Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1863-09-18
For the Journal.
UP THE LAX IS.

Lake Superior perhaps / may be able both to
please and profit your readers by giving some
account of the excursion and Of the country.
had previously a very indefinite aud inadequate
idea of what the Lake Superior region is. |
saw, during my absence, a thousand little things
which, when seen, go to form the impression
which abides in the mind, but which nobody |
ever thinks to tell Of Hence nearly everything
was about as wholly new as if had never heard
of the great Lakes.
At the outset let me remind you that there is
an extensive commerce carried on with the peo-
pie who live on the borders Of Lake Superior
Probably most Of your readers imagine-as ]
dd-thata few vessels go of a summer to Mar
quette for iron ore and few to other points for
copper-ahd a few steamers take pleasure par
ties to see the sights, and this is all.
Never was there a more complete error. About
fifty vessels were lying at Marquette while
was there, waiting for lading. The iron mines
were not able to furnish the ore as fast as it
could be taken away. To be sure this is unus-
ual. The grain trade on the lower lakes being
poor, and freghts low, very large number of
vessels have gone to Lake Superior for ore. But
the trade is much greater than had supposed.
Eastern Ohio contains immense beds of coal,
just adapted to smelling this And it is
found cheaper, generally, to transport the ore to
the coal than the coal to the ore. Yet coal is
taken up. Vessels carry it for ballast and be-
tween the two articles there is a large carrying
business.
Then, there are thousands of people living in
towns on the shores of the lake, who depend al
most wholly upon the steamboats, for provis-
ions. The country is very rough and sandy.
The soil is very light, and easily exhausted
They raise potatoes and little oats, of excellent
quality, but not tithe of what they consume.
l learned that the first crop of potatoes is very
good. A second crop is of medium quality, but
two crops so exhaust the soil that a third is
"small potatoes" indeed. As so little is done in
the line of agriculture, nearly all articles of food
are brought up ''from below" as the people say
There are voracious appetites in that region
The inhabitants do look rugged and certainly
no means small. The steamers carry quantities
ofpoiatoes, apples, tomatoes, cabbages, DC, anC
"peddle" them out as they go from place to place
And then, alas for pleasure e-seekers;-thC
steamers run to accommodate the pockets Of
their owners and stop only at such times and
places as will promote their freight interests
Probably four or five Steamers, full of passen.
gers, visit Lake Superior every week during Tho
Summer months. Many visitors stop off fol
weeks at various places, and certainly found
hotels and boarding houses all quite full. How.
ever, as there are constant goers, the corners ar,
able to find accommodations of some sort. But
if your readers will multiply the numbers o
visitors whom they have supposed to repa
yearly to Lake Superior by ten, they will pro
badly be much nearer the truth than before
Therefore, during the months of navigation
there is life and activity enough in all that re
gion, at least so far as the towns are concerned.
AS to the "rural districts" this deponent saitl
not. If vast regions of rugged hills covere
with eternal forests of Pine Birch, Fir and Ce
dar, constitute ''rural" scenery there is plent
of it.
But set out to talk more particularly of YES
sells and boats. / found myself on board Ii
@Northern Light" said to have been the be'
E boat visiting the Upper Lakes until recently
The "Meteor" is a new and large boat, and
said to be superior to the Northern Light. Th
Light is stern wheel Steamer, or Propeller,
well managed, and makes excellent speed
Captain Spalding is very gentlemanly an
obliging officer. Two of his subordnates nigh
cultivate better manners, at least as to thei
treatment of religious people on board. l no
: tice that fellow passenger of mine writes t
the Cleveland Leader, that he heard no profan
ity on board. If he did not, did, NOT mucl
it is true. But 1 one day was a most unwillin
witness of an alteration between two of Ii
hands, in which at least one blow was give
and great deal of vile and profane languag
!, was used. took some exceptions to the cook
ing on board the Light, and thought if that wa
the best Boat, what must the others be- But re
turning on the "City of Cleveland" found tn
: difference. There was literally nothing fit t
! eat. The table and food on the Light wer
clean at least, and that is more than can be sal
of the other.
AS to good manners about table, Mr.. Ed
tor, if you want to see the need of them, g
/ right on board of Steamer, full of passenger
l. aud bound for Lake Superior. Good manne
. are decidedly at discount. 1 generally wei
:, out on deck at meal times for very shame's SAX
,- and got my "bread and dinner" as could.
:, But made some very pleasant acquaintance
y OF the route, the mines, DC, propose to writ
in subsequent article. EB.
-4-zSsB----
Great Opportunity Thrown Away.