Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-10-05
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1913.

ame ground on "Indian trail" Then not log
cabin was erected for miles. The wolf the deer the
fox the wild turkey the pheasant and prare hen in
their PnmeVa state, roamed unmoesed, or remained 8
undsturbed. Now, on this very spot, on rising l
swell OF land, stands beautiful village, containing
large stores, hotels, furnace, several groceries and
provision stores, large, well finished Court House
and Jail, post Office with mails leaving and return
ing East, West North and South There is a large
road running East and West, and one North and
South which each other at right angles in the
village. The one East to Maumee and Toledo 70
miles West to Michigan city on lake Michigan ITO
mes-North to Hillsdae and to Coldwater, and South
to Fort Wayne 45 miles. Indeed the whole county of
Steuben, which was then mostly government land
seem now to be settled less in every town and
is filling up rapidly. On Pigeon river or creek,
few miles east of Angola in York, are some of the
richest bottom and meadow lands with the finest tim
Der we ever saw.
Fruit, as well all kinds of grain and grass seems
to grow here with but little care I called on my
friend, Elisha Steere, Esq, and he showed me into
small garden of his peach trees containing from 30
to 40 bushels. Another friend of mine in the village
had small yard with about 60 bushos-one tree of
which he said had 10 bushels. man living a few
miles out of Angola, has to peaches on which
he will gather as he computes, not less than 5000
bushels of golden peaches red and yellow rareripes,
and various other kinds. We saw young orchards Of
apples, only Z years old in fine bearing. Grapes,
strawberries and blackbeies also grow here in album
dance.
The question naturally arises, is there a good and
convenient market for the constantly increasing sur
plus produce of these fertile regions? and is there
good horoughfare by which that market can be easily
reached? In reply to this it is to be noticed that Ohio
has state road from the Wabash and Erie Canal
near Maumee river, through the counties of Lucas
and Williams westerly, to the east line of Steuben
county, Indiana; and the State of Indiana continues
said road on west, through Angola, to Michigan city,
This road, during the dry season of the year, is good
and passabe for the traveller or for loaded teams but
In the wet season. it is like all western roads, some
what muddy, with distractions and many bad places
which need improving. The state is expanding, on
this and other state roads, large amount of money
and labor every year, and the time is near at hand
when all these state and county roads will be compile
ted and kept in as good state of repair any in the
country. County roads are laid out and worked
through the several townships; and all these roads
general rule follow section lines, so that they do
not interfere WITH inure the farm of the settler
In addition to these, plank road is chartered by
the state of Ohio from Toledo west to the state line
The Company is organized, the stock subscribed and
the first ten miles of the road are to be completed this
season. Two steam saw mills are erected on the line
of the road to the planks one of which passed
on my route to Angola. This road is expected to be
completed ere long to Angola and propably contn
ued west to Michigan city. These facts | learned
from the enterprising and gentlemanly President Of
the Company, the Hon. James Myers of Toledo, an(
from my friend Edison Allen, Esq, and Mr.. F. Keye'
of the same city, to whose poiteness and generosity
Especially of the last named) during my visit at tina
place, ammuch indebted and shall ever feel crate
full plank road is considered by the inhabitants
much more beneficial to their interests than railroad
inasmuch as they avail themselves of the forme
with their teams and transport their own freight while
on the latter they obliged to pay for freight il
- cash. Besides on plank road, they can draw witt
ease, with single team, almost any amount they cal
load on to their vehicles.
But Notwithstanding the plank road, railroad is il
serious contemplation, and will probably ere long b
= constructed, leading from Toledo to Michigan city
thus connecting the waters of lake Erie with those
' lake Michigan on direct line across the Peninsula
from one city to the other, distance of about II
miles. This would be the shortest, most direct an
much the quickest route from the "Great East" to tn
"Great West" 1t would lead direct by steamboc
- and railroad from Buffalo to Chicago and on throug
. Illinois to Wisconsin and Iowa. As the route woul
pass through the richest and most fertile sections
the western country with endless quantities of imbe
= and large amount of agricultural products, it cou
not fail to 5e most profitable investment of capt.
- -muchmore SO than on those constructed in Micl
. igan.
Indiana is provided with water communication b
" way of the Wabash and Erie Canal from Toledo
IS Iayayette and thence down the Wabash to the Oh
river, which sweeps her whole southern border, Will
the north she nearly the whole of the "Sou
Bend" of lake Michigan. R. v M.