Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2013, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================= Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. ========================================================================== THE LUDINGTON DAILY RECORD, Ludington, Michigan Thursday, January 13, 1881 VOL. XIV. OLD SERIES, NO. 19 VOL. I NEW SERIES, NO. 34 LOCAL MATTERS: -------------- Work on T. R. Lyon's monster lumber barges is progressing rapidly. Hewers of wood, including ship-builders, are the busiest of men just now. Two car loads of rod iron arrived last Tuesday, to be used in the construction of Lyon's lumber barges. Captain William Courtland has gone to Chicago and Milwaukee to attend to business connected with T. R. Lyon's shipping interest. The elevator and freight house are empty; all the freight has been shipped. Business will be dull until the propellers can start again. Three of the N. T. Co's. propellers have been "stirring up the sand" in the channel, at the entrance of the harbor, with a view to getting a little more depth. They are succeeding admirably. We learn that Captains John and David Cochrane will each take charge of a Northern transit company boat for the winter season. They are so well known on the lakes, for efficiency and "push," that further remarks are unneccessary. The steady, gentle westerly wind, during the past week, has packed all the floating ice in the lake hard on this shore. It began to come in Friday morning, and by Saturday morning the whole shore, from South Haven to Northport, was closed with a strip of ice some miles wide. It became quite solid in so long a period of calm weather. At Grand Haven, the steamers carrying for the D. & M. R. R., have tried in vain to break through. At Manistee, the TRUESDEL was packed so close near the mouth of the river, that they sent teams out to her on the ice, and took off her cargo. Here the warm water of the river kept an opening some distance out into the pack. Yesterday, the NASHUA, CITY OF NEW YORK and CHICAGO, went out into the opening and made an attempt to pound a way through for themselves into open water outside; they succeeded in getting about a half a mile easily enough, when they came to a solid floe. A few hours of wind would break them all up. MISCELLANEOUS -------------- The coroner's jury in the case of the wrecked steamer ALPENA rendered a verdict that the vessel was in a bad and unseaworthy condition, the life-preservers unfit for use, one of the life-boats unseaworthy, the crew inexperienced, and the "holding down" bolts of the engine bed plate either broken or pulled through the bottom of the boat. The verdict censures the Goodrich transportation company, which ran the boat, and declared it responsible for damages. A. E. Goodrich, presi- dent of the company, denies the charges. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ THE LUDINGTON DAILY RECORD, Ludington, Michigan Thursday, January 20, 1881 VOL. XIV. OLD SERIES, NO. 20 VOL. I NEW SERIES, NO. 35 LOCAL MATTERS ------------- The N. T. Co's boats left here last Friday morning and returned on Sunday. Five caulkers have been engaged from Milwaukee to work on T. R. Lyon's vessels. They are caulking the schooner C. P. ROYCE at the present time. Three of the N. T. Co.s' propellers left Ludington for Milwaukee last Friday and returned on Sunday, but owing to the ***** of the wind and intensity of the cold, found the harbor blocked by ice which was inceasing daily. They were unable to force their way nearer than about one mile from the shore, and have been firmly imbedded in the ice every since. Yesterday the plan of clearing a channel by the use of dynamite was tried, but with no success, the ice being too thick. The action of the waves had piled it to a thickness of many feet in some places. A team belonging to Thos. G. Bishop was engaged yesterday hauling feed from one of the boats for Guyle & Nash and C. H. Fralick & Co. They had hauled four loads ashore and when about midway between the boat and the shore with the next load the sleigh broke through, rolling the feed into the lake. Fortunately, the draw-bolt slipped out at the time, leaving the horses free to escape. Many of the bags were fished out again but ten were lost. According to present appearances the boats are destined to stay where they are for some time. LUDINGTON HARBOR ---------------- Congressman Duester, of Wisconsin, has a bill prepared for incorporation into the river and harbor bill, intending to secure an appropriation for building a breakwater at Milwaukee harbor, and thereby making it a first-class harbor of refuge. We must admit, of course, that Mil- waukee is ahead of Ludington in point of size and importance, but when the question comes up of creating or developing a good harbor of refuge for the safety of lives and vessel property during stormy weather, it must be admitted at once that Ludington is by all odds a more sure place of refuge in time of danger. For instance sailors make it a rule to "hug" the west shore when expecting stormy weather, for the reason that the land is high and sheltering; the prevailing heavy breezes being from the westward, while this coast is low, water comparatively shallow and safe harbors not so plenty. Hence, the anxiety of sailors to give the east shore a "wide berth" as soon as possible. Ludington is situated about half way between Chicago and the straits, and on the side to be shunned, because there is not a sure refuge. Therefore our friends in power should have their attention called to the advisability of securing something like $100,000 for the improvement of our harbor. This amount would give us as good a harbor as any on the lakes. By all means let Milwaukee be as improved as to be a safe and commodious harbor of refuge, it is necessary; but necessity of one at Ludington is quite apparent, if not more so. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ THE LUDINGTON DAILY RECORD, Ludington, Michigan Thursday, January 27, 1881 VOL. XIV. OLD SERIES, NO. 21 VOL. I NEW SERIES, NO. 36 LOCAL MATTERS ------------- The NASHUA came into port Tuesday night, and discharged her cargo yesterday. The propeller TRUESDELL knocked some of the iron sheeting off her bow last trip, and had to discharge the Manistee freight until repairs were made. They will sail again as soon as the present storm abates. On Friday morning, the 21st inst., the wind commenced blowing from the eastward, causing the ice which had blockaded the harbor for some time to break up and drift out into the lake, thereby letting the propellers free. This change was promptly taken advantage of, and the three boats were safely alongside the dock at the elevator before day-light Saturday morning. The harbor has been open to navigation since that time, and steamboats running again with some regularity. [an article proclaiming the need for a harbor of refuge at Ludington, and other matters, much of which is illegible. The bottom portion reads as follows] ...to take advantage of the law, s*** the Gardiner house, etc., have removed all doubts that the boat was unsound. The defensive position taken by him shows that he has little confidence in the proof he might advance to protect himself. There are some parties who lay the whole blame on the government inspectors, but these are politcal soreheads who are in opposition to the present administration, though there certainly was not sufficient strictness in the inspection. The facts of the case will undoubtedly come out in the trial of the first case, for there will certainly be one. Senator Ferry and Wm. R. Loutel, the recently discharged general superintendent of the life-saving department for this district, had some rather high words the other day. Mr. Loutel feeling aggrieved at his removal. Capt. J. F. Smallman, captain of the steamer MUSKE- GON, Goodrich line, will probably be appointed in his stead. The Goodrich steamers running between here and Muskegon have a hard time getting in and out of the harbor the past four weeks, the prevalent west wind keeping the harbor blocked with ice. The MENOMINEE had a hole punched in her forward a few days ago, and the cargo had to be shipped from the CITY OF LUDINGTON to her stern to keep her from filling. ===========================================================================