Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1875-10-01

tie Greek on the Kalamazoo River,
contained in 1870, 5,83S, but now
thew claim considerable over 5000.
1t has one of the best water powers
in the State. Threshing machines
are extensively manufactured here,
employing, if | mistake not, 25O men.
Flour is one of the chief manuf &C.
lures. Its public school building is
Justly the pride of its citizens. 1t
stands on quite an elevation, on the
north side of the river, and ranks
second or third in the State for size
and architectural taste. Cost SIS, 900.
Although very irregularly laid out,
owing TO the winding of the streams,
yet it has many fine, well shaded
streets, tasteful dwellings, with large,
closely shaven lawns, embeIliSlied
with liedS of flowers and foliage
plants. The Methodist and Cong'I
societies have very fine CHURCHES.
But Kalamazoo, at the mouth of
Portage Greek, on Kalamazoo River,
is the 'boss" village of America, as
it is universally acknowledged to be
not only the largest but the pretti-
est. In 1870, it contained 9,lSI, now
over IL ,OOO-a slow growth. In re-
spect to manufacture and business
generally, il cannot compare with
some other, even smaller, towns: hut
for place of residence, it is unSur-
passed 1t stands mostly in the val
ley, and ahounds in the native for
est lrpes-chiefiv the barr oak, ma
pie and eIm-the former being one
of tine finest of shade trees, though
its trunk covered with very rough
bark Is not very attractive. Many
of them are left standing in the mid
die of the streets, as well us along
the sidewalks, giving peculiar ap
pearance-like dwelling in the midst
of forest. But the park of several
acres in the centre of the town, fill
ed with these noble trees, is a charm
ing spot. In it are the Court House
and four churches, and immediate
ly around it are several more of the
best church edifices IN the city. The
village is noted for the cultivation
of flowers, and many and beautiful
are the displays of these on every
hand. On the heights west of the
city stands the large and beautiful
State hospital for the insane. There
is also a BaptlSt college and female
seminary-PreSb. Here resides Rev.
Mr.. TuthilPs family-all so dear to
many hearts in Ashtabula, and
around whom sweet memories will
ever cluster and linger. AT their
happy home, ever find cordial
greeting and welcome, which makes
the place seem like an oasis in the
desert of the Way-worn, lonely trav-
eler, for there is such a thing as a
feeling of loneliness in the midst of
crowds, and din and travel, which
very many well know. Gladly, there
fore, do we avail ourselves of every
such opportunity ol spending an
hour with dear, Oh i,.ends.
From Kalamazoo L swung around
to the west, through Ailegan, Hol-
land, Grand Haven and Muskegon,
and then s. e. to Grand Rapids, on
Grand River, at the head of naviga-
ton, 40 miles from it's mouth at
Grand Haven. This is the largest
stream in the State, and here is 900
feet wide, and affords unlimited wa
ter power, which is largely made
available. Lumber, wooden wares,
furniture of all kinds, and agricul-
tural implements are the chief man
ufaclures. These furniture factories
each employ from ESQ to 800 men.
At Berkey & Gays factory there Is
a wonderful transfer of power. The
factory is on the east side of the river
and the turbine wheel which fur
nishes the power, is on the west side,
nearly 500 feet distant. A 3 wire
cable transfers this force-6O-hors
power-the cable being supported
in mid-stream by pier. Then from
this is geared another 8 cable to the
new factory across the street, driv-
ing all the finer machinery i'll that
building. Six different railroads en-
ter the city, with eight diverging
lines, over which sixty trains go and
coue daily. -Four miles $. W. of the
city are inexhaustible mines of plas-
ter, which is extensively used as a
fertilizer in this and other States
There are three daily. five weekly,
two monthly newspapers, free cir
culating library, three national and
several private banking institutions.
The District and .. S. Circuit Courts
for Western Michigan are held here.
The river here flows almost due
south. The city lies on both banks,
mainly on the east. Parallel with it
runs Canal street, the principal busi-
ness street, though Monroe street,
branching 8. e. at an obtuse angle
from it, is also largely occupied for
a half mile with the largest and most
elegant stores and structures in the
city. Canal street is level and low,
but Monroe slopes gradually up
ward. On the former is Sheets Ho
tel, and on the latter, the Morton
House-two of the best of hotels.
Owing to the low ground of Canal
street, every spying the cellars of
the stores have been exposed to wa.
ter. To avoid this, last year the
merchants commenced raising their
stores, as they did in Chicago years
ago, by means Of jaek.aorews par.
ties from Chicago having the con.
traetstO- O--taiset heS buIl aihgs on this
street--for q half-mile---op an aver
age of three ft, Z : They raise usually
about ,oneshplf 3 block at once. They
use 500 screws and cargoes of lum-
6er in the work. Getting the timbers
and screws under usually takes
week and then two days 10 raise it
three #. There is one man to every
six screws, and 30 easily and perfect
ly has the work been done that not
a pane of glass has been broken, or a
wall cracked, Furthermore, the bus
mess of the stores has been carried
on as regularly as if nothing was 60
ingon The expense of raising, SIM
ply, is on an average of 5000 to $7OO
per store; but that is only about one
third of the whole expense as new
! Al.