In reply to your inquiry, I beg to say that I had the pleasure, in September last, of visiting Presque Isle, the site which the city of Marquette has the good fortune to hold in reserve for a public park, and was delighted with what I saw. A park on this site can have certain natural advantages possessed by no other that I have seen and it is to be hoped that the utmost caution will be observed in guarding these. I refer more particularly to the exceedingly [418]interesting, beautiful and picturesque elements of local scenery along the shore of the Lake. It is of the highest importance that the enjoyment of the almost unique elements of scenery which these are capable of affording should not be marred by the intrusion of artificial objects, and especially of constructions in the least of a showy character.

I saw too little of the interior to offer, with much confidence, any definite advice with regard to its treatment. I should think, however, that it would be exceedingly difficult to prepare upon it anything in the nature of grounds for popular diversions such as are commonly considered to be a necessary part of a public park, and that what I have said in regard to the danger of incongruities along the shores would apply to such an extent as to make it most desirable that the city should hold some additional land of simpler topography which, at small cost, could be prepared suitably to be used for games, athletic exercises and the sports and amusements of children.

I am of the opinion that it would be a capital thing to provide on Presque Isle for the preservation and perpetuation of as large an area as practicable within the limits of the park, of the native forest of the southern shore of Lake Superior. The site is a remarkably good one for the purpose, being easily guarded from the sweep of great forest fires, and its circumstances being such as to display bodies of foliage to great advantage. To accomplish the end which I recommend to be had in view in this respect, it would be desirable to take out, as soon as practicable, such of the trees now standing as are much beyond their prime, with enough of the least promising of others to allow the light to penetrate to the ground favorably to the development of the younger trees and the underwood, and thus to a gradual renewal of the entire growth. A suitable scheme for this purpose, if rightly set about and steadily pursued, would not require a large force, nor be in any way very expensive. I should suppose that all shelters from rain and all places of refreshment that would be necessary for the good use of the park by the population of Marquette for a considerable period in the future could be well made, in the main, of the logs that would be obtained in such thinning processes. If so, well-designed constructions of the character suggested would be in better taste than any of a more costly character.

Your obedient servant