American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1867-05-29
correspondence Of the Amsriesa Citizen.
Grand Traverse. Michigan.

A
MAyoR ANDERSON
D:ar Sir l suppose the readers of the
Citizen would like TO hear sometb hing about
this wooden country" at least such would
be the case with those who have an idea of
emig,ating and have not yet determined
where to go. If any one wishes to emigrate
and has plenty of energy to carry him thru,
let him come here; if be has not, we don't
want him. This country is called the "Grand
Traverse Region" If you look at the map
of Michigan you will see, on the East coast
of Lake Michigan about 45o North latitude,
q large bay running South East about forty
miles into the land. This is called ''Grand
Traverse Bay" and gives name to The coun-
try Immediately adjoining it. ns 94 A
just now this country is filling up with
settlers as fast as any portion OF the West.
Why it has been overlooked SO long ! cans
not conceive. 1t unites almost all the quail
ities that are desirable in new country.
And FIRST, how to get here. The cheapest
way is unqusstionably to take the cars from
Pittsburgh to Cleveland, and boat from
there to Northport or Glen Arbor. The
fare on the Railroad is Eve dollars, and on
the Lakes eight dollars. From Nortbport
there is small steamer, the "Sunnyside,' y
running daily to Traverse City. Ifyou wish
to come to Traverse City, or to Benzonia,
take steamer for Northport. II you wish
to come to Glen Arbor take one Of the Norih>
ern Transportation Co.'s boats and they will
land you at the spot in abjut three days.
From Traverse city to Benzonia, there is a
semi-weskly stage which passes through this
place to Muskegon and Grand Haven. An
other way to reach this place is u come BY
rail, via Cleveland and Detroit, TO Grand
Haven, and then take the Stage. A third
is to take the cars to Chicago, and boat from
that place to Traverse city. This is fully
as quick as any route, but you miss the
beautiful scenery Of the Straits of Mackinac.
We had some difficulty in getting here
We landed at Glen .Arbor, rnd the next day
James and walked through to Benzonia,
to find some way Of transporting our boxei
to this place. I'VE had failed at Glen Arbor.,
The next day we walked down to Frankfort
distant ten miles, and found man wi {
said he could go, in about ten days. W.
returned to Benzonia, and the next morn
ing started back to Glen Arbor which We
reached the same evening, having travelled
in three days over seventy miles, nearly al
ON foot. At Glen Arbor we found o boat
which had been waiting for us for day.
l started in the boat, and the rest by land
| I'VE had brought horse with lady's sad
die from Benzonia) In few hours land
ed at frankfort in the midst OF q storm. Tn,
next morning tsaturday,) ! got my good
into large scow, and started to pole my
| way up the Betsie River alone, much to tn,
astonishmeut of the natives" who never
hink of attempting the trip with less thar
fve men. As tile scow was capable Of hold
ing fifty barrels of -four, and had sbou
eighteen hundred weight aboard and lh'
current was pretty swift, l did not make
much progress, and in fact had not gon'
more than mile, when / met james com
ing to look for me. lie tied bis skif behinC
and took another pole, and together. vi
succeeded in getting about half way up
and walked the rest of the way. The mex
Monday we went back, and by evening haC
tied up at the landing, q mile below thi
place, having established our reputation a
bnatmen the first trial, The next Gay W.
got our goods up to town. must defer I
description of the country to my next.
! ~ ,hJ ae.t Yours truly, ..a.
sa1 W. j. YOUNG.