Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-01-22

across East bay. ssx miles distant inls
10 already noted for 10 great escharis
or pears. apples. piuuls, etc. Ana well
known by hundreds OF tourists VINO
visit it every var. Fruits or all kinds
are, both here and Around the inland
lakes, secure from early aud late Irosts-
The entire shore OF LAKE Michigan,
from Traverse City 10 ChaTieyogx. IS
destined 20 De the great fruit-produc-
ing portion OF Michigan. Extensive
orchards are 20 be found all along the
shore aud around the inland lakes,
many OF them old enough 10 demon
strAte that fruit 10 mot = failure, AZ
least IN this locality. The advAusage
OF transportation by the great lakes 10
enjoyed by all the towns sltusted upon
the Gay. Elk Rapids alone shipped, IN
1889, lV7 cargoes OF lumber. iron, ace
tate Of lime. and wool alcohol, and re-
ceIved forty-elgnt cargoes or ore and
fourteen OF limestone. The country
round about 10 producing = large
surplus OF wheat aus other crops and
with raj commv nicatlon with the
mining countr. = lake SuDerlor,
great outlet 70 had for everything
farmer eau raise, a. more remuner-
alive prices than can DO obtained
by shipping 10 southern markets.
Farmers here fnd that the timber
on their lands pays for botn iaad and
clearing 10 ready for crops. Perhaps
no timber country besides this can offer
tucn Inducements; lands At Sl5 per
acre yielding sixty cords OF wood
worth SSi on the bank of the lake
nearest the point OF cutting, and al
ways salable tor cash. make 10 posi-
bic for hundreds 10 obtain good homes
at little cOst. the influence of the
open water of Lake Michigan IS felt tor
twenty miles from its shores IN tenn
perature which Drecludes the posslbil-
ity of loss of crops from early or late
frosts. No need TO 90 TO Tar west,
when such q country lies at the door,
AMI within q days journey from Chi
csgo or Detroit. There is untold
wealth in the forest products and later
IN fruit and cereals.
The furnace consumes 80, 600 cords OF
wood annually. The foremen of the
furnace plant are as follows: Foundry,
George Hamei, chemical works, +. o.
Aslett: machine shop. Joseph Parks;
Shipping, A. X. pougnerty.
In connection with the furnace
feet OF thirty wood scows and three
powerful tugs IS used to transport
wood. Iron ore and limestone are
contracted for and delivered at the
eompany's docks. The furnace is con-
nected with the docks, and the site
surrounded by q standard guage rail
way. operated by the firm. The grist
mill Is a fine fouI-srory building. sup
Piled with every device which Is known
TO subserve economy and perfect re-
suits In the production OF high grade
flour. Its operated by the entire pow
er of Elk river. or SO much thereof as
is required. The standard brands of
this mill meet with a ready sale
throughout TINS territory.
The mill ls conducted by Fred
Wright, thoroughly competent mil
Ter, and estlmable gentlemen.
Near the flour mill IS the water sup
ply plant. complete system for city
pumping aud distribution. The CON-
pany will put In q complete electric
plant 10 illuminate the city and for
commercial purposes IN the spring.
The electric plant VIII be operated by
water power. A new building for
water and light production will be
erected IN the near future.
The saw mill of the firm had its or
IGN N g mill built upon the site early
in the tiftIes. Dexter * Noble built
. pine mill here about this time, and
IN 1866 enlarged 1t to q gang mill. In
1872 the present hard wood circular
mill was built, with capacity eff $4,000
feet every ten hours. Upon test this
mill actually cut los, 900 IN ten hours
The anil has water powes, and is one
of the best constructed mills ever bnilt.
1t draws It's logs from Elk river at It's
rear and delivers Its finished product
upon the docks in front. An extensive
planing mill plant is an addition con-
templated IN the near future.
Power for the institutions
is provided by a chain
of lakes, mostly maintained by creeks
and springs, seventy five miles IN ex-
tent, having shore line OF $50 miles.
The power 8 inexnaustable-
In estimating the industrial import
ance of the surroundings of these mills
1t should be remembered that Elk Rap
ids Is situated 81 3 point where the wat
ers. flowing from a wonderful cham of
inland lakes thirteen in number) out
let into Lake Michigan. They have an
inland coast line OF l50 miles, nearly
all solid hardwood timber, q field that
for forty years can supply any number
OF frctorles, from that which prod uces
toothplcks to the gigantic blast furnace
which consumes $4,000 cords Of wood
year. These thirteen lakes vary from
three to eighteen miles in length, and
are all connected by short streams hav-
ing plenty of water at all times, when
Navigation IL open for rafting timber.
A strip of land five miles IN width
around these lakes contains 80 miles
IF forest. Deduct fifty square miles
for lands now cleared TOR farming pur-
poses, and 700 square miles Of beach,
maple. elm anu other timber, each
square mile containing $40 acres, or
AS. 900 acres of the richest land IN the
northwest stlll remains.
The M~rcantiie Department.
The department Of dry goods. cloth
ing and general supplies contains
everything required for Housekeeping,
farming, milling or manufacturing.
The stock - $4,000 and the institution
engages the services OF twenty-five
clerks. The department is under the
management OF DAVID Holmes. TINS
department - located upon Elk rlver,
and It's warehouses are upon the sd-
lacent docks. Formerly these were
stocked before the close of navigation
IN the fail TO supply the trade until
navigation opened IN the spring. Since
the advent OF the railway, oGe year
since. this - no longer necessary. The
Offices of the company are situated In
brick structure al accent TO the furnace
pant IL - under the general charge
OF II. z. Lewis.
Biographical
n. ~. Noble, the head OF these great
interests and the author of their beng,