Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-08-06

noted for its picturesque environment,
and now with the superb new steamer
Valley City making daily trips to Lake
Michigan and return its beauties are
easily accessible. For residents of west
ern Michigan the route has an especial
charm. In the early days the river
was the great highway by which the
pioneers enjoyed communication with
the outside world. 1t brought and
took their stores of goods and mer-
chandise and was the source of daily
news. Along its banks the settlements
first sprang up aud industries began to
thrive. The principal events of early
days were enacted along it's course.
Among the recollections Of those prim-
tive times none are more fraught with
pleasure than those of river journeys
and riverside events.
Today the river has lost, somewhat,
its commercial value through railway
building and much, il not most of the
and OH its waters has been suspended.
But what has been lost to commerce
has been gained in natural beauty.
The sights of timber rafts and mills
and lumber are not there, but gently
. >,
stately forests satisfy the eye. Time
has effected the decay of many of the
oId-tIme mills and works along the
stream and left picturesque ruins
mantled with moss and foliage instead.
A Pleasure for the Pioneer.
For the pioneer of the early days.
who had not the pleasure of q steam
boat trip along the river for twenty or
thirty years, . ride along Its course
today 10 an experience OF especial
delight and satisfaction. Through the
old familiar scenes no longer greet his
eye, yet HE memory can supply the
missing links of the old time picture
and weave about each bend and bar
and snag infested bank some pleasing
recollection. The games and races of
the early days are gone forever, and
the adventures incident to them can
not be revived, but the surviving
pioneer. his mind refreshed by revisit
ing the old time land marks, recalls the
gay and animated life of bv-gone days
with all its orgInisl charms.
The yones Ones Are In IL, Too.
To the rising generation the river -
the kew TO most of the activities aud
ihtrtrrks WHICH htttfttu tbS atttbt4Cif
Of the generation gone before. Though
unfamiliar with the incidents which
give u sfFectionate regard in the minds
of the older members of the COM
munity, yet there - an absorbing inter-.
est in II. To no class - journey down
the river of greater interest tnan the
art student and lover Of nature. The
changing panorama ~ forrest. 6eti And
stream which greets the bebolder - un-
surpassed for modest loveliness. Qnaint
flomes, deesyfng MILLS. majestic forest
aud sunlt sky are there ss rare ss auy
gems of scenery tnat earth contains.
Old hulls. the relics Of ssriy river nsvh
cation. are lodged along the hanks.
Groupes of happy children salute the
passing steamer. whils on the uudulas.
ins landscape studies IN still life
sbognd.
- ace ese.sstsrssss
For exeurssonisfe sni agntseers or
thoss desiring qniet aanug IL . day,
the rev river boat affords tbs means nf
rpslsnns pleasure For picnic parties
tire bsss - especially adapted. Ih
sfasd aerts sh,svs and eDiow sffcsa
ausple epostuuitt~s for asncsrs. games
snd vsrseus .pests. lie anpes aeet,
fsrwsfd 1T the eAt'sn. q . asliahtfni
potut Of satlooa from witch ne eaHuas