Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1869-12-01
Correspondence.
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN,

thought, probably, letter from this part OF
Michigan igbt be of some little interest to
them, present this for perusal, especially
as the business here is somewhat similar to
that of the people of Clearfeld.
Although | am not accustomed TO writing
for the public, yet | hope | shall be able to
convey at least, a little idea OF the CONNER
cial resources of the numbering districts
here, even should l fail to meet the expec-
tations of the over fastidious. As for my
self | would be glad to hear from some of
the citizens of Clearfeld every week, even
if it was from the most remote lumber camp
on the Susquehanna.
Leaving Clearfeld in company with a
number of acquaintance, | had the pleas
ure of fewhours ride across the mountains.
As We progressed on our journey all famil
lar faces vanished from our view. Arrived
at Pittsburg, We waited short time and
| then pursed our journey. A few hours ride
and we were greeted with Alliance "a
change of cars-(and apples two for five
centsl. At Alliance we had choice of sew
eral routes to this place-via Cleveland, eth
er by rail or boat across Lake Erie to De
troit-or by the more central route to Lima
on the 2. I. w & c. R. R. and then north
via Toledo to Detroit-or via Chi ago. and
then either by rail or over Lake Michigan,
l09 milesnorth east to Grand Haven, on the
Goodrich line OF steamers, 81. 80, including
berths.
Grand Haven is village of some 4, 900
inhabitants situate on the north bank of
Grand River, ST miles east from Milwau
kie, and a bout 81 west from Grand Rapids.
The principal business Of the place is man
utacturing lumber-most of which is floated
down the Grand River from one hundred to
one hundred and fifty miles. Expense for
floating, from 10 cents to 81 per NJ. 1t is
only four years since the frst logs were run
TO Grand Haven, but during the last year,
from sixty to seventy millions Of feet were
run down the river and manufactured here.
Lumber is seldom piled as it comes from the
mills, but is loaded on vessels and sent over
Lake Michigan to Chicago
The principal numbering points in the
State may be set down as follows: Sagi
uiN, "ulth CS dObui COp' 'pOtltOD
feet - Muskegan, 250, ,0OO,OO - Manistee,
POO, 900, o00-Grand Rapids and Grand Ha-
ven, 100 600, 900 feet.
1t will be seen from the above that Sag
inaw manufactures about twice as much Ium
Der as Wiliiamsport and Lock Haven, put
opether Most of the lumber from the
Saginaw district finds lis way to the east
ern markets - Buffalo, Albany and Troy,
New York, while Muskegan, Manistee and
Grand Haven. ship principally over Lake
Michigan to Chicago. The price paid at
the mills for lumber is from SS to $l2 per
NJ for common, ard from $50 to $50 for lst,
I'd, Sd clear stuff. The present indications
are that not over two thirds the quantity Of
lumber will be cut this winter that there
was last. Wages are also less than last
year, ranging from $50 to $50 per month.
Grand Rapids is the second city, in size,
in the State. 1t is situate on both sides of
Grand River-connected by three public
bridges, and two Railroad bridges The
population is between 10000 and 20, 600
Its increase was about 1000 during the last
year. Seldom a person visits the city who
is not pleased with it. Several railroads
center here, while we have a chain of lakes
reaching several hundred miles-makiHg
it cheap and pleasant locality to travel in
during the summer season. About one
half of the population emigrated hlther
from the State of New York, while the bal
ance is principally made up of persons from
the New England States, consequently you
will find as sharp class of people here, as
in the land of wooden nutmegs.
LAUNDERING is still in its infancy, compar-
atively, in the State-being about what it
was ir Clearfeld fifteen years ago. Nearly
all the mills use circular saws, and their av-
erage cutting in Grand Rapids, ranges only
from l2,0 900 to 25,000 feet per day. But
there is in course of erection, by firm of
Pennsylvanians, large mill which when
completed, will compare favorably with the
best mills III Williamsport, Pa. About 30,
100000 feet Of lumber was manufactured
here during the present year, probably one
fourth of which was consumed in this city and
its immediate vicinity, while a large portion
of the balance was distributed throughout
the country south of this-near kalamazoo,
White Pine, etc
| have not noticed anything new in the
line of lumber tools here, except it is a
boat, usually made from the fork of a
tree, in the shape Of triangle, or harrow,
which is quite convenient in drawing logs in
the woods. | believe such boats are not
much in use in Clearfeld, if, indeed, at ALL
The old style of cant hooks and single bit
axes, that were long Stree thrown away in
Pennsylvania, ARE still in use in many places
here.
There is less risk of loss of lumber, from
treshets, here than in Pennsylvania. The
river at this point seldom rises above six
feet. The current also is very sluggish,
when compared with that of the Susauehan-
ma. The climate, too, | think, in this part
of Michigan, is much milder than in Clear
field.
That portion of the State lying south of
the d. & NJ. r. r. is pretty thickly settled