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Along The Ann Arbor

Along The Ann Arbor image
Parent Issue
Day
28
Month
July
Year
1899
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

ALONG THE ANN ARBOR

PLEASANT SUMMER RESORTS ARE FOUND.

Happy Buelah Described - the Trip of the Car Ferry and Notes of Travel.

On Ann Arbor train, July 25. The view of Crystal Lake from the car window this morning fully sustained all the enthusiastic remarks that one constantly hears from those who have camped along its shores or stopped at Beulah. Its fresh clear, light green, stretching away to the north west in the bright sunlight, framed by high shores covered with evergreens must be seen to be appreciated. Then when in addition to all these natural beauties, it is known that the lake is teeming with fish of all kinds, you can readily comprehend that Beulah is an ideal summer resort for people who wish to get away from style and enjoy nature. There are also small lakes in the neighborhood with many noted brook trout streams. The number of resorters this year has doubled over last year, Toledo being particularly well represented. Adam Deckert and wife, of Owosso, formerly of Ann Arbor, have a cottage here. They have come up here for many years. Several university professors own a piece of land near the outlet and expect to build. The project of forming a U. of M. resort association on the plan of Bay View without the latters alleged educational features, is on foot. The idea is to form a sylvan camp with just enough conveniences to make it pleasant and be surrounded by friends and neighbors and old graduates who have common bond of sympathy.

We returned this morning from Menominee on car ferry No. 3. In going over yesterday we passed through Sturgeon Bay canal. The views along the canal, including the city of Sturgeon Bay and the islands were very pretty. The birds were singing merrily along the banks. This is a difficult run, as the canal is not very wide and the channel in the river is not wide although the expanse of water is. The boat had to run slow and it was with great skill that Capt. Robertson guided the boat to just the right spot. The cities of Menominee and the Marienette first become visible by the smoke arising from their 17 steam saw mills. The towns have a very thrifty appearance. Their population together numbers 36,000. There are many pretty residences on both sides of the river. The view of the river with the hundreds of electric lights of the various mills, with an occasional boat passing with the lights reflecting on the water was beautiful. It was 11 o'clock when the big car ferry left the slip without a jar, so quietly that it was difficult to detect that it was moving. We sat on deck until very late enjoying the beautiful moon light only wishing that we had all of our friends with us to also enjoy the scene. It is no wonder that early French Catholic fathers had their missionary zeal quickened by the beauties of nature around them when paddling along the shores of Green Bay. During the winter the farmers of Sturgeon Bay cross the bay on the ice bringing hay and produce to Menominee.  To prevent losing their way in a snow storm, they stick into the ice every hundred feet a small evergreen. There is a stage coach run on this route. Imagine the consternation of a farmer with a sleigh loaded with hay to have a huge boat breaking through the ice crossing his road. During the coming winter the Ann Arbor road may put on more boats than last and the channel through the canal be kept open all winter with less trouble than was experienced. It was remarked by one gentleman that when Mr. Aslhey's new railroad is completed to St. Paul, boats will have to be started out of Menominee for Frankfort every two hours.

Since the Ann Arbor road was first built, the northern counties through which it passes have much improved. There is still considerable lumber left. Where this has been cut off there is a gradual change to farming. The road in a very few years will have a large local dairy traffic. In Clare county in the vicinity of Clare station, much attention is being given to sheep raising. A firm from Shiawasse county has purchased 6,000 acres of wild land which they are clearing up and fencing. They expect to put in 10 carloads of mountain sheep. They will receive a double profit, being first from the sheep and secondly the land will be helped by the sheep and rise many times in value. Land inthe county now sells from 50 cents to $50 an acre. The lands along the road are proving to be most excellent fruit lands. When the apple orchards planted become old enough the apple crop will be large. On big, luscious, ox-heart cherries the people of Benzie county deserve the world's premium. As land near good markets can still be purchased cheaply, many farmers of small means can buy good homes.