The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-12-24
OUR ROOSTER JUBILANT /!


Eighteen years ago the Flint &
Prre Marquette Railway was first
lr"jccted; and work commenced o.
the Flint and Saginaw Division
early in 1853. In The Fall OF 1859
the first iron was laid. Since that
time the work has been progress
ing, until at the present day we
find the road completed through to
Lake Michigan, and three regular
trains running daily each way, from
East Saginaw to Ludngton, while
still larger number of trains arc
used on the other Divisions. Had
We time and space we would like
to give all the facts aud figures we
have learned in regard to the great
work; but as it is, we contine our
selves to this brief statement. The
work has been well and carefully
done, and We venture to say that
10 railway in Northern Michigan
is to-day in better condition, tinan-
cially and other wise, than the f. Il
T.. NJ. That it's prosperity will CON
time so long rs it is under its pres.
ent efficient management, no one
can doubt. With suel, men rs Z
b. Ward, Sam'l Farwcll, II. c.
Potter, VIM. l.. Webbcr, Sanford
Kccler, VIM. l.. Sears aud others
whom we might name, holding i'm
p"rtant official positions, honesty,
economy, a tue eanse of justice,
business stability, and an obliging
disposition, seem To be part and
parcel OF their makeup.
The Company now have a main
line 253 miles in length, in opera
ton FROM Monroe to Lndington.
The several branches constitute 81
miles more, making in all, 2S4
miles of track operated by them
The rolling stock and equipments
Of the read are iirst.class; tho en-
ployecs, as rule, careful, wide
awake and genflemanly, aud as II
consequence, accidents, with loss Of
lie aud property, arc Of very rare
occurrence.
TIE co,nulcti"n OF the last IS
miles, from Reed City To Luiing-
ton, "a good j''h, if We mistake not,
and one Wm. Il. Sears and his as
sistauts know well how 10 do has
most. il not ali To- 10 with rffectiny
u cl,angc in Ball yin an | it's sur
rnundings. ln II handsome and do.
.irabIe location for village, on the
Lanks 81 the North Branch tome OF
the most beautiful streams in the
Static oi The Pcre Marquette River.
with th"uratds Of ncres Of splendid
inc close ut band, and surrounded
with land which only needed the
tkillul touches of tho huSbandmrn
10 trans 'or,D it into Il profitable
f:rming country, with any anount
of hard wood timber within easy
and cheap transporting distance,
baldwin vet lacked lie aud energy.
1t progressed Lui slowly, and those
wliu had cast their lot within it,
confines were wcll.nigh discour-
aged, and began to think seriously
Of quitting The PLACE forever. The
draw backs and ihconveniencee
from which they were then, and are
now to some ex'ent, suffering, no
ono not convcrsant with the man
ncr Of growth Of new towns in a
"ncw country" can realize. But
the railroad came, and with it a
change began, which those who sec
Baldwin ofio.day and live to see
Baldwin Of u score OF years hence,
will count as almost marvellous.
Tie dishcartened citizens took fresh
courag"; new buildings began to 70
up, aud new business enterprises
opened. A base Of supplies had
been formed for the lumber camps
thickly dotted along the branches OF
the Pere Marquette River, and tic
supply teams coming and going,
gave added life to the streets. A
lumber M II (McCollough's) which
had been idle for many months
was again rut in motion; two shin
gIe.mills (McColIough's, AID Hol-
c,mb IL Dray',) have been added,
with rlaning.mill, and sash and
door factory lHolcomb & Bray.
Oa the 9th VI December, 1874, an