Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1883-08-23
Magnetic and surrounaIngs.
tuyust 18th, 1889.

tugust 10Th, 1883.
EDrToR ExposIToR:-As l have
been visiting and strolling around
Marquette now for some tine ard
having gained what information l
could from citizens here and my own
observations, will endeavor to give
you a short description and location
of Marquette as near as possible, as
it may be Interesting to some OF the
readers of your paper.
Marquette is very fine place, is
situated on the westerly end of a
comodious bay and commands fine
view of the harbors and lake. The
business part of the city is built up
on plat of low land, encirclcd, ex-
cept on the sides next tho harbor,
10y bluffs rising gradually and very
even from its centre TO the highth OF
from 60 to 100 feet. The location
of Marquette as near as l can inn
agine represents a huge bowl with IA
section broken out next the bay, the
business oftho city oil centorcd at the
bottom of the bowl. As you reach
the rim OF summit you find it cover
ed with beautiful and costly resi-
dences overlooking the business part
of the town and harbor. Through
the broken section Of the bowl runs
out far into the bay breakwater on
the end of which is government
light house. Running at right angles
with this at certain distances are
two immense ore docks. Bctw cen
the docks and the pier is the place
where all the vessels lie that are en-
gagged in the commerce OF this region.
The large number of buildings III
course of erection indicate the rap
idity and stability of the growth of
the place. There is nearly one
hundred iron mines $50 | am told)
situated in three counties, that ship
all. thor minerals to this place.
There is on an average 900 ear loads
of ore shipped through these streets
daily upon the huge ore docks pre-
pared to receive it and | was inform
ed that each carload contained about
eight tons which would make 1920
tons handled here daily. Marquette
has about 6, 900 inhabitants, 8 elegant
churches besides the Catholic Cath
edral that they have in course of
erection which will be by far the
most elegant and costly building in
the town and probably in the state
for the kind. Marquette has school
which she should feel proud of. 1t
is a graded school with superin-
tendent and fifteen teachers and
nearly 1000 scholars. There are be-
tween 40 and IS saloons here, and
or three first-claSs hotels that sell
no liquor, and are kept up in fine
style. There are large number of
dry goods stores and about 90
groceries to supply the wants of the
people and but very little difference
in the prices OF each as to what it is
in Port Huron. Butter is somewhat
higher but meats are cheaper. Prop
erty is very reasonable compared
with other mining places though
rents are high. ! know some people
that are paying from 81 to SO
month and living in houses with or
3 families.
The soil is very peculiar and is not
much adapted to wheat growing.
On the surface one will either find
solid bed of rock or all sand. A per-
son not acquainted here would call
this country a barren desert. There
is some OF the largest and finest
gardens that / ever saw. Vegetables
are grown very extensive and are a
fine specimen. The Strawberries,
currants and cherries beat anything
! have ever seen, | think they are
the finest specimens in the state. In
looking around | see horses worthy
of mention, especially the draft
horses which I am Informed are
brought from Ohio. 1t is my inten-
ton to go to Crystal Falls tomorrow
health and weather permitting, to
spend about two weeks with the
boys in camp. ! will close this letter
by asking you to please excuse bad
writing and mistakes.
Yours Truly, JAS HARRIS.
--S.eDeN~