The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-08-17

FROM TRAVERSE CITr
EprroR True NoRrHERNER:
have been around some In the north part OF
the state during the past ten days, but am now
4 stranded at Traverse City. thought that per
hsps some observations I have made in regard
to crops, etc.. might be interesting.
From Grand Rapids all along the line OF rail-
road and west to the lake. is suffering from
drouth OF about four weeks duration. Pota-
toes will not be shipped in such quantities from
] here a. usual. This crop has generally been
the only one shipped from here, the grain crops
being used up IN lumber camps and by lumber
ing communities, this being supplemented by
large quantities of pork, bacon and flour shipped
| in. This season at is estimated that full sup
| ply is being raised for home consumption. Hay
and potatoes ars the lightest crops; wheat and
oats are being harvested and promise IN aband.
ant yield. William Lardner, Of Mecosta county,
threshed twenty acres Of Diehl wheat that
yielded something over thirty bushels per acre.
and ten acres Of Clawson that went thirty nine
and one-fourth bushels. By the way, Mr..
Lardner is President Of the Mccosta County
Agricultural Society, and made successful run
last fall on the Republican ticket for Judge Of
Probate. But running for Office evidently did
not prevent his working his wheat ground or
neglect any necessary cultivation. Spring wheat
is not vet all harvested &. w. Hargrave, in
the south part of Grand Traverse county, had
thi rty- five dozen sheaves on one acre OF spring
VIII eat, and another field he was cutting was
nearly rs good. o. g. Whitman, OF Monroe
Cente err, same county, threshed fifty-seven bu.
OF Diehl wheat from three acres. This ls the
ghtest yield Ihave yet beard Of being threshed.
A Mr.. Monroe, Of the same neighborhood, had
m average yield Of twenty nine bushels. @. T.
Scofeld liviog ten miles east OF this city, (aso
Judge OF Probate Of this county,, threshed
twenty-five dozen sheaves that yielded twenty
five bushels OF wheat. His crop OF ten acres
made forty-fve dozen to the acre. He expects
over fifty bushels per acre. 1t takes good
farmer up north to make good Judge on the
Republican ticket
have visited Judge Ramsdels famous plum
orchard and vineyards. His Delaware, Iona,
Ag AVIAN and Wilder vines are literally loaded
with clusters on both sides OF the trellis. The
Concord makes as poor show as any variety
in the vineyard. 1t is here what the Iona is
with us, and the Iona here is what the Concord
is with us. The Judge has about an acre OF
bearing plum trees and he estimates that he
will have one hundred and fifty bushels OF
plums, which. at four dollars per bushel. Is
counting money pretty fast for an acre Of
ground. The view from the summit of the hill
above the house, facing the bay is worth climb
ing much farther to see. Norwood, eighteen
miles north west across the peninsula and both
bays, is visible, and the highlands farther be-
yond and northward can be seen forty miles
away. But the distant view is not the most
delightful one. Looking down on the city
every street, every business establishment, and
almost every house can be selected and located.
The long tongue OF land stretching up eighteen
miles north between the two bays, or perhaps
more strictly speaking, the two tongues Of
water running down inland, makes as pretty
picture as our State affords. The Judge has it
faithfully copied on canvas, hanging in his
parlor.
The Campbell House is filed with tourists
persons worn down with business cares Iecu-
perating; commercial travellers ostensibly look
ing up business, but every one with trolling
line in bis vahse ministers who have been to
camp meeting; the full ledged gentleman OF
leisure, sporting an elaborate fishing tackle |
and wanting to see bear, All classes who !
have money to spend are Represented, every !
train and boat taking some away and bringing |
more.
Benzie county Is as little known to those |
outside" as the people term it, as any county |
west Of the G. r. 4 /. II. r. The east half is |
q level PLAIN covered with pine and heavily |
timbered. At Bepsonia ID rises abruptly into |
ranges OF hills one hundred and fifty to two |
hundred feet above the water-levels. II lies |
thirty miles southwest Of this city, and along |
the whole length OF the road scarcely saw a
fruit tree. The winters kill them all down
but at Benzonia and from there to the lake. |
SIX miles, and north about four miles, both |
apples and peaches are looking finely. Every |
pear tree / saw was loaded with fruit and no |
indications OF blight. Three miles north saw |
plum trees bending with their weight Of fruit |
with no signs OF curculio yet. The land on the
hills is heavy, black loan, and produces ex-
cellent crops Of winter and spring wheat, grass,
pOtstOeS anu Oatb. Iu6 uIuDer IL Doecn ana L
maple, Eastwood and whiteash, with hemlock |
interpreted. Not one-tenth OF the land IL
occupied by settlers, and bears are a. plenty as |
foxes in Van Buren, county. Many Of the set
tiers in Benzonia were from near Oberlin, Ohio. |
and branch OF Oberlin College is established |
here. Asa natural consequences these people |
are all original Republicans. 1t is said that the |
democratic candidate for Representative Of this |
district, in swinging around the circle OF bis
baliwick last fall, went over to Benzonis to
speak one Thursday evening, and found the
people all at their college prayer meeting pray
ing for the success Of the Republican party,
and invoking confusion upon the ranks Of the
Democracy. This Democrat Is now very skep-
tical as to the propriety Of mixing religion with
politics.
The quantity Of lumber piled at every avail
able outlet in this entire north region is won