The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1858-06-30
MISCELLANEOUS.
Dor the Time;
Notes by the Way.


Eds. Times Although we are here away
40 miles east Of the eastern shore of Lake
Michigan, we feel that we are almost (thanks
to steam power and yankee enterprise) within
hailing distance of your rafting, dashing,
growing town of McGregor. though We know
it to be on the western shore of the Mississippi
The Detroit g. Milwaukee r. R., now runs to
withing six miles Of this place and will soon be
here. Stages connect with all trains; and
steamers from here connect with the regular
line at Grand Haven to Milwaukee and that
line with the NJ. & NJ. r. R. to Pr. du Chen,
80 that if it were our wish we could be with
YOU by tomorrow night. This 10 q beautiful,
busy, growing city Of 10000 inhabitants. full Of
life and health and beauty, situated on noble
river with fall or rapids at this point, furnish
ing an unlimited water power, and surrounded
by a rich and beautiful country.
This is l57 miles by R. R. from Detroit, and
AZ miles by plank road, north from kalamazoo,
on the Michigan Cen. R. r. The town OF
Kalamazoo is ono of the richest, pleasantest
and prettiest towns in the west; it contains
about 5000 inhabitants, andhas such rich stores,
such beautiful churches and other public build
ings, such pleasant, happy looking residences.
such cleanly streets and walks, that had we a
compel ence and our dear ones we're nestled there
We could endure to remain.
The town is profusely lighted with gas, and
though the hotel bills do not compare with the
great humbug houses of some Of the larger
cities, such as the Briggs House, Chicago. the
fare is really superior. We noticed in and
about the town and along the road out in the
country, a great many fine orchards and valu-
able fruit trees, and were told that all kinds OF
fruits, even peaches of the most delicious kinds,
-FOUR mouth waters to think Of it) were raised in
great abundance. Our route from Kalamazoo
to this place was through an originally heavy
simbered country, though there are now many
beautiful farms and rich and comfortable houses
scattered along the route. A Rail Road is in
progress of construction from Kalamazoo to
this place, and we saw gangs of men and teams
at work clearing away the timber and prepar
ing the way for the iron track. A great part of
the way our road lay through . deep heavy
forest Of Oak, Elm, Ash, Maple and Beach,
and such q feast to the eyes as that forest pro.
sented, we never before enjoyed. Such pro-
fusion Of grace, beauty and majesty, We never
before beheld. The high towering elms, the
straight trim ash and the round bodied, taper
ing. yet vide spreading beeches with their rich
tender foliage, were all there in such perfection
and profusion az is seldom seen. How heartily
we wished that Providence had 80 distributed
the things of this world that some share OF that
forest could have been placed within reach of
some of our boundless and beautiful prairies in
Wisconsin and Iowa. But 80 it is.
Although the trees in their number, size, per
fections and protusion are "a delightful to be-
hold, and SO valuable for many purposes, yet
give me the broad, rich, rolling prairie Tor .
home. If by chance can get near fow trees
and stream of living water, or either, would
DO amply satisfied, but even with neither, give
me in preference to the ozark, dim wood," the
"open prairie wide" and tho "wild flowers
waving high"
The Detroit & Milwaukee R. r. Company,
are now shipping iron round the lakes and land
ing it at Grand Haven, and are beginning to
Law track from that point this way; we may
therefore expect to see our short cut to the
east, across the lake aud state Of Michigan by
steam. soon completed. Already quite mum
ber of passengers are coming through.
Among the first attractions Of this city and
vicinity arc ito immense quarries OF kind
of variegated marble, or plaster stone. These
Quarries are worked to great extent and sew
eral large mills are in operation grinding tho
stone into plaster for use and for shipment
The stone when carefully quarrisd and sawed
into slabs and blocks forms very rich build
ing material and 10 beginning to be much used
for fronts, and resembles the richest variegated
Italian Marble We saw very large block Of
stores faced with it and also . large gothic
dwelling house, built entirely of this material.
Il was certainly So rich and pure structure -
to seem too good to be defiled by the every day
use of any ordinary specimen OF humanity.
OF the hotels in this place We are pleased to
mention, the Rathbun House. a. being to our
mind pattern house, large and airy, filled
with all that could be desired to make the trav-
eler comfortable, and from top to bottom most
scrupulously clean, very pattern OF neat
ness
There are several large tanneries in this
place using hemlock bark. which 10 shipped
here from the shore Of the lake from so to $50
miles from this. They have been doing . very
large business. though the price Of bark is get.
ting 50 high as to lessen their profits. A new
tannery of large dimensions is about to be
established, using the Daniels process, and it
is believed will take the lead OF that kind of
business in the future.
We 20 from here by stage and r. R. to De.
troit and - the steamboats, advertise, shall
touch at intermediate landings.' Should any
thing 'tun up well make q note of it. BY
the way does it rain any more in Iowa and it
so what in the name Of mud and mire has be-
come of all mankind west Of the Wapsies p
Our experience in that region in April. cannot
be fairly written, or il written. would exceed
l. e