The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1886-08-20
NEWS SUMMARY.
Thirty-five Hundred Persons Rem.
dered Homeless i'm Wisconsin
by Forest Fires.
President Cleveland Wants a Rest
During His Summer Trip.
RAyAGES BY FLAMES.


MILWAUKEE, Wis, Aug. 16.-So
wide is the territory traversed by the
forest fires in northern and middle
Wisconsin and so meager the informa-
ton as to the actual extent of the dam
age that the losses can only be roughly
Appropriated.
The greatest damage was to stand
ing timber, which is the source of
wealth of this district. Portage, Mara
thon, Wood, Clark, Brown, Door, and
Calumet counties suffered most severe
ly.
President Hiles, of the Dexterville
and Lake Superior road, who returned
to-day from the devastated region,
| places the lumber and standing pine
damage at several millions.
He says unless heavy rains interfere
within fourteen days half the timber
resources of the counties named will
be destroyed. The drought has been
so long sustained that leaves have
withered and fallen weeks before their
time, swamps and marshes have dried
up, creeks have disappeared, and
rivulets. Everything, therefore, burned
| like finder, with no barrier to impede
| the progress.
Hundreds of thousands of acres of
openings where the second growth of
pine was growing have been burned
over.
From the best information obtain
able it is estimated thai fifty saw mills
were consumed along the line Of the
Wisconsin Central road, and thousands
Of cords of piled wood, ties, ETC., are
in ashes.
The number of homeless families is
estimated at seven hundred, represent
ing some $500 people. Their individual
losses are comparatively light, but in
the aggregate reach over million,
mostly uninsured.
The cranberry marshes destroyed
were among the largest in the coun-
try. AS several years will be required
we're; it is estimated at 100000.
Cattle and horses persisted by the
hundred. Many were suffOcated, or
died from inability to obtain water.
Hundreds of acres of grain and
thousands Of tons Of hay were con-
sumed. Summarized, the loss to
actual settlers is about as follows, &C
cording to people who have visited the
regions devastated: At Spencer, $780,
600; Depere, $780, 600; near Colby, Uni
ty, Miladore. and elsewhere, along the
Wisconsin Central, ,$250,000; in the
vicinity of Green Bay, and along the
Door county peninsula, S400, 900; Calu-
met, Chippewa and other counties,
$4,000 This, of course, is exclusive
of damage to lumber interests.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 16.-The follow
ing particulars of the Presidents sum-
mer trip were learned to-day: The
President has left for months vaca-
10, in ha A 10 -, all
He was accompanied by Mrs. Cleve-
No mail will be forwarded to him or
opened by him during his absence.
Any public business requiring his i'm
mediate consideration will be brought
to his attention by the cabinet officers.
TO the numerous special correspond
entS who have asked to accompany
him on his trip, the President has said
that he was sure the public did not de-
sire that minute details should be given
of all his movements during his vaca-
ton, as such a. course would utterly
defeat the object and purposes of his
trip, which are complete rest, quiet,
and freedom from annoyance. He be-
lieves that the people are willing to
concede this to him, and, that so far as
their requirements are concerned in
the matter of news, they will be salts
fled to permit him release from i'm
pertinent intrusion. He believes that
the decent press of the country are also
willing that this should be accorded to
him. AT any rate he will feel fully
justified in an effort to render unsuc-
cessful any attempt to defeat his wish
in this particular. In recognition, how
ever, of the pardonable curiosity as to
any incident Of interest that may take
place during his vacation, he has him
self made arrangements whereby any
thing that the public should be inter-
ested in, or ought to know concerning
his movements, will be furnished the
agents of the regular press associa-
tiOns.