Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1875-02-17
AlPENA WEEKl I ARGUS.
Northern Couni:cs.

FrOm the Boy ny Chronicle.
Not TO exceed ten wears ago, a
public meeting Vas held in the
court room. watch at that time
occupied the upper portion of the
building at Che foot of fourth st. eet
occupied Nv brakes grocery. The
subjec. Cow under CONFEDERATION
by me meeting was the propriety
g. granting township and village
aid to the Rams IIorn Railroad,
then approaching our city from
the south, with tie Straits Of Mack
iaaE as its Interior point. st that
Iseeting tho two gentleman holding
st that tire controlling interest
in the destiny of our city, express
cd themselves favorable as to the
propriety of aiding the road 10
reach Bay City, but both were
agreed that "it would be at least
80 years before there could be any
demand for a road further north"
One of these gentlemen still lives
TO see the track already extended
10 within 60 miles of the Straits,
and the counties upon its line rap
idly settling up with hardy and
industrious population. In the
year 1863 NJ. Andrew Higgins, a
civil engineer and surveyor Of this
place, with select party, under
took the hazardous experiment of
traversing the Peninsula from east
TO west, starting from the present
site Of Tawas City. and taking
northwest course 70 Little Traverse
Bay, on Lake Michigan. His re-
port, on his return, was listened to
with much OF the same feeling of
credulity which Of late has been
expressed regarding the expedition
Of Col. Baker and his party TO the
Black Hills. he reported that
from lake 10 lake the party failed
TO meet a single human being or
to find a single trace Of civilization.
Woods, nothing but dense woods,
greeted their every step, enlivened
only by the occasional sight Of
animal life in the character Of bear,
deer, rabbits, and lesser game. At
the period mentioned, the inhabi-
tants 'on The shore" could be count
ed by the dozen. The entire
traffic Of the shore was accommo-
dated by 4 sail boat, making week
~ trips TO Aipcua, village Of one
saw mill, a blacksmith shop, and
tavern. Il contrast with al this,
we now perceive an application to
the Legislature from the inhabi-
tants Of Ogcmaw, Roecommon,
Crawford and O;sego counties I'm .
the interior Of the district traversed
by Mr.. Higgins party, for county
organizations, each one claiming
Sufficient population for self gov
eminent. We FAD q railroad run
ming two passenger trains well
loaded with people each day,
busting. energetic, hardy body Of
pioneers, pushing boldly forward
70 aid in developing resources ex-
,eeded in value by no portion Of
The State. On the West Shore
The Grand Rapids & Indiana Rail-
road has already pushed to Little
Traverse Bay, and the wilderness
which to Mr.. Higgins party was
is rapidly being settled
and its resources developed. On
the shore villages and cities may
be numbered By the score, while
the summer traffic has so far out
stripped the capacity Of the single
sailboat that daily steamboat lines
from our river added to semi-week-
ly trips Of the Detroit steamers,
are scarcely sufficient TO answer
the demands Of the thousands who
have enrolled themselves citizens
OF the shore towns. And to an
swer the requirements Of the vast
multitude, we hear Of work pro-
crossing upon a railroad project
10 connect the thriving city Of
Alpena with the j., L. d S. X. r.
and the cities OF the western side OF
the State. The progress of the past
ten years in the development OF
northern country is no doubt in
the future to be vastly surpassed
in its volumn and extent. The
Immence Development Of the
lumber trade Of that section to
which its growth and progress has
been hitherto owing, i: supple ,
nented by the discovery of coal .
fields, TO which ere long mineral
deposits will be added, and the
Of a few years since
will bud and blossom like the rose.
The trade of all this vast section !
II country naturally belongs to
Bay City. Let our enterprising
'itizens not fail to foster aud en-
il, and its wealth and I
'alue may not be turned toward {
,tber channels