Ann Arbor

The city is the county seat oí Washtenaw county, one oí' the most fertile agricultural counties in the state, as statistics irom the last agricultura] report wil! show. The surrounding country s rolling, and there ave many beautiiüi drives and much picturesque scenery, uotably around the boulevard ahove the fiver. The city was settled in 1824, and is the educa tional centre of the west. The University oí' Michigan, which has the largest attendance of' any college or university in (lie United States, was located here in 1S41. The natural advantages ot the city are many, and tUey have been improved by its inhabitants. The soil is gravelly and the natural drainage such that the streets are in excellent condition the year round and have not required paving, the streets always drying quickly after rains. Of' late years an era ot' prosperity has come to the city. and it has grown steadily in population and wealth. It enjoys the distinction of having no state, county, or city debt, and the lowest taxation of any city in Michigan. Over a hundred and fifty new dwellings of' modern style, and of the better class of buildings have been erecled in each year for severa! years back, besides many public buildings. The steadily increasing vote cast at elections and the growth shown by the schooi census denote that Ann Arbor has now a population of 12,000, not incl uding the students, wlio reside here nine months during the year, and who if included wouid swell the iatlon to Jo,UUU. ïiie growtn in population has not been sporadic, hut steady and sure. Arm Arbor has two railroads - Michigan Central, and the Toledo, Ann Arbor and North Michigan load. The Michigan Southern & Lake Shore road comes within three miles of the city and it is more than probable that at no distant day it will bid for the large and increasing freight business trom this city. ïhe streets of the city are wide and regular and lined with beautiful shade trees, and the citizens have been encouraged to build grass plats between i he sidewalks and the street proper. The city is lighted with electric light, the Thompson-Houston system being used. Electric light is also used in many of the stores and business places, while a large and well es tablished gas companv furnishes lighl to the citizens. Various colored iield boulders, ioiuid in abundance in this section. are ulilized in building thechurches and many of the public buildings, society houses and a few residences. Handsome private residences are numerous. Houses rent well in the city, and but few vacant ones can be found. The church societies are large and prosperous, and nearly all are represented by handsome church - es. The denominations having churches here are the Baptist, Congregational, Episcopal, Methodist, ('liristian, Dnjtarian, Oatholic, Presbyterian two Luther-an, Second Methodist and Second Bap tist. Tlie Ohristian church has late] y erected a small, but elegant 125,000 church building. Besides the chnrches, the religioas denom inations have erected buildings for woik among students. The Episcopaiians of the State have built " Hobart Hall" at a cost oí S30,000, and endowed lectureships for the religious instruction of' the children of Episcopal parents attending the University. It has a well selected library, a large reading room, supplied with the best periodicals, an auditorium for lectures and religious exercises, and a gymnasium for physical culture. The Presbyterian denomiuation has erected a similar building, known as Tappan Hall. The Methodist Episcopal denominaron has purchased two lots opposite their church where they will soon erect a suitable building for the use of the large and growing Wesleyan Guild. The Students' Ohristian Association have, also lately erected Newberry Hall, for the use of the Association at a cost of nearly $30,000. It is a very handsome stone buildiug. Among the public buildings are the Court House in the centre of the city, which cost $80,000, a line post office building costing -$35,000, (which will soon be superseded by a new and attractive government building costíng $6o,000); also Firemans Hall, built for the use of the fire department and oí' the city. The Michigan Central depot is one of the handsomest structures of the kind in the state and cost $35,000. ïhe üniversity of Michigan, which is located here. had 1,670 students in 1881, and fúlly 2500 in 1891, whiie tlie present attendance is 2650. Not only were students present from nearly every state and territory and every province of Canada, last year, bat Japan, Russia, Turkey, England, Scotland, Hawaiianlslands, Italy, Costa Rica, and the United States of Columbia were aiso represented. The University has departments of literature, science, and the arts, law, medicine, pharmacy, dental surgery, mining, civil and mechanical engineering. It is equippedj with every facilïty lor theprosecution of successfu] study. The Toledo, Ann Arbor and North Michigan railroad have also a fine depot, The high school, (considered the best in the United States) cost 860,000, and proving inadequate for the use of the large number of students atten ding, the school district has lately built a 30,000 addition to it. An electric street railway has been laid, and is now running over three miles of track, connecting with the motor line to Ypsilanti. These two roads are practically owned by the same parties, living here, and represent an investment of $200,000. The Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti street railway opérales 8 miles of road. The The Ann Arbor Water Company furnish an abundant supply oï' pure, wholesome water, and the source of supply is a number of excellent springs of cool water. The water is pumped to a reservoir which gives a pressure of seventy-five pounds for üre purposes. The mains are widely distributed over the city. The city has several excellent hotels, three banks in good standing, which aggregate deposits of a million and a quarter, besides tanneries, furniture factories, agricultural impleinent factory, engine and boiler works, lumber, sash, door and blind factories, carriage works, a pump factory, a pulp mili, an organ and piano manufactory, a large road cart factory, fruit evaporating works, and three large flouring milis. There are also six newspapers published in city, the principal one being the " Courier" which has avery large circulation. Telephone communication is afforded to raany parts of the city by the Michigan Bell Telephone Company.