Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1874-04-15

of the leading spirit. The Fetch
er House is frame building capa-
cious in size, three stories high,
and will accommodate between 400
and 500 guests. II possesses 9GO
feet of spacious varandahs. It's
elevation is most admirable, over
looking Thunder Bay, and under
the management Of w. s. Boon it
is q pleasant resort in summer.
Agriculture in this region, when
compared with other sections of
our State, may be classed as being
in its infancy, although a consider
able area of country is under cul-
tivation. The soil is quite produc-
tive and produces good wheat, rye
and potatoes and very fair corn.
In consideration Of the shortness
of the seasons, winter grains flour
ish to greater extent than sum
mer grains. South of the river,
the soil being of a sandy nature, is
especially adapted to the raising of
potatoes, and they are looked upon
as the staple crop as well as the
surest. North of Alpena the soil
partakes of heavier character, is
composed of clay mixed with
gravel and produces good crops.
1t is in this section that beach and
maple are found and the timber is
especially valuable on account of
its proximity to the river region.
A railroad is something which
Alpena and the surrounding coun-
try 'long have sought and mourned
because they found it not" There
is at last a fair prospect, in spite of
the financial crisis and the suspic-
ion that has been recently attached
to all railroad bonds, that Alpena
will soon have railroad communica-
ton with the outer world. A few
days ago a meeting was held by
several representative men at
Greenville, at which meeting par
ties were present from the East for
the purpose of taking contracts to
build the road. 1t was there de-
cided that the road should be built,
and the gentlemen named returned
East for the purpose of consulting
with other parties. This road,
when completed, will run from
Grand Haven yia Greenville, Mont
calm county; Mount Pleasant, Is
abella county; Ogemaw, Ogemaw
county, on the Jackson, Lansing
e. Lake Michigan railroad to Al
pena. The route from Dixon's
Lake, about eight miles north of
Greenville, is graded, tied and
bridged. The northeastern portion
of this road will be commenced
from Alpena, and will meet the di-
vision above mentioned at Dixon's
Lake. The western section will
probably be completed within six
ty days, and the entire route with
in two years. 1t will be narrow
guage road, and cars will run from
Rockford to Grand Rapids by lay
ing third rail on the Grand Rap
ids & Indiana railroad. That this
road will be speedily completed is
q consumation devoutly to be wish
ed by the good people of this sec
ion and those of other sections of
our State.
l have thus attempted to protray
Alpena and the surrounding coun-
ny as a numbering, fishing and
arming region. In this capac-
ty they are great in resources and
hey are APPARENTLY inexhaustable.
4 few years hence when the scream
If the locomotive shall be heard
llong the shores of its lakes, and
n the vast country to the north,
iouth, and west, a grand empire
will have been founded in our
beautiful peninsula, with Alpena
IS its great commercial center.
Then new era of prosperity will
nave been inaugurated far brighter
Ind more glorious than even its
most visionary dreamers thought
possible to be consummated.