Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1881-09-03
SATURDAY. SEPTEMBER 8. 1881.
NORTHERN MICHIGAN.
he Place for Health and Pleasure.

Last week we mentioned the fact that
several luminaries of the press had
passed through our village. They had
been attending the meeting of the West
ern Associated Press at Grand Rapids,
and were winding up with a run up
through this section. The following ex-
tract we take from the Cincinnati
Gazette, as showing what the impress
sions were upon the representative of
that paper.
We took the steamer City of Grand
Rapids at Traverse City for PetOskey,
where we arrived in the afternoon and
remained until the following morning.
There are two lines from this city to
Mackinac Island, one runs by what is
called the outside route, and the other
by the inland route. Most of us decided
to go by the latter and return by the
former so as to make the circuit and see
all that was to be ssen. We took our
seats in car drawn by dummy engine
at $50 a. M, and were thus conveyed
seven miles to Crooked Lake, where we
embarked on small steamer-a very
small steamer, which carried us through
Crooked Lake, then through Crooked
River, through Round Lake, through an
other river, and then through Mullet
Lake. The rivers are well named Crook
ed. 1t did not seem possible that there
could be so much crOOkedness in river
| that is navigable for even very small
steamers; but it was curious to see our
| little craft turn the corners, for the
river is not only crooked, but it is also
very narrow.
Here is a country into which one would
suppose man had never entered. There
are no farms; no clearings, nothing but
| lakes, rivers, marshes, and forests. The
scenery is not exactly grand, but it is
novel and beautiful. At places on both
| sizes Of the river the water was covered
| with water lilies and some of them were
| gathered for the ladies'.
AT Mullet Lake there is new hotel,
| and there some Of our party concluded to
! spend Sunday. There are several Gin
| cinhalians here with their families. 1t
| is a home in vast wilderness, with
nothing 10 be seen but water and forests.
| here are fish in the former and game,
including deer and bears, in the latter.
| We asked a guide how far back the
forest extended, and his reply was he
had never been SO far as that. Great as
|
| can bear testimony that there is much
wilderness still in this country.
Some of our Cincinnati friends who
are afflicted with hay fever told me Null
let Lake is one of the best localities they
have found. 1t is equal, they say, to
Mackinac. Not having the hay fever, we
took another very little steamer, passed
into the Cheboygan river to the city of
ChebOygan. All through here, again,
were logs and sawmills; but this is be-
coming considerable agricultural
country. Oats, which are very fine, are
being harvested. There are no signs of
drought. ChebOygan Is a lively city.
Here again we met several lCincinnatians.
The fact is the latter are somewhat like
the "Oh.O man." very numerous. We
took another steamer at that point which
landed us at Mackinac-the gem of the
lakes as it is correctly called. The climate
in summer is perfect, 1t is without
flaw. There is only one thing lacking,
and that is good hotel. Some enter
prising man will make this discovery
and supply the want. For health and
rest Mackinac surpasses all the places,
whether in mountain or valley, inland
or on the seashore, that the writer has
visited. You may leave Cincinnati
in the evening and reach Mackinac in
time for supper on the second day. The
lake ride from PetOskey occupies five
hours, and is very pleasant, provided the
lake does not happen to be rough. Next
year the passage will be better still. The
extension of the Grand Rapids road will
be completed to Mackinac City, and
thence to Mackinac Island will occupy
only half an hour, the trip being made
by ferry boat. Then you may leave
Cincinnati in the evening and breakfast
on Mackinac Island on the second morn
ing. The latter point is 600 miles direct
ly north of Cincinnati, and almost LOO
miles north of Atlanta, about in as
straight line as the crow flies, so to
speak. The trip from Cincinnati will be
made without change of cars, and the
railroad managers inform me the fare
will not exceed $40 for the round trip.
We left Mackinac regretfully on Tues
day morning, returning to PetOskey on
the steamer City of Grand Rapids by the
outside route. The day was beautiful.
The lake was as smooth as the Ohio River
Dinner was served OH the boat. 1t was a
good one. 1t was attacked with excellent
appetites. Every body seems hungry
here. And sleepl blessed sleepl You can
sleep more here in six hours than 600
miles south in ten. People who can
sleep and eat ought not to complain.
From Petoskey home by rail without
change-and first rate line it is all the
way. The Grand Rapids end is almost
as straight as a road on the prairies.
ButgI had almost forgotten to say a
word about fishing. Most Of our people
were provided with rods and lines and
hooks, and on the way up talked much
about fishing. This Is great country
for fishing. OF course it Is. There are