Year: 1876

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For sometime past there has been con-
siderable interest awakening regarding
present and prospective suffering by the
homesteaders settled in this and Emmett
counties during the winter. Emmett coun-
ty was the firStto take action in the matter,
the result of which has already been given
in the TRIBUNE. Considerable interest.
has been awakened in this county by the
reports of want which have come i'm.
Knowing the generous nature of our cit
izens, and feeling confident that no
worthy person who had settled in this
county would be allowed to suffer, we
have endeayores! TO ascertain as nearly
as possible the exact condition of affairs.
In comparison 10 Emmet county there
arc few honest eaders i'll this county, but
OF course county lines should not be
taken into consideration in aiding the
needy, except that the work is divided
up, and the relief committee of Petoskey
is expected to look after the wants OF the
residents Of that county


The causes which have led to these
people being in want can be explained in
Il few words. They came upon their
homesteads during tlE past spring and
summer, most of them from other avo-
cations in life, and used to. the comforts
| of life, which any laboring men can Sc
cure in this country by the use of his
hands. They did not get here time
enough to put any crops into the ground,
and their little savings, and many of
them had none, were soon exhausted.
The country being filled up with so
many of this class, none being able to
give employment to others, the result
cannot be other than that much suffering
will exist unless relieved by the benevo-
lent. -.-


This is one side of the story. and APP
peals very strongly to our sympathies,
but like everything else, there is another
side to the question. Our observation
has led us 10 believe that very many OF
them are shiftless, and will not work as
long as they can secure a living without
it. We do not think tits charity TO help
such as these. The writer has travelled
through these homestead settlements
every few weeks during the past
year, and has watched the rapid set
tlement of the country. There are
many settlers who have been upon their
homesteads from four to six months and
year who, aside from the necessary
trees cut for their houses and for wood
have not cleared an acre of land. If they
have been working away from home
; they certainly should earn enough tC
support their families, if they haye no
done this, apparently they, have don'
nothing, and deserve very little at th'
, hands of the benevolent. o2 o&
1t is reported that there is destitutior
and suffering among the new settlers OIL
the other side of Burt lake, in this county
This settlement is within easy reach Of ;
number of logging camps, where, i


they made their wants known, they


would probably secure employment.


If there are any worthy destitute il
: our midst they should be relieved, ant
no matter what the men may be, tn


women and children should not be allow


ed to suffer, but we believe some plal
, should be adopted, whereby their need


Investigated, and aid could be bestowet


among the deserving.


We see no other way to do this salts


factorily but to send some person or per
: SONS TO look about few days anon;
S them. The reports of desiitution ma


not be exaggerated in the least. Some i'm


mediate action should be taken by on
: citizens that what they do will be don
: lintelligently and with a certainty tha
their charity will be worthily bestowed
/ Already two meetings have been calles


but for want of proper notice there hav
i not been enough present to take such az
I tion as would seem desirable. Ther


should be a meeting called soon, an


some definite plan of operations decide


upon.