Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1871-10-10
WANT They Think Of Alpena.

"5 N""'''t'ej "hp iCOVh'iy Nlsit
cd this city for the benefit of hi
health, has written long communica
ton to that paper, in which he gives
an account of his trip from Pittsburgh
to this place, and of what he learned
and saw of Alpena, from which W.
CLEAN the following;
"This beautiful little lake port is sit
uatcd at the head of Thunder Bay
and at the mouth of Thunder Bay
river. During the last decade NJ
town in the State increased SO rapidly
in population. In 1860, the inhabi.
tants numbered but 200; in 1870 its
population had increased to 2,756-
showing a portage of grain approx.
mating $50. The present year has
added many people to the widc-awake
town. The number of buildings erect
ed here this season is little short of a
hundred, some of them large and hand
some structures. Alpcna contains five
churches-onc each of Congregational,
Methodist, Episcopal, Baptist,
and Catholic "a large aud well
constructed building, costing s25, 900,
for school purposes, and numerous saw
mills, single mills, stores, etc. The
mills number nineteen. Eleven of
them being saw mills, and eight shin
gle. The capacity of these mills reach
SS0,000,000 feet Of sawed lumber.
and about 100000 shingles. These
products, valued at s1,S0O,OO0, are
shipped principally to Chicago, san
dusky, Cleveland and Buffalo. By
reason of its pure air and the excel
lent fishing ard hunting in the vicili-
nifty, it seems to Inc that Alpcna has
bright future before her in becoming
perhaps the foremost resort on the
lakes for tourists and sportsmen.-
Game Of almost al kinds is to be
found in the neighborhood. Deer
have recently been taken within rife
shot Of the corporation, and bear are
TO be found in woods not three miles |
away. The several lakes, few miles !
in the interior, prominent among which
may BE- mentioned Hubbard, Mud.
Sunken, Devil, and Long Lakes.
abound in wild duck, partridges, snipe, |
quails, and other varieties of birds
In Long Lake, eight miles Yves; of
the place, pike and bass are unusually
abundant. Alpena is settled priuci-
pally by families from Maine, although
there ia quite a number of New York
ers and Canadians. | cannot recall
place with which l am acquainted,
50 small in population, where the pro-
portion of refined and intelligent peo-
pie is so large. There are many
dwellings here that would adorn towns
of greater age and professions. The
Burrcll House, the leading hotel here,
under the Management of Mr.. A. 4.
McClain, formerly connected with the
Fraser House, of Bay City, is a model
of ncatness and order; and it is OK
tremely doubtful if the State can
boast of its superior in all its appoint
ments, so far as gentlemanly attention
to its patrons, well prepared scasonable
food, neat and we'll furnished rooms, !
and the seldom found luxury of good ,
and clean bedding, arc concerned.- !
This excellent hotel has been opened |
only two months, but has in that time I
established reputation that few pub
lie houses attain in as many years. A
more clever and affable gentleman
than its proprietor could not be de-
sired. His better half, Mrs. r. ID. {
McClain, is a lady of fine culture, and
one Of the most estimable women it
has ever been my fortune to meet her
pleasant face and agreeable manners
conduce to make one feel thoroughly
at home. Another large hotel is now
in course of construction here, and
will be opened to the public probably
in June next. 1t is being built by
joint stock company, and will cost
about $4,000. This hotel will have
about seventy rooms, and both in its
exterior and interior will be construct
ed of the very best materials. Mr..
George N. Fletcher, of Detroit, the
heaviest stakeholder, will give his per-
sonal supervision to its erection, an as
surance that it will be first class in
every particular. There are two neat
and lively weekly journals published
here-the ARGUS (Democratic) and
the Pioneer (Republican). The latter
paper has recently been materially en-
larged, ard presents a very crcditable
appearance. The ARGUS is a moro
than ordinarily neat country journal,
and, although but recently established,
has fine future before it. The fur