The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-09-23
Michigan Letter.
scHooLcRAFr. AUG. so. 1850.

! SCHOoLcRAFT, Aug. 80, 1880.
Perhaps few more of my hastily
written notes may interest the readers
of the PRESS.
| August 24.-After three hours delay
| at Edmore, one of those mushroom
cities so common in the West, a ride
of q dozen miles northward brought
me to Miilbrook, Mecostee Co., the
place my destination. Being anx-
ious to find out the cause why certain
bundle of tax receipts had reached
such ample proportions, here tarried
a couple of days, spending the time in
an examination of land and timber,
of those huge pine trees at Smiths
saw mill at Mantua Station. But
yielding to the force of circumstances,
[ looked about that locality and found
the township composed of splendid
farming land, with scattering pine,
maple, beech and hemlock, the inn
provements having been begun here
twenty years ago. that region had al
ready assumed the appearance of an
old settled country, with good roads,
cleared fields, plenty of fruit and COM
Portable dwellings. Being fully salts
fled with the present and future pros
pect ofmy personal matters there, on
the morning of the 9th, left for Big
the county seat. % miles dis
tant, where arrived i'll an hour, going |
through large forests of pine trees,
which We're fast giving place to culti-
vated farms. The town, or rather city,
Of Big Rapids, is situated at the falls
Of the Muskegon river, which here has
4 descent of Is feet for a mile. with a
width of about Is to 20 rods. The city
is being built up in good taste, extend
ing along the river more than a mile,
with several fine churches and halls,
TWO banks, two newspapers, the PiO-
neer and Magnet. and the Herald;
several good hotels, and its manufac-
'ories are rapidly increasing. 1t is des-
ined to be the central point in that
,art of Michigan, of a large and flour
shing business. The population is
low nearly 1000. At noon, taking
he G. r. g. I. r. r. southwark, were
oOn again among the pines, thous-
.nds of acres being recently burned
'ver, presenting dreary aspect, while
he saw mills and immense piles of
umber and shingles at the various
tations along the road for forty miles
howed we'll for the industry, and of
curse, the prosperity of the inhab-
tants. Passing Morley Howard City,
;edar Springs and Edgerton, reached
srand Rapids, on the Grand River, a
arge city of over 10000 inhabitants.
he face Of the country now began {
D assume a more diversified appear
nee, rolling surface, fine streams,
ifferent timber, much better tillage
nd consequently better crops and
lore commodious buildings. After I
nights rest at Plainwell, in Allegan s
ounty, beautiful town on the Kala.
lazoo river, with a population of 1900,
nd where l was Hospitality entertain {
i by the Station agent, Mr.. Luther
'urton, and his estimable wife, both
ON Ohio, ride of % miles brought
8 to Schoolcraft, on Prairie Ronde, g
IN miles south of Kalamazoo, and
here thirty seven years ago I spent
eek among the early settlers of that
rairie. Here the changed conditions
ere most surprising. Instead of the
ast expanse of newly plowed or un- 6
roken prairie then visible in every {
irection, the whole region is now COW q
en- with finely cultivated farms, u
rye and costly farm buildings, and O.
ost excellent roads, and in the viii :,
ge, good hotels, fine churches, a large :,
hool building, an elevator and many :;
her evidences of the enterprise, in
lligence and prosperity of the people.
he village proper contains $50 inhab-
ants, and here I propose to tarry
W days. More anon.
VERITAS.