Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1875-04-17
Letter from Il Bradford BOy.
BAY CRY, MICHIGAN, April |, 1877,

BAY Cry, MICHIGAN, April l, 1875.
Mr.. Editor: One month later
the traveller passing through the
Saginaw Valley will be greeted with
sight that would tend to dispense
with all thought of panic ever
having visited this part of the coun.
try. At the present time saw mills,
salt wells, steamboats,, barges and
sailing crafts of all kinds are
being thoroughly overl,auled pre-.
paraGory Tor an early spring opening
and there is every Indication Of it's
being a prosperous one.
think the lumbermen of Michi.
gan have suffered as little if not the
least from the effects of hard times
as any class of business involving
the amount of capitol that is reqnir.
ed in the important branch of man.
ufactory.
Owners of lake and river crafts
are not as anxious to charter for the
season as they were in the spring of
1874 but are holding for better
prices.
Buyers of lumber are numerous,
and holders find no difficulty in sell
ing at fair prices. The season for
log cutting is fairly over, and lum-
bcrmen are anxiously waiting a
thaw in order to bring the products
of their winters work to market.
Our merchants are of course made
happy by the appearance of the red
shirtcd Denizens of the woods with
we'll lined pockets, anxious to invest
in any thing from new suit of
clothes to a second hand watch.
The amount of lumber cut in one
season in this valley is simply stu
pendous. will not undertake to
give any figures but you car Judge
from the cut of one mill, J. McGraw
and Co., it being the largest in the
world. The cut last season was 27,-
OOO, 600 feet. During last year the
mill did the biggest work ever
known in the world, 179,71S feet be-
ing slashed out in two hours and
forty minutes, at the rate Of 10000
feet per day or enough to load two
ordinary vessels. Salt works capa-
bic of turning out 800 bbls. of salt
per day. The Chicago dry kiln in
which 100 car loads of lumber can
be dried ready for market every "a
hours. Planning mills, barrel and
shingle manufactures with its 500
workmen distributed through the
different departments are other
prominent features connected with
the mill. But in speaking Of lumber
| am perhaps doing injustice to the
salt business, which has already as.
sumed an important branch of man.
ufactory second only to lumber. 1
should like to give the readers Of
the OPINION description of how
salt is manufactured here in Michi.
gan but | am afraid have already
taken up to much space in your
good paper and with few words 1
will close. A Thousand shanties
stand at this moment on Saginaw
Bay with fishermen living in them
for their winters work. Perhaps
some of the many readers of the pa.
per do know how the fishing is
done. The shanties as they are
called are very small, there being
only convenient room for one per-
son. The inside is lined with sheet
iron, so as to exclude all light. A
hole is then cut through the ice and
the fisherman takes his stand with
his spear and patiently bobs his de-
coy to attract his prey. 1t is some
times a m0notonous business as he
Frequently waits hours with out see.
ing fish.
But the catch of the season has
been extraordinary good, as is evil
dent by the many loads of trout and
white fish that come from the bay
day by day.
The Vermonters passing through
the state of Michigan, witnessing on
every hand indication of it's great
wealth and natural facilities invari-
ably find then selves comparing
them with those of their own native
state, and should they have chanced
to found birth in the vicinity of
Bradford their mind, | should pre-
sumo, would wander from the beau.
tiful farms through which they are
passing to those little seven by nine
corn patches on Wright's Mountain
where the owner burrows in every
fall and never comes out until the
FIRST Tuesday in March. But l do
not wish to say any thing against
Old Vermont with her noble hills.
No it is a good old State and such
may she ever continue to be.
The city # Bay City is situated on
the east bank of the Saginaw River.
Having such excellent railroad
communication, being situated in
the heart of the vast numbering dis.
tricts of Northern Michigan and be-
ing the great entreport for the en-
tire Lake Shore region North, the
city is destined to become the Me.
tropolis of Northern Michigan.
The waters of the Saginaw, dur
ing the season Of navigation were
crowded with boats coming and 60
ing, and thousands and thousands
of dollars worth of lumber, lath and
salt are daily taken out by tho
white.winged messengers Of com,
merce.
The manufacturing interests are
at present confined to lumber. salt,
&C.. the river along both banks be.