Duncan J McArthur

Newspaper Date : 1/10/1879 12:00:00 AM
Volume : 2
Number : 38
Page : 1
Column : 6-7
Newspaper : Review
Description : Another year-end wrap-up (1878) of Alcona Township by Achid.
Transcription : ALCONA. Interesting News-Notes, by "Achid." Alcona, January 6, 1879. Dear Editor:--Herewith I send you a condensed report of the principal events which have transpired in the township of Alcona during the year A. D., 1878. To my knowledge there have been 30 births, 18 girls and 12 boys. If there have been any more let the midwives speak up. There have been 9 deaths in the township--two children from diphtheria, two children from cause unknown; one child from whooping cough; one woman from consumption; one man, mortally wounded in Beard & Co's saw-mill; one of the inhabitants of Harrisville by gunshot; and James Pyne's son was mortally wounded in Millen's works, and died at the residence of his father; Mr. Freeman Youngs was mortally wounded on the Black River R. R., and died in Detroit. Mr. D. McArthur also lost his leg by the discharge of a rifle. There were only two marriages in the township during the year. There are 77 dwelling houses in town 27-8, twelve in town 28-9, eleven in town 28-8, and two in town 28-7, making 103 dwelling houses in the township of Alcona, at present. I do not include any of the lumber camps, nor the Government buildings on Sturgeon Point. The Hubbard Lake road has been opened up the past year to within half a mile of the Lake. There has been a good bridge built across Hardscrable River, so that logs can be floated underneath to the Lake. The swamps have all been corduroyed, and the lumbermen having pine around Hubbard and Roe's Lake can get there, from Alcona to Hubbard Lake, in 12 miles, on a direct course west--Beard & Co's R. R. runs to near Roe's Lake. There is good farming lands around these lakes, which will, in time, be the garden spots of the township, and splendid for fruit trees; and the lakes are well stocked with fish, and there is game in abundance. When the traveler or land hunter gets on Mount Zion and gets a view of the scenery around Hubbard Lake, he beholds a body of water about as large as the Sea of Galilee, and a grand view of the surrounding forests to the north and the Norway pllains To the south-east, as far as the eyes can reach; also you can look across the end of the lake to Happy Valley which is going to be a farming country as soon as the pine is stripped off. We had a splendid time at the school house of District No. 1 on Christmas Eve, and the children enjoyed the program? first rate, and all went home happy from the Christmas Tree. The dramatic performance of "Temptation" and "Paddy Miles, the Limerick Boy," on New Year's Eve, was grand, and the Knownothing Speech of Monseur LaBraff took down the house. There were from 160 to 170 persons in attendance. The Odd Fellows' Lodge is to be instituted on Tuesday evening, the 7th, by D. D. Byers of Au Sable. Mr. Beard is getting out some long timber for the firm this winter; they have changed their mind about cutting all short logs. Mr. Smith is not operating for Alger & Co. now; he is operating for Merrick & Fowler. R. A. Alger & Co. are going to bank about five millions of long timber above South Point on Lake Huron. The timber is what Smith cut and skidded. About 15 teams have gone up to do the hauling. Mr. Hastey sends up six teams, and Alger & Co. the balance. I remain yours as ever, Achid.