Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-06-26

4
n and one year ago they began the erection
j OF magnificent block, 2l2xll2 feet in
( size, with three stories and basement,
, and having, virtually, four fronts. 1t
contains bank, and six large stores.
{ The entire buildings Of the most thorough
workmanship, and has every modern con.
venience, even to electric lights. The
outside, which was finished at the time
OF our visit, is of the finest pressed brick
OF a rich cream tint I; the brick was man.
ufactured for this purpose intown The
entire south front, first floor, is of French
plate. glass and iron, the plates being
from .6xl2 TO 9xl2 feet in size. The
building, now complete, is claimed to be
the finest brick block in Michigan. The
goods and men nearly sixty of the latter
have moved "Out of the old house into
the new" where they hope to still further
increase their sales, which last year reach
ed half Million Could we look through
the spacious and elegant rooms we should
find Oxford County, and our own town,
honorably represented in the persons of
Messrs c. X. Buck, receiving cashier;
c. Il. Atwood, foreman in boot and shoe
store; and H. Cushman, assistant in
same.
"The Company, as they are common
ly called, own large amount of real es-
tate --acres of pine lands, sc. Their
weekly payroll now consumes some
$1,000 sum equal to one half of their
original business capital. They enter
the, new building as a corporate body.
1.-The Hannah IL Lay Mercantile Co."
having cash capital of 100000. They
will now greatly extend their wholesale
business, which is already large. The
banking and numbering are now sepera,e
interests the latter soon to be incoipor-
porated with capital of Sl,000,000.
Among the other leading business houses
We were pleased to notice the prosper
Gus firm of Hamilton 81 Milliken, Dry
Goods, &c. Both are young men, and
from Maine. Mr.. II. kindly showed US
through their establishment, which is
certainly credit to its proprietors, and
through them to the old Pine Tree State,
whose sons, scattered throughout the
Union, are doing so much to build up
our common country. Traverse City has
made rapid strides, and has prospect of
continued development for years TO
come. The new Asylum for the Insane
is to be located here. The State has al
ready appropriated 100000, for its
erection; beautiful site has been pur-
chased, and preparations for building are
going rapidly forward.
The older portion OF the town seems
very like to a New England village en-
powered in trees, and rejoices in the APP
pellation of Saints Rest
The newer parts have all the crude
ness of new towns the world over. A
stroll through the woods brought de-
lightful home feeling. Overhead waved
the beech and evergreens Of Maine; while
under foot were the dear little Arbutus
leaves, Partridge vines, and Checkerber-
ries, which had been the delight of our
eyes from childhood, but had never be-
fore seemed quite so much like real
friends-we had missed them so in our
woodland walks in Illinois.
Just word for Traverse City roads;
we were told that their natural deprayity
was deep; but well directed effort has
brought them to the verge Of perfection.
To appreciate the change which money
and labor have wrought upon them, one
need only drive mile or two out of town,
and strike the native sand-it would do
credit to Sahara's self. But as there are
many very delightful drives within the
radius of the improvements it is no hard
ship to confne ones self within that linz
it upon ordinary occasions
With hills on the one side, 1--WE climb
cd one of those hills two hundred feet in
Leight, and had a magnificent view of
the bay and town, and the beautiful bay
on the other; with clear air and pure
water, and with society intelligent and
refined, Traverse would seem exception
ally desirable as place of abode.
The bay is the pride of the town; the
navies of the world might safely ride at
anchor within its encircling shores. Our
most charming experience in connection
with it was an afternoon in the yacht
"Nameless." With pleasant company
on board, and professional sailors to man
the boat, we had nothing to fear. and
ev erything to enjoy as we sped before the
wind with the motion of bird; and
now we see the town from the bay, and
it gives the finishing touch of beauty to