The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1890-07-04
Northern Michigan.


FRANKFORT, Mich, July !, $780,
Mr.. Editor:
Thinking that a brief description of
our trip and the town of Frankfort would
be of interest to your readers, | take the
liberty to write; if you think it not worth
printing, throw it in the waste basket.
We left OwOssO OH the 10 a. IN train via.
T., A. d n. Nj. h. X. OH well filed
train-nOt vacant seat outside of the
smoker. The first special attraction after
leaving OwOsso was at Ashley, where on
our arrival whom should we see but our for
mer townsman and EXAlderman j. II.
Wolvertol, now of Ashley, standing i'm his
hotel door ringing the dinner bell, his portly
figure standing out above those around him.
We called his attention by tipping our hats,
when he dropped the bell and jumped
aboard the train with tempting box OF
cigars with which he supplied the wants of
the indulgers, gave us hearty shake and
wished us pleasant trip as our train pulled
out of the fiourishing town of Ashley. The
next point of special interest, was the ruins
of the Gardner mill near North Star, which
left feeling of horror in our minds. Not
vestige of the mill was left except the
iron fragments that could not burn. We
learned that seven victims died the morning
of the 2Sth, and that two more were in
very critical condition.
BY the time we reached ST. Louis it was
raining and continued until we reached
Alma, which cooled the atmosphere and
made our journey more pleasant; at Clare
we met several friends and also partoOk of
refreshing lunch; from there our journey
carried us over the Pine Plains to Lake
George, where our OwOsso friends, Albert
Todd and +. f. Dudley added largely TO
their earthly possessions from the harvest of
ice gathered by them there last winter,
share of which is distributed among the
homes of Owosso this warm weather, great
ly to their comfort. From here we ride on
through one Of the largest forests now left
in the state, until we reach Cadillac, this is
very wealthy place, its natural advantages
of the two lakes, which induced lumbermen
of large capital to invest here, and it now
has several of the heaviest and most wealthy
lumber companies in the state. The two
lakes here that contain several square miles
of water are a great blessing TO this beautiful
city. After a few moments delay we sped
on through an almost unbroken forest of thL
heaviest timber we have ever seen; such
hemlOck, elm, Eastwood, ash and maple. we
think they were never equaled. The entire
route to COpemish, the terminus of the T.,
A. A. & N. M. r. r., about $50 miles from
Owosso; this must from its natural advan-
tages grow to be quite city as it now has
three railroads centering here, namely: tho
r., A. A. q N. NJ, G. r. d. l., and the
Frankfort r. r. In this City of the Forest
they were building store right in the heavy
forest, just cutting away enough of the tim
Der to admit of putting in the foundation,
They now have one Touring mill, two saw
mills, and large manufacturing concern
frnx,. I A,.f1 AIn Iaf set tr l,nx,a
horse power, we were not able to learn what
was to be done in this extensive establish
ment.
At Copemish we change cars onto the
Frankfort II. r., where we begin to feel the
lake breeZes, and have a pleasant ride of 8
miles to Frankfort. After we have gone
about 15 miles through the timber we begin
to come to settled lands and prosperous
and soon to the east end of the
beautiful Crystal lake, of which we shall
have much more to say later on. Our train
followed this beach for some three miles,
where the II. r. Co., simply had to lay
down the ties and lay the iron. We leave
the beach and follow down the banks of the
commonly called Betsy river TO
the pleasant city of Frankfort; arriving here
at z p. m. This city has many points Of
interest aside from the cool breeze from
lake Michigan, which was very refreshing
after our long, tiresOme journey. We first
had look at the steamers and vessels about
in the harbor, then we were driven to the
Forest Avenue House, which is situated
about block back from the bay and three
blocks from the great lake. This is sur
rounded by beautiful naples which shade
the place, and we can Recommend it to our
friends as very pleasant, homelike place;
t is strictly temperance house kept by DIR,
F. +. Corbin. The DR.. and his wife have
the faculty of making their guests comfort
able and happy, and for the expense we
have never found better equipped house.
Their tables abound in all the luxuries Of
the season. If business would permit |
.hink our whole party would like to stay
right here for at least month.
One attraction that we were all greatly
in is the wonderful flowing well
which throws stream of water from an 8
n. pipe distance of some 10 feet i'm the
,ir, and it is really wonderful sight; and
{ is said to be one of the best mineral wells
N the State. There are two of these wells
here that are some 1,400 feet deep. / my
elf have visited nearly all of the noted
wells of the State and think these are not
,xcelled in Michigan; the water is cool and
fragrant and contains wonderful medicinal
especially for rheumatic or bill
ious troubles. ID. M. EsTEy.
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