Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1877-08-31
ASHTABULA HARBOR.


Ashtabula Harbor, at the juno.
tion of Ashtabula creek with Lake
Erie, is a point of commercial impor,
tance. 1t has also many natural at,
fractions; the view on the western
shore is very fine-cOmmanding an
expansive view of the lake, which,
from this point, looks like an inland
sea. 1t is pleasant to watch the crys-
tai waters, sparkling in the sunlight
like vast sheet of azure, the rip
pling waves rejecting the sky The
Harbor is situated ffty-eight miles
from Cleveland-fully twenty miles
nearer Pittsburgh by railroad than
that beautiful city. This makes a
considerable difference in freight
which, of course, can be transported
at much less expense. Iron ore in
vast quantities, is brought here from
l. Anse, Escanaba, Marquette and
other abundant mines, in barges,
schooners and all kinds of available
boats. Lumber is conveyed here
from Canada and the vast Michigan
forests; limestone and coal are ship
ped and reshipped here. Freight is
transported to the cars of the A., Y.
& P. railroad, also a branch of the
Lake Shore, and by these conveyed
TO Pittsburgh and other interseet-
ing points. Considerable quantities
of coal are brought and sent to
towns and cities up the lakes. The
creek has been widened and deepen
ed, until the largest and heaviest
vessels may enter in perfect safety
many carrying from thirteen to
fourteen hundred tons. Other boats
occasionally enter here, among them
a fine revenue cutter-COmmodOre
Perry-which brings stores to the
light house. This boat is simply
perfect in construction. The officers
are cultivated gentlemen, fully un-
derstanding the responsibilities of
their positions. 1t is commanded by
Capt. Douglass o Ottinger-one of the
finest officers in the navy. The pier
is well built, and at present they are
about extending it farther out into
the lake. A fine light house stands
at the entrance, whose clear light is
doubtless a welcome to the heart of
many sailor. The docks are well
built and kept in good repair. The
land on either side of the junction
of the creek is fiat, giving ample
space for the loading and unloading
of vessels and cars; it might be com
pared to a horse-shoe-w widening
from the mouth. 1t is surrounded
by high lands. which command a
fine view of the lake and harbor.-
Here, standing upon an eminence,
you gaze and wonder at the busy bee
hive of industry before you. Irish,
Swedes,. Fins, Portuguese and Amer
leans, are employed to do the labor;
you feel among the people of many
uationalities; they are mostly law
abiding citizens, more so since the
Murphy meetings, which have done
considerable good in their midst.
Gratitude should Eli our hearts, that
the people here as well as elsewhere,
are aroused to the use of that which
gushes forth in the springs from a
hidden source, as cometh all our
blessings, which, in the quiet, still
lakes, brings to the soul that feeling
of sweet repose and absence of care,
which in the mighty seas bears on
its surface the commerce of the
world; and which in its grandeur
reminds us of the infinite power of
its and our Master; that which is al
ways abundant, giving strength to
our bodies, clearness to our facul-
ties, and purity to our thoughts.
Land at the Harbor is now selling
at comparatively low figure, at
fOrding fine opportunities for in
vestment. A few thousand spent
here could make it a charming sum
mer resort. The Harbor is now in