CHARACTER means as much to a lake as it does to a man. The reputation of a body of water is acquired in much the same manner as the reputation of the individual. The characteristic, which attracts attentive, is the exceptional. We speak of such and such a man as a murderer. This is because most men are not. We never think of mentioning the fact that this or that one never killed a man. Lakes are almost human in some respects. They have their moods. One is morose and sullen, quick of temper and relen tless when aroused. Another is serene and calm as a suffering saint. One is treacherous, stealthy as an assassin. Another is as constant as a mother's love, as dependable as an elder brother.

In all the years since Brooks Lake has been in existence of which everything is known by history or tradition, no person has been drowned in it. Other lakes known as "Resorts" have records, which read differently. Scarcely a year passes over most of them without the enactment of a tragedy.

No indictment has ever been issued against Brooks Lake by the grand jury of public opinion, this is the history of half a century. What the Indians might tell of the century preceding would probably parallel the statement. There have been no alarms for sons that failed to return; no bubbling groan of some strong swimmer in his agony; no sobbing wind that echoing through the pines brings back the memory of a mother's moan. Brooks Lake has ever been safe for old and young tender even in her most turbulen t moods, a lake of sunlit memories. For fifty years this lake has been a favorite resort of those who love the rod and reel and gun and who happened to be fortunate enough to know her qualities. But such knowledge has been local and the lake, by escaping the fulsome advertiser's pen, has avoided be- coming that worst of all places, a "popular" resort It is to be hoped that it will never ever, ....become that, but continue as it is, a most delightful spot for either rest or Sport.

The early settler found this lake surrounded by a forest of gigantic pines, and as he mused upon its placid beauty he was led to speculate upon its origin. Beneath the surface of the lake could be seen the stumps and roots of trees, hundreds of them, a nd the theory was at once accepted that the bed of the present lake was once a valley in the great forest. A flowing spring of considerable size broke out. The valley gradually filled until an outlet was found. The trees died and the action of ice and wav es wore through the trunks until the tops fell into the water and were washed upon the shores as deadwood. But this is only theory. Brooks Lake as it exists today is a picture. Not all the great pines fell before the woodsman's ax. Some of them--they may have been small when the logging crews were here--still remain, and there are enough of them to make one feel that the lake is still within the woods.

Brooks Lake is about three miles in length and varies in width from a halfmile to one a half miles. The depth is eleven feet and the deepest place found is seventy feet. Men who have had wide range of observation in such matters anti are v ell acquaint ed with the inland lakes of Michigan anti other states agree in the statement that Brooks Lake is a remarkable fish-food producing lake. By this is meant the small minnows which art the principal food of Perch, Bass and other game fish. There is crop afte r crop of angler can often go out and dip up a painful at a single cast of the net.

One can often stand on the shore of the lake where it rises to some height above the water, especially where the beach is of such a color as to assist the sight, and count dozens of Black Bass ranged along the shore in systematic order taking their mea l. There are times when the bass number thirty to forty and when they proceed with their work with all the precision of an army corps. Back and forth along the shore they dart, gradually closing in until they have the minnows huddled in

the shallow water close to shore and swimming in a circle. Then, not all at once, but one at a time, they dart in and seize their prey. The remarkable parts of the operation being that those, which have satisfied their hunger, do not go back into deep water. Hut take up their position agate, in the ranks of the guard until the last of the brigade has made his onslaught. II is by reason of this splendid food supply that Brooks Lake has never been "fished d out. as has been the case with many of the smal ler inland lakes of the

In Perch and Black Bass it is rated as the greatest fishing ground from here to Lake Houghton.

If the person visiting Brooks Lake for a week's outing should make the village of Newaygo his headquarters he will find that there will be no necessity of confining himself to the single lake, for the village has been surrounded by kind nature with a c hain of lakes, all within a radius of five miles. Without exception they are beautifully situated and are all well stocked with gamey fish, such as Bass, Pike, and Pickerel, which insures the angler a well-filled creel and a day of good sport. To the more fastidious, whose frame of mind is in accord with Isaac Walton and can only be content when casting for the beautiful Brook Trout, the information will be welcome that in close proximity to Newaygo are two fine trout streams, the Penoyer anti the Bigelow , which are alive with the speckled beauties. In a few years the Muskegon River will be one of the finest trout streams in the state. as it has many tributaries of cold water creeks and which are all stocked with trout. The past season Rainbow Trout and S teel Head Salmon have been caught in this river that have weighed as high as 10 1/4 pounds. In the group on another page will be seen the photographs of two trout captured in the Muskegon at Newaygo and which are believed to be the largest ever caught in the state. One of these is thirty-two inches in length, weight 9 1/2 pounds, and the other, twenty-five inches in length, weighs 8 1/2 pounds. These two big "Rainbows" were mounted and exhibited at the Buffalo exposition. With those who enjoy the rod and reel "the proof of the pudding is in the earring." Brooks Lake, the Muskegon River and the chain of lakes about Newaygo certainly offer rare advantages.

In the spring of the year, at spawning time, for a period of two or three weeks, night and day, big ten-pound fish make the run to get up the chute about in the center of the Cement Company's dam in the Muskegon River, where the waste water and logs pa ss over. At least two fish in five minutes, on the average, leap out of the water, strike ten feet up the incline, maintain their place for a moment and then fall back again. One of the photographs reported in the accompanying group shows a "Rainbow" in an attempt to run the chute just striking the water about half way up.

The sport at Brooks Lake and about Newaygo is not confined to piscatorial lines. He who loves to go afield with his gun and trusty dog can here find game of every description to his heart's content. The early fall sees the numerous lakes covered with d ucks, mostly Mallards Blue Bills and Teal, their great feeding ground behind at Rice Lake, which is situated about two mites east of Brooks Lake. Partridge and Quail are plentiful, and it is expected that within a few years the Mongolian Pheasant will hav e a new home here, as a number of these birds were liberated about the lakes two years ago by Mr. Frederick Jacob, who has received reports that they're propagating finely.

The Gray and Black Squirrel are founding every direction from the village, many large ones being bagged every winter by visiting sportsmen. Rabbits are so numerous that they are almost considered a nuisance, in the market bringing no more than the powd er and shot that killed them. Game like Bear and Deer were plentiful here in the early days, but with the increase of civilization have been practically exterminated.

One of the chief difficulties to a please is durable outing for most city folks is to find a place where there is real sport without going to the ends of the earth. When this has been accomplished there remains one further qualification necessary to th e thorough enjoyment of a family outing, viz.: some degree of comfort sans style. Brooks Lake offers the genuine article in sport and is easily reached. The Chicagoan has but to take the evening boat of the Goodrich line, the Iowa or Indiana, and after a good night's rest arrives at Grand Haven and thence. by way of Grand Rapids, at Newaygo in time for a fish before the dinner hour.

It is a picturesque trip from the village of Newaygo to Brooks Lake, whether by carriage, a-wheel or a-foot. From the first hill one looks back over the town. With the broad Muskegon far below between its wooded banks; Riverside Park in natural beauty on the opposite side, and charming vistas of fruit and farming lands. The wheelman finds a clay path through the woods, which will throw even the most blase boulevard cyclist into ecstasies.

At the lake itself there is just enough of wildness left to act as a foil to the dainty little cottages erected, without preference by those who have recognized in this charming little body of water an ideal summer resort. There is quite a Chicago colo ny here no less than fifteen families from their city being now enrolled among the cottagers or as prospective builders. The cover page is a reproduction of a photograph of the cottage of Mr. Chapin.

The sailing is excellent for a lake of this size, and that it is a popular pastime may be judged from the group of a dozen boats which is reproduced on another page and which does not by any means include all the canvas on the lake.

The Courtright Hotel is naturally the headquarters for sportsmen, for from this central point the other lakes and the river can be reached with equal facility.

Until the present year there have been two newspapers published here. Postmaster E. O. Shaw, the publisher of the Newaygo Republican, has recently purchased the opposition paper and merged its publication with his own.

Newaygo has nearly every advantage to snake it a desirable place of residence. A splendid climate, pure water, light taxes, Newaygo has two existing con- which may be said to be responsible for the establishment in her midst of an industry-such great financial strength and stupendous possibilities that all other activities which have hitherto gone to make her industrial life are dwarfed beside it. These two conditions are the magnificent water power afford by the Muskegon River at this point, and the discovery of vast deposits of marl in a number of the

About two years ago the Newaygo Portland Cement Company was organized and incorporated with a capital stock of $2,000,000 To this date about $700,000 has been actually expended in the construction of the plant. The holdings of the Company are now consi dered to have a value many times exceeding the original outlay. The operation of the plant began in June of 1901 with about one hundred men employed at the start. The force now numbers about 150 hands engaged in the factory proper and in the work of const ruction.

The dam site was purchased of the old Converse Manufacturing Company, and about the first work undertaken was the erection of a new dam 430 feet in length. With a working head of fifteen feet, provided with four Taintor gates, through which the entire Muskegon River can be allowed to pass if desired. The race-way leading from the dam to the power house is 100 feet in width and the 2,000 horse power in use is electrically distributed throughout the plant by means of forty induction motors, thus entirely eliminating shafting and individualizing all machines.

It was the securing of this great waterpower which was the initial stroke in the organization of the Newaygo Portland Cement Company, since when it has gone forward in the accomplishment of its great designs with leaps and bounds. Fifty per cent of all the Portland cement made is used in the Middle West, while all but ten per cent of it is manufactured in the East. The opportunities for the successful establishment and operation of Western plants for the manufacture of this cement was first realized wh en it was found that the deposits of marl in many of the small lakes in Michigan anti other Western states could take the place of the crushed limestone which was the sole reliance of the l Eastern plants. For, what is Portland cement? In the East it is s imply limestone and clay; in the West it is marl and clay. Marl is a disintegrated sweet shell. In some places it crops out on the shore. In other places it is found beneath fifty feet of water. In the case of the lakes in proximity to Newaygo it is never found under muck or with a cover of any vegetable deposit whatever. Portland cement is eighty per cent marl and twenty per cent clay.

Here is the simple process of manufacturing: The marl and the clay are first ground separately, then mixed and ground together; then calcined, that is, burned, by means of pulverizing coal, lo a klinker; the klinker is then ground to an impalpable powd er--as fine as tooth powder--and this is Portland cement.

When it is seen how great a factor the marl is in the production of cement the possible depletion of the deposit beds or the exhaustion of the supply would be a serious question for the future. But it is a matter which has no concern for the Newaygo Co mpany, inasmuch as it owns outright two lakes containing large deposits, and several thousand of acres upon Pick erel, Kimball, Fremont and Brooks Lake, w wherever it has been found that the marl lies The company has made use of the marl as yet from but o ne lake, Little Marl. 1 t has constructed and operates its own railroad from the lake to the works. 1 he deposits in each of the lakes has been care-full; surveyed and the statement is within reason that with a plant of many times the capacity of the pres ent one in operation the marl deposits now owned by the company will last a century.

After the present plant of the company had been completed several months were spent in experimental manufacture until it had been settled to the satisfaction of the management that one quality of the Portland cement made here was the equal, in every pa rticular, of any cement of American manufacture. Then, and not until then. Picturesque and beautiful resorts, adequate church and school facilities, and improving values, are all conditions, which one desires to combine when selecting a place of residenc e. How rarely they are combined with who have ever had occasion to be homeseekers best understand.

The "Woodbine Kennels," which are located at Newaygo, have attained great prominence by reason of the splendid winnings on the bench and in the field of its representatives. The latest acquisition lo the kennels is "Honest Rip," an English Setter, one year old, by the field trial winner "Woodbine Pete," out of the prize winner "Susie Furness." At Muskegon, Mich., he defeated his sire, won three first prizes and special for the best Setter in the show. At the Logansport, Ind., bench show, Jan. 4, 1002, he won three firsts, special for the best English Setter and special for the best dog in the show.

The accompanying group shows some of the prizewinner. Mr. Frederick Jacobi is the proprietor, and Woodbine Cottage at Brooks Lake has always the latch string out for visiting sportsmen.

The interior is handsomely decorated with antelope and elk's heads and mounted game birds. In the boat house beneath the cottage is the "Woodbine," a twenty-five foot double sloop rigged yacht the largest on the lake, began the actual commercial life o f the big mills. At the end of the first quarter the promoters of the enterprise had the satisfaction of knowing that all the early promises as to the profitableness of the venture had been fully. The treasurer's statement covering these first three month s showed that the plant was earning double the amount necessary to pay the rest on its bonds. Doubt had disappointment Certainty stood in its place. To the holder, the bonds and stock of the Newaygo Portland Cement Company no longer represented a speculat ive risk, but were now a secure investment. It had been demonstrated, not alone that the highest grade of Portland cement could be made from the marl and clay deposits about Newaygo, but that it could be manufactured and marketed at a handsome margin of p rofit. Therein lies the difference between success and failure.

After all is said, it was not the building of this immense plant at Newaygo that meant so much to the village, but the possibility of its profitable operation after it had been erected. When it is stated that the general expense for the period of about two years, including financing, amounted to only about four per cent of the money raised and expended, it goes without saying that the plant had been honestly constructed and economically managed. But the management, let it have been never so able and ec onomical, cannot he given the entire or even the major part of the credit for the profit which the company was able to show form the first moment of commercial manufacture Its success deeper: in conditions which exist, before mentioned, namely, a limitles s supply of practically pure raw material and a superb water power. As the Newaygo Company owns the only Portland cement plant in the country operated by electricity generated by water power-nearly all the others depending upon steam.

It will be interesting to note what is saved to the company having control of a water power like that of the Muskegon River at Newaygo. Figures gathered from many factories by experts have settled that where steam is used the cost on the average is sev en-eighths of a cent for one horse-power per hour. A plant, therefore, operating continuously and using 1,000 horse-power would be at an annual expense of over $76,000 It will readily be seen that the Newaygo Company has thus a conspicuous advantage over other American Portland cement plants, an advantage which, using an extreme illustration, would make it possible for this company to sell its product at the figure it costs others to manufacture, and have profit in so doing.

That is a contingent which, of course, will never arise, for should such a price rule for any length of time it would necessarily mean the closing down of all factories dependent upon steam power, which would include practically all other cement plants in the country. Such a possibility is, therefore, out of the question. The condition which exists and will continue is, that as the Newaygo plant is but one of the seventy or more successful companies manufacturing Portland cement in this country, and it s output is not over two per cent of the annual product, those companies which manufacture 98 per cent will keep the selling price where it will be at a profit to them, and that means necessarily a larger profit for the Newaygo Company by just the differe nce in the cost of steam versus water power.

The plant of the Newaygo Portland Cement Company, of which the double-page engraving gives an accurate conception while not the largest, is regarded by experts as one of the most complete and perfectly equipped mills in the country. The rotary process, which has become the bugaboo of the English manufacturers, is here in successful operation. There are six large rotary kilns in full blast night and day, averaging 100 barrels each per day. The company has recently issued $300,000 of bonds, nearly all of which have been subscribed. With this-additional capital the plant has been enlarged to ten rotaries and the work of construction and installation is rapidly progressing. By the first of June the output will have been increased to 1,500 barrels per day. This will considerably more than double the present rate of earning by reason of the fact that although the output is doubled there will be an in of but twenty per cent in operating the plant.

One of the prime necessities in securing the best results in the use of Portland cement is that it should not be used too quickly after grinding. The latest improvement at the plant of this company is huge 40,000 barrel warehouse, which, with the forme r storage facilities, makes it possible to give every barrel of cement manufactured at least three months' storage before shipment.

The "Gibraltar" brand, which is the happily chosen trademark of this company has met with most gratifying reception in the short time since it was placed on the market. It had gone into some of the most important work in the West. The company has never been able to fill orders. This is attributed solely to the superior quality of the cement. One of its most important features is the fineness to which it is ground.

An economic feature is the compressed air system of handling the marl and clay when it arrives at the mills. Pneumatic tubes are everywhere in evidence, and from the time the marl is dumped from the cars until it comes out of the great rotary kilns in the form of klinkers it is never handled by man. This represents a large saving in the cost of manual labor. It is believed that the pneumatic system of handling the slurry is the most complete in any cement plant in the country. The laboratory tests to d etermine the exact constituents necessary to secure the best results are subject to radical correction in the analysis of the most skillful chemists in nearly all cement plants. The variations thus discovered between samples from the same vat are the resu lt of inadequate mixing by mechanical contrivance. Pneumatic pressure is here used for the mixing first of the marl, then of the clay, then of the marl and clay combined, again and again T', this thorough mixing is due the even quality of the finished pro But one brand comes from these mills and one barrel of "Gibraltar" Portland cement is the same as every other barrel.

Another economic feature is the method of heating the paln, whereby the hot air from the huge kilns is forced through overhead pipes throughout the various buildings. From these upper pipes smaller ones descend to within two feet of the floor at regula r intervals, which are opened and closed by a simple slide. The hot air is thus blown down to the floor and the mills are kept at comfortable warmth in the severest weather without a dollar of expense beyond the investment represented in the original cons truction.

Between the site of the plant and the business section of the village the company has built for its employee a half dozen cottages having an exterior finish of Port cement laid on expanded metal lathing. This is a new and economical method of construct ion, which is rapidly growing in favor with architects and builders. The possibilities of constructing houses entirely of cement are such as to warrant the assertion not infrequently made that in house building we are approaching the cement age. The maxim um of strength and aurability; the minimum of risk by fire; the greater warmth in whiter: the greater coolness in summer and vastly increased opportunities for artistic and cheap architectural effects are certainly cogent reasons wily cement should supers ede wood, stone, and steel.

The opportunities for new manufacturing enterprises: In this time at Newaygo are exceptional. The Newaygo Portland Cement Company will sell or lease cheap the factory, a cut of which appears on this page. It was overhauled last year and is in thorough repair with new roof, new foundation independent water power of thirty-five horse-power, lath mill, automatic sprinkler system elevators, shafting and sidetrack facilities. The factory has 60,000 square feet of floor space. Girl labor is cheap and plentif ul.

he officers of the Newaygo Portland Cement Company are Daniel McCool, member of American Society of Civil En president; William Wright, vice president; B. T. Becker. secretary and treasurer. Directors: F. G. Bigelow, Milwaukee H. D. Higinbotham. Chicag o; George Barrie, Philadelphia, and W. Northrup McMillan, St. Louis. Information regarding inducements offered new manufacturing enterprises might be secured by addressing Secretary Becker.

NEWAYGO is not a new town. Its history is written along with that of the county and state. Its name is of Indian origin, but not of Indian derivation. It is in fact the aboriginal contraction of the English words "new way to go," and was the original name of a new trail rather than of a new town. In the old rafting days on the Muskegon, around "Old Woman's Bend" for nearly three miles there was Indian camp on both sides of the river. A very few arc living there yet, perhaps a half dozen out of the thr ee hundred Naturally the village is rich in tradition There was the incident and accident of pioneer life, the tragedy of the forest, then the land was stripped of its giant sentinels and left a barren waste by the ruthless lumber barons lit, took all and gave nothing the heroic days of the war, when her country's need became her own and she gave of her heart's s blood freely without stint in order that the word "Liberty" should not become a stench in the nostrils of posterity: the struggling days of the great fire, when the entire business center was wiped out by a con greater in proportionate disaster than was that of Chicago. There was not much laughter, but many tears, in Newaygo's past. It was indeed a sombre picture that Newaygo presented at one tim e. Her streets in ruins and the country round about stripped of its primal wealth and left in utter desolation.

The Newaygo of today is not standing with gloomy face considering the past, but with the past behind her, radiant in the dawn of present prosperity, she is looking with bright eyes towards a resplendent future. As it is often noticed that the fairest R owers spring from the blackened, fireswept prairie, so Newaygo has arisen from the devastation of the forest vampire and from her own ashes, with new life, new hopes and new opportunities--a New-ay-go. Thanks to the great fire, that purged while it scourg ed, the village can justly pride itself upon a score of handsome brick business blocks, in this respect far surpassing most towns of 1,300 people. The original wealth of this section of Michigan lay in the resources of the forests. When that was dissipate d it seemed that there was nothing left but the bare sand hills. The discovery of the vast deposits of marl. in the lakes adjoining Newaygo and the building of tile great plant of the Newaygo Portland Cement Company opens a new vista of prosperity to this section. It is quite probable that greater wealth lies in the beds of - her shallow lakes than existed even in the primeval forests. This one eat industry alone is everything to Newaygo for besides the stupendous figures which will be reached in the manu facture of cement, the stimulus is supplied for other lines of industry. The development of the waterpower of the Muskegon River at this point, coupled with other facilities for manufacturing enterprises, cannot fail to give Newaygo many new factories wit h a few years. There is every reason to believe that navigation will again be opened on the Muskegon River as far as Newaygo, in view of the fact that the lumber industry is practically ended, the last logs having gone over the company's dam last year. Ch eap transportation, adequate and cheap power, with plentiful and cheap help, are inducements for which manufacturers are looking and Newaygo will not offer them in vain.

All agree as to the future of this section as a fruit belt. Experts have been here and after thorough investigation have reported that the land on the hills is as good for peaches, as any in the world. The ugly hilly nature of tile surrounding country affords a perfect atmospheric drainage, which is an essential for the successful cultivation of high-grade peaches. All the peaches raised here at the present time are practically sold for private consumption in Milwaukee and Chicago. The possibilities in fruit culture for a man of small means is best illustrated by the experience of a resident of Newaygo. He started with 400 trees, which bore fifteen to twenty bushels when two years old. A year later $94 was realized from the crop, besides twenty bushels or more used by the family and friends. This amount more than paid for trees, setting, pruning, cultivating, picking, interest on money invested in land, and bought 300 more trees and set them. Besides, two crops were raised on the same plot. Trees can b e bought at from C... to ten cents delivered from the best nurseries. Fruit land can be bought at from $5 to $50 an acre varying according to the amount cleared, the number a improvements and the of soil. There is plenty of the best ' fruit land to be sec ured and enough; peaches' are already raised here that buyers come in every fall, making a market right at home.

Newaygo is situated on the Pere Marquette Railroad, thirty miles north of Grand Rapids and thirty miles east of Lake Michigan A new railroad is now projected between Ludington and Grand Rapids via Newaygo. Grading has come on one end aid the present ye ar will in all probability see the road completed as far as Newaygo. This will give the village a competing lisle and a second a direct lake connection.

An "electric road'' is also so projected between Muskegon and Grand Rapids, via Newaygo, with special purpose of tapping the fruit belt. Rights of way and franchises have been secured and actual construction, it is said, will be commenced in the spring .

Newaygo hears the evidence of prosperity its face. New buildings new pavements fresh paint and well kept lawns emphasize the faith of its people in future property values The village lies in the main on a step between the river and the bluff behind. On the heights, however, on both sides of the river are scattering residences, including many delightful homes the village is well lit by electricity furnished by the Cement Company. The village council has the following membership: George Luton president; Daniel Mc M. F. Hatch, John McKinley, Frederick Jacobi, Peter Grover and William 1. Pike The village is out of debt and owns in water works, which were a cost of $15,000 but which will soon need enlargement to accommodate the growing needs of the place. T he present public school is situated on the bluff overlooking the village, and with its enrollment of 387 is taxed to its full capacity.

With few exceptions the half-tone illustrations herewith presented are from photographs made by Mr. L. A. Bracy. They tell of the beauties of Brooks Lake and Newaygo better than any words.