Telegram-herald., 1890-09-06
WIDEAWAkELUTHER
A Hustling Town Rot get Ten
Years Old
WELL REPRESgSIED N AL IRaDES
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Nnen sAe census mandld tas p0p0 a.
ton act ten years aga, luther uas not
70 bs found. The whole country where
it wAs - be was dense pine and
hardwood forest. bal s.ace that lme a
towa OF 1890 inhabitants has been bullt.
This would naturally neeessilAte some
lively work tor some one, as the town
now presents 3 lively, healthy appear
ance. The lumber nTm Of Luther, Wsl-
son < Luther hrst built niii here. the
village being named after the senior
member OF the firm, and taeir large
force of men would make a town oi
Itself. Tie surrounding country is but
little developed, there being, however.
some good farms within few miles OF
town, bat the principal feature Is and
always has been the lumber industry.
The G.. X. & /. has built a "plug" IN
from their main line. connecting at
Milton Junction and runs regular
trains, or would If they were On time,
twice day. In general appearance
Luther presents a much older appear
ance than II really has, and is pretty
well represented IN all branches Of
trade, especially IN the mercantile line.
A good graded school, with seven
teachers, is maintained, and churches
OF several denominations are repres-
ented here. Also the usual social and
secret societies are well represented, the
Odd-fellows being IN the lead. They
recently built for themselves building
which when fully completed will
be AS good as any in the town,
the lower part of which Is used for
stores and the room above for hall.
There is lots OF hardwood timber sur
rounding the town, and also pine
enough TO run the mills here for a
number of years to come. A year or so
ago fire got IN It's work here, destroying
several stores and covering nearly a
block, most of which has been rebuilt.
however. Considerable new buildings
are in course of construction and
Luther seems TO be on the ragged edge
of a boom. They have been waiting
and watching for new railroad 10 let
them out of the woods due from the
direction of Big Rapids, but as yet they
have looked in vain; which, should il
ever be built, would add greatly TO
their future prospects. Several brick
stores are in process of construction,
there being already number OF good
brick buildings on Main-st. In the
manufacturing line, several good instl-
tutlons are operated, there being located
here q wood extract works for making
wood alcohol, acetate of lime, char
coal, etc. This firm gives employment
10 some twenty men, and consumes
over eight thousand cords of wood an
nually, all of which comes from the
neighborlng country aud atf ords the
farmers a chance TO dispose of their
timber at a good advantage and, at the
same time, clear up their land with the
pIOul lHuS iliaut. y bilSh y alu y aicJ
in operation here, affording employ
ment TO n number.
THE TUCKER HOOPS COMPANY,
of Grand Rapids, run large saw-mil
the Luther, Wilson & Luther concern
employing something like two hun
dred men and turning out a large
amount of lumber daily. Among the
many business men met, it might no
be out of place TO mention few, goins
TO show that the town IS well stocked
with good, ente-prising merchants anc
| tradesmen.
In the drug trade, the firm Of
OSBORNE & HAMMOND
do a good business. They started il
here some eight years ago, built them
selves a good building, stocked up witt