The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-10-08
BATAVIA, n. Y. September 2sth, 1876

'. L
ED. TRUE NoRrHERSER. There are many
among your readers who formerly lived IN
Western New York, and to those if not to 9th
ers, a few words relative to their old home will
not lie embarrassing, Few localities in this
country possess advantages which tend to make
good pleasant home equal to those of West
ern N. Y, and especially that part Of il em-
braced in the Holland Purchase and Connecti-
cut tract, 30 called, and most Of the adjacent
country. IL was naturally excellent, and sixty
years of labor coupled with enterprise and jul
dicious management on the part Of the people
have made it superbly beautiful. Almost ev-
erS farmer is "forhanded" and il is not ali
uncommon sight to see family carriages driving
INTO town from the country, that are as stylish
and luxurious as any city turnout. The village
Of Batavia has become one Of the most beau
tiful o. country villages. 1t is place OF about
5000 inhabitants, and as most OF your readers
will know, 10 situated on the main line OF tue
n G. and II. Il. r. r.. about half way from
Buffalo to Rochester. II has for railroad facil-
tiles tue y. Y. c., soon to be four track road,
the OLD Canandaigua aud Niagara Falls road,
Conhocton Division OF the y. Y and E. The
Same old Elcott Hall' built in 1901 by Jo-
seph Elhcott the founder OF the village, Is still
used by the people az Town Hall and until
the new Opera House was lately opened, WAS
the best pubic hall in town. The State Insti-
tuition for the blind ls magnificent building
and stands on a slightly hill just north OF the
tla oil nj FAR, md
beautiful park. owned and improved by the
State, covers the entire southern slope of the
hill from the Asylum to the village and from
the Oak Orchard road to State Street. From
the hill on which the Asylum stands one OF the
most charming views is to be had taking in
the entire village and in the distance of TO
tbe south the sunny Mddeburg hills with the
Tonawanda river winding away to their base.
Near the center OF the vIllsge, and standing
on a broad street opened for the purpose from
East Main Street, near the Dean Richmond
residence, Is the new Union School House,
which cost $4,000, which for beauty and per-
feet adaptation TO it's purposes, probably can
not be surpassed in the [ nted States. Tue
School House at Paw Paw is a beautiful build
ing and is an ornament to the village and an
honor to the community, but the wealth OF
Batavia has enabled them to beat Paw Paw
somewhat Ia their School House. The Primer
pal OF the Batavia school is Prof. George
Fuller, with whom some OF your Decatur read
ers are acquainted.
Five years ago the village of kalamazoo was
10 point OF beauty, size and business stir much
superior to Batavia but the three last years
have worked wonderful change IN this village,
and now It eau hardly be excelled in the United
States. The y. Y. c. which is now double
track from Buffalo to New York City via Alba
ny will soon be a four track road the whole
distance, and it will then be the most magnifi-
cent rail highway IN the world. Even now
with the double track 1t is marvellous sight to
see the loaded freight trains following each
other in a rapid and almost continued bro.
cession. Ii makes our busy and prosperous
Michigan Central seem to be a sleepy affair.
The freights go East loaded and generally
come back hight, and they usually put IS to 40
loaded cars in each train One dav, lately, 102
loaded cars passed certain point within fifty
minutes going east and all loaded with stock.
II is said that the Ere has lite share of freight
from the west as does the Penn. Central and
the Baltimore aud Ohio also. These fonr
grand avenues from west to East are fed by a
myriad OF western roads and thsir freight traf-
fc Is immense. IA yet, IL is said, the n Y c.
takes the lead in this particular, although the
Baltimore and Ohio is menacing in it's move
ments and may In tbs near future, with it's
facilities for transhipment at Baltimore, make
matters look blue for ~ Y. City and the N. Y.
Central in spite OF Its Presidents seventy mil.
lions OF money. On the N. Y. G. r. r, q
great many palace cars arc run Of the Wagner