The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1868-05-22
Correspondence.
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FROM LAKE SUPERIOR.
Correspondence Fremont Journal
MARnIrHrrr Mich Nav IS. 1876

Correspondence Fremont Journal
MARQUETTE, Mich, May l6, 1868.
EDIroRs JOURNAL II visited Marquette
five years since. In point of position Of
course it is unchanged. In point of growth
however it is much advanced. The town
lies in the middle and on the sides of semi
basin formed by hills about the bay. Though
in general terms i. is on the Southern shore
of Lake Superior, in fact it is on the West
ern shore of the bay. The result is that, to
your humble servant, the sun persists in
rising in the NORTH very improper pro-
cedure on his part. The town is said to
contain three thousand inhabitants, very
much like other people. The educational
interests are cared for in two large and
substantial School buildings. There is use
for them, for there are plenty of children
here. There are four Protestant and one
Catholic churches. All have houses Of
worship. The Presby yter:an church have
sold their present ediice and are now erect
ing larger and very beautiful one in a
commanding position, This church numbers
about one hundred and sixty members, Of
whom ninety-ive have been received since
the beginning of the present year. To the
congregation of this church am preaching
on Sabbath days during my soiourn.
The business of this whole region depends
on the trade in iron ore. There is little
agriculture going en. There is very little
soil Sand--sand-- -sand--prevails every
where except where the rocks raise their
bare heads. 1t is just now very dry. The
earth could drink up young flood with Eo
difficulty. The air is very bracing indeed.
One can sleep well, eat well-and enjoy the
air greatly. Though the season is short yet
many potatoes are raised in the neighbor-
hood. The people mention only two reasons
for preferring to live s'below," as they call
the parts south of the Lakes. One is the
impossibility of raising fruit, the other is
the length Of the winters. Nobody speaks
of the winters as severe. Snow falls early
and lies during the whole season. The
atmosphere is dry, and the cold-is not felt as
keenly as in Ohio.
The beds of iron ore are practically in
exhaustible. But 1t is not only shipped.
Vessels in The ore trade, having TO come
without cargo often load, or at least ballast
with coal. Consequently coal is chesp--
cheaper Than in Fremont. Besides char
coal is made in the forests. So there are
blast furnaces--plenty of them. Last year
thirty-seven thousand ions Of pig iron were
shipped. Now Just below town on the lake
shore large rolling mill is in building, and
another is in contemplation. During the
summer season vast amount of business is
done.
The expense of living is of course some-
what greater, than below. Wood brings
seven dollars per cord, i. e. hard wood, such
as birch ard hard maple. Flour is about
two dollars per barrel higher than in Ohio.
Dry goods thiLk are not any higher.
see in the windows cards read;ng-"Best
prints only I21a cents" The market is
well supplied with everything. l see even
ripe tomatoes exposed for sale.
What with roaming over the hills, visiting
here and there, reading a little, writing a
little, &C., my time passes pleasantly, swift
ly. have felt only one slight brush of the
illness that induced me to visit this locality.
Yours truly E. BUSHNELL.