Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-06-17
THE PLEASURE LAKES.
Northern Wisconsin Now the Hunters and
Anglers Paradise-Eagle River, Gogebic.
Ashland, and Other Resorts.


are beginning to reflect what district of
the wide land offers the greatest opportu-
mites for a rest, recreation. and pleasure
1t is IN order to say by way of guidance
and enlightenment to those not fully ac-
quainted with the mighty resources which,
within a very recent period, have been
rendered Immediately available to Chicago
III the matter of hunting, fishing, boating,
touring and all the sports and comforts
Vi summer In the country. Comparative
~ Few people are aware that among the
hunhreds OF thousands of square miles of
prehltlVe wilderness of lakes and rivers
ana untitled forests now traversed by the
Milwaukee, Lake Shore i Western rail
road, and made immediately accessible to
Chicago, there have been opened up in
northern Wisconsin a number of natural
and cultivated summer resorts which. in
all the health giving pastimes of lake or
river, mountain, valley, and deep unpen-
etrated woods, have nothing to rival them
upon the American continent-a new
pleasure land, as 1T were, that promises in
the near future TO eclipse in fame and
popularity any other paradise of health
and rest, any other domain of wild, natur-
al sport that has yet been opened up to
people of this country. As a general
thing, great iron highway constructed
through new country and across realms
of natureis regarded mainly as a matter
of commercial utility, and is appreciated
according TO its measure of usefulness in
the extension of trade and its develoD-
ment of new territories of traffic. There
is poetic feature, however. in
the service done to the public in the
building of the Milwaukee. Lake Shore
and Western road-a moral service seldom
attaching to vast enterprises in the de-
partment of transportation. For while
1t does, indeed, bring a new and mighty
district Of country within the lines of our
commerce, 1t has done something more
than that. 1t has given the city ten
thousand beautiful lakes. 1t has given
the city ten thousand of the glorious
parks and gardens of nature. 1t has Civ
en- the city the wilds and green solitudes.
the picturesque waters, and woods. and
recesses of northern Wisconsin. IT has
made the finest hunting grounds and the
richest fishing districts of the planet, a
summer suburb, and given the city an in
finite domain of nature for a summer re-
sort. However, it was for the purpose of
practical information as to the most in
viting fields for summer vacations and as
to the choicest sporting sections available
to our citizens that this reference to
northern Wisconsin and the cool borders
of Lake Superior was made, and the pub
lie would no doubt be better satisfied with
some plain, definite outlines of few of
the points in that charmed circle of
resorts" than by any effort at justice to
the general subject. Selecting, then, from
hundred stations on the Milwaukee,
Lake Shore and Western railroad few
hat no
three points upon which summer tourists
dwell with enthusiasm are Eagle River,
Gogebic and Ashland. Eagle River sta
ton, 266 miles north of Milwaukee, is the
exact center of a vast system of nina
ture lakes, and is within a short distance
of the picturesque river whose name the
village bears. The surroundings are those
of giant forests and myriads of bright
waters, the principal amusements being
those of camping on the islands,
exploration, hunting and fshing-lit-
tie pleasure steamers having been built
to ply both the river and the lakes. Many
of the lakes of this wOndrOus chain have
never been explored, and the tourist may
wander among them for weeks without
seeing the same fascinating landscape
twice. The waters are clear to a depth
of thirty feet, and are alive with fish, the
celebrated muskallOnge making his home
here, and the woods are full of game.
Two excellent hotels afford home COM
forts to sOiOurners. Gogebic station lies
forty four miles to the northwest of
Eagle river. Five miles from t. station
the railway company has erected a neat
and comfortable hotel at the edge of
Lake GOgebic, which is known as the
Gem of the Northland. It lies on the
ell of tba
peninsular, nestled among the hills where
solitude reigns supreme, and where
tangled wilderness of moss grown stones,
fallen tress, and cool recesses of virgin
forests and all the poetry of nature in
her prime make the scenery and land
scape surroundings of hotel accOmmO-
dating over one hundred guests. The
wild and primitive character of the local
ity may be inferred from the fact that
the road from the station to the lake and
the hotel had to be hewn, as through rock
through absolutely trackless forest. Be
sides being great hunting and fishing
center. Gogebic is one of the sanitar-
iums of nature. It's altitude is two
thousand feet above Lake Superior, the
close proximity of the ancient forests
purifying and tempering the atmosphere
to degree of extraordinary wholesome
ness and ylgOr Black-bass fishing in the
lake, and trout fishing in the streams
emptying into the lake, shooting, and
rowing are the favorite amusements.
Several large fishing clubs have made the
place their summer headquarters. The
town of Ashland, where the Milwaukee,
Lake Shore and Western railway has the
largest iron-ore docks in the world, is sit
uated on the top of high bluff rising
from the cool waters of Lake Superior,
with vast stretches of forest to the south
and in an opposite direction facing the
wide expanse of Chequamegon bay and
the wooded shores and timbered islands.
Of the far-famed Apostle group. The
place is noted for its bracing climate, the
and unequaled loneliness
of its scenery, at and for its magnificent
provision for every range and class of 5
outdoor games and amusements, from
lawn tennis and crOquct to sailing, deer
hunting, fishing, and sketching, It's out
look and environment being one endless
series of picturesque bays, quantity out
lined shores, and tree-grown islands, the
contour changing with every mile and