The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1866-06-14
Correspondence Of tho News.
Letter from Lake Erie.
LAKE ERIE, June 4, 1876

Peninsula proper, the West Harbor, which
livides it from the shore, being so narrow |
1t its western extremity, that it may be ,
easily crossed on foot log, by pedestri- I
ans. lC
am located upon the eastern shore of {
his Island, and can see from where now
sit the far-famed Kelley's Island, the his
toric Put-in-Bay, Point-au-Pelee, of the
"Canucks"; and Middle Island, the home
Of the "Free Lovers"
Besides these North and Middle Bass
Islands lie just behind (north of) South
Bass or Put-in-Bay; Green Island one
mile west of Put-in-Bay, where the Gov
revolving lights; Ballast Island, where
Com. Perry ballasted his fleet just previ-
GUS to his fight with the British Lion Glib
raltar Island, where Jay Cooke has built
beautiful residence of the stone from the
quraries near Sandusky City; Starne Island,
Old Hen and Chickens; East, West, and |
Middle Sister Islands, which are only to
be seen from here under peculiar states
of the atmosphere, and last though not
least, Mouse Island, around whose shores
merry fishing parties catch the beautiful
Black Bass in great numbers.
If had time, Mr.. Editor, might write
you many things that would perhaps in
terest your readers, but haven't the time
to write it ALL NOW, and dislike to promise
you series Of letters, for fear may not
fulfill it but I'll "drop you a line" now,
and if you get another-why then all right,
if it suits you.
l have been much interested,in reading
the letters of Sallie c., Mary b., andJ r.
Ayres. They recalled to my memory
many pleasant times spent in Old High
land, and am glad to see that as they
journey Westward they do not forget to
write to our old friend of the News.
Our friend Ayres touched upon several
points that had thought to have spoken
about in my contemplated letter to you, II
really haze written ut various times during
the past year a dozen sheets at least, of let
ters to the NEWS, but fortunately, or other
wise, they have always found their way to
the fire. And speaking of the NEWS, I'm
Gle Sam, judge, is to blame somewhere
for the irregular reception of my paper, or
some p. NJ. "hooks" copy now and then
to read.
Unlike Brother A., we can see more than
as miles" up here, and sometimes we can
see to the other side of the water. What
would you think, sir, of seeing Middle Bass
Island and the Channel between that and
Put-in-Bay, which is in direct line north
and is usually concealed by the last-named
Island, rising gradually above the tops of
the trees on Put-in-Bay, and the houses on
the shore of Middle Bass, and the boats in
the channel, being distinctly visible for
two or three minutes? The distance from
here is five and half miles. And Uery
frequently we see vessels sailing as it were
"between wind and water" Talk about
seeing, Mr.. Editor Why, Sir, couldn't
tell you in whole day, of the many beau
tiful sights to be seen in this country every
day. OF the sun-rising and sun-setting,
and the "moon upon the waters" and the
brightest rainbows, and the movement of
rain storm or columns of fog across the
bosom of the Lake of the mirror-like sur
face of the lake itself, or its angry foaming,
and white-crested pillows; of its fields of
ice and snow in the winter, and of the
most magnificent and frequent displays of
the Aurora Borealis, not to say anything
of the appearance of the beautiful white
winged sail vessels, or the tugs and steam
ers that are passing to and fro all the time,
during the spring, summer and fall.
Come up, Mr.. B., and eat grapes
nice, luscious, exhilerating grapes from tie
Utr,eS, and catch fresh fish from the lake at
our door, and take a sail upon the lake,
breathing the fine, bracing and invigorat-
ing air as you go skipping from wave to
billow, and visit the neighboring Islands
with us, and see the tons of grapes in their
season, and the immense casks Of wine
temperance wtne--and drink a little Of it,
and my word for it, you'll live ten years
longer for so doing. Come up, sir, Ill give
you hearty welcome.
Grapes and fish are our staples here,
though the wool-growing interest is not
much behind them in this county. But
Grapes and Wine are destined to take the
lead lin fact do already of all other inter
ests upon the Islands and Peninsula and
along the Southern shore of the lake.
The profits are immense-a good bearing
vineyard yields $500 per acre, clear of al
expenses, every year.
Instances Of crops selling for from $500
to $3.50 per aore (gross receipts) were mum
erous last fall. And Notwithstanding mil
lions of Cuttings" were planted here las
year, one year old roots Of the Catawbs
sold as high as $50 per thousand here thil
spring-$25 per 1000 being the usual price
would advise your grape growers il
Highland to "lay down" their Catawb.
and propagate roots for sale; they cal
make more from their vines in that wa,
than from the grapes-espeoially would
advise that if the crop has been killed by
: frost or is liable to rot badly,
1 find the customs and ways 70 the folk
: up here to differ very much from thos
: in Highland. 1t would smuse you to Sc
10 or men in a field, each with a liul