R. Gilliand manufactures insulators for Western Union

FROM HUDSON, MICHIGAN.

Revival of Agricultural Interest — New Iron Bridge,

and Other Improvements — Miscellaneous

Matters.

Special Correspondence to the Inter-Ocean.

HUDSON, Mich., Aug. 23, 1875

For many years there was a flourishing agricultural society, with its headquarters at Hudson, which is on the line of Lenawee and Hillsdale Counties. For some time this society has been virtually dead. Efforts are making to revive it. If successful, the driving park will be fenced and buildings put up. There is a good deal of the progressive spirit among the farmers in Western Lenawee and Eastern Hudson, and they are inclined to reorganize on a more liberal basis.

Many improvements on a small scale are under way in the corporation limits, but no very important ones, except the building of an iron bridge across Tifflin River on Main street. The old wooden bridge fell a few months ago, immediately after a long funeral procession had passed over.

The capacity of the flouring mill of Higgins & Tucker on this stream is being doubled. A new dam is being made. Most of the mills and factories are quite busy. Since John Bean and Son put up their molding shop last autumn, their business has greatly increased. The two carriage factories, the three planing mills, and the sash factory have the usual force. So have Lane & Fuller, steam engine and hub boring machine makers, and Wright & Son, of the fanning mill factory.

R. Gilliand manufactures telegraph insulators for the Western Union Telegraph Company, and is kept busy the year round. E. F Daniels & Co. make broom handles for half of Michigan and mop handles for Mrs. Partington. Norman Weaver makes several kinds of agricultural implements, including the diamond land side, and diamond point and steel mold-board plows, which, I understand, are in good repute. Eaton Brothers employ forty men in making coffins — imitation of rosewood — and caskets. Their trade extends over a large field. J. De Golier & Co. have probably as strong a force in their spoke factory. The Hudson Manufacturing Company usually carries fifty men, and makes 100,000 butter packages and a great many paint buckets, pails, and especially tobacco pails. I learn from the Secretary, W. W. Palmer, that the company has had a very prosperous year.

The Common Council has caused a lot to be purchased in the east end of town, on which to build a second engine house.

Dr. J. B. Welch, dentist, has made a good beginning in collecting a cabinet of curiosities — curiosities of the stone age, geological specimens, etc., etc. Eventually his cabinet will be one of the curiosities of Hudson.

Dr. L. G. Hall, who began to practice medicine here in 1835, forty years ago, is still living, and is at the head of a large drug house. It makes one shake to hear him tell stories about the prevalence of the ague ini this part of the State in 1838-44. During some seasons there was sickness in every house, and he made his professional visits as an assessor makes his calls — stopping at every house. Of late years the ague has been more select, visiting the very best society only! Mr. Jerome J. Wood, newsdealer, states that the Chicago dailies are in great demand here.