something.
We should not forget the asset
that We have in our educational sys-
TEN. We have high-school that is
second TO none and college Of first
rank. so that people who move here
with families can start them in with
the kindergarten and continue with
their education until they have their
degree from college. Many of our
best citizens have located here. not
because of business opportunities,
but because of our educational adj
vantages. A little advertising will
bring many more.
Closely related to education is the
matter of parks and Fairgrounds.
We can not hope TO raise healthy.
rcd-blooded boys and girls on an 8
by 10 lot. A boy has the inherent
right to ask the city for enough land
so that he can bat his base ball with
all his might without feeling that he
is a criminal because he has broken
window in a nearby dwelling. Why
not give the boys and girls a swim
ming pool? Neither Fairgrounds nor
pools cost much for they are rooted
by Gods blue sky and lighted without
cost by his sun. Unless our boys
and girls can find place where they
can have good, wholesome exercise.
we will find their excess energy
breaking out in the form of crime
and depredations.
The moral and religious welfare Of
our children is a matter of vital i'm
portance. Neither the future homes
OF our country. it's business. nor its
perpetuity is assured unless we have
moral conscience Oh the part of the
public. Why are there so MANY
crimes being committed by boys and
young men? The officers of the law
tell US that it largely due to the fact
that their minds are being poisoned
by unwholesome amusements. The
antidote is evident, namely, high
grade entertainment, proper food,
and athletics for the masses and not
the classes.
With an ever increasing tax rate
and with business at low tide. the
greatest of care should be exercised
III the use of public money We are
told in "A general statemnt that from
10 to 20 per cent of the money raised
by taxation is being wasted We
should not adopt a miserly program
but very conservative one. All
leaks should be reduced TO the min
mum. There are times when the
expenditure Of little money will
prove saving. For example. the
city has recently purchased a sewer
dredge at "a cost Of about $4,000 To
leave a machine costing so much
money out in the weather the year
around would seem 20 be mistake.
\ farmer who would leave his farm
machinery out during the winter
would be criticised severely by any
up-to-date farmer. Would il not be
wise to build cheap shed for the
machinery belonging to the city? Ii
is easy 10 think that Zones pays the
freight" in the matter of public
money, but il must be remembered
that in the end it comes from the
pocket Of the individual
All propositions calling for the ex-
penditure of public money should be
very thoroughly Investigated and
thoroughly discussed from all angles
and the genral public should not be
denied part in the discussion. At
ter a policy has once been adopted
then it should rapidly be pushed TO
completion. The City Commission
and the Chamber Of Commerce |
should cooperate in the greatest pos
'sible degree as to matters Of city |
needs and city expenditures.
tPol. adv Francis f.. West.