Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1873-10-04

sunny afternoon, L glanced uptown at
the spires of Kalamazoo; along its
straight and level streets, nicely paved
with Nicholson; toward the west at the
hills clad with verdure. and at the spark
ling river from which it takes its name.
and l mentally observed that the half
had not been told me. / had heard
much of the place, of its beauty, both
natural and that created by the hand of
man, and it WAS pleasant therefore, to
find that my expectations were more
than realized. "a
1t owes its sattractiveness 10 many
causes. First, il is in one of the most
fertile sections of Michigan. The river
comes sweeping down through valley
of rich, dark soil. upon which plants
and trees grow in great luXuriance.
Sunny hills gently rise on either side,
and then spread away into fruitful
prairies, while lordly oaks extending
their graceful branches relieve the other
wise monotonous view.
Right in the centre of this enhancing
landscape stands the village, for although
1t has double the population of most
western cities, it makes no pretensions
preferring to be called the lovliest of
American villages than to be classed
with its allAsaersizea citiessssIts streets
are regular and shaded by trees which
| in some places stand about hap hazard
so one almost imagines he is wandering
| through nicely trimmed grove and the
| interlacing branches form high arching
canopies of leaves. In the thickest OF
| the town is situated perfect gem Of a
| park. which through the long simmer
days is enliyened by numberless feather
I. ed songsters. All this beauty of nature
| attracts those who are blessed with a
share of this worlds goods, and the ele.
CANT and costly residences on every
street, with flOwer-gardens and we'll
kept lawns, tell that it is well spent
| The houses and fences are better than
are generally found, for there are bui
few Objectionable buildings i'm the vii.
lage. Macy of the lawns are made more
beautiful by sparkling fountains, the
Holly water-works being in full opera
tion here, forcing pure cold water from
a spring sixteen feet deep, over the Ell.
tire corporation. Almost every family
is supplied with water by this means
and it is almost a perfect Safeguard
| against fire.
| Main street is wide and we'll paved
the buildings very fine, and from 8 a. m
to tour in the afternoon, it i:
usually crowded with people who come
in from the country to trade. Upon the
high ground west of the town stands thu
I NllCuAGdu DtdtC dStluil lOT UIkc
which accommodates between three an(
four hundred patients, and from which
a fine view of the surrounding country
can be obtained with the village cozily
nestled below. At your left is Kalama
zoo College Baptist institution, while t.
east and across the river is the Female
Seminary. Michigan is noted the worl(
| over for its excellent schooI-system, ant
Kalamazoo has its full share of the adj
vantages. Besides there are free librarie.
and lecture courses together with dai
ly paper the Telegraph. Republican by
i nature, the weekly Gazette real OLE
bourbon Democrat, the Herald dnt
Torchlight issued semi-monthly i'm th'
interest of the Baptist denomination
and the Michigan Free Mason which i
published monthly.
Nevertheless with all these things t,
boast of there is lack of manufactures
1t has great possibilities, and capitalist
from abroad have many times endeav
ored to establish their factories here bu
meeting with no encouragement hav,
gone elsewhere. The fault is to b,
found in the wealth of the place and 81
long rs the residents can obtain from
ten to fifteen per cent upon their money
they will care but little about machine
shops. Grand Rapids has profited BY
the lack of enterprise and now has dou
BILE the population and grows with grca
rapidity. ia's'
Still Kalamazoo has some large ant
fiourishing shops, and factories. Th'
great foundry of Lawrence & Chaplin
The steam engine works and the estab
lishment for manufacturing clothe
pins which will soon employ two hun
dred men, may be mentioned as exam
Piles. Four railroads centre here givins
ready access to the outside world ant
as the town is equi-aistant between De
troit and Chicago, it being exactly 14211:
miles to either place, "a few hours rid
takes one to these thriving cities
Grain was formerly the staple produc
ton of the farmers about here but nov
in common with all Western Michigan
they claim to be great fruit producers.
The fine horses of Michigan are notet
throughout the country and the very
finest of these are to be foud at Kalama.
zoo. Summer evenings South Stree
presents a brilliant and lively appear
ance with its handsome carriages ant
high stepping steeds that 60 prancins
along through the dust to the great de
light of their owners, who, Detweei
holding the reins and eating their al
lOtted peck of dirt here, have all the,
want to attend to. 1t was here that Flor
Temple astonIshed the world and mad'
the time that SO long remained undis
puted as the fastest upon record.
just now the people are preparing fo
their annual fair. which occurs in a few
days, when the ssGranges'' are to hol,
a grand State Convention and max
their first public appearance in this sec