Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-01-17
A TRIP NORTH BY RAIL.
NOTES FROM CORRESPONDENT.
Ride Over the Grand Rapids & indiana
Railroad 10 Traverse City for
Business and for Pleasure.

TRAyERsK CRY, Mich, Jan. l5.-1HK 1KLE-
GRAM correspondent boarded the Grand Rap
ids & Indiana train al 10 o'clock the morning
of the 18th inst, and after comfortably seat
ing himself in parlor car, rolled oser the
rails at d rapid rate until evening. There
was a goodly number of passengers on
board, and the coach in charge OF the vet
eran parlor-car conductor, Captain May,
occupied by persons evidently determined 10
enjoy the few hours that should elapse be
tween starting and arriving al their deStina-
ton There were all classes of people re-
presented in the car, the travelling man jour
neying north in search of orders, the lumber
man returning TO his camps. the capitalist
going north 20 attend stockholders meet
inys and the relative and friend on his or
her way 20 visit friends. The old railroad
veteran, Capt. May. entertaining and accom-
modating as usual, with his smiling co1nten-
ance and well-rounded form, seemed a. IN
terested and painstaking though II were
his first trip over the road. His experiences
were related In an easy and unaffected man
ner, and before he realized IL everybody IN
the car, including the little children. had
their eyes upon him. The Captain Is not
only very amusing, but highly instructive a.
well. and the journey was pleasantly passed,
and Big Rapids reached ere We realized the
distance covered.
AT this point improvements were plainly
visible from the depot. and the general thrift
and busy enterprise of the place immediate
ly impress one with the idea that energy and
industry are not strangers TO her limits. The
fall improvements IN buildings and steady
growth in population is manifest on every
hand. New buildings have been erected,
where but a few months ago pine stumps
ha ba lam N lrfar
terview with one of the leading merchants of
the city, elected the fact that the aggregate
volume of business done there II increasing
at a ratio far in excess of anything expect
ed few years ago, and promises more for
the future than has ever been realize IN the
past. Manufacturing is getting good foot
hold and offers splendid inducements TO
capitalists.
Upon arriving at Reed City. dinner was
served at the depot hotel by mine host
Adams, who in his usual good taste spread all
that passengers could wish. Reed City is
splendidly located. and gives promise of be
ing thriving and prosperous city OF several
thousand inhabitants in very short space of
time. Manufacturing has found its way in
to this once isolated little hamlet and has
developed into pleasant and busy place,
where capital finds good interest on invest
ment, and labor remuneratlve employment.
Situated in magnificent agricultural terri
tory, her future success seems 10 inhabitant
as we'll as the passing stranger fully assured.
At Cadillac the TELEGRAM scribe met sew
eral of the leading citizens and all agreed
that the prospects for good spring trade III
lumber and merchandise were excellent.
Building materials are being contracted for.
and there is every reason TO believe that
Cadillac will add TO her present cityfed ap-
pearance in the way of new business blocks
and private residences as soon as spring
opens.
Rolling on still further north the correslon-
dent arrived AT Traverse city. He had visited
here before but always IN summer when
everybody seemed alive 10 the entertainment
of strangers who come To seek a cool climate,
fish hunt and enjoy the season almost in
tolerable In the larger cities. Although the
snow is deep and the weather decidedly
wintry. Traverse City presents an APP
pearapce at this season of the
year at once attractive and pleasant
The great lumber interests centering
here, offered magnificent opportunity to
Judge of the general business health and
stability of her enterprises. The splendid
streets are crowded with lumber-laborers
and teams, the former coming from well
cultivated and prosperous agricultural
neighborhood, and the citizens energetic and
enterprising, going from and returning TO
business, give Traverse City an appear
ance of business thrift seldom
seen in cities of its size. A
brief chat with Hon. Perry Hannah, Hon.
Seth G. Moffat, Congressman-el elect. Thos.
L. Bates. of the Traverse City Herald and
others convinced the TKLFsRAM representa-
tive that this little city Is founded on a rock
and that her future is only dimly fore
shadowed by the past. The growth IL steady
and permanent, the investments care
ful and profitable The great in
terests of Hannah. Lay Co.
have proven successful. and splendid
inducements are offered TO capitalists IN The
way of steady business investments. The
merchantile business alone of Hannah, Lay
& Co last year amounted 10 over half a mil
lion of dollars. and all look for a more sue
cessful season for the year Just opened than
the season just closed. The TEJEeR.M is
taken by many citizens of Traverse. and as
your correspondent congratulated the Ira
verse citizens upon the bright outlook and
generally prosperous condition of their coun-
try. they in turn complmented the spirit
of enterprise displayed by the publishers Of
our paper. and wished rs prosperous and
happy year.