The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1891-08-20
Letter From Rev. B. F. Sanford.

L
you short account of my vacation trip
to Northern Michigan. Mackinac Island
and the 800"
On Friday evening at nine o'clock |
boarded the staunch old steamer Law
renee Of the Northern Michigan steam
ship line, for restful ride to the regions
of the north. The steward assigned me
a berth with Hon. w. R. Curran, a prom
inent lawyer Of Pekin, Ill, and we were
soon at rest while the steamer cleared the
harbor of Milwaukee and took her course
for Ludington, Mich.
AS the morning Ga gned we were clear
ly conscious that we were not on terra
frma. A rocking and heaving movement
told us too plainly that we were being
crooked in the cradle Of the deep" There
was an earnest call for breakfast, but
about 40 passengers preferred to remain
in bed where rocking could be done to
better advantage. We were soon in the
harbor, however, and Were glad to go
ashore and take our bearings,
Ludington is a genuine lumber town
with quantity of salt thrown in. They
have paved streets and a numbering car
cite carries the people who are too tired
to walk The people Of this city believe
in utilizing the stars and stripes as an
emblem Of mourning, for up on our re-
turn trip we saw the flag hung at half
mast on account of the death of promi-
nent Ion keeper. Great is BaCc' US
The shores of Michigan are a succession
of great sand banks and give to the lake
travelled the impression that the whole
state is composed of sand.
The cities along the shore were -four
ishing and enterprising. AS we neared
the straits of Mackinac it seemed that
nearly every town was summer resort
visited mainly by people from the large
lake cities Of Detroit, Cleveland Buffalo
and many others. Notable among these
resorts were Charlevoix, Petoskey, Bay
View, Harbor Springs and Mackinac Is
land. The latter place was one of our
objective points and is worthy of a visit
from all who love beautiful scenery and
delightful atmosphere. The approach is
almost majestic. Mackinac Island is in
the Straits of Mackinac, fifteen miles
from Lake Huron, and thirty from Lake
Michigan; it is three miles in diameter,
and contains two thousand two hundred
and twenty-one acres. There are many
hotels, including the old Astor House that
dates back almost to the time Of John Ja-
cob Aston and his great fur expeditions.
The island is an accumulation of soil COW
cred with forests and vegetation, based on
au immense rock of limestone. The
Grand Hotel has noble situation, and is
well managed, the table and service COM
pairing well with the best watering place
hotels Old Fort Mackinac has a COM
handing situation. 1t was built in 1880
by the British troops, and many additions
have been made. The view of itfrom the
southwest is striking. Flags Of three
great nations have successfully foated
over it-France, England; and the United
States.
1t was in 1911 that John Jacob Astor
brought out the Mackinac Fur Company,
and in 1918 that it settled there The
chief objects Of interest are the fort the
top of Pyramid Rock, Chimney Rock, the
old Indian burying- ground, the Soldiers
cemetery, and the Arch Rock. This last
is phenomenon of exceeding beauty, a
sort of small natural bridge of Virginia,
having the advantage of the Straits at it's
base.
From Mackinac we made a delightful
trip to Sault Ste Marie or the 800, as it
is commonly called It takes two days
to make the trip, which was full of inter
est At the $500 there was the falls of
ST. Mary and the great government canal
and lock. We were told that one-eighth
Of all the commerce of the United States
passed through here Millions of public
money are being spent in this region for
the improvement Of the waterways The
Canadian government is trying to keep
pace with the Yankee across the way by
building themselves canal and the great
Canadian Pacific Railway.
We stopped three days at Bay View,
Mich. Bay View is the great Michigan
Chautauqua; but it is something more
It's situation is indescribably beautiful,
giving continually brilliant, sparkling
W1lCu luCluQcS UOGI1 SHORES OIL
the bay, and also the broad waters of
Lake Michigan in the distance. 1t is but
mile from Bay View to Petoskey, a
town whose growth has been magical, and
whose prosperity is assured. A wide
board walk connects the places for pc
destrians; good road for teams; a
dummy" makes a trip each way every
twenty minutes, and steamers and sail
craft ply to and fro constantly.
Bay View is summer city of about
400 neat and beautiful cottages, besides
seven large and commodious halls and an
auditorium which will seat 1000 people
SO admirably arranged that in case of fire
it could be emptied in two minutes,
Much of the best talent of the nation is
secured for the summer assembly held at
this place.
Altogether this trip was one of pleasure
and profit and | could heartily recon-
mend similar trip to any of my friends
REV. B. F. SANFORD.