1908-03-27; Clare Sentinel

              p
^'
<L _«"* ^i—r^-V       <sL„-s~2*
0" fP/S
SstafeltsM 1878.
Offlolal Pap©r of the City.
O&AKlt  M1OHI0AH,   FBISMT StOBIOTe, "MARCH 27, 1908.
Ne*w Series: Vol..16, No. 19
tf
<f
*\-
u
r|o)p
OlliuOlS
r*"^
KJ
rO
0
[X
^
v^
nijvlu
@ny Potass of View Taken on A©' Propositions fiw V«ing $5000 and $6000. ■
Twelve representative citizens of the .county have expressed them.
selves on the county farm question through these columns, Oommuniqa-
tiong for the remaining issue before election must be brief to secure
insertion. Some of the published letters show a discrepancy as
to the amount to be voted on. Some writers assume there is a
proposition to raiae S11000. Others by inference convey the idea that only
OSQO0 is involved. The actual resolutions to be voted on appear under signature of county clerk F. M. Morrissey on page eight of this issue. One is
to tranfer 86000 from the general fund to the county poor farm fund and the
other to bond the county for §6000. The S5000 is already in the county
treasury but under ruling of the board of supervisors, which is strictly in
accord with the new state constitution, does not become available for
county farm till the people vote it.
FOBMBR KEEPER'S OPINIOM
Editors Sentinel,—I havo resided
ia Glare countys thirty-seven, years
and have noticed closely the county's development. For three years I
was overseer of the county farm
When it was in Grout township near
Olare, Contrary to Mr. Hudson's
Statement I made that farm produce
good crops of hay, corn, potatoes
and vegetables. For the three years
the average cost per meal for the
residents on the farm waB four and
one half cents, and during that time
the average number fed, including
my family, was ten. The keeper and
wife were paid S25 per month for two-
years and S30 per month one year,
I believe Che county made a mistake in changing their poor farm
from Grant township to Harrison.
They made another mistake when
they sold the old county farm there.
They made another when they paid
81200 for 80 acres of stump land, and
they will make another if they don't
vote no on the 811,000 proposition
April 6th. J. C. Arnold.
Clare, March 23,1908.
hueoh^county's poor farm
In the discnssion of the county
farm proposition, perhaps too many
have been influenced by the experience with the county farm in this
county,
Aa far as I have observed county
farms, I believe that those counties
having large well cultivated farms
have found that they can keep their
poor better by having such farms.
I will quote from one of the Bad'
Axe papers of 1901. "Huron county
purchased a 200 acre farm in 1875 and
now the whole farm is under cultivation.
The number of inmates run from
14 to 25 the year through, and the
cost for' maintenance is S1.84 per
capita per week, but as most of the
food consumed is raised on the farm'
the direct cost is very trifling. The
only things purchased are groceries,
fuel and clothing and most of this is
paid for by produce sold from the
farm. With the exception of one
man and a boy in summer, all of the
labor is performed by the inmates."
J. Q. Roode.
SURRY FARMER SAYS NO,
Editors Sentinel,—In regards to the
proposition that is now before the
people for the decision on raising
811000 for the poor farm, would say I
am very much opposed to it. While
it is everybody's duty to povide
comfortaqle quarters for the poor, I
think it would be very unwise to
raise such a large sum of mouey to
invest in a pine stump farm.
Any one who has ever cleared a
new farm realizes that an improved
farm can be bought s great deal
cheaper. And there are lotB of good
farms in Clare county with good land,
good fair buildings and from 50 to
100 acres cleared that can be bought
for one third the amount that is now
In question, Band will be a self-supporting farm.
My idea is to vote down the $11000,
"Withdraw from the new farm now
purchased and by all means buy a
piece of good land practically free
from stumps.
I think it would be in the interest
of every taxpayer to vote no on both
propositions,
Jas. Davison
Farwell, March 23,1908,
GREENWOOD FARMER'S OPINION
Editors Sentindl,—As to the question of raising money for the poor
jlaxxn, I would like just a word.
Now the supervisors make the
statement that 85,000 has already
been raised and that only §6,000 has
yet to be raised. Does that make
the cost of the farm any less? We
And that it still makes a rather &x-
Jaorbitant price for an 80 acre farm of
tanimproved land.
How, in regard to the Belling of the
©Id  farm,  one of the   supervisors
spoke of Mr. Ooit bting unwilling to
board the poor of the county after a
reasonable time. It seems that they
should have thought of that sooner
and retained the old farm until they
could determine the will of the
people. It looks as if the deal was
made so that it would be necessary
to buy a now farm at once.
It also seemed to be the determination of at least one member to place
fine blooded stock upon the farm.
Now the cost of said stock, utensils,
manager for same has not been
reckoned, When we consider these
things we can readily agree with Mr.
Carson that the aggregate < cost will
reach 820,000, and this upon 80 acres
of land.
We can agree that it would make a
handsome home and one which many
would soon occupy should such
things continue to be forced upon
the people.
Not many of us expect to reside in
89,000 residences.
There is a remedy and that is  to
vote it down at the coming election.
Respectfully,
Morris Brown.
Harrison, March 21,1908.
FAVORS S5,000 PROPOSAL.
Editors Sentinel,—As a taxpayer
in Clare eounty I feel it my duty to
"express some of my views on the
county poor farm, proposition. In
the first place it seems to me the
county farm improvement committee
did not take sufficient time to thoroughly canvass the matter before
selecting and buying the farm they
have, and also on the amount and
kind of improvements they propose
to make. I cannot speak from personal knowledge of the piece of land
the committee has bought, but I understand it is a pine stump eighty
with no buildings on it. It may, be
fair quality of land, and tyo doubt
thousands of equally as good tracts in
our county could be bought for half
the money. Since the farm has been
bought, if the location is satisfactory
to all, the thing to do is to make tbe
most of it by proper improvements.
If however this farm turns out no
better than the two poor farms the
county has already owned in the past,
Which were poor farms in name and
in deal, we think it will be a serious mistake.
When we mention proper improve-
ments, we do not mean to say that
we think it would be well to invest
811.000 on this piece of land in build
ings and improvements. On the contrary we think it would be very unwise and unnecessary to invest this
amount of money at the present time.
If we have only ten paupej-s in the
county to care for, why do we need
all these county buildings and improvements? If the plan is to pay a
keeper a big price to board these subjects at so much per week, why not
furnish him a plain comfortable boarding house that can be built for a moderate, sum of money instead of these
expensive ouildings that will bring
nothing into the county, but rather
a constant bill of expense to keep in
repairs?
If our supervisors are to invest
large sums of the people's money,
would it not be better financiering to
put one-half or two-thirds of this
$11,000 they ask for into a good large
farm, rather than all of this money
in expensive buildings well improvements, not needed on a poor small
farm. Invested in a great farm of
large size, at moderate price, the in-;
crease in value in a few years would
amount to first cost or more. With
a farm of this kind plenty of responsible men can be found to care for*
the paupers for the use of the farm.'
A good fair manager could make it
out of the farm, and thus the question of caring for the eounty ^oor
would be .solved. I- understand this
as feeing done in other counties successfully and with proper management it can be done in our. county.
I am told by those who hay© seen
it, that the poo* farm of 320 acres, is
m fine a piece of land aa there is in
the eounty, that it fa well watered,
has quite a large improvement on it
with a good house and barn, • and is
all well fenced. I understand this
farm could have been bought for &-
bout 020 per acre. The way good
farm property is advancing there is
no doubt but this same laud will more
than double in value within the next
ten or fifteen years. On a farm of
this kind .<$ good farmer could makS
money, for he would have the land
on which to raise crops and a range
for stock besides, which he would
not have on a°farm of eighty 'acres.
Now the question is before tts, what
shall we do? I would say Vote yes
on the $6000 proposition, I understand the supervisors have this in
their hands any way.
£f on further careful consideration
of the whole question they conclude
to expend this money on the land
they have already bought, I believe
with this amount they can put up
good comfortable buildings and make
such other improvements as will
meet all requirements for the care of
our county poor for a number of
years.
Our county taxes are becoming a
serious burden, and we cannotunder-
stand how, or why, it takes so much
money to run the machinery of our
county.
The county farm improvement committee in their communication of last
week ask the question, "How many
realize that 85,000 has been raised extra for oounty farm purposes?" I am
under the Impression that those who
pay any considerable amount of taxes realize it and seriously too. Our
county tax in Surrey township the
past two or three years has been 91
cents on a hundred, and over 42 per
cent of the total tax, nearly as much
as our state, township and school
taxes put together. Our county taxes have been steadily increasing for
the past several-years and I am not
in favor of keeping on in this way.
I do not wishing to oppose any
legitimate expense or needed improvement, but according to my best
judgement and for reasons above given, I would say vote no on the question of bonding the county for 86,000
for county poor farm improvements
at this time.
J.L. Littlefleld.
Farwell, March 24, "OS.
pM
City $1,400 System Three Months
out of Commission.
For a matter of S75 the fire alarm
system that has been out of use most
of the past year can be made available for city fire protection. Of
course people have recourse to
'phones and other means as they did
in the days of the old mocking bird
whistle, but, having once had the
alarm system, in case of fire few
people now know how to give the
alarm.
The trouble is that large, heavy
wire being used for the alarm system
and being strung on telephone poles
it sags and gets mixed with tele.
phone wires. The remedy is to
stretch new lighter wire that won't
sag. The change according to com
petenfc authority can be made for S75.
The city is obligated for the alarm
system and despite all jest as to its
being a monument of someboby's
folly it ought to be utilized. That
some wafg has suggested the donation
of the fire bell for the new congregational church, whose bell except for
added sweetness it striokingly resembles, Bhould not deter the authorities from action. It is .a rather
funny proposition that although all
payments on the alarm system are
due and have been allowed by the
council not a word, according to
clerk Doherty, has been heard for
more than a year from the company.
There is S719.37 due the company.
The bell itself cost $242. Stringing
wire, putting up and taking down
bells, etc.,brought the cost up to over
SHOO. Then there are two S125 indicators which have been ordered out
for over a year but are available so
long as the company is so good to us.
The merits of the system for a town
or Clare's size is not a subject for
discussionnow, We have the system,
must foot the bills and for a matter
of S75 it ought to be put in commission at once- If the council won't
vote the funds, the mayor would be
fully justified in ordering the re-adjustment made at once.
We have a preparation which we
absolutely guarantee to kill smut in
oats,—Leffingwell & Falk.
The Star Theatre is now located in
its new home in the Dunwoodie block.
Geo. Lee, propr. 19-2
GOSTS TBI' E9UBHI90DEY
Big Items of Expenditure in City
Government,
All Namejj> Suppressed   From Financial
Annual^ Report.
The city's annual statement, on
page four of this issue shows clearly
fhe various purposes for which city
funds have been expended, most of
the funds giving tbe various sources
of income and objects of expenditure, t
The city's total income for the year
is close to $9500. The current running expenses amount to over S6Q00
leaving a balance of about S35dG that
has gone to paying debts, interest
and making improvements such as
were imperative*. Over S1000 was
paid out for interest.
The water fund shows a total expenditure for all purposes of 84195.37
Which with 8754.47 new debt for gas
producer and close to S1Q0Q interest
represents the spending the past
year of well on to 86000 on the city
municipal water system. The actual
operating expenses of the water
works plant alone are, however, only
about 81500. The income totals
81379.74 and with the gas producer
running all the year expenses will
still be lessened. L. E. Davy, however, as a member of the board of
works has kept close tab on things
and expresses the Opinion that at
present water rates and water regulations there will be little, if any, improvement in net cost to the city.
The municipal problem of water and
light is still by no means solved.
During the year it cost S1063.13 for
electric lights and close to S300 above
actual income for pumping water.
Besides this there was an added new
investment in the water system of
about S2000 besides a debt of 81,350
paid on water tower. Then if there
be included* in the calculation five
per cent interest on the 840,000 invested in the city water plant it becomes very evident that without
allowing a cent for depreceation of
plant it is costing the taxpayers of
tJlara at present an average of 8350v
per year for water and light. Evidently, therefore, tbe contracts, the
general plans, in fact the city's
whole policy with respect to water
and light have been greviously in
error somewhere.
It would seem from the foregoing
facts in comparison with similar facts
for Evart as published in these columns some weeks ago. that Clare
must go further with these two public utilities so that finally both water
and light plants shall be operated
and owned by the the city and located at the same place. Whether
lighting shall be by electricity or gas
and to what extent the city should
engage in commercial lighting are
problems for investigation. The city
has established a definite policy for
her water system. Now to make
profitable what we have the cily
should, as soon as existing conditions
permit, go a step farther and com
bine a lighting plant with the present
city water plant.   *
Last year the annual report was
made according to the charter re
quirements. Never before was it so
made and published. The democrat
leaders raised such a howl that the
city clerk, this year, not wishing to
go to the trouble of making it out as
last year and then having it rejected,
sought instructions. Thus the report
as it appears in this week's issue is
as the auditing committee, Aid. Mater
and Geeck, directed, and at the
meeting of this committee were present Mayor Benner, clerk Doherty
and treasurer Stevens. The council
accepted the report without qnestion.
The report itself is sufficiently full
for many. But it does not comply
with the city charter. No names of
persons receiving money are given*
It iB very evidently yielding to those
who, in former years having published no report of the city's business
till after election, have during the
past two years in self-justification
strenuously yelled that there was no
need of any report and now seek the
opportunity of saying, "I told you
sq," In fact it is expected that* the
fire alarm organ that yelled so loudly against such a report will now yell
in the same way for the detailed report. Should this be the case
we would congratulate Bro. Oanfield
on his conversion to publicity, not
only for Mr. Glazier and anybody
else away off, but beginning right
here at home.
None of Clare people know too
much of their city government.
General knowledge of municipal affairs is good for us all.    The  Senti
nel stands where it did two years
ago—for publicity in city affairs no
matter whether democrats or republicans are in office, for decency in
oity government, for conformity to
the city charter, and for an aggressive forward policy, not for any
clique of politicians, but for the
city's best interests.
PQLITIGAL JOTTINGS,
A. E. Mack is home from Minnesota.   * *
The gentleman who took an overv
coat from in front of Geeck Bros'
office should leave same at D.Ward's
office. „
Frank Weaver and family of .Sandusky, Ohio, are moving onto "the
farm in Arthur recently purchased
from John Harpster, ''    s
A rather savory law suit at Mt.
Pleasant this week dealt not a little
with Vernon township affairs. Edwin Russell brought suit against Jas.
Nevils for alleged slander. Many
witnesses were called. Mr. Nevils'
defence was that he never made the
alleged charges. The verdict was,
No cause for action, Dusenbury and
McNamara we're the respective attorneys. Judge Dodds presided for the
first time for months.
H. O. Daley, superintendent of
Iona schools, is the guest of P. A.
Bennett renewing memories of the
days when they were roommates at
the University. The Iona schools are
closed for two weeks making repairs
and n^any changes brought about by
an investigation following the Ooll-
ingwood school fire disaster. Mayor
Bible who spoke at the Lewis Cass
club in Olare a year or two ago and
citizens generally have been taking"
a hand for fire protection and better
facilities for the schools. „ The state
board of health inspected the school
buildings and the state sanatation
architect made a report condemning ervisor,
Facts and Incidents of tho Campaign in Township and Town
Republican city caucus nt city hall
Monday evening at eight oclock,
Isabella township republicans wilt
caucus at Maccabee' hall Rosebush-.
Monday, March 30,x one p. m.
The enrollment and registration'
board of the township, is supervisor^
clerk and treasurer. Enroll if you
wish to vote on the adoption or rejection of direct nomination for
eounty officers ApriI6th.
Incidents to the approach Of towm
meeting Sheridanites discuss roads
and poor farm at auction sales and
everywhere else. It is no unusual
sight to behold waving of arms as-
groups discuss the situation.
At town meeting this year a pew
officer, overseer of highways, is to be
elected and should be nominated at
the township caucuses. If forgotten
at the caucus the township party
committee should appoint some one
to fill the vacancy.
At this writing, before the democrat caucus Thursday evening, nobody seems to know who the city
nominees are tobe this year. Republicans freely say they believe mayor
Benner will be in the race again, de-*
spite confident assurances from various sources to the contrary.
In Greenwood some of those who
don't like the way money has been
spent for roads got together to nominate a People's ticket last Friday
only to be informed by the powerB
that be that only the republican
ticket-on which the "man without a
party" expects to be nominated sup-
is the only ticket that can be
some rooms including all basement
rooms used for class rooms. Fire
escapes for even four room buildings
are being installed. Mr. Daley says
the town is strangely stirred over securing better school facilities.
nominated. But this good advice
notwithstanding, a people's ticket
was nominated just the same. Ralph
Sprague is their candidate for supervisor and Samuel Bruce for highway
commissioner.
.*pa<3ESE233Si»SSS>«
9
inery
&
pemng
Friday and Saturday,
rch 27 and 28.
All the newest creations in Pattern and
Tailored Hats. Everyone cordially invited. No special invitations extended. Do
not forget the dates mentioned above.
FORWARD
Mi
W
m
w
m
m
???
m
w
w
m
m
1?
SX^fc&gz
S=i3S{^""-8^*-*-£*K"*-*S*fc:*S*g=-*^fc'
>—qg #Z-«i|t>< -s£J 4»m»^
jpcninj
fff-
nmsmmmmA^m
at Mrs. J'. E. Ladd's Millinery Parlors
Friday
Marci
Ladies of Clare and vicinity I will open the
spring season with the most charming and finest
display" of milliner^ ever brought to this city. A
bewildering variety of the newest patterns, colors
and styles.. •
My trimmer,. Miss Laura Sewell, is again with
me this season, 'ever* ready to please and accommodate my customers, and to give -you the very
latest from the largest millinery houses ia the
country.   Everybody cordially invited to attend.
Iff
w
•Mrst door south of Bicknell block.