The following news items are reprinted from the Manistee Daily News from 100 years ago and are compiled by Teena Kracht from the newspaper archives of the Manistee County Historical Museum.

“TORONTO, Canada, Oct. 6. — Twenty dead, 6,000 homeless, eight towns in complete ruin and damage amounting to probably $10,000,000 is the incomplete toll of a terrific multiple forest fire which swept the district of Teniskaming ... .

“Road construction in Manistee county is continuing steadily. Two important Pike projects are the turn approaching Merritt’s hill and a stretch on top of the hill ...  

“Because of the fact that Manistee county has no concrete road projects, the cement shortage is not being felt ... .

“Property owners who have maple trees which they think are diseased are offered the opportunity to have the trouble remedied. 

See the full 100 Years Ago section at manisteenews.com

“The civic committee of the Lakeside club is endeavoring to obtain the names of all who have trees they wish examined ... A representative of the state forestry department will be brought here to inspect the trees and explain treatments. 

“Mrs. S. W. Baker, 545 Maple St., will receive the names of those who want their trees examined. It is understood that maple tree diseases have gained a strong foothold in Manistee, and every effort will be made to save the trees. 

“Because of their fine showing at Cadillac some time ago, about 30 boys of the Salvation Army corps, under the supervision of Capt. Youngman, will go to Grand Rapids to attend the State Conference of Young People which will be held there Saturday and Sunday and also to compete in drills, calisthenics and general gym work ... 

“The expenses of the trip will be paid by the divisional commander, who felt that the local boys, after carrying away the honors at the Cadillac meeting, should be given a chance to compare their skill with the boys from the lower part of the state. 

“Approximately 50,000 motor vehicle owners have failed to comply with the state certificate of title law, according to the records of the Department of State. Among these 50,000 are quite a number from Manistee, for although the majority of car owners here have secured their certificates, there are still some who have neglected to do so, police officials say.

“ ... No particular effort, however, is being made by the department to apprehend violators as it is figured owners will be compelled to procure certificates before January or go without license plates next year. The certificates are good for the life of the car. 

“Approximately 3,000 paid up certificates are on file in the department for which owners cannot be located ... When certificates were mailed it was found the wrong addresses had been given. Persons who have applied and have failed to receive their certificates may be able to locate them by inquiry ... .

“What’s Doing In Our Schools.

“High School. The enrollment in the high school ... is 16 per cent greater  than the enrollment a year ago. This makes two years in succession that the increase has been sixteen per cent ... Should the school experience another sixteen per cent increase in another year it would mean an enrollment of 454 students ... Such an enrollment would mean a radical change in the organization of the high school because it is now running at capacity, using every room each period during the day, and six teachers are compelled to shift to different rooms during the days work, in order to make accommodations for all classes ... 

“The University of Michigan is making a study this year of the status of English in the first year of the high schools of the state ... This study gives all first year students three tests: one a reading test, an English Form test, and a grammar test. The Manistee high school will take part ... 

“The senior class has definitely decided to publish a high school annual ... The class is to be commended for its progressiveness in the undertaking. The final product is sure to be meritorious ... 

“The High School takes this means of expressing its gratitude to the business men of the city who have so willingly assisted the various teams in their activities. The Famous 99 ... The Lyric ... Harry Aarons ... Mertens ... Frank’s ... Manistee County Savings Bank ... Lyman Drug ... The high school thanks them for this co-operation ... 

“All English classes this week have been making fire prevention the subject of their themes. In conjunction with this each student is filling out the fire prevention blanks furnished by the Board of Commerce ... 

“Thirty boys are reporting for (football) practice this year ... Mr. Wengler, instructor in science, is assisting ... Coach White.

“Joe Zielinski was chosen high school yell master ... 

“Prin. S. H. Lyttle has been elected secretary of the northwestern Michigan Athletic association ... .

“Grant School. At one o’clock on Tuesday the Departmental pupils ... listened to a most inspiring talk on ‘Vocations’ by Supt. Klager ... 

“The work of English in the Departmental this year embraces the study of literature, its development and interpretation. The seventh grade classes will take up the study of Washington Irving’s ‘Legend of Sleepy Hollow;’ the eighth grades will make a detailed study of ‘The Great Stone Face,’ during the month of October. 

“‘Fire Prevention Week’ is being observed ... A fire drill was given ... Circulars explaining the precautions to be used during a fire have been given out to the pupils and blanks have been filled out by them ... 8th grade compositions are being prepared ... which will be entered into the prize contest offered by the Board of Commerce. 

“Lincoln School. A number of children took advantage of the half holiday Friday to attend the Fair.

“(At the) Second Library Day ... Miss Froberg reports 100 books taken out ...  “The children of the grammar grades are very interested in studying the peanut plant. Most of the children were very surprised to learn that peanuts grew in the ground and not like fruit ... 

“Washington School. Our enrollment this year is ... kindergarten ... 18; first grade ... 28; second and third grades ... 32; fourth grade ... 23; sixth grade ... 29 (fifth grade — T. K.). Our total enrollment is 130. 

“While a number of other towns in this vicinity are reporting a gasoline shortage, Manistee has more than enough to meet its demands ... .

“A complete fire alarm system, including the sending box and receiving bell, was installed today on the Lyric stage. A demonstration will be given tonight (between the first and second shows) by Fire Chief William Hansen in connection with the fire prevention movement ... .

“Noah Little says: A real homely man has to grin and bear it — the girls can go to the drug store. 

“Heza Dumbbell thinks a justice of the peace ended the world war. And that Luther Burbank discovered the Ford plant.

“P. P. Schnorbach is recovering from an operation which he underwent at Mercy hospital yesterday morning.

“Prin. S. H. Lyttle, manager of the high school football teams, has announced that the second team of the school will accompany the first team next Saturday to Ludington and there will play the second team of the Ludington High school. 

“Red Cross and Social Service headquarters have been moved two doors north on Maple street into the rooms formerly occupied by the Pilot club rest rooms.  

“On Sunday, Oct. 8, 1871, Manistee was being destroyed by flames that would not be extinguished. 

“In contrast, tomorrow, Oct. 8, 1922, fifty-one years afterward, Manistee pastors, in handsome churches that have risen out of the ruins, will deliver a message of fire prevention. This will climax Fire Prevention week which ends Monday, Oct. 9 ... .

“Nine automobiles filled with close to 40 Manistee merchants, will leave Monday on the first lap of the semi-annual trade tour. Every town and village within a radius of 40 miles will be visited to spread the gospel of ‘Buy in Manistee.’

“The trade tour will cover a period of two days ... .

“NOTICE to our Gas and Elecrtic Customers. 

“We are making a house to house inspection of all homes in Manistee for the purpose of improving service to our customers. 

“Our inspector will check the condition of all of your gas and electric appliances as well as fixtures and wiring and make minor repairs at no cost to the customer. 

“His call is solely in the interest of better service. He is not a salesman and has nothing to sell. 

“If you will give him the opportunity we feel sure the adjustments he will make and the advice he will give you will be helpful to you. 

“Consumers Power Co. C. S. KRESSLER, District Manager. 

“Another open air radio concert will be given Saturday night by Harley Harris, from his shop at west River street. The concert last Saturday night drew quite a crowd. 

“Mr. Harris will experiment with a receiving set that is as up-to-date as it is possible to make it. It is equipped with five audion bulbs ...  “The set used last week had four bulbs, but it was able to pick up messages as far west as the Rocky Mountains and as far south as the Gulf of Mexico. The range of the set to be tried tonight is even greater ... . 

“Oakley Thompson, owner of the beach pavilion, this afternoon decided to cancel the dance which he had planned for tonight. The weather is too unfavorable for dancing under the open air conditions at the pavilion. 

“The pavilion, however, will not be closed for some time. Dances will be given as the weather permits.

“The beach pavilion enjoyed a highly successful season ... .

“Golf clubs and men’s knickers are now giving way to the shotgun and the canvas coat. 

“Many a wonderful moon with its lights shining on Lake Michigan beach has grieved over a lack of attention. 

“Now that the hay fever season has departed, a sneeze can be regarded as a genuine criterion of an approaching cold. 

“Patrons of the barber shops are remarking over the improved quality of their tonsorial work since the long skirts went into vogue. 

“FRANKFORT, Oct. 9. — With a shrieking of horns signaling their departure, seven automobiles, carrying 23 business men, left Manistee early this morning upon the semi-annual trade tour to surrounding towns and villages.

“The tourists pulled into Frankfort this noon for luncheon at 11:30 after a busy morning boosting Manistee, its products, industries and sales offerings to the residents of the various communities visited ... 

“The tour holds every promise of success. The merchants are finding the residents of the communities visited extremely receptive to the arguments used ‘Why You Should Trade in Manistee.’ 

“The whole country (county?) seems prosperous and unaffected by the clouds of gloomy business conditions which have been spread by the country’s leading financiers ... .

“Playing in a rain and on a wet field, which slowed up the game considerably, the Manistee high school football eleven lost its first game of the season Saturday afternoon at Sands park to the Hart high school team, 19 to 6 ... .

“Arrested in their drive on the Onekama highway by a glow of red from the roadside, Mr. and Mrs. F. Y. Rice, together with relatives, checked their car and found a large bush of wild raspberries bearing delicious fruit. 

“Several branches were picked by the tourists and Mrs. Rice was proudly exhibiting her ‘October 8th’ raspberries to her friends today. 

“Despite the inclement weather Sat., workers in the Mercy Hospital tag day drive netted approximately $400 from the sale of tags. It is believed that when all the reports are collected, the sum will run well over $600 added together with those funds taken in from the drive held during the Manistee county fair. 

“The money ... will be used to replenish the hospital stocks and purchase new apparatus ... 

“Members of the hospital staff were jubilant ... and desired to thank both the giving public and the women who assisted in selling the tags.

“In spite of the contrary weather conditions Saturday night, Harley Harris of the Manistee Electric company was able to give the large crowd which had assembled in front of his place a satisfactory radio concert. The various numbers would have been clearer, except for what is known as ‘grinder static.’ 

“As it was, Harley tuned in with Pittsburgh, which gave the world’s series baseball score play by play. Most of the musical numbers came from St. Louis, Mo., with Louisville, Kentucky, now and then heard from. 

“Mr. Harris stated today that these Saturday night concerts will be a regular feature throughout the winter. Cold weather is an ideal condition for radio transmissions ... .

“To keep it bobbed or let it grow, that is the question. 

“Many a crooked landlord owns a square block.

“Our money will soon be printed on a better grade of paper, but it won’t last us any longer. 

“The slogan ‘Buy in Manistee’ was stamped on every town and settlement within a radius of 40 miles north of the city and covering linear territory of 200 miles when Manistee business men yesterday conducted another successful trade tour in connection with exploitation of ‘Dollar Day’ to be held here Thursday, Oct. 19. This was the first lap, the other being held today, covering the region between Manistee and Ludington.

“The tour was marked by excellent weather and good fortune. There was not an accident to mar the trip, or even the semblance of motor trouble or a puncture. All in all it was a pleasant jaunt as well as a trade booster ... .

“As a sequel to the offer to the city several weeks ago of the tracks of the Manistee Railway company embedded in the pavement, City Attorney Howard L. Campbell last night at Ludington secured from Judge Hal L. Cutler a temporary injunction restraining the company and Miller Bros., local junk dealers, from removing or disposing of any of the rails within the city ...  

“Action to secure the injunction was hurried by the fact that work had already been commenced in tearing up the tracks in Filer City by Miller Brothers ... 

“The petition requested that ‘the Manistee Railway company and Miller Brothers be restrained from tearing up, removing or disposing of or dismantling in any manner what property of the company is within the city or of the street car tracks within the corporate limits, until the company shall satisfy the city that it is financially able to repair the street roadbed within the city in the places designated.’

“In the announcement today by L. Hallet Peterson, secretary and general manager of the Manistee Shirt company, that excavations have begun for a new building, the remarkable growth of Manistee’s infant industry is revealed ... 

“The new building will be situated in ... the space that would be Second street if it continued through from Cypress to Sibben street ... 

“A feature of the new plant which will prevent any opposition to its being in a residence district will be a smokeless boiler for the power plant. 

“The present production of the ... company is 125 dozen a day, with an employment force of 80. When the new plant is in operation, in a location more easily accessible to female help, the employment force will be increased to 200 and the output should be 300 dozen shirts a day ... .

“According to a statement this noon by Fire Chief William Hansen, the buildings in the business section on River street so far inspected for fire hazards, have all been found in very good condition ... .

“Many of the Manistee motorists who had to fill their gas tanks this morning had the happy surprise of being asked two cents a gallon less than yesterday at both the Standard Oil and Northern Oil filling stations.

“The reduction was announced by both companies yesterday and was effective this morning ... .

“Beginning tomorrow, the high school students will launch an active and intense ticket selling campaign for the Traverse City-Manistee football game which will be played this year in Manistee at Sands park on Armistice Day, Nov. 11.

“At this game a Winchester repeating shotgun will be given away, same as was done last year ... 

“The price of a ticket is 50 cents, the purpose of the drive is to secure sufficient funds for athletic activities of the high school, and thus keep the management from the role of beggar.

“A campaign is necessary because the games are played on an open field where the collection of admissions is next to impossible ... Altogether, 700 tickets are to be sold. 

“Hot Soda Treats. When you are out shopping, or on a ‘frosty’ ramble, — or just for the fun of the thing, stop at our fountain and try a good hot soda: chocolate, coffee, bouillon and other combinations, all piping hot, sweetened to the queen’s taste or spiced as you prefer. Crackers and wafers served free. City Drug Store ... .

“AT THE COZY ... Something entirely new of all other pictures. The Latest BABY MARIE OSBORNE in ‘Shadows and Sunshine’ (and) TOM SANTCHI at his best in ‘The Secret of Butt Ridge’ BUT THE COMEDY! Hal Roach comedies make the world laugh ... An hour and a half performance for 5 cents and 15 cents. 

“As Noah Heap puts it: Time killed stays dead. 

“Noah Little says: He who has good health is rich though he may not know  it. 

“The admittance of two more students to high school classes yesterday has brought the total attendance to date up to 395.  

“Charles S. Kressler, manager of the Manistee Railway company, a co-defendant in a temporary injunction restraining the company and Miller Bros., to whom the street car rails had been sold, from removing the tracks within the city limits, stated last night that he would confer today with city attorney Howard Campbell ...  “Work will be continued, nevertheless, he said, in tearing up the rails outside the city. 

“The Manistee County Agricultural society’s request for an appropriation of $999 for improving the grounds and buildings of the county fair premises at Onekama, made a special order of business at the board of supervisors’ meeting, ... brought out a large delegation of agriculturists interested in the project.

“Hans Wendel, spokesman for the party ... recounted some of the more immediate needs of the association, and pointed with pride to this year’s fine fair achievement. The 1922 fair, with receipts of $3,978.12 and expenses of $3,761.75 made good financially, showing a credit balance of $216.27.

“This amount, it was pointed out, is nowhere near sufficient to meet pressing needs for improvements, but with the amount petitioned for it was felt that very essential repairs could be made and the fair as a county institution placed on a higher plane and made a greater credit to the communities it represents ... 

“ ... The sentiment of the majority (of the supervisors) was that the finance committee was the proper channel for action, ... the finance committee promising an early report.

“Details of how Capt. August E. Anderson, Manistee skipper, passed away were received here today from Buffalo, New York

“Capt. Anderson dropped dead at the wheel of the boat he was steering, at 2 o’clock yesterday morning, near Pendleton,  New York His mate was in the cabin and saw him topple over. 

“The mate took the wheel and steered the boat into Lockport,  New York, where the body was taken in charge by the coroner ... Heart trouble was ascribed as the cause of death ... .

“With a roll of drums and din of automobile horns, the Manistee Merchants — Bigger — Better — Busier — Business — Pilgrims left yesterday morning on their last tour of the surrounding territory before Dollar Day ... .

“Lyric Theatre ... House Peters IN ‘The Storm’ WHAT WOULD YOU DO? If You were a young girl And a tremendous blizzard Forced you to remain For three months Shut up in a cabin Up in the North Woods Hundreds of miles Away from civilization Alone with a rugged woodsman And a polished gentleman Both professing love for you And there was no possible Chance of escape Nor communication with the outside world And you knew If you admitted love For one — it meant The other would KILL him. Would You Do What the French Canadian Girl Did? ‘THE Storm’ ... .

“Mrs. Frances King beautifully entertained the English Travel club Monday at her home on Third street with a party day program. Mrs. Helen Ramsdell Dempsey, a guest of the club, gave a charming account of her year’s sojourn in England, and her recent auto tour through England. 

“After elaborate refreshments, a nicely concealed ‘souvenir’ pie was opened by each pulling her chosen ribbon at a given signal. It revealed beautiful southern treasures, picked by Mrs. King for club friends during her winter visit in Florida ... .

“Mesdames W. J. Gregory and Frank White will entertain the History club tomorrow afternoon at the latter’s home on Cedar street in honor of a former member, Mrs. Helen Ramsdell Dempsey, who is here visiting. 

“Dr. and Mrs. Homer Ramsdell entertained two tables of bridge last evening at their home on Oak street. 

“Mrs. J. W. Murray and Mrs. Lucy Ramsdell arrived this morning from a several weeks trip in northern Wisconsin. 

“Mrs. Helen Ramsdell Dempsey arrived Saturday from England where she has been living the past year, to visit her mother, Mrs. T. J. Ramsdell, Cedar street. 

“The Junior Birthday club will be the guests of Mrs. Charles G. Bigge, Saturday afternoon celebrating Mrs. Robert Ramsdell’s birthday. 

“Mrs. Louis S. Ramsdell entertained the Fortnightly club this afternoon at her home, 418 Fifth street.

“Plans are announced for another series of dances during the winter in Masonic temple. Last year the Chapter conducted the series for Chapter members only. This year, feeling that all Masons should be permitted to attend these dances, the Chapter has turned the arrangements over to the Blue Lodge which has organized a Masonic Dance club ... .

“ ... You will find in Munsingwear everything that can be expected of underwear. Munsingwear for Ladies and Misses: Ladies’ Fleece Lined Vests and Pants ... Wool Vests and Pants ... Fleeced Union Suits ... Wool Union Suits ... Silk and Wool Suit — this style is low neck — no sleeves and tight knee ... 

“Munsingwear comes in many different styles, such as low neck and high neck, ankle length and knee length, elbow sleeves, long sleeves and no sleeves. 

“You will find just what you need from our complete stock ... E. E. WELLMAN. THE FAMOUS 99 Department Store. Price — Service — Quality. 

“Dancing at Lake Shore Pavilion, Wednesday night, Oct. 11. “Get thin to Music. Thor’s Music Shop.  “Dance K. C. Hall Columbus Day, Oct. 12, from 9 to 12. Tickets 75 cents.  “Dance at Newland Thursday Evening. Good Music. Everybody Welcome.  “Dance at Parkdale Saturday night. Bus service. Given by the Irishman and the Swede. 

“Manistee high school football eleven will play its first game away from home Saturday with the Ludington high school team ... There seems to be no reason why the local team should not be able to bring home the bacon Saturday, as Ludington, according to beatings given ... in past games, seems to be very weak ... At Traverse, Ludington got a 43 to 0 beating and last Saturday at Cadillac was handed a 40 to 0 defeat ... . 

“Sheriff E. M. Hallock, assisted by John Lamrock, Manistee county’s official dog killer, is carrying on his dog tax collection campaign ... 

“In the territory covered so far, only about 25 dogs have been killed by Lamrock, the rest of the dog owners who have been delinquent in paying their fees showing an eagerness to pay as soon as the sheriff presents the tax statement ... .

“Last winter’s coat, smelling of mothballs, is becoming a welcome article of wearing apparel. 

“Trees and underbrush, colored in vivid tints of red, orange and yellow, make the scenery along any road hereabouts unusually beautiful now. 

“Announcement has been made by Captain Youngman of the local Salvation Army post, that the boys from the Salvation Army Boys’ corps have volunteered to go out into the woods for wood for any poor families in the city this winter who may need such fuel. 

“Regarding the story that Muskegon rented chairs at 10 cents each to delegates to the state Republican convention, the Muskegon Chronicle says: ‘When they started the speechmaking campaign the other day we became pretty peeved because those in charge had not rented beds instead.’  “As Noah Heap puts it: Whitewash only covers a black mark. The mark’s still there. 

“A remarkable agency ... was the way Sec. George O. Nye of the Board of Commerce today characterized the two-day trade tour of Manistee business men ... 

“‘This is the first trade tour of Manistee merchants that your new secretary of the Board of Commerce (Mr. Nye) has ever had the privilege of working with and enjoying,’ he said today. ‘Manistee merchants have the right idea. 

“‘ ... The trade tour is only one of the many ways whereby Manistee’s merchants can reach out into new fields of business.’

“ ... In a direct message to Manistee merchants he said: ‘Do you realize that buyers are coming from a great distance to your city? You can thank the automobiles for part of the sales. But the attractive store, attractive prices, with enlarged lines of merchandise carried by the business houses and cordial treatment of the employes that meet the customer, are the main reasons for the new customers’ faces in your stores ... ’

“For the future of Manistee, he suggests this as the motto: ‘For Manistee, to make it a bigger, better and busier city.’ 

“Manistee’s famous ‘spite fence’ is gone. 

“With the purchase by Stacy Thompson from Frank Klotz, 513 First St., of the 26 by 40 foot lot at the northeast corner of Masonic temple, the fence which had stood for 40 years was removed. 

“Klotz erected the forbidding-looking fence, he claimed, as an obstruction against throwing refuse on his property ... 

“Six years ago an effort was made by the city to remove the ‘spite fence’ on the grounds that it was a fire hazard, but without success ... 

“Recently Klotz was induced to sell out, and forthwith the ‘spite fence’ disappeared. 

“A warning was again given yesterday morning to automobile owners never to work on a car while the motor is running, in a closed garage, when Edward W. Cunningham, an engineer living at Oak HIll, nearly caused his own death ... (when) fumes from the exhaust pipe filled the garage, causing Cunningham to be overcome by the gas fumes.

“Had his wife not gone to the garage ... to look for him, Mr. Cunningham might not have recovered. He was in serious condition when she found him, but immediate restoration efforts by Dr. McKay, who was called, revived the victim.

“He is recovering from the mishap. 

“Harvest Supper M. E. Church FRIDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 13, AT 6:30. MENU: Chicken Pie, Squash, Mashed Potatoes, Pickles, Baked Apple, Jelly, Pumpkin Pie, Cheese, Doughnuts, Coffee. No charge will be made. Free will offering will be taken. EVERYONE INVITED. Come and bring your friends.

“That the railroad car shortage throughout the state is more serious than generally believed is shown by recent developments in marine circles. 

“Both the Pere Marquette Line steamers and the Michigan Transit lines are handling capacity shipments, providing Manistee and other northwestern points with excellent service in spite of the railroad situation ... .

“A Health Crusade has been started in all of the city schools ...  “Health chore cards and class enrollment charts have been received ... Supt. Benjamin Klager expects that during the next week the enrollment in the Health Crusade work will reach the 1000 mark. “In the first three grades, the children are making health posters illustrating the Health Crusade chores, including teeth brushing, finger-nail cleaning, washing hands regularly, etc. 

“Favorite topics are ‘I brush my teeth every day,’ ‘I sleep with the windows open,’ and ‘I wash my hands before every meal’ ... .

“Columbus Day today was ushered in with snow. The Coast Guard station ... reported the first snow of the season at 7 o’clock.

“Chas. S. Kressler, manager of the Consumers Power company, returning early this morning from a business trip to Cadillac, about 2 o’clock ran into a snowstorm east of Wellston. The windshield of his car was covered so thickly that the road ahead was barely visible through it ... . 

“Noah Little says: Expecting nothing is an excellent way to get it. 

“Beware! The day of dread draws nigh. Tomorrow is Friday, the 13th. 

“Kids are already ransacking the closets and garrets in anticipation of Halloween. 

“As Noah Heap puts it: Some men’s minds are just like a pint of cider in a washtub — broad enough but not very deep. 

“People who see something comical in desperate situations will look forward this winter to watching a piccolo player perform with mittens on. 

“No matter how long they make the skirts now, everybody knows who the bow-legged and knock-kneed girls are. 

“(Editorial) ATHLETIC EXERCISE FOR GIRLS. 

“There has been much discussion among physicians and parents as to how far the most active physical exercises and games are suited to women and girls. Some have felt that serious harm resulted in many cases from such vigorous sports. Others have argued that the women of primitive ages were able to do just as hard work as men, and that in time the modern woman would be able to take her full part in physical effort alongside of men. One would like to believe the latter theory, as if correct it means a tremendous gain in the capacity of the race. 

“A careful investigation of this subject has been made the past summer by the Royal College of Preceptors of England, which suggest that considerable caution is still needed in encouraging girls and young women to go in for violent exercise. Their report, however, is quite favorable to playing of lawn tennis, basket ball, and golf and various other games. 

“Swimming was approved also, but it should be strictly supervised, on account of the strain it puts on the heart. Racing in rowing was condemned by the majority of doctors. 

“The ill effects of active games were found in almost all cases to be due to lack of thorough medical examination. It is true of both boys and girls that they ought to have a very careful going over by competent doctors before entering the more vigorous sports. 

“While millions of women do a lot of hard physical work, still on the whole the life of the sex has not been such as to develop physical strength. Naturally not many of them can as yet take up the harder sport that young men enjoy. But women are steadily growing in muscular and physical power. These gains they will transmit to their offspring, who perhaps some day can attempt about the same things that the men do. 

“In the perpetual call for new industries Manistee is overlooking a feature of her improvement that should receive earnest consideration — downtown parks. Manistee, unlike other cities in this section, has not one downtown park. Except for private property, it hasn’t even an attractive square. 

“Cadillac has spent a large amount of money on its downtown park. Recently the citizens held a ‘bee’ to repair the damage caused by the sleet storm of February 22. Ludington and Traverse City also take a distinct pride in their parks. 

“When the city commission approved the tax budget last month, they provided for a sum with which to build a road along Fifth avenue beach and replenish the fund for the maintenance of Sands and Reitz park, both of which amounts are justified. 

“But there was no fund established for opening a downtown park or a public square near the business district. The commissioners cannot be criticized for overlooking this matter. It has never been agitated. Furthermore, the commissioners must accede to the demand for lesser taxes. That this was accomplished, there is no question. At the same time some deserving public improvements will be made next year. 

“There are several fine sites close to the business district which could be converted into attractive small parks or squares at a nominal cost. The tearing down of the building on Maple Street, opposite the post office (today’s city hall), has created a spot that if developed along park lines would make that section of Maple Street the finest in the city with handsome public buildings on all sides. At present it is disfigured with a lurid billboard and a heap of broken plaster. 

“It is strange that the south bank of Manistee river, at the bend, where the First street road passes nearby, has not been converted into a park. Any other city with a site like that would have transformed it into a thing of beauty so quickly that it would have appeared as a feat of magic. Bay City, for instance, while not otherwise a beautiful city, utilized the space between a business street and the Saginaw river for just such a purpose. A philanthropic inclined citizen donated a huge pavilion, which rests next to a concrete dock for pleasure craft. 

“A little money spent on the old market site would soon hide its present ugly appearance. The Standard Oil company showed what it could do in that respect on the opposite corner. 

“Then there is the vacant terrace on River Street, directly east of Kann’s garage, which offers an ideal location for a park along the river and at the same time in the business district. 

“For any who care to know whether or not it is possible to develop these sites, the park of Dr. Szudrawski, on the river at the foot of Greenbush street, is suggested. The doctor’s handsome park is too well known to require further description or comment.

“The Pere Marquette Line Steamers company has produced an attractive spot above its warehouse. In the summer, the big hedge of roses is one of the scenic points of the city. 

“These are concrete illustrations of what can be done with a little initiative, the same appreciation of beauty that we all have, and a small amount of money. 

“If the commissioners were presented with a petition signed by a majority of the citizens asking for one or two downtown parks or squares, there is no doubt that they could turn the trick at a minimum increase in the taxes of each property owner.