Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1877-10-13
Tuscarora Correspondence.

10 the EQtOf OF the NORTHERN Tribune
/ came here on the 18th day of May,
1876. There were only few settlers
living on the west side of Burt lake-the
two Bowman boys and two or three fam
lilies of Indians. The territory now
called the township of Tuscarora was at
that time almost wilderness, the home
of the deer, fox, bear and wolf, unless
some clearings which the Indians found
n. ceSsarv for their substance to i'm
prove and cultivate. After years OF con-
tinual cropping the soil became less
fruitful, consequently they were aban-
doned tor more productive fields. The
same clearings are now producing lux
uriant crops of berries.
About the st of May, 1876, settlers
began TO make their appearance, and as
they were unacquainted with this part
of the country they came first to PetOs-
key, thence, after much labor and ex-
pense, forced their way through the
woods to near Burt lake.
Last summer they did not raise much
OF crop, as it took them pretty much
all time making rails and building houses
There were no less than sixteen or seven
teen good, substantial log houses raised
| last fall on the fraction of 35, west, on
the west side of Burt lake, and seven or
eight this summer. The houses are gen.
orally built story ard half high, and
are capable of affording comfort to any
| family that is not too fastidious in their
tastes, for years to come.
l had oil occasion this summer to see
the improvements made in this town,
and have not the least hesitation in say
ing that person would be astonished
at them. There is hardly homesteader
but what can boast of his one, two or
three acres under crops. L think that
the potato crop Of this town will be over
two thousand bushels. l have seen at
II. A. Founce's about two acres under
corn-yellOw Dent-which surprised me
very much, as l did not expect such corn
to grow here. At Il. S. KinerU's l have
seen two other kinds of corn. one called
the sheep-tooth, ,and the other called hack
berry. The sheep-tOOth is an early corn, land
looks very pretty. understand it pro-
duces we'll. The blackberry looks some
what like the yellow dent. Mr.. Cox
a gentleman from the state of Ohio, tol(
me that he husked $50 bushels ears from
one acre, and the corn here, according t.
his opinion, would yield as much. The
corn crop here is now past any injury
from frost.
Many persons suppose that Ohio corr
: is not adapted to this climate, but thi
years crop proves that the vegetabl,
productions of the state of Ohio can b,
raised here TO advantage The farmer
OF the county of Cheboygan would dt
well to give trial to the above kinds O
corn.
| must not forget to mention that
school district was oragnized here thi
summer. and Il good log school hous,
) erected. 1t is large enough to accOmmo
date about thirty pupils. The seats ant
ueShS diC Sbi OllS
requisite blackbOards were hanging t.
the wall. but the indispensable maps ant
globes were not to be seen, owing. ~
doubt, to the want of money. A schOo
was kept there this summer. where tn
: common branches of education wer
taught.
| There is much praise due to some o
the settlers in the south part of the town
p. Pike, w. III Stone l.. q. Bachelor AM
W.. Briggs made considerable improve
: ments. Many OF the settlers in this tow
trade in Petoskey, as they have no road
as yet to Burt lake.
feel pretty confident that there is
: future for this part of the county. Th
improvements in a few years more
judging from the past, will excel muc
older settlements, of this county.
j. MCDONALD.