Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-01-21
LETTER FROM MICHIGAN

ests equally. Lewiston journal.
LETTER FROM MICHIGAN.
LOCATION OF GLEN ARBoR-CASAL PROPOSED
PLANS FOR CHEAP TRANSFORMATIONS
SHIPwRECKs.
GLEN ARBoR, Lebanon Co., Mich,
January 18th, 1874.
To the Editor Of the JournaE
This place is situated on the eastern shore
of Lake Michigan. If you have visited
Chicago and returned to the east by one of the
steamers Of the Northern Transportation Com
pany, that run around the great chain of lakes
to Ogdensburg you will remember that the first
place you stop at, after leaving Milwaukee, is
Glen Haven, small village in the western
part of this town, where there is dock and
also store and hotel of the Northern Trans
portaton Company. That place is about two
miles to the west of this. You will perhaps
remember, that the first islands you see after
leaving Chicago, are Great Mantou, and near
it, South Manitou. This latter island is in
view from the place where l am writing, and
is about twelve miles toward the north. You
may also remember that after leaving the
Wisconsin side of the lake at Milwaukee, the
first land you see on the Michigan side is
"Sleepy Bear Point" sandy hill which ter
inmates in low, sandy point stretching out
into the Lake. This point is laid down on the
school maps, and is but few miles west of us
You will notice by the map, that the shore OF
Lake Michigan, as you come from the south,
at this point makes bend toward the east, so
that our harbor faces the north or north west
1t seems favorable circumstance that there
are not islands between this and Chicago TO
obstruct navigation. And it has also proved
great blessing to the crews and passengers
of many steamers and sailing vessels tAt
there is such an island as South Manitou, with
such habor as they have there, and such
harbor as ours nearly opposite. When the
storm and wind is from the north, so that
mariners cannot find shelter here, they can
find good harbor by running over to the is.
land and when the wind shifts and there is not
shelter there, they can come over to our dock
so that whatever wind there may be, they
can find good shelter either here or there.
A gentleman, who formerly owned wood
dock at the island, has informed US that
vessels sometimes run back from near Chicago
to find shelter there in storm, and that he has
sometimes seen fifteen or twenty propellers,
and fifty sailing vessels there at time for
shelter.
You will notice by the map that just south
maps, "Bear Lake" but its proper name now
is "Glen Lake" 1t is about eight miles long
and half as wide at the widest place, being
shaped something like the figure eight. The
larger part of the lake is toward the east, and
the smaller toward the west, and they are
connected together at place called the "Nar-
rows" across which long bridge has been
built. Between Glen Lake and Lake Michi-
gan there is strip of land about three fourths
of mile wide, on which Glen Arbor is situa-
ted. Now it has been proposed to cut a canal
between these lakes, which would not be a
difficult undertaking, as the land is low and
the soil is not rocky but sandy. In case there
were such a canal, steamers and vessels could
sail into Glen Lake and find an excellent har-
Dor and complete shelter, in case of storm or
wind from any quarter. friend, who re-
sides few miles distant, has Informed us
that during the few years he has resided here,
there have been more steamers and vessels
wrecked on our coast, than would pay the
cost of constructing such a canal.
The subject of "Cheap Transportation" Of
the grain and other products of the west to
the east, has occupied the attention of the ma
ton of late, and will doubtless more and
more in the future. And no wonder that a
subject OF 80 much importance was noticed
by President Grant in his late message to
transportation, will of course tend to cheaper
it. We saw some time since in a Maine pa
per- that it was proposed to cut a canal across
| the southern part of the State of Michigan,
and thus facilitate transportation; but this, as
| a captain who has sailed for many years on
the lakes, recently declared to us, would be of
| little or no use, since the transportation by
canal would be much slower ard freight could
not be carried any faster than it now is around
by the Strait of Macinaw. Such a canal
might cost millions of dollars, whereas Il
canal to Glen Lake would doubtless be of
more service, and cost but little compared
with the other
The propellers Of the New York Transpor-
tation Company, of which there were while
since about twenty one, are now under the
control of the Vermont Central Railroad.
One of these propellers, the "City of Boston,
was wrecked last fall near Frankfort, south of
US. year before sailing vessel was
wrecked about ten miles south of this place,
| and two years ago another sailing vessel was
! wrecked near South Manitou island. The
| vessels was a total loss, and all on board per-
ished but the captain, who reached the island,
but nearly dead with exhaustion. The body
| of the captains young and beautiful wife was
cast ashore, and near her lay the captain $
dog, that probably persisted in his attempts to
| save his mistress The islanders kindly cared
for the captain; and, finding the wife's body,
carefully arranged it, and then Informed him
and permitted him to see it. One of oui
neghbors who was present, described the
scene as most heartrending, for the poor
| man, distracted with grief, seemed as if beref
| of his reason. G. A. 7.
| The Princess Pierre Bonaparte has opened
a dress makers establishment in Bond street