The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1882-05-04
Visit 10 Lake COuntY.
From the Laingsburg Newsl

Having heard much of the soil, eli
mate ana resources Of Lake county, In
this State, ana being somewhat ae-
quainted with several Of its pioneers
your correspondent, ~ few weeks since,
determined to satisfy himself, us well
as he could, with regard to the varied
reports from that locality. Arriving ut
Saginaw 10y morning train from this
place, at4 80 p NJ, started for baldwin,
on the Flint tS +. NJ. read. rcacning
the latter place AT 0.I9.
Baldwin, the county seat Of Lake, Is
u place OF considerable importance,
surrounded 10y luntcr camps, and un
increasing agricultural interest. Many
of the hOmesteaders have departed;
their missiOu not being to procure
themselves permanent homes, but to
Cke cut an existence in the most easy
way possible, subsisling by fishing and
hunting, and, when absolutely ncces-
sary, they would work for u While in
the CAMPS, counting months anu days
when they would be cnabled To dispose
Of their Claims and strike cut for ad ven
tu,c to solie other locality. That class
did not help greatly TO advance civil
iZation or to settle the wilderness,
and ti'eir improvements tsu t!ly cnm-
pTi,cd but IL Jew acres. Others Uraveiy
determined to obtain home and com
fort, but without means, unused to life
in the busll, finding progress slow and
uncertain, u portion became discour-
aged; while others stuck tu their claims,
and are every year becoming more
prosperous.
Where the pine has been taken Off is
designated us stump land, of which
some is under cultivation, and some in
market. There Is also on the rivers
what is called bottom land. The plains
are easily cleared, some of them hav-
ing patches ofjack pine, and nearly all
are covered with tile several varieties
of oak, which are making rapid
growth; many of the oak trees, being
thirty feet In height. The jack lines
split readily, aIu make u durable rail.
There Is also, large quantities of cedar
which makes excellent posts, and can
be readily obtained. Water Is found
ut u depth OF from twenty to tliirty-iivc
feet, is of good quality, and being soft
answers we'll for washing purposes.
On tnese plains there ~ sometimes
u small knOiI, and OH digging All oak
stump is found. There Is said to be al
Indian tradition, that many moons ago
this land was covered with heavy tim
bcr, and that it was destroyed 10y re-
peated fires. There Is an abundance
of lakes, from to 30 feet deep, the
water being pure and cold, filled with
excellent fish. They are usually sur
rounded by high banks, and 1t is be-
lieved are gradually rising. Few of
them have either inlet or outlet. Two,
on sections ~ and 2S, are joined by
nice stream, with quite rapid current.
There is little doubt of subtcrranean
outlet leading into the T.. M. river.
The Pcre Marquette river runs
through the county, and it's rapidly run.
ming waters carry millions of feet Of
logs to Lake Michigan. The soil Is q
dark brown sand, not really what one
would prefer, but those who have tried
the experiment, say that clover grows
well, and saw several pieces looking
very well. Only u few / = tried the
clover as yet. Small 3, such as
Strawberries, raspbcrries !; are grown
In abundance; and saw nice wheat,
rye, corn, potatocs, carrots, beets and
rutabagas, which were all grown there.
Those who have faithfully farned
their lands have confidence In them
and show no signs of discouragemcnt,
and Ill claimed tina: The longer the
l,in,l is worked tl,e betlcf is prUluccs.
The land is slightly rolling, and the
face of l!ie county could MI be inn
proved. Cattle aud sheep do as well "a
IN other parts vt the STATE.
On the farm of u Nc. Bay, north OF
Baldwin, quito u nnln'rr ot acres are
covered with II line iTnation, aver
agin;, foo or piore IN thickness, aiid
u kiln has been built and n track laid
10 IL, from whicn VI. lifay Is turling
out an excellent quality of white lime,
which he Is selling at Il per harr;'.
The theory Vf this formation Is, thut
the spring water running aci',ss tsiis
land is strongly impfcguatcd with lime
from u deposit In the rlse OF ground
near by. 'rnis might make p,'a, OF
interest for uir state Gcoio3.ot.
Willie oii tie firdI u ..ir. y. Dzsiin I,
near BALDWIN, thair county stIrvcyof,
my nttr,tio,i wsls called TO a,i nppa.enf
hollow in sno piiscs, nt p,i'it ", q y.
H. direction, nir,uf IL miles distant
and nc iiliuripcd bic tint there, on "a
strip rom half to ti'rvv qilrfcis Of
lniic im width, and from tacivr 10 iif-
teen nilcs long, every tree, many of
them being four feet Ia uiaineLer, has
been prvstrntcd. The tisuber iirs IN "A
c,rcliIig position, li4viuycvi,ius,tiy sIo. -
broken by a gigantic w'i'r'whi X y
scarcely pr,lm1le that any buini0 eye
witnessed ti,ls exhibition Of natures
power. JG.k II uute, Ia field iotos un-
der date Of 1888, aud much Of the TIM
Der is In a fair stats Of preservation.
The r.. & r.. M.road Vwnsa large
quautjty of land here which they hold
~ - Ia. xfIIf ststttI ltf..f