Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1879-11-01
IN THE wILDS:OF MICHIGAN.
Our Sportsmen's Observations and Ex-
,periences ON their trip last Month.

Our Sportsmen's Observations and Ex-
,periences ON their trip last Month.
From the Anglaze County (Ohio) Eemocrat.
Two hundred years have elapsed since
La Sale visited Mackinaw in the "Grif-
fin," the first vessel that ever navigated
the great lakes north of Lake Erie. De-
lighted with the scenery OF the three
thousand lakes and rivers of the Lower
Peninsula, he established mission at
Mackinaw. Other missions were after
wards established by Jesuits at nearly
all the important points along the lakes.
The Jesuits, though the first to explore
the country, did little at developing Its
natural resources. As consequence
the country at the present time possesses
much of its primitive wildneSs.
Much has been written about the
'matchlesS climate" and scenery OF the
Eastern states and the states west OF the
Mississippi; but neither of them, In our
opinion, will bear comparison with the
lake and river scenery of that portion OF
Michigan, known as the Grand Traverse
Bay and ChebOygan regions. For sever
al years past we have had great desire
to visit that section of the state. But it
was not until September first that any
steps were taken to carry out the desire.
September 22d was the time agreed upon
to start on grand hunting and fishing
excursion. Promptly at the appointed
time the following gentlemen: H. c.
Settlage, A. FRANKIE. ]. Waiter, B. Linzee
and C. w. Williamson left Lima, via the
Pittsburgh and Ft. Wayne and Grand
Rapids railways for PetOskey, where they
arrived after a twenty hours ride. After
breakfasting ON Greyling, potatoes, bus
cult and tough steak. they left PetOskey
for Crooked lake, via the PetOskey and
Crooked lake R. R. This railroad is a
unique affair. 1t is seven miles long
and extends through a forest that in
density can hardly be surpassed by the
jungles of the Amazon. The cars in
many places pass within eighteen inches
of large trees standing on either side of
the track. Wooden rails serve the pur-
pose of steel railing, and fat cars with
settees ranged crOsSwiSe, with a cover
ing overhead similar to the old fashion
ed Pennsylvania wagon covers, with side
curtains flying in the breeze, propelled
by an upright engine called the Grass
hopper, constitutes what is known as
the PetOSkey and Crooked Lake railroad.
On our return we passed over the road
after night. The scene presented by
the bright light cast upon the green foil
age of the forest can be better imagin-
ed than described. After reaching Crook
ed Lake we went aboard the Northern
Belle" a steam tug plying between
Crooked Lake and ChebOygan. and passed
through the above named lake, down
Crooked River to Burt Lake; through
Burt and down Indian River to Mullett
Lake, and across Mullett Lake to Lake
View House at the mouth of Pigeon
River, where we landed and hired a
team to convey us seven miles up the
river to choppers shanty, where we
went into camp and remained until
Saturday mOrniug. We found every
thing i'm the shanty that could be desir-
ed; a cook stove, tables and benches in
the kitchen. dining room, and a sleep
ing apartment containing hunks
enough to accommodate twenty-five or
thirty men. In addition to the main
shanty, there is cellar in the side of a
bank in which to store provisions; sta
bles sufficient to accommodate a large
number of horses, mOwS and graineries
and blacksmith shop. These camps
are lively places during the winter. The
days are spent in cutting and hauling
logs to the nearest river to be fOated
down to ChebOygan in the spring. The
long winter evenings are spent in read
ing, telling stories, smoking, and an Oc-
casiOnal hOe-dOwn. Card playing and
drinking are prohibited in all the camps
throughout the logging region. AS a
consequence the region is noted for its
sObriety and enterprise. Snow begins
to fall in the ChebOygan region about
the first of December. Then it is that
the logging commences, and continues
until the latter part of March. The
snow frequently attaining depth of
four or five feet. The logs cutEn the fall
and early winter are placed on skids OF
elevated platforms, ready to be rolled on
to sleds when shedding commences. II
is said that span of horses is able tG
haul five or six logs at load, down the
long inclined planes.
This region seems to have been ar.
ranged by nature for numbering. In the
spring the logs are fiOated down the riy'
ers to the lakes to be collected into
bOOms, and tOwed to the mills along
of lumber are shipped annually from
ChebOygan. Notwithstanding the enOr'
nous amount of timber that has been
cut, the state yet contains 13,O00,OO(
acres of standing forest, a greater area
of timber than is possessed by any Other
state.
The country north and south of the
chain of lakes between ChebOygan anC
PetOskey, is undulating, and varies con
siderably in the character of its soil and
vegetation. The yellow sand of the pine
lands is generally unprOductive, while
the hard wood lands yield good crops
when brought under cultivation. l have
never seen a country producing more
wheat, potatoes or grass per acre than
| the above named section. The close
proximity of the lakes afford protection
| to the crops against frost in the spring
or fall. As result of this lake infu
ence, the inhabitants enjoy advantage.
of climate found only in lower latitudes
After remaining in camp on PigeoI
River from Tuesday evening until Fri
day, without killing any game worthy
of mention, council was called to de
eide upon course to be pursued i'm thu
future. The party decided to breal
camp, which they did on Saturday morn
ing. Squire Settlage and FRANKIE start
ed for home, going by way of ChebOygan
Mackinaw and PetOskey; Squire Lines
went to ChebOygan where he was Joined
by Mr.. Ivory Littlefeld. They went tel
miles up Black River and camped OF
the bank of small lake, where gam,
was reported plenty. Walters and Viii
hanson filled their knapsacks and foot
en- it across the country from Pigeol
River to Black River, a distance of abOu
fifteen miles. After spending three day
and two nights in the wilderness il
i climbing hills and cutting their wa
through cedar swamps. they reached
settlement on Black River, where the
hired a team to convey them to Cheboy
gan. From there they went up the rive
and joined Linzee and Littlefeld. Th