Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-12-15
BY LAND AND WATER,
A study Of the Industrial Conditions %
the Central West.

'""rney from the 500 through IN.
"'e" ntehigan Timber B.It---. wa
"rneas OF PrimsVsI Forest. with Pic.
r Towns and CIssrinRs.- Notes ana
"imPsss Along the WAY,
Especial correspondence Of The Pbopir1
Inc 500 covers the wind-swept north. |
e@st corner of Chippewa County. Miebigan
Within twenty miles of this ambitions
town of 1900 inhabitants is primeval
wilderness, where may be heard the boarse
park OF the vicious wolf that. with the big
slonehy bear and stealthy lynx. roam
through the dense woods. stonning n 4,
tervlew the settlers stock of eatables at
'nelr leisure. The latitude of the 500 is
ABOUT 20 40, and the soil in the adjoining
towns Is strong and productive. maturing
wheat, oats, buckwheat, potatoes. garden
vegetables and timothy in abundance
Three lines of railroad centre here. one
connecting with Detroit, the other two ex-
tending west through the state: the south
ern one going to Minneapolis. while the
other practically follows the lake shore
win terminus at Duluth. decided,
when leaving the 500, to go by rail, as one
could better study the nature of the pro-
auctions and improvements of the country
than by lake, for there are no towns of i'm
portance by either route until Marquette is
reached, 155 miles distant.
A company is excavating a canal. con-
Meeting with the lake, through the suburbs
OF the 500, expecting to use the water in
generating electricity for power to be used
in manufacturing paper pulp and other
specialties. The small but comfortable log
house, the larger but unfinished barn with
open shed beside it; the zig gag fences
that enclose the fields, adorned with
stumps and growing vegetation; the devas-
tation by axe and fire beyond the verge of
cultivation; the haxy-topped children in
the foreground, with variety of domestic
animals about them, all looked like ele-
ments of a composite picture, as the train
rushed by the humble homes of the pio-
neers. These scenes are interesting and
instructive,-a renaissance of the early
conditions of New England 500 junction
is the point of divergence of two lines Of
railroad the Michigan Central, going
south to st. Ignaee where, after crossing
the seven mile ferry to Mackinac City, il
continues direct to Detroit; the Duluth
South Shore & Atlantic, with which my
immediate destiny is located, continuing
near the shore of the lake, as is middle
name indicates. There are materials abou
this 500 Junction which will eliminate, IL
the near future, by forming prosperous
village. The Bay saw mills, several me
chanieal plants, a score of small farming
efforts, an eating house, ETC., are expo
nents of what will soon be an outcome o
growth and activity. The train sool
, plunges into the dense, dark, evergreen
forest where seem to be surrounded by
vast community of living telegraph poles
railroad ties and fence posts. For mile
this trio of inhabitants holds a monopol
of every rod of the territory, with not al
= individual tree missing or stump in sight
: The railroad over which am travelin
= has been completed but few years, consC
5 ouently the stations present a primitiv
appearance. 1t is practically a rollin
! country quite free from stone and the Ian
: that has been redeemed from stump
D shows possibilities that are encouraging.
Without positive knowledge, I conclud
e the altitude to be about 200 feet aboveLak
!, Superior, which is trile more than &C
feet above the ocean level. notice occi
: sionally a small lake on the left of Il
; route and the water that flows from
towards the great Superior on the right,
e az clear as the mountain streams of We
i mont. am now about 100 miles west
y the 500. and the character of the fore
= has somewhat changed. The oak and m
~ nile. standing like sentinels among trees
smaller growth, haze taken the place
E. the cedar and pine. There is no doubt tn
re when this country with its remarkablese
e mate. pure water and deep rich soil, shi
i be occupied by settlers from the north
4 Europe, it will support as large popul
D. ton as Vermont or New Hampshire.
Enthusiastically minutes for dinner
7. Was a welcome call, though l had sor
1t doubts concerning the quality of food to
y served at the unpretending chatelot whel
at an open door stood bare headed, c
Is low youth, wearing long white apron a
al ringing large bell with the vehemenee
a town crier. On entering the diningah
be NV fears quickly vanished and appetite
As creased accordingly. Table linen and ma
% kins of immaculate whiteness, cutlery
a porcelain bright and clean, dishes OF blu
P. inc fruit and vases of fragrant flowers n
TO INV ewes. all giving the pleasant impressl
Of refinement here in this great north'
in wilderness. The young woman VINO
~ nonneed the menu did it with such h,
nd nothing voice that 1 should have cal
III .nvtbing she chose to fetch me. Han
ok broiled chicken with nice. potatoes, III
r. cooked and hot, warm apple and Gust
MES sponge cake, coffee and milk "
= promptIv served and the voice was pie
inc with a rising infection, to fetch sol
,hing more, when the brass banded c
INA from the foyer, through