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UNIVERSITY OF 
 ILLINOIS LIBRARY 
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 BOOKSTACKS 
 
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Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2017 with funding from 
 
 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Alternates 
 
 https://archive.org/details/michiganagricultOOmich 
 

 
 
 OF 
 
UBRARY 
 
 UWVEASff Y^OF lamOA 
 
“IF THOU SEEKKST A BEAUTIFUL PENLNSULA LOOK AROUND” 
 
 (Motto on Great Seal of State) 
 
 State Capitol, Lansing. 
 
LIBRARY 
 OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY Of ILLINOIS 
 
S'l'A'I'IC ( )!•' MK'IIK'.AN 
 
 Public' Domain Ciommission and 
 Immigration Commission 
 
 Augustus C. Carton, Commissioner of Immigration. 
 
 Cilon R. Mnnshaw, l')ei)nty Commissioner of Immigration. 
 
 M 1 C H 1 C; A N 
 
 Agricultural, Horticultural and Industrial Advantages. 
 
 IMAIIGRATION PUBLICATION. 
 June, 19 14, 
 
 MEMBERS OF COMMISSION 
 
 Hon. Junius E. Beal ------ Ann Arbor, Michigan 
 
 Member Board of Regents of the University. 
 
 Hon. Alfred J. Doherty - . - . - Clare, Michigan 
 
 Member of State Board of Agriculture 
 
 Hon. Oramel B. Fuller 
 
 Auditor General. 
 
 y: 
 
 Hon. Frederick C. Martindale 
 
 Secretarv of State. 
 
 Ford River, jMichigan 
 - Detroit, Michigan 
 
 
 Hon. William Kelly ------- Vulcan, Michigan 
 
 Member of Board of Control, College of Alines. 
 
 Hon. Al’gustus C. Carton ----- East Tawas, Michigan 
 
 Commissioner of State Land Office. 
 
 CO 
 
i-fBRARy 
 
 1 
 
 .? 
 
 r lyl. 
 
P'OKICVVORI). 
 
 'I'liis hook is puhlislu'd inidcr authority of Act ddd of the Public Acts of 1913, 
 which act i>rovidcs that the Public Domain Commission shall also be constituted an 
 Immij^nition C'ommission and ])rovides further that such Commission shall appoint 
 a (Commissioner of Immigration and a Deputy Commissioner of Immigration, 
 
 It is the duty of these oOicials to collect and compile information relative to the 
 advantages and opportunities afforded by this state to the farmer; the merchant; 
 the manufacturer; the home and pleasure seeker; and to distribute the information 
 so gathered and compiled in such manner as the Commission shall deem advisable. 
 
 In carrying out this function it is the chief object of the Commission to encourage 
 and direct the settlement upon and the development of Michigan’s good agricultural 
 lands, which in turn makes this publication of a two-fold purpose: 
 
 First, to stimulate Michigan’s own people to a deeper appreciation of the state 
 in which they live and to encourage a greater degree of agricultural development by 
 calling their attention to the opportunities and possibilities afforded by their home 
 state, and 
 
 Second, to encourage the settlement upon Michigan’s agricultural lands by people 
 from the neighboring states and Canada, and by intelligent rural immigrants from 
 Central and Northern Europe. 
 
 This work, being the first of its kind compiled to meet a pressing demand, is, 
 in fact, but a synopsis of the vast subject under consideration. Within its covers, 
 however, will be found many facts which will prove of interest to the citizens of 
 Michigan as well as to non-residents. They indicate the greatness of the state in 
 area; in achievement; and in the splendid opportunities and future possibilities. 
 
 It is hoped that this book will provide information not heretofore obtainable, 
 to those interested in Michigan, and will be the cause of inducing many who read 
 it to visit the state and EXAMINE FOR THEMSELVES the advantages and 
 opportunities offered. 
 
 IMichigan invites inspection and need make no extravagant claims to establish 
 the fact that it offers to the farmer, the homeseeker and maniifacturer opportunities 
 unsurpassed by any other state in the Union. 
 
 Augustus C. Carton, 
 
 Commissioner of Immigration. 
 
 Glen R. Munshaw, 
 
 Deputy Commissioner of Immigration. 
 
6 
 
 M I C II I C, A N 
 
M I (' II I ('. A N 
 
 7 
 
 nRii<:F iiis'roRV oi-' 
 
 S'l'A'I'lC’S ICARLV 
 
 |)Rvi-:l()I>mi-:nt. 
 
 Limj; Ivl'oro any wliiti' man had tonnhrd thn noasl of whaL is now the Stale of Michigan, or had 
 gazed with eovctons eyes on its magnilieent forests, wandering tribes of Indians loitered along its shores 
 ami lived upon the whitefish with which its crystal waters were teeming and the deer that fill(;d its 
 forests. The headciuarters of thi'se wandering tribes was the Sault l)c Ste. Marie, where the fish were 
 most plentiful. Hut the Indians were not destined to hold undis])uted sway. 
 
 As early as the lirst i)art of the 17lh century two French traders, lured by the game which filled the 
 forests, landed on Michigan shores. 'l'emi)orary stnicturcs were erected fnan time to time until 1672, 
 when Father Mariiuette, a Jesuit mi-ssionary, founded the first ])crmanent settlement at the Sault De 
 Ste. Marie. From this time on the h^rench, through their grace and ease and tact, as well as their 
 unusual ability to atlojit the ways and customs of the Indians, gradually insinuated themselves into 
 the country. 
 
 In 1701 LaMotte Cadillac, recognizing the importance of “The Straits,’’ from both a strategic 
 and a commercial point of view, founded a permanent settlement at Detroit. This marks the true 
 beginning of civil life in Michigan. In spite of the pronounced advantages of its position, Detroit did 
 not increase rapidly in population, and the extreme sociability of the French people i)rcventcd their 
 spreading out into the wilderness. Prof. Hinsdale, in “The Old Northwest,’’ tells us that the French 
 had three objects in view in coming to New France, “Religion, dominion, and the fur trade.’’ And 
 consequently wherever they came were found “a church, a military defence, and a trading post. The 
 trader was opposed to settlements because they meant the destruction of his trade. The Jesuit was 
 opposed to them because they meant the destruction of his mission field. The ‘voyageur’ and the 
 ‘coureur des bois’ were opposed to them because they meant the destruction of their favorite modes 
 of life. Only the soldier was left and his business was not colonization.’’ The first settlements, and 
 for many years the only settlements in Michigan, were Alichilimackinac and the Sault De Ste. Marie. 
 The extreme hostility of the Indians in the region of Lake Erie, as well as the greater length of the route, 
 turned the tide of French emigration towards the north. The English were kept pretty strictly to their 
 territory east of the Alleghanies by the difficulties of the passage across the mountains. Thus were the 
 rich lands of southern IMichigan preserved for the energetic American farmer who, overcoming all 
 obstacles, pushed his way into the forests, quickly transforming them into thrifty agricultural districts. 
 
 About the middle of the 18th century came the struggle between France and England for disputed 
 territory, in which each hoped to gain dominion over the entire northwest country. The French had 
 become so thoroughly allied with the Indians that in this struggle the latter, with one accord, cast their 
 lots with the French “Fathers,’’ as the}" called them. Notwithstanding, in 1760 the English gained 
 the supremacy and agents were sent in all directions to demand allegiance from the French and also 
 from the Indians who pretended to be overjoyed at the outcome of the contest. 
 
 The English at once endeavored to introduce some system and order into the new country which 
 had fallen into their hands, but it takes more than law to overcome the habits of a century and a half. 
 The French were too inactive and too well satisfied with their present mode of existence to exert 
 themselves to adopt new customs; the forests and streams furnished them with the necessary' food and 
 they enjoyed their rovring existence too thoroughly to settle down to regrilar ways and habits. The 
 English had no faculty whatever for pacifying the Indians. They persisted in treating them with a 
 scorn and contempt wdiich the haughty savage resented in the extreme, and all the more because the 
 French had shown him such unusual consideration and courtesy. This difference in the attitude of the 
 two nations towards the Indian was one of the main factors in withholding civilization from the lake 
 country, long after Ohio and Illinois had become flourishing commonwealths. 
 
 Although the American Colonies had won in their struggle with Great Britain, it was not until 
 
8 
 
 M I C H I G A N 
 
 Wayne’s decisive victory over the Indians on the banks of the Maumee and the subsequent treaty at 
 Greenville that the Americans took possession of the posts of the Northwest Territory. Plans for 
 government were then talked and the Ordinance of 1787 became the law^ ruling all of the territories 
 in the United States. 
 
 The third article of the Ordinance is especially worthy of note on account of the vast influence 
 it has over the character of Michigan’s popiflation. It states, “Religion, morality and knowledge 
 being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education 
 •shall forever be encouraged.’’ Movements in favor of education for the common people, to which 
 the Ordinance of 1787 gave a new stimulus, were started from time to time. The land ordinance of 1785 
 set apart the sixteenth section of land in each township for common schools, and one entire township 
 for the aid of schools and colleges. This was the first step toward providing for the people of the 
 Northwest Territory the system of free education of which the state is now justly proud. 
 
 In 1800 the lower peninsula of the present state of Michigan constituted nine-tenths of the county 
 of Wayne, the other tenth being within the boundaries of the present states of Ohio and Indiana. The 
 upper peninsula was, with the exception of the territory in the immediate vicinity of the Sault De Ste. 
 Marie, unexplored country. The census returns for that date show 3,757 people in Michigan, 551 of 
 whom were from Mackinaw county, 2,068 from Detroit, and as many more from within a radius of ten 
 miles of Detroit, and most of the remainder from the banks of the River Raisin within the limits of the 
 present county of Monroe. The highway from Ohio to Detroit passed through IMonroe county, and 
 settlements, closely packed together for the sake of protection against the Indians, gradually sprang 
 up along the River Raisin for a distance of eight or nine miles. 
 
 The year 1805 saw Michigan cut off from Ohio and Indiana and established as an independent 
 territory, the government to be based on the ordinance of 1787. This territory extended on the west 
 through the center of Lake Michigan north to the intersection with Lake Superior, on the east to the 
 water boundary, on the south to a line due east and west from the extreme southern point of Lake 
 Michigan, and on the north to the internationa,! boundarj". The first governor to be sent to the new 
 territory was General William Hull of Massachusetts, a man of no experience in frontier life and entirely 
 unacquainted with conditions which he must meet. Hidl’s first glimpse of his new dominion must 
 have been a disappointment indeed. Instead of a comfortable settlement, well-housed and prosperous, 
 only the smoking ruins of the town of Detroit and the discouraged inhabitants in a homeless and 
 pitiable condition met his gaze. His first care was to relieve the immediate needs of the people, then 
 he turned his attention towards rebuilding the city. Help from the general government was secured, 
 and Detroit was again laid out and this time on much more generous lines than before. A bank of 
 Michigan was next organized and without authority from the government. However, Hull’s attention 
 was soon absorbed by troubles with the Indians, who were a constant source of annoyance and fear to the 
 white settlers already in the territory, as well as a very active agent in preventing others from coming 
 in. At the close of the first decade of the 19th centiiry, the increase in population was only 1,005 or 26 
 per cent in the entire territory of Michigan. In the American state papers we find that, in December, 
 1811, the 4,860 inhabitants of Michigan w’ere distributed as follows- 1,340 on the Miami, the Raisin 
 and the Huron of Lake Erie; 2,227 at Detroit, the River Rouge, Ecorse and the Huron of Lake St. Clair, 
 and 1,070 on the Island of Mackin.aw and in the scattered settlements. 
 
 It was at this critical and discouraging period of Michigan’s history that Lewis Cass, a young lawyer 
 of marked ability and unusual strength and uprightness of character, became governor of the territory 
 of Alichigan. Cass had lived the greater part of his life in the Northwest Territory and understood 
 life on the frontier thoroughly. 
 
 Michigan was very little known at this time, the general impression being that it was mainly marsh 
 land, entirely unfit for cultivation. This impression was confirmed by the false report of a party of 
 sur\'eyors sent out by the United States government to survey the new territory. Two million acres 
 of land had been set aside as bounty land in order to induce settlers to come to Michigan, but for some 
 unknown reason the surveyors reported the whole of southern ^Michigan to be nothing but marshes and 
 
M 1 (' II I ('. A N 
 
 
 di'st'i’ts with sraivi'ly mu' am' lit for cnllivation. Nnl iinlil ISIS war; the pulilic laiul ollicf r.cciircd hy 
 (hr tm'ilory, aiul not until tlu'ii did Michigan ci Mimu'iicc its yrowlh ;is an Aiiicricaii scUlciiK'iit,, 
 
 Anotlu'r h'aturi' most disi'ourayiny to immij^ral ion was tiu' lack of p'ood road;, t!a;s wa:. 
 cloarhcaiU'd cnonyli to n'alizc that tlu'rc must, lu' a di-cidcd chaufjic' within the Icrrilory itself Ixrforc 
 there I'ould he auv hope of Mieliiyan’s fullilliny lu-r ri('h d('Stiny, and lu' at once set aI>ouL makinj^ the 
 ehanj,to. llis lirst eare was to relieve the distn'ss of tlu' suffering pc'ople and to arouse in them a little 
 lu^pe h>r and interest in the futuri'. 1 h' then turned his mind towards i)acifying the Indians, not hy 
 loadini’; them with yifts, hut hy gainin}j[ their c'onlidenee ihroupdi fair and just treatment, and he soon 
 sueeeeded in makin.u: several treaties with them whereby title was secured to the greater part of the 
 land in southern Michigan. Cass also secured the aid of the government in building a road from 
 Detroit to Chicago, and made i)lans h)r the building of several others. In 1817 the first regular 
 Michigan newsixiiier, the Detroit Cazette, was jiuhlishcd and the following year the first steamer on the 
 lakes, the Walk-in-the-\\’atcr, came through Lake Lrie to Detroit, the same boat astonishing the Indians 
 in ISlb hy steaming into Mac'kinaw Island without any visible means of locomotion. As a direct 
 result of the strenuous efforts of Covernor Cass, the population of Michigan almost doubled in the decade 
 from 1810 to 1820, and most of the increase was in the last two or three years of the decade. 
 
 Until about this time all of Michigan was contained in the single county of Wayne, which was 
 divided into judicial districts. Cass conceived the idea of dividing the territory into smaller county 
 divisions, and in 1815 Wayne county, w'hich was to be co-extensive with that part of the southern 
 peninsula to which the title was clear, was laid out with Detroit as the county seat. Two years later 
 Monroe county, comprising all of the present county of Monroe together with Lenawee and a comer 
 of Wayne, the south half of Washtenaw and a corner of Jackson, was established in honor of the visit 
 to the territory of the Hon. James Monroe. The village of Monroe was also established the same year 
 under the name of Frenchtown. The next year Macomb county, embracing most of the eastern half 
 of Michigan between the northern boundary of the present county of Wayne and the thumb of the 
 mitten, and IMichilimackinac, embracing all of the lower peninsula north of Macomb, were laid out. 
 Four years later Macomb county was reorganized to consist practically of the same territory which 
 it comprises today. But most of the vast territory remained a wilderness for many years. A little 
 settlement sprung up at Mt. Clemens, a saw and grist mill were erected, and in 1821 a schooner was 
 built to ply between the new town and Detroit. This gave the little Village a prestige over the 
 surrounding settlements. The county soon began to increase more rapidly in population and in 1828 
 a new impetus was given when a government road was built from Detroit through Fort Gratiot to Lake 
 Huron. 
 
 A road was built from Detroit to Pontiac in 1818, and in 1820 the county of Oakland was organized 
 with Pontiac as the county seat. Settlers were attracted to this part of the country from the East 
 because of its proximity to Detroit and because of the beautiful openings interspersed thickly with 
 crystal lakes which met the gaze of the eager “land-looker.” The class of immigrants who came to 
 Oakland county is worthy of notice, being an intelligent and refined class of New England farmers, 
 who came to Michigan with the idea of working hard to can'e out, from the wilderness, homes for 
 themselves and their children. The geographical position of Oakland county gave it unusual political 
 and commercial importance, and in 1827 there were 1,400 people in the county. By 1830 it was fairly 
 well settled, while Pontiac was the center of trade for all the region north and northwest as far as 
 Saginaw. 
 
 The country along the water route, from Lake Erie to Lake Huron, had been settled to some extent 
 before this time, but was too much out of the way to increase very rapidly in population The advent 
 of the steamboat in 1819 drew immigrants to this part of the country, and in 1820 St. Clair county was 
 organized. In the same year the steamer St. Clair was built at Marine City, which is one of the most 
 extensive ship building towns in Alichigan today. Two years later Sanilac county, comprising the 
 present counties of Huron, Tuscola and Sanilac, was laid out by proclamation of Governor Cass, thus 
 
10 
 
 M I C II I G A N 
 
 com])Ictins' the organization of the country on the cast coast of Michigan as far north as the extremity 
 of the thumb. 
 
 In 1823 a land office was opened in Monroe for the sale of lands in the southern part of Washtenaw 
 and Jackson counties and the country west of Monroe to Lake ^Michigan. The difficulty of the stage 
 journey, which was the only way of reaching Lake Eric from the east before 1825, had proved a serious 
 obstacle to the rapid settlement of the new country, but the comioletion of the Erie canal in that year 
 gave the necessary im]jetus to immigration, and settlers from New York and New England were soon 
 ])ushing into the territory. I'hc following year found at least a half dozen steamers plying on the lakes, 
 and the trij) from Buffalo to Detroit being made daily. During the year 1825 we find the county of 
 Lenawee organized with Tccumseh, which was the first point of settlement on account of the splendid 
 hydraulic i^ower of the River Raisin at that point, as the county seat. 
 
 In 1826 Washtenaw county, which had been opened to settlers through the territorial road which 
 passed through Ypsilanti, was organized, taking in not only its present territory, but parts of Ingham, 
 Livingston and Jackson counties. By 1830 Washtenaw could boast of 4,032 inhabitants. Soon after 
 the organization of Lenawee county in 1826, the territory on the west to Lake Michigan was organized 
 into the township of St. Joseph and attached to it. The oak openings found through this portion of 
 the state were especially attractive from an agricultural point of view, and consequently, although 
 there were but few inhabitants there at that time, St. Joseph and Cass counties were formally organized 
 in 1829, and schools, postoffices and grist mills were soon in active operation. Ingham count}^ with its 
 present boundaries, was also organized the same year. By 1830 the population of the state had increased 
 to 31 ,639, an increase of 260.9 per cent as compared with the 84 per cent of the previous decade. 
 
 In 1831 Berrien county, to which settlers had come on 1829, was organized. The same year the 
 government land office was removed to White Pigeon, and in 1834 to Kalamazoo. This marks the 
 beginning of the active settlement of western ]\Iichigan. In 1830 a rough road was built from Ann 
 Arbor to the village of Jackson, over which the hard}- pioneers pushed their way. They fotind an 
 abundance of hay and plenty of wild game, but the nearest grist mill, to which it was necessary to make 
 occasional laborious trips, was situated at Dexter in Washtenaw county. This prevented rapid 
 settlement, but two years later a sawmill was established and Jackson county w'as organized. The 
 same year Kalamazoo county was organized, and Van Buren established and attached to Cass, although 
 not formally organized until 1837. Settlement in Calhoun coiinty began in 1830 at the jt;nction of the 
 rivers, Marshall being the first point of settlement and Kalamazoo the .second. Soon the territorial 
 road was built and other roads marked oiit, and, in 1833, both Calhoun and Branch counties were 
 organized. The organization of the lower tier of counties in ^Michigan was completed in 1835 by the 
 organization of Hillsdale county, and the second tier by the organization of Van Buren in 1837. The 
 spirit of enterprise which characterized the first half of the decade did much toward the improvement 
 and rapid settlement of southern Michigan. 
 
 As early as 1832 the population of Michigan had increased to such an extent that the question of 
 admission into the Lbrion as a state began to be agitated. According to the Ordinance of 1787, 60,000 
 inhabitants were necessary before a territory covdd apply for admission, and in 1834, when the census 
 showed 87,278 inhabitants, steps were at once taken to form a state government and to mark off the 
 exact limits of the new state, but a dispute with Ohio arose concerning the southern boundary. Both states 
 refused to yield their right to the strip of disputed territory, and Congress, in turn, refused to admit 
 Michigan into the Union as a state until the question was settled. Finally, in order to bring an end 
 to the difficulty. Congress offered ^Michigan the upper peninsula instead of this narrow strip of land, 
 but, at a convention held at Ann Arbor in 1836, the offer was refused. It was soon seen, however, that 
 nothing was being gained by the delay, and early in 1837 Michigan, enriched by the valuable mining 
 districts of the upper peninsula, was admitted into the Union as the twenty-sixth state, and Stephen 
 T. IMason was chosen governor. 
 
 The Sagina^v Valley had been a point of attraction for settlers for several 5 "ears on account of its 
 fine location at the head of the bay, but as yet it was very difficult of access, the only route being an 
 
M I (' II I ('. A N 
 
 1 1 
 
 i'X(.'i'i‘tIinj^lv nitlr p.'itli I'roni ni'lmit ihrotij^h l*'linl. A fi'W of llic mure l';irs('cin;; of flic pioneer:; felt 
 sure that a larj^e was lo itow and llourish niion ihis sile, Iml it was lianl to make the nianv feel 
 that the uninvitins; marshes, of whii-li most of the valley was eomiiosed, would ever he of value, d'he 
 spirit of speeulation had set in howc'Vt’r hy ISd.S and vSa).t'>i!iw eounty was orp'anized . Soon a “wild eat” 
 hank was I'stahlished. a steamer arrivi'd and c-ity lots were sold at f.ahulous jiriees. Alle^'an and Lapeer 
 eounties were oreauized the same year, tlu' latter ineludin^ more townships on the north and east than 
 it does at the present time. 'I'he year ISdh marks th(' organization of Livin^'ston, f/cnesee and Kent 
 eounties. Immigrants eame into Livin.yston eounty o\'er the (irand river road, attraeted lar},'ely hy 
 the erist mill wliieh was situated at Mriyhtou. Kent county liad Ijcen settled larj^ely hy settlers who 
 eame throu.yli (Irand Haven, the ealeway to the northern i)art of Ottawa eounty. 'I'his had been the 
 lieaiUiuarters of twenty trading posts cstal>lished hv the American I'nr Company in 1827, hut 
 immigration, in the true sense of the word, did not begin until 1833-4, from which time (Irand Haven 
 has stoenl for development along the Crand river. At this time two small saw mills, near the village 
 of Crand Rapids, met all demands. As only prairie roads led to the interior, the only market was 
 Chicago, then a city of about 2,000 inhabitants. In 1837 Ottawa county was organized, although all 
 the southern part was a wilderness for some time to come. In the same year the counties of Eaton, 
 Shiawassee, \'an Huren and Ionia were organized. Bcllevirc, in the southwest comer of Eaton county, 
 was opened to settlement by a road built through from Battle Creek in 183.S. The lime quarries 
 underlying one section of land were an attraction and some attempts were made to ship the product 
 that same year, but these proved a failure on account of the cost of shipping. The heavily timbered 
 lands in the northern part of the county attracted lumbemren in 1835-6, and the manufacture of pot and 
 pearl ash and salcratus added greatly to the clearing up of the land. Charlotte was made the 
 county scat in 1838. In 1833 the De.xtcr colony, following an Indian trail which was practically the 
 present Grand river road, pushed their way into Shiawassee county. Owosso was laid out at the fork 
 of the river in 1835 and a few months later was made the county seat of Shiawassee county. The first 
 settlers had entered Van Buren county from Cass, thus settling the southern part first. Later the 
 territorial road opened the country to settlers from the east and it was detached from Cass. Ionia 
 county owes its settlement at this time to the famous Grand river road. The next counties to be 
 organized were Barry and Clinton in 1839, completing the four southern tiers. Settlement in Barry 
 did not begin until late in the decade, when its rich soil attracted settlers from Calhoun and Kalamazoo 
 counties. The settlement of Clinton county, however, began much earlier. A road was cut through 
 from Ann Arbor in 1833, intersecting the Dexter road in Shiawassee county, but poor accommodations 
 and poor roads made settlement slow until 1837, when schools, mills and roads were established and 
 the rush began. 
 
 Immigrants were now pouring into the state in a continuous stream overland and every steamer 
 which crossed Lake Erie to Detroit was crowded. As a result of this rush for land, prices rose with 
 astonishing rapidity. The people became excited at the prospects which seemed to be opening up 
 before them, and the rulers of the new state, forgetting prudence, plunged madly into extensive schemes 
 for internal improvements. Three great systems of railroads, the Southern, Central, and Northern, 
 were planned, and the Central was constructed as far as Kalamazoo. All three were sold to private 
 corporations in the early forties. But the people themselves were wealthy in nothing but the ability 
 and energy to produce, and as the demand for money to carry on the plans of the government became 
 pressing, the simple plan of making more money was put into operation. Banks sprang up as if by 
 magic in every part of the state and the country was flooded with bank notes of every description. 
 A suspension of specie payment was tried and then, to relieve the pressure, the government prescribed 
 the homeopathic dose of unlimited banking or “wild cat” banking as it was popularly termed. The 
 situation reached a climax at the end of the decade when only six banks were doing business and over 
 forty were in the hands of receivers. The great works of internal improvement were at a standstill 
 for lack of funds, and a general panic prevailed throughout the state. But money difficulties could not 
 stop the swift stream of immigration at once and the population of the state continued to increase for 
 
12 
 
 MICHIGAN 
 
 some time at a marvelous rate, the eensus of 1840 showing 212,267 people, an increase of 570.9 per cent 
 over the i)revious census. 
 
 As early as 1826 a large part of the upper peninsula was organized as Chippewa county, with the 
 Sault l)c Stc. Marie as county seat, and in 1843, nearly twenty years later, it was reorganized to consist 
 of much less territory, but still more than at the present time. A few settlers had wandered into the 
 county of Delta by this time and it was organized the same year. Two years later Houghton county, 
 with Schoolcraft, Marquette, Ontonagon and Keweenaw counties attached to it, was organized. This 
 section of the country was almost of no value for agricultural purposes, but the indications of rich mineral 
 wealth were evident at every turn. The natural waterway, too, offered great advantages and the 
 necessity of a canal through the Sault to connect the great lakes had been seen and urged upon the 
 people as early as 1837. 
 
 The copper range of Ontonagon county was carefully looked into by Dr. Houghton in 1845, 
 and within the next few years mining companies, composed mostly of Boston capitalists, sprang up 
 throughout the county. The first actual copper mining to be done in the upper peninsula, however, 
 was off Keweenaw Point some time before this. In 1846 Ontonagon county was given a separate 
 organization. In the lower peninsula only two counties, Tuscola and Montcalm, were organized during 
 this period, Tuscola being detached in 1845 from Oakland county, and A-Iontcalm in 1850 from Kalamazoo. 
 The census returns of 1850 show a falling off of 486.6 in the percentage of increase, the population of 
 the state being only 397,654, which was an increase of 87.3 per cent over the population of 1840. 
 
 Next to agriculture, the lumber industry, the active development of which began about this time, 
 was now attracting the most attention. Its distribution was determined by the rivers and railroads. 
 The first operations of importance were in the Saginaw valley, where a sawmill was in operation in 1837, 
 although, on account of the business depre.ssion, nothing of importance was accomplished until 1846. 
 Soon sawmills began to multiply at all accessible ports, and lumber camps appeared on all the tributaries 
 of the Grand, St. Joseph and Saginaw rivers. These smaller streams soon became fairly black with 
 logs floating down to convenient mills, and the wilderness became a veritable hive of industry. The 
 difficulty of navigating the river above Bay City was responsible for the placing of stations below that 
 point. In 1855 Midland county was detached from Saginaw, and by 1857 the citizens of Bay county 
 were demanding a separate organization while Saginaw county was as vigorously objecting to the loss 
 of the head of Saginaw Bay from her domain. Bay county gained her point, however, and was diily 
 organized. Lumbeniien were soon working their way into various points along the shore of Lake Huron, 
 and Alpena county was ready for organization in 1857. 
 
 The so-called Grand Traverse region was comparatively isolated, being off the regular route of 
 immigration, and therefore little was known about this part of the state. 
 
 Late in the forties a few pioneers, lured by the beauty of the scene, formed a little settlement at 
 the head of the bay. This was the beginning of Traverse City. In 1851 Grand Traverse county was 
 organized with Boardman’s IMills as the county seat. Newaygo and Marquette counties were also 
 organized the same year, Newaygo representing the lumber interest and Marquette both lumber. and the 
 new iron range which had been discovered by Dr. Houghton in 1845. This discovery opened up another 
 large region of the upper peninsula to rapid settlement. A party of Jackson capitalists started a company 
 in 1849 for the mining of iron in the Marquette range, but from lack of transportation facilities none 
 was shipped until 1856, the year after the completion of the Sault canal. The Marquette iron region 
 extends a distance-of forty miles from the city of Marquette to L’Anse. 
 
 Several fishermen had been attracted to the district around the straits of Mackinac in 1851 and a 
 few of them had remained and become permanent settlers. Soon a little village was started at Harbor 
 Springs and, in 1853, the counties of Emmet and Cheboygan were organized. Two years later the 
 four counties of Gratiot, Oceana, Mason and Manistee were organized, the last three bordering on the 
 lake and valuable for their lumber. In 1855 St. Louis, Ithaca and Alma were platted, and the so-called 
 “graduation act’’ was passed, whereby the price of land in Gratiot and Isabella counties was reduced 
 to fifty cents per acre for actual settlers, thus preventing speculators from buying up the land. The 
 
M I (' II I ('. A N 
 
 result was a rush of iunuij^ratiou iutu ('iiatiot and iio surplus of j)rovisi(jns to acroniiiKxlatc the larpo 
 aiul siuUIeu iiu'rc'ase of people. P'roin lS5'l-()() there was terril)Ic sulTeriii^ from [jrivation and want 
 niul the eouuty was uic'knami'd “starving' ('iratiot” in eonseciuence. Diirinp' this fXTiod there wen- 
 5,(K)0 people in (Iratiot ('ounty and no sur|>lus of [)r()visions within fifty miles. Ciradually, however, 
 supply ami demand found their i)roi)er level, the ])eople became eomfortablc and j)rosperoiis and today 
 ('■raliot eouuty is eonsidered one of the l)est counties in the state of Michipan. 
 
 Isabella county was o])ened by a road from (iratiot in 1854 and the next year settlements were 
 made the site of Mt. Pleasant. 
 
 Muskepon, Mecosta and Huron counties were orpanized the same year, Muskepon beinp opened 
 by a road to Ravenna connectinp with the (irand Rai)ids road, Durinp this decade, in 1854, the first 
 state eensus, under the iircsi'ut law, was taken. Of the forty orpanized counties at that time, twenty-one 
 contaimnl more than 1 (),()()() inhabitants. At the close of the decade the entire population of Michipan 
 was 74b. 115, an increase of 88.3 per cent over 1850. The time of phenomenal growth for Michigan was 
 over with the financial min of the late thirties, and hereafter she was to know only a good, healthy 
 increase. 
 
 Keweenaw county was detached from Houghton and given an organization of its own in 1861. 
 A rich portion of the copper belt extends through Keweenaw, and the comparatively easy access to the 
 harbor on the north caused the early miners to consider this their headquarters. In 1863 Menominee 
 county was detached from Delta and organized. 
 
 Two counties in the Grand Traverse region, Antrim and Leelanau, were organized in 1863. The 
 settlement of Leelanau county dates back to 1847, when a man in search of health settled at Glen Arbor. 
 The following year a mission was started at Northport and, in 1849, a settlement was made at Elk Rapids. 
 Its growth was very slow however, and not until 1852 was the city laid out. Three years later new 
 and enterprising hands took hold of the old saw-mill and to this fact is due the subseqtient advance and 
 success of Leelanau county. 
 
 The whole country was now passing through the most terrible experience in its history. The great 
 War of the Rebellion was at its height and Michigan under the able leadership of Austin Blair, was 
 doing her full share for the preservation of the Union. More than 90,000 of her best men took part 
 in the stmggle and many thousands died on the field. It was many years after this before the people 
 of Alichigan had the heart or courage to do much towards the industrial advancement of their state. 
 
 Not until 1869 did Michigan recover herself sufficiently from the ill effects of the war to turn her 
 attention to the building up of the state. In that 3 ^ear five counties, Alcona, Charlevoix, Benzie, Wexford 
 and Osceola, were organized, the last four named being taken from the old county of Michilimackinac. 
 The county of Benzie had been brought to public notice in a pecidiar manner in 1854 when a sailing 
 vessel caught in a gale was driven by chance into the mouth of the Betsey river. The captain of the 
 vessel was so delighted with the location that a settlement was made and a postoffice opened in 1860. 
 
 The census of 1870 showed a population of 1,184,059, an increase of 58 per cent over the population 
 of 1860. 
 
 The splendid pine timber lands in the northern part of the lower peninsula were gradually being 
 opened up by lumbermen and by 1870 Michigan stood at the head of the lumber producing states of 
 the Union. There were few settlers, in the usual sense of the word, in this part of the cotmtry, as the 
 tall, bleak pines offered little inducement to immigrants who could go just a little farther west and find 
 all the rich farming country they could possibly wish for. The railroads had not yet opened up this 
 northern country to even comparatively rapid settlement. Extensive kunber operations, however, 
 were opened up in Roscommon, Gladwin and Clare counties in 1871, and in spite of the scarcity of 
 inhabitants the counties of Lake, Alissaukee, Kalkaska, Presque Isle and Clare were organized the 
 same year, and Ogemaw, Otsego, Roscommon and Gladwin in 1875. In the latter year Baraga coimty 
 was detached from Houghton and organized separately. This part of the upper peninsula had been 
 known to explorers from the earliest period and Father Frederick Baraga established a mission station 
 there in 1834. 
 
14 
 
 MICHIGAN 
 
 The last county to be organized during this decade was Crawford county, which was organized in 
 1879. By 1880 there were 1,636,937 j^eople in Michigan, an increase of 38.2 per cent in ten years. In 
 1881 Oscoda and Montmorency counties were organized, and Arenac two years later. Schoolcraft 
 county, which had been organized in 1871, although consisting of as rich an agricultural district as any 
 in the southern peninsula, remained a wilderness until ten years ago, when the I). M. & M. railroad 
 ])assed through. In 1885 Alger county was detached from Schoolcraft and organized by itself, and Iron 
 county was organized from Marquette and l(lenominee. Two years later Gogebic and Luce counties 
 were organized, Gogebic being taken from Ontonagon, and Luce from Chippewa and Mackinac. The 
 Gogebic iron range and the Colby mine at Bessemer were first opened up in 1883 and Gogebic county, 
 taken from Ontonagon, was organized in 1887. 
 
 The organization of Dickinson county, in 1891, from Marquette, Iron and Menominee, forms the 
 last chapter in the hi.story of the organization of counties in Michigan. 
 
 The history of Michigan, during the last twenty or more years, is the history of her great agricultural 
 advancement and the development of her great industries. 
 
 One of the many thousand present day farm homes in Michigan. 
 
M I (' II I A N 
 
 1 
 
 MK'IIICAN AC'.AIN. 
 
 It is MiuK'ni Mic'hijjj.'ui, tin* Mifhijjjtin of lodtiy rather llitin the iVIichij^an of 
 vestonltiy, that will he diseussed iii this piil )lietd ion, hut for the purposes of showing 
 hy einnparison the ei)inforts tnul advtinltiges to he laid today as against those obtainable 
 in the piotu'er days of the stcUte tind for the ])nrp()se of showing the steafly growth 
 ;ind development made sinee the white man first stepi)ed foot upon w'hat is now 
 Miehigan, space has been given in the foregoing i)ages to show briefly the various 
 stages of Miehigtm’s develo])ment. 
 
 'I'he history of the state of Michigan during more recent years is the history of 
 her great industries. The great ])ine forests have been gradually cleared away and 
 the woodsman and the axe have slowly but surely been replaced by the husbandman 
 and the idow. The prosperit}" of Michigan, however, is not dependent upon her 
 }')ine timber, for in the passing of the lumberman her agricultural resources, the 
 wealth of her mines and the extent of her manufacturing industries are daily giving 
 assurance to even the most pessimistic observer that Michigan is destined to hold 
 for many generations the high place which she has made for herself among the states 
 of the union. 
 
 LOCATION, AREA AND POPULATION. 
 
 Michigan’s place at the head of the St. Lawrence Basin and in line with the 
 Mohawk Valley of New York, and practically surrounded by the Great Lakes, is a 
 most advantageous location. The state has water communication with seven other 
 states and with Ontario, the most populous part of Canada, or altogether with an 
 area having a population of about 30, 000, 000 people, thus affording an unexcelled 
 market for Alichigan products. On the whole, Michigan, by her position and through 
 her resources, has played a leading part in the development of the “Old Northwest” 
 and in turn has shared largely in the $19,000,000 spent by the Federal Government 
 on the harbors and channels on the Great Lakes, and in the cheaper freight rates due 
 to these improvements. 
 
 Michigan is not merely a State. She is an Empire containing 36,370,779.62 
 acres of land, exclusive of water, or about 57,000 square miles. This great area of 
 land forming the two peninsulas is equal to a strip of land more than two and one-third 
 miles wide that would reach around the earth at the equator. Michigan is the largest 
 state in the “Old Northwest” and the largest, except Georgia, east of the Alississippi; 
 is about one-fourth the size of France: of the same area as England and Wales. The 
 Lower Peninsula is nearly equal in size to one of the five states, Ohio, Indiana, 
 Virginia, Kentucky or Tennesee. The L’pper peninsula is larger than New England, 
 except Alaine, and larger than Delaware and Alaryland together. 
 
 The population of Alichigan (L’'. S. Government Census of 1909) is 2,810,173. 
 
16 
 
 M 1 c: 1 1 J (} A N 
 
 Raising registered cattle is very profitable in Michigan 
 
M I (' II I ('. A N 
 
 'I'lu' population of tlu' Stat(‘ in l‘)()() vv.as 2,42(),‘^<H2 vvliicli represents an increase 
 (hiring the last di'isuh’ of aS‘>, 1 1 , or 1 () 1-10', In one cent nry, or fiv)ni 1 H 1 0 to 1010, 
 Mic'lh.yan’s population has j^rown from ■l,7()2 to 2,<S10,17A and now r.anks, thinl in 
 the “(Hd Northwest” j^ronj) of states, and eighth in the Union. M ielnYsan’s 
 ])i'pnlation in tlu' last (ifty yi'ars has hc'csi four times that of the first half of the century. 
 
 In the tli\'ision of tlu' Statc'N ])opnlation ol 2,<S10,l7d, 52 S 10'/ live in the rural 
 eommnniti('S, while 17 2 10' V, or lusirly half, live* in the cities, while in l')00, or ten 
 years jirevions, ()0 7 lO'/. of tlu' total ])()])nlation lived in the rural territory and 
 50 10''( liveil in the cities. 'That the mannfactnrini^ industries of the state have 
 
 made wonderful strides in the last (h'cade and that the rural communities have been 
 the losers in a i^reater or less degree is evident, and one needs only to j)oint to the 
 fact that in the last ten years the ('itics have increased 37 3-10% while the rural 
 poi)nlation, ct)mprising the remainder, has increased only 2%, and in many of the 
 best agricultural counties of the state the rural ])Oj)nlation has greatly fallen off, in 
 some eases as high as 10'/'. 
 
 Sheep grazing on cut over lands. 
 
 MICHIGAN IN COMPETITION WITH THE WORLD. 
 
 The resources and products of Michigan are so varied in character that it has 
 been said that a fence or wall could be built around the state of Michigan and her 
 people could go on living for centuries without outside assistance. We could house 
 and warm ourselves from our forests and subterranean fuel; clothe and feed ourselves 
 from the products of our flocks, fields and orchards: could build our railroads, telegraph 
 and telephone lines from our own iron and copper mines. Food and recreation could 
 be furnished by our lakes, streams and woods, while our manufacturing industries 
 could supply us with every necessity and luxury, from a clothes pin to an automobile. 
 While IMichigan could exist as an isolated empire, with her people enjoying all the 
 reasonable comforts and luxuries of life, with the exception of cotton, which is not 
 produced in this state, she extends a welcoming hand to those from without who 
 would assist in developing and tilling the thousands of acres of available agricultural 
 lands within the state, and a detaining hand to Michigan’s sons who would be lured 
 by the strong advertising of the Western states and Northwestern Canada. 
 
IS 
 
 M I C n I (} A X 
 
 “thI': (.^uery” and “the answer.” 
 
 It is hardy ]) 0 ssil)lc that in the reading of this pu1)lication by some who have 
 not laid an o])]:)ortnnity of knowing the true condition of Michigan’s development, 
 the cpicstion might arise, Why is there such a large area in Michigan still undeveloped, 
 and why, if the undeveloped lands in the state are desiralde, have they not been 
 converted into farms that would be producing cro])s long ago. 
 
 Michigan being a timl)ered state, her development along agricultural lines was 
 necessarily slower than some of her sister states farther west that were of the prairie 
 variety and, consecpiently, could be developed into farms at less expense than the 
 forest areas of the Wolverine State. This, added to the fact that in the early days 
 there was no market for the forest products of Southern Michigan, and the timber 
 was only cut as fast as the lands could be converted into wheat fields, made the 
 progress of development somewhat slow. 
 
 A new settler’s second season on the ground. 
 
 
 The lumber industry, which has held the center of the stage in Michigan for so 
 many years has gradually moved northward and its operations have been so complete 
 that there is now comparatively little timber left for further operations. The result 
 of this is that the lumberman is seeking new fields and the men whose fathers and 
 grandfathers spent their lives in the woods and saw mills are now turning their 
 attention to a vocation comparatively new to them, agriculture and the development 
 of the thousands of acres of land left in the passing of the lumberman. 
 
M I (' II I ('. A N 
 
 10 
 
 W’hiK' ollu'f states have hern adx'ei'tisinjf tlieif oppoii nnil ies and po:;.,il)ilit.ieo, 
 Mii'hii^an has tood still in this nspecd and peianilted tlie vvesicni states and 
 nnrt h\v('st('rn ('anada, not only to take tlu' prospi-elive settler from New York, t)hio 
 and I'lsi'wlu'n', who would inaki' j^ood and heroine a real asset to the state, hut ha ; 
 pt'rmitted tlu' takini; away of our own uk'u whom we need for the development of 
 our owu lands, d'he railroads too, hedn^ interi'sted in tlu‘ lon^ haul of the settler from 
 the I'kist to the I’aeilie C'oast, have doiu' tlu'ir ])art in the development of the W'est, 
 the result of this heinj.j; the jiassinj^ hy and throu}.^h iMichi^an from the I'>ast to the 
 West and the ^'oin^ out of Michigan to the W'est of thousands of good men who would 
 gladly have eome, or remained, in Michigan, and assisted in the development of our 
 lands, had Michigan’s ojiportunitics and possibilities only been brought to their 
 attention. 
 
 I..VKES AND RIVER SYSTEMS. 
 
 The Great Lakes. 
 
 The lakes of Miehigan are as essential to its individuality as the ocean and the 
 North Sea to the British Isles. They are its highway, its fishing ground and its source 
 of supply of almost pure water for city use. They equalize the temperature; furnish 
 a large number of improved harbors and sites for more than a hundred summer resorts. 
 
 The total area of the Great Lakes is 94,650 square miles, with Lake Superior, 
 the largest, having an area of 31,200 square miles; Lake Michigan 22,450 square miles; 
 Lake Huron 23,800 square miles; Lake Erie 9,960 scpiare miles and Lake Ontario 
 7,240 square miles. Lake Superior is 967 square miles larger than Lake Victoria 
 Nyanza, of Central Africa, the next largest fresh water lake on the globe. The water 
 shed of the Great Lakes is nearly twice as large as the Great Lakes, or 174,800 square 
 miles. The Great Lakes furnish the state about 1,600 miles of shore line or one mile 
 of coast to 33 square miles of land surface, and so wrap around the peninsula that 
 no point in the state is more than 85 miles distant from the shore. On these lakes 
 there are 31 government improved natural harbors, six more than have been improved 
 at local expense and more than 100 miles of deep, narrow bays and 150 miles of rivers 
 and straits, most of which are accessible for wharf and dock facilities. The harbors 
 are well distributed in the state as is shown by the fact that there are ninety-one places 
 where the different railroads touch the shore line. 
 
 The Great Lakes furnish IMichigan with the greatest inland waterway in the 
 world, and in addition to the numerous fleets of passenger boats and car ferries that 
 ply these lakes, their surfaces during most months of the year are literally dotted with 
 freighters and packet vessels carrying Alichigan’s products not alone to our home 
 markets but to the great markets outside of Alichigan which are brought within easy 
 reach by our splendid rail and water transportation facilities. 
 
20 
 
 MICHIGAN 
 
 GREAT LAKES FISHERIES. 
 
 Mention should also be made of the extent of the great fisheries afforded Miehigan 
 by the Great Lakes. As has been stated, the shore line of the state on the Great 
 
 Lakes is about 1,600 miles and 
 affords the state a wonderful fishing 
 ground . It is estimated that there are 
 set, all through the fishing season, over 
 2,500 pond nets with a total length 
 of 500 miles; over 8,000 miles of gill 
 nets, besides a large number of seines 
 and other nets, and that it requires 
 between six and seven thousand men 
 to attend to these nets. The annual 
 eatch is about 50,000,000 lbs. A large 
 part of the eateh is from Lakes Huron 
 and Miehigan. The total value of the 
 fish taken from Miehigan waters is 
 about one-twentieth that of the Na- 
 tional fisheries. In addition to the 
 Great Lakes, there are more than 
 5,000 inland lakes, most of whieh are filled with fish, many of whieh lakes being highly 
 desirable for summer resorts. 
 
 Fish are abundant in the many streams, lakes and rivers 
 of Michigan. 
 
 Thousands of lakes and rivers are found in Michigan. 
 
M 1 {' II I ('. A N 
 
 M 
 
 KIVI.KS. 
 
 'I'lu' pi'iiiiisu'ai' I’oi'in of tlu- stall' j^ivrs il an uimsiially larj^i; tnimlx^r of slrcaiiis 
 willi ri'lati\’rly short roursos. 'I'licsi' riv'rrs ^athrr up the IjrilliaiiLly clear, cold waters 
 of tens of thousands of sprinj^s and thousands of lakes and hundreds of siiuaro miles of 
 swamp lands, and How over iji'avel or sand, through relatively shallow, lon^ and narrow 
 valle>'s for the most i)art in windinij; courses to land-locked hays of the (ireat Lakes. 
 Ajiart from the 125 miles of strait-like rivers, Detroit, St. Clair and St. Mary’s, the 
 state has only a few miles of streams that are navigable for lake boats, d'he Saginaw 
 has been deei)oned at Federal e.xpense to furnish a channel 16 feet deej) to Saginaw, 
 d'he (irand has been improved to furnish a five foot channel to ( irand Rapids; the 
 St. Joseph to furnish a four feet channel to Berrien Si)rings; and the Kalamazoo, 
 Indian River and some others furnish passage for small steamers between certain 
 points, but in a general way, Michigan rivers are naturally adapted for serving as power 
 streams rather than for navigation. 
 
 THE DAWNINCi OF A GREAT WATER POWER ERA IN MICHIGAN. 
 
 d'he water power developed -from the streams of the state is about 250,000 horse 
 power, only a small part of the power that might be developed. The larger power 
 streams are as follows: St. Joseph, 
 
 20.000 to 30,000 H. P.; Kalamazoo, 
 
 7.000 to 10,000 H. P.; Grand River, 
 
 10.000 to 12,000 H. P.; Muskegon, 
 
 20.000 H. P.; All Sable, 30,000 to 
 
 40.000 H. P.; Huron, 5,000 H. P.; 
 
 Thunder Bay, 1,600 to 2,000 H. P.; 
 
 Alenominee, 20,000 to 30,000 H. P.; 
 
 St. Alary’s 30,000 to 40,000 H. P. 
 and the Alanistee upon which only 
 about 2,000 horse power has yet been 
 developed. 
 
 The power in our streams is 
 unlike most other natural resources 
 in that it is not diminished by use, 
 nor is it conserved by non-use. Coal which is not used today remains to be used 
 hereafter, but the energy of water which is allowed to flow on unused neither increases 
 nor conserves the future supply, but is lost forever. 
 
 THE MICHIGAN IDEA OF CONSERVATION. 
 
 The Alichigan idea of conservation is that things are placed here for the use of 
 man and when these things are used for the purpose for which they are best fitted, 
 without waste or unnecessary destruction, all has been done that possibly can be done 
 in the interest of conservation; that in order to conserve some things we must protect 
 
 Waiting to be harnessed. 
 
M 1 C H I G A N 
 
 22 
 
 an(] regulate their use, and in order to conserve other things we must develop them; 
 that there must be a seed-time and that there must be a harvest time, but that no 
 man should be allowed to destroy the seed which is to produce the harvest for the 
 generations that are to follow. 
 
 If the Alichigan idea of conservation is adhered to, it is not alone possible Vjut 
 altogether ])robable that the present generation will see the day when many thousand 
 more horse ])ower has been properly developed from the streams of Michigan; when 
 the use of electricity for farm purposes will be as common as the use of the telephone 
 today; when every four corners or crossroads will be illuminated at night; when the 
 incandescent light will take the place of the kerosene lamp in the house of the farmer; 
 
 The harnessed streams of Michigan are furnishing light for the farmers’ homes and power for all his needs. 
 
 when the cares of the housewife will be lightened by electrically driven washing 
 machines, churns, milk separators, etc., and when electrically driven machines will 
 grind the grains of the farm, cut the ensilage for the silo, pump water for the horses 
 and cattle, and in other ways lighten the heavy toil of the farmer by replacing in part 
 farm labor which has grown so difficult to procure. 
 
 Electricity produced by water power not only is the cheapest power, but the 
 fact that it can be carried over wires from point to point to an almost unlimited distance, 
 is a very great factor in the building up of cities and towns lying within a reasonable 
 distance and is one of the strongest arguments in favor of its use. The development 
 of Michigan has to a great extent been brought about through the building up of its 
 
M I (' II I C. A N 
 
 The water power at play. 
 
 The water power at work. 
 
2 -\ 
 
 M 1 C 11 I (1 A N 
 
 industrial enterprises, d'he harnessing of its water power and the promotion of its 
 legitimate enter])rises, as well as in the settlement of its agricultural lands, the 
 securing of settlers and the dcvelo])mcnt of its farming industries, are all important 
 factors in the ])rogress of the commonwealth. All arc absolutely necessary and must 
 go hand in hand to secure results which the peo])le of the state most desire, d'he 
 l)roper development of our water power means cheaper ])ower, and that means more 
 fact(jries. d'his in turn means larger cities, towns and villages, which furnish and 
 enlarge the home markets for the farmer. 
 
 ATTRACTIVE SUMMER RESORTS. 
 
 Aiichigan in the summer time is just one h)ig resort. It is literally the play-ground 
 of hundreds of thousands of people. From all parts of the Middle West and South 
 they flock to the lovely spots with which this enchanted summer land is filled. The 
 ('.reat Lakes furnish sites for more than a hundred summer resorts, which together 
 
 A summer cottage. 
 
 with many of the more than 5,000 inland lakes are known far and wide as beautiful 
 summer resorts. Hundreds of Michigan’s inland lakes are occupied by cottages 
 of the summer resorters who go to them for rest and recreation. 
 
 In this way, Michigan’s lakes are one of her most valuable resources. Some of 
 them are the haunts of a few fishermen only, while many of the larger resorts, such 
 as IMackinac Island, Grand Island, Lake Gogebic, Petoskey, Charlevoix, Bay View, 
 Macatawa, and St. Clair Flats, Tawas Beach, Higgins Lake and Alullet Lake, and 
 
M I (' II I A N 
 
 iiuumu'i'al lit' odn'r I'l'Soiis, alliat'l llic wealth n| the eilies. Million:-; ol (lollai'.s 
 tS5,(lhh,tH)0 it is t'stiiuated) ai't' left in the state aimually hy |)lea;.iire seekers. 'I'lie 
 iiilaml lakt's; tlu' shores of the ( ii'eat Lakes; tiont ^;l reams; mineral sprinj.'s; aiul 
 wotHlIaiul, toet'tlu'r, form a ”1 atti'aetions to the I'esl .'iiul pleasure seeker not 
 
 tti 1k' t'xi't'llt'tl b\' any other state and at. the same time furnish a home itiarkel of no 
 small \aUu' for tlu' proilnets of tlu' surrounding harms. 
 
 Good trout fishing is found in most of the streams in Michigan. 
 
26 
 
 M I C II I (i A N 
 
 The opportunities for recreation in Michigan are many and varied. 
 
M I (' II I ('. A N 
 
 sl>| I'.NDII) MAKKI'/ls. 
 
 'Po tlu' faniu'r aiul tlu* lioini'Sfckcr tlu* (nu'stioii of inai’kcls foi- llic proHticL . of 
 his lu'kls is i>f as imu'h iiu])orlaiK'(' to him as to the mamifact ui'cr. hi fact, the 
 iiuostioii of markets is of first im])ortanc('. It is not cnouj,'h that the soil is richly 
 jiroduct i\-c, hut it is lU'ccssary that the* croji can he sold in a j^axxl market and the 
 marki't must he t'lose at hand, for, with a lar^c' numher of the hest jiayinj^ crojis, 
 fresluu'ss, through early ilelivc'ry of the produc't to the consumer, is a mattc-r ()i 
 im])ortauee in iletermininy the prices. .Michijj;an is jiarticularly well situated to meet 
 the demands for the hest markets, since she not only has a great home market but 
 is favorably located, being very near the center of ]) 0 ])ulation for the entire country. 
 It can he truthfully said that ’\liehigan is, as it were, at the very baek door of a 
 consuming poiiulation of about at), ()()(), ()()() ])eo])le. The rajiid increase of the urfian 
 population, devoted to the manufacturing interest, furnish a ready home market. 
 Statistics show that of the total ])opulation of the State of nearly 3, 000, 000 people, 
 nearly one-half live in the cities and towns, therefore the large cities and manufacturing 
 towns hold a great portion of the people of the State, who are, therefore, consumers 
 and must be fed from the products 
 of Michigan’s farms. But while the 
 Michigan farmer has a splendid home 
 market for his products, yet the great 
 markets of the State are, as it were, 
 our next door neighbors. By day 
 and by night innumerable steamships 
 ply the Great Lakes, taking from our 
 ports to Chicago, Milwaukee, Racine, 
 
 Marinette, Greenbay, Manitowoc, She- 
 boygan, Duluth and other of our 
 neighboring cities on the West, Alich- 
 igan’s products, while the numerous 
 railroads not only enter the lake ports 
 of Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota, 
 but the interior points of these states as well. Thus bringing within easy reach such 
 markets as Minneapolis, St. Paul, Kansas City, Omaha and St. Louis and other large 
 cities of the central West. On the South the markets of Indiana and Ohio are but a 
 few hours distance. Indianapolis, Cleveland and Toledo are ready customers for 
 Michigan food supplies. Toledo, Cleveland and Detroit are, so far as Michigan is 
 concerned, great distributing centers to the interior of Ohio and Canada. Buffalo 
 too, is within easy reach and should be a choice market not alone in itself, but as a 
 distributing center for all of southwestern New York, and even New York City is 
 only a few hours distant. 
 
2S 
 
 M I C II I (x A N 
 
 EXCELLENT RAIL AND WATER TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES. 
 
 The commercial and industrial progress of a country is bound up with its 
 transportation facilities. Just in proportion as the nation, state, city or community 
 increases its transportation facilities for the quick and convenient carriage of people 
 and commodities from one section to another, so will its material prosperity and 
 happiness increase. It is the railroad, steamboat lines and wagon roads which has 
 enabled and is enabling some of the most fertile sections of the country to develop 
 their latent possibilities. 
 
 Carferries make through car load shipments an attractive propiosition. 
 
M I ( ' 1 1 I ( '. A N 
 
 
 It ni.'itU'rs in»t how prodiu’t ivo llu' I'arm or liovv the market unless there 
 
 is supplii'd tlu' uoniu'('t iii^t link, transijortation. It would, therelore, seem that, iti 
 llu' di'xa'lopuu'ut of auy romuumity, tlu* product iv(MU'SS ol the soil, the markets and 
 transportation fai'ilities ari' so dc'peiuU'ut upon ('aeh otlier that they are .almost 
 iuseparabli' and although something has .alrcaady hcaai said in this public, ation witfi 
 n'ferc'uee to Michigan’s splendid transportation facilities, there is still nK)re to be s.aifl. 
 
 \\ ATi-:u tuansi’oui'A'hon. 
 
 Michigan has a shoreline of over 1,600 miles on the greatest inland waterway in 
 the world and the more than 50 Michigan ])orts on this great water highway arc served 
 by innumerable steamshi]) lines, that afford imcciualed water communication, not 
 alone between Michigan ])orts but with the i)orts of several neighboring states and 
 
 felifiiLt 
 
 iimi pi 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Freighter leaving Soo Locks. 
 
 Canada as well. That the extent of the Great Lakes traffic may be more readily 
 appreciated, reference might be made to the annual tonnage passing through the 
 Soo Locks of the St. Mary’s River, connecting Lake Superior with Lake Michigan, 
 and Lake Huron. It is said that the annual tonnage is 2 1-2 times greater than that 
 which passes through the Suez Canal and seven times greater than that which passes 
 through the Kiel Ship Canal. It is said that about 70% of the freight carried on the 
 Great Lakes annually passes through the Soo Locks, and that in 1910 this amounted 
 to 62,363,000 tons. A lake freighter, with a capacity of 13,000 tons, such as can pass 
 through these Locks, can carry a load that would fill eight trains of 50 cars each, 
 
MICH IGA X 
 
 M) 
 
 allowing 30 tons to the car. To carry 62, 000, ()()() tons a year past the Soo would 
 retiuire 2,000,000 cars and it would take something over a month for such a train 
 to ])ass a given ]:)oint. 
 
 Com])are the rates which the Michigan producer enjoys, in the proximity to the 
 great markets, with the necessarily higher rates of the all-rail shipments of the West. 
 The difference represents a good profit to the Michigan farmer and the manufacturer. 
 These advantages of both rail and water transportation will always be one of Michigan’s 
 most valuable assets. 
 
 STEAM AND ELECTRIC RAILWAYS. 
 
 In the matter of railroad transportation, Michigan also is well in the fore ranks. 
 The railroad facilities have been developed so that the State ranks Sixth among all 
 others in the total miles of trackage. From information furnished by the office of 
 the hlichigan Railroad Commission, there is shown to be 48 steam-roads, with a total 
 mileage, on the single-track basis, of more than 9,000 miles: twelve of these could be 
 classified as trunk railroad lines, reaching the larger consuming centers. Supplementing 
 these are 36 smaller lines, each .serving a territory; not to mention several small private 
 lines which are not common carriers. Of the larger trunk lines of the State one has 
 a mileage of over 1,800 miles — the next greatest mileage is one of nearly 1,300 miles 
 and another about 850; one of a little over 600 and two of over 500 miles. The number 
 of miles of trackage for electric lines in 1913, is given as 1,116.38 miles, of which 1,077.24 
 miles is the trackage of the 20 interurban lines, exclusive of all city trackage. There 
 are several interurban lines in the course of construction. The electric interurban 
 lines running through the rural communities as they do, has been a boom to the farmer 
 and a factor of no small proportion, in the development of many farming communities. 
 The State has also over 70,000 miles of common highways, of which only brief mention 
 has been made, as the matter cf highways is covered in another chapter by the State 
 Highway Commissioner. 
 
 DESIRABLE SOCIAL CONDITIONS. 
 
 Modern invention and progress have done much to bring the rural communities 
 in touch with all the refining influences of our latter day civilization. The telephone 
 and dail}^ newspapers (the latter made possible by the Rural Free Delivery service) 
 have broken down the barrier of distance, which but a few years ago presented a 
 seemingly insurmountable obstacle, and have brought the Michigan farmer closer 
 to his neighbor; to the big city; and to the great outside world in general. With a 
 literal net-work of wires, consisting of more than 51,000 miles of telephone lines 
 penetrating practically every spot in the state, to say nothing of over 7,500 miles of 
 telegraph lines, no community in the state need be without communication with 
 the outside world. 
 
 The Rural Free Delivery of mails is in operation in every one of the eighty-three 
 counties of the state except seven, and as fast as new routes are deemed necessary 
 
M I (' II I ('. A ,\ 
 
 .n 
 
 tho\’ i'sl;il>lishr(l. I'i^ui’cs old aim'd 
 from tlu' I'ostolVu'r 1 )i'|)ai't im'iit at 
 Washiii^lon, 1). (I'l'liruai'x', I'M I) 
 show (hat llu'ia' ai\' 2,(*h) individual 
 rural routos.iu opuration iu the stal(', 
 of a total loni^th of o\Tr 5d,tldll mill's. 
 
 'riu' records of the Postolliee Hepart- 
 ment do not sliow tlu' length of 
 routes by counties but it is estimated 
 that these routes serve about 225, bdt) 
 families. I’nder these conditions it 
 is not necessary for the Michigan farmer to journey miles and wait days to find out 
 what his neighbors are doing; what the conditions of the market are; or what the 
 general agricultural outlook is in the country at large, for through the rural mail service 
 he has his daily ]\apers with the market quotations very nearly as soon as his city 
 neighbors, and if necessary he can step to his telephone the same as the business man 
 of the city and get in touch with the buyers of his own community and also those 
 who would be beyond his reach except for the telephone. 
 
 The automobile, too, has become a great factor in bringing the farmer in closer 
 touch with his fellow man, both in his own community and in the nearby cities. The 
 number of farmers now owning auto- 
 mobiles, as compared with a few years 
 ago, is surprising. It is not at all 
 uncommon to see a farmer of today 
 making use of an auto-truck for the 
 transportation of his products, or with 
 his family making a week end auto- 
 mobile trip for rest and recreation. 
 
 Therefore, with these and many other 
 conveniences that it is now possible 
 for the farmer to have, together with 
 the educational and social advantages 
 to be obtained through the various 
 farmers’ organizations, such as the 
 Grange, the Gleaners, the Farmers’ 
 
 Clubs, etc., it can safely be said that in most instances the Michigan farmer today 
 is to be envied by his city neighbors, because it is now possible for him to get a share 
 of the conveniences afforded by the city and at the same t me he has all the joys and 
 pleasures afforded by country life that cannot be obtained by the man living in the city, 
 
 CHURCHES OF ALL DENOMINATIONS. 
 
 The country, the state, the county, or the community, can have no better 
 recommendation than that it is well supplied with churches. Michigan is a Christian 
 
 Rurul mail route. 
 
32 MICHIGAN 
 
 state and its ])Cople are ehristian people in the broad sense, and within the state will 
 be found ehristian ehurehes of praetically all denominations. While most of the 
 cities of the state have churches representing many denominations, the smaller towns 
 and country cross roads too afford churches where the people can gather to worhsip 
 Clod according to the dictates of their own conscience, thus fostering and perpetuating 
 the privilege of religious freedom cherished by the American people since the landing 
 of the Pilgrims. 
 
 A rural landscape; Lake in the distance. 
 
 MICHIGAN HAS NO RACE PROBLEM. 
 
 Michigan has no race problem to face, such as confronts some states of the country 
 in a serious way. Of the total population of the state, 99.1%, or 2,785,247, are whites. 
 Of the total white population, 1,224,841, or 43.6%, are native born whites and of 
 native parentage, while 964,882, or 34.3%, are native whites of foreign or mixed 
 parentage. The population of the rural districts of the state show a greater percentage 
 of native whites than its urban, or city, population. Of the whites of the rural districts, 
 50.8% are natural born whites, and of the urban, or city, population, 35.5% are native 
 born whites of native parentage. The negroes of the state constitute only .6% of 
 the total population, while the Indian constitutes .3%, and the census of 1910 shows 
 that the number of Chinese and Japanese are still less. The foreign born whites 
 adjust themselves to American conditions speedily and satisfactorily, and the 
 generation emanating from the northern European immigrants, when educated in 
 American schools, have developed into a splendid type of citizens, characterized by 
 their honesty, industry and religious tendencies. The foreign countries which have 
 contributed the largest number of foreign born whites to Michigan’s population, as 
 shown by the last U. S. census, are as follows; Canada, 28.7%; Germany, 22.1%; 
 England, 7.2%; Russia, 6.4%; Holland, 5.6%; Finland, 5.2%; Austria, 5.2%; Sweden, 
 4.4%; Ireland, 3.4%; Italy, 2.8%; all other countries, 9%. 
 
ICDUC'A'I'ION IN MK'IIK'.AN. 
 
 nV KKI';i) 1.. KICICI.ICK, 
 
 Stale Supt. of Public luslniclion. 
 
 In a comparative study of tlic forly-eijijhl states by the Russell Sage F(;undati(jn, 
 IMiehigau, considered from the various educational standf)oints, is accorded a [)lace 
 abt)ve the average, d'he educational conditions arc such as to be worthy of 
 considerable pride to the citizens, d'here is no other i)ublic interest in the state to 
 be comjKired to that of the ])ublic schools. President Kmeritus Angell of the University 
 of Michigan declares that the j^eople of Michigan have a “veritable passion for 
 education.” 
 
 From the very beginning of our state life public education has been recognized 
 as a state function. The Ordinance of 1787 set forth the principle, “Religion, morality 
 and knowledge being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, 
 schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged.” From this principle 
 there has never been any deviation. Each successive constitution has confirmed it. 
 The provisions have been worked out by educational laws. No state has better 
 provided for her children in the matter of school funds. The primary school fund, 
 provided for in the early history of the territory, has been kept intact for educational 
 purposes. This fund yields an income annually of over five million dollars or about 
 seven dollars per child; in other words, a per capita apportionment of about seven 
 dollars is distributed annually to school districts. 
 
 There are over 578,000 boys and girls enrolled in the schools of Michigan; the 
 total expenditures for the past year amounted to more than $16,000,000 or about 
 $29 per child, the increased per capita cost during the last decade being $13. 
 
 Other following changes during that period may be noted: The attendance 
 has increased ten per cent. The number of pupils in the eighth grade, exclusive of 
 graded schools, has increased fifty per cent, and the number of eighth grade diplomas 
 granted has doubled. The number of teachers has increased thirty per cent and the 
 salaries have doubled. The estimated value of school property in ungraded and 
 graded districts is over $40,000,000 or nearly double the valuation of ten years ago. 
 The average cost of the schoolhouses built last year was $23,000; that of ten years 
 ago was $4,000. There are 1,500 more school libraries containing about 800,000 more 
 volumes with $110,000 added to their support. 
 
 Michigan is justly proud of her University, normal school system, technical 
 institutions and colleges. The city school systems are second to none. The tendency 
 is toward a school system which shall exist for the majority. Both grade and high 
 schools are tending toward more practical training. In no department has there been 
 greater recent improvement than in rural education. A county normal system was 
 established by law in 1903, the sole purpose of which is the training of teachers for 
 t 
 
34 MICHIGAN 
 
 the rural schools. 'I'hcre are this year training classes in forty-five counties in the 
 state. More than 5, ()()() teachers have been graduated from these elasses and today 
 nearly fifty i)er cent of the rural teachers of the state have had some normal training. 
 
 A system of Standard vSchools has this year been established, the object of which 
 is to assist in the improvement of the one-room rural sehool. Requirements 
 eoncerning buiklings, grounds, equipment, organization and teachers have been fixed. 
 A school meeting these requirements is awarded a diploma and designated a Standard 
 School. The Michigan Schoolhouse, a type of a one-room building, is recommended 
 by the State Superintendent. With the advocated establishment of a farger 
 administrative unit, the Michigan rural school system will be unexcelled. 
 
 University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. 
 
 The State University is located at the city of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw county. 
 Its present organization dates from 1837, although several acts were passed prior 
 to that year for the establishment of a University. It eomprises the Department of 
 Literature, Seience and the Arts, the Department of Engineering, the Department 
 of Medicine and Surgery, the Department of Law, the School of Pharmacy, the 
 Homeopathic Medical College, the College of Dental Surgery and the Graduate 
 Department. Its government is vested in a board of regents eleeted by the people 
 for a term of eight years. The present valuation of its property is $4,672,717.61. 
 
M I (' II I ('. A N 
 
 'Phi' Sl;itr .\j;i'ii'ult ui'iil is silu.'itcd i»ii ;i l.'ii'iii i»t'0<St .'icrc. ;i,l, I0;i I, 
 
 tlu'oo mill's I'sst of lilt' t'ily of Lansin^y Ingham t'ouiify. 1 1, wa:; cs.laltlialictl in 1X.S.S 
 anti its lii’st I'ost was It is dt'sijMU'd lo alfoi'd Ihorttuyli in .lnictj’on in 
 
 as^i'it'ull m\', fort'sh'v, x’t'U'rinary st'ii'iK'o, honu' ('t'ononiics and mccliaiiic arts, anti 
 till' natural si'ii'iii'i's I'onni'cti'd tlu'ri'vviUi. 'Plic t'onl.rol of flit' instilutitai is vcsLctI 
 in till' vStati' Ifoanl of Ai^rii'iilt nri', llin nu'inlx'rs of which arc t'li'cfcd from the st-atc 
 at lary;c for a term of six years. 
 
 Agricultural building, Michigan Agricultural College, East Lansing. 
 
 The Michigan College of Alines is a State Institution, located at Houghton. The 
 object of the college is to educate men to assist in the development of the mineral 
 wealth of the country, in which work it has been eminently successful. It was opened 
 for students first in 1886, and since 1890 it has been one of the largest and most prom- 
 inent mining schools in the country, its graduates holding prominent positions. It 
 is situated among active mines, mills and smelters, to all of which it has access for 
 the training of its students, and of such facilities it makes constant use. The course 
 of study is eminently practical. For this reason many mature men come to it for in- 
 struction. It has ten large and well equipped buildings for use in its technical work. 
 The College of Alines is under charge of a Board of Control consisting of six members 
 appointed by the Governor. Each of the present members of the Board is prominent 
 in the mining industry of the State. Its courses of instruction cover mathematics. 
 
MICHIGAN 
 
 36 
 
 
 
 Michigan College of Mines, Houghton 
 
 State Ncrmal College, Ypsilanti 
 
M I (' II I C. A N 
 
 <7 
 
 ])hysii's, I'luMiiist I'y , assa\'itij;, mrtalliii’j^y, di’aft civil, miiiiii)^, iiiccliaiiical aiul 
 cU'i'trical cni;iiici'i‘iiij^, hydi’aulii'S, ofc di'cssinj^, miiicralf )j^y, pet ro^^rapliy, 
 
 'The Stale Nci'inal loeati'd .at \’psilaiit,i, Washtenaw eoiinty, w.as esLale 
 
 lislu'd in I.S-hh Its lirst c'osL was $25. 000, and tlu> preseni v.alu.ation of t,he j)roperfy 
 $550,000. 'I'he school is undc'r llu' e()ntrol of the State I'oard of ICducalion, Ifie 
 nuanhi't's of whii'Ii .ai\' idccti'd by the pt'ople for ;i term of six years. 
 
 Its .sole purj)ose is to furnish competent teachers for the several grades of the 
 state’s public schools. Its enrollment is made up ehietly (jf hi^h school }.(raduates, 
 and numbers annually sixteen hundred in Collcj^iatc l)e])artment. l''or several years 
 the j;radnating cla.ss has averaged about 700, three-fourths of whom have taken the 
 life eertitieale cour.se. 'Feachers are prepared to do critic and supervisory work in 
 the i^rades, for S])ecial dci)artmcnts in high and normal schools and for college teaching, 
 d'he pre.sent faculty numbers eighty-eight. 
 
 Central Michigan Normal School, Mt. Pleasant. 
 
 The Central Michigan Normal School, in charge of the State Board of Education, 
 was started by private enterprise and is located in the city of Mount Pleasant, Isabella 
 county, and consists of a commodious building capable of accommodating 700 
 students. In 1901, a new training school building and a large addition to the 
 original building were erected. The Legislature of 1905 appropriated $25,000.00 
 for a central heating and lighting plant. This plant is in operation and has a 
 capacity^ sufficient to heat and light the present buildings and any building that may 
 
MICHIGAN 
 
 
 siibsc([ucntly l)e erected on the campus. In 1907 the Legislature appropriated 
 $50, ()()(). 00 for a ])]iysical training building which was completed in 1908. The 
 buildings are situated on a campus of 20 acres of ground. The school was adopted 
 by the state June 3 >, 1895, and was opened as a state school the following September. 
 Value of grounds, buildings, library, apparatus, etc., $v500,000.00. 
 
 Western State Normal School, Kalamazoo. 
 
 The Western State Normal School, in charge of the State Board of Education, 
 is located at Kalamazoo. The school was opened in 1904. The campus consists 
 of tw^enty acres and the buildings are complete and up to date. Number of instructors, 
 50; number of students for the year ending June 30, 1913, 1,450; value of grounds, 
 building, library, etc., $293,000.00. 
 
 The Northern State Normal School is located at Marquette, Michigan. The 
 site is beautiful, overlooking Lake Superior. The campus consists of twenty acres, 
 part of which has been laid out in beautiful grounds and part of which has been left 
 in its natural state. The buildings are new, constructed of Marquette sandstone, 
 complete and well equipped. Departments: drawing, English, expression, geography, 
 German and French, Latin, history, kindergarten, mathematics, music, natural 
 science, physical science, physical training, psychology and education, sociology, 
 domestic art and science, training school department. The school was established 
 by Act No. 51 of the Public Acts of 1899. The number of instructors during the 
 
M 1 (' II I ('. A N 
 
 
 year l‘Ml-l‘M'2 was 2*); tln' mimlx'r ol sliideiits (■iir()ll('(I MO, and tlic iitimhcr of 
 i;raduali'S for that yi'.ar 110. Aiimial tuition per student, is $15.00; avera>.^e cost of 
 board per wi'ek, $-1.00 ; valiu' of j-p'ornuls, l)uildinj.is, library, apparatus, etc., $21 1,575.00. 
 'Pile Li'^islaturi' of 101 1 ajipropriatc'd $1 10,000.00 for eurn'ut expenses for the biennial 
 period. 
 
 Northern State Normal School, Marquette. 
 
40 
 
 MICHIGAN 
 
 michic;an’s rural highways. 
 
 BY FRANK F. ROGERS, 
 
 State Highway Commissioner. 
 
 Lord Bacon has said: “There be three things which make a nation great and 
 prosperous, a fertile soil, busy work shops, and easy conveyance for man and goods 
 
 from place to place. 
 
 If these conditions are necessary to 
 make a nation prosperous, they are 
 equally necessary to the prosperity of 
 a State, and Michigan will not suffer 
 by comparison with other states in 
 these respects. 
 
 This State is credited with a land 
 area of about 57,000 square miles or 
 to be more exact 36,370,779.62 acres. 
 In 1910 it had 206,960 farms aggregating 
 18,940,614 acres which cover 51% or a 
 little more than one-half, of the area 
 of Michigan. Of this farm land 12,832,078 acres, or a little more than two-thirds of the 
 whole, are represented as cleared and more or less under cultivation. These farms 
 are equipped with machinery and stock making a total value, according to the U. S. 
 census of 1910, of $1,088,858,379 which is nearly equal to one-half of the present 
 equalized valuation of the State. 
 
 The transportation facilities of Michigan are: 1,620 miles of coast line on the 
 Great Lakes; about 10,000 miles of steam and interurban electric roads and approxi- 
 mately 70,000 miles of public wagon roads outside of the corporate limits of cities 
 and villages. This equals 1.23 miles of highway for each square mile of land area 
 and one mile of highway for each 40 persons, according to the U. S. census of 1910. 
 
 At the present time the highways of Michigan are improved by taxes raised from 
 three sources: 
 
 1st. A tax levied over the assessable property of each organized township of 
 the State; 
 
 2d. By a County road tax, in those counties which have adopted the County Road 
 System, which is levied over the entire taxable property of the County. This 
 includes cities, incorporated villages, farms and personal property. Fifty-four of the 83 
 counties of Michigan at this time (March, 1914) have adopted and are now working 
 under the County Road System; 
 
 3d. By State taxes, through direct appropriations by the legislature, for the 
 
 An improved Michigan highway. 
 
M I (' II I ('. A N 
 
 41 
 
 purpose of payiuj^ state rc'wards and othei’vvise aiding in tlie huildiiij' of road:, and 
 brid.yi'S iu the State. 
 
 It is probable tliat fully ‘^5 per eeiit ol these I'oads are still of earth, but Michij^an 
 is uow rapidly building luori' substaiit i.al roads on whieh State bounties Jiro |)aid. 
 'I'hese bountii'S, or rc'wards as 
 the\' are ealliHl, l\)r the or- 
 dinary road where the metal 
 track is made d ft. wide rauf^e 
 friau $250 to $1, ()()() i)er mile, 
 according' to the class of road 
 built. Each of these classes 
 of road may receive a 10 ])er 
 cent additional bonus for each 
 added foot in width of metal 
 track between 9 ft. and 16 ft. 
 
 Thus the gravel road which 
 draws a reward of $500 a 
 mile for a 9 ft. width of 
 gravel track will draw $850 
 a mile when the gravel is put on 16 ft. wide and pro rata for intermediate widths. 
 In the same manner the rewards on roads built of macadam, concrete and brick are 
 from $1,000 to $1,700 a mile. 
 
 The last legislature established a Trunk Line Highway System for Michigan 
 comprising some 3,000 miles of main highways which are defined in a general way 
 by naming the cities and towns along the routes. The exact location of these 
 highways between the towns was left to the State Highway Commissioner and local 
 authorities to determine. On the Trunk Line Highways the State reward is twice 
 as much as on the ordinary highways and in addition the State builds all bridges on 
 which the spans are greater than 30 ft. and makes surveys, plans and specifications 
 for both the roads and bridges. At the present writing the State has paid rewards 
 on 2,363 miles of road 43 miles of which are on the Trunk Line. Two Trunk Line 
 bridges have been completed, one in Marquette County and one in Wayne County 
 and bids will be received on April 1st, 1914, for eleven more Trunk Line bridges. 
 
 While these State rewarded roads are but a small part of the total mileage of 
 Michigan, they are scattered over 73 counties and reach into 639 townships, which 
 means that more than one-half of the townships in Michigan have a mile or more 
 of these improved roads. The State reward is available to both townships and 
 counties, and the rapidity with which these roads are being built will be realized when 
 it is known that more than enough of these roads were built in 1913 to make two 
 continuous lines reaching from the Ohio line to the Straits of Alackinac. 
 
 It will thus be seen that while Michigan has facilities for transportation by water 
 greater than that of any other State and has facilities for transportation by rail equal 
 to most other States of its size and population, it is also making rapid strides in the 
 
improvement of its rural highways. In 1913 more than six and three-quarter millions 
 of dollars were expended on the highways of this State, and, if road-building eontinues 
 to inerease at the present rate, it is safe to predict that within the next decade the 
 main arteries of travel, which carry nearly 90 per cent of the traffic, will be substan- 
 tially improved and Michigan will assume a prominent place among the States of the 
 Union which are noted for good roads. 
 
 Western Michigan Pike. This thoroughfare will extend, when completed, from the southern boundary of the State to 
 the Straits of Mackinac, skirting the shore of Lake Michigan for the greater portion of the distance. 
 
M 1 (' II I ('. A N 
 
 
 'I'lllC ('.ICNlvRAl. IM1 VvS1()(;KAI’11\’, vSOII.S, and mini^kai. ricsdukcics 
 
 OF iMK'lllDAN. 
 
 IlY R. ('. AI.LICN, 
 
 State ( ieolo^ist. 
 
 CICNKRAL rilVSKKiRAlMlY. 
 
 The State of Michigan comprises two great peninsulas, sei)arating the waters 
 of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron and Lrie, and about two hundred islands including 
 Isle Royale near the northern coast of Lake Superior and the historic and beautiful 
 Island of Mackinac in the Straits of Mackinac. It has a total land area of about 
 
 59.000 square miles. Situated in the heart of the continent, holding within its borders 
 
 5.000 sparkling inland lakes, surrounded by the waters of the Great Lakes which are 
 the greatest inland waterways in the world, with a coast line of more than 1,600 miles 
 
 Beach of Lake Warren from lakeward side. Buildings stand on the beach, one mile 
 North of Charleston, Sanilac County. 
 
 indented with bays and harbors and fringed with islands, Michigan enjoys remarkable 
 commercial and climatic advantages. The commercial advantages are reflected in 
 the fringe of important manufacturing and shipping centers along the lake shores, 
 and the climatic advantages by the variety and specialized character of its agricultural 
 pursuits, as w^ell as by the hundreds of thousands of summer residents and visitors 
 who are welcomed from the less enjoyable summer climates of other states and 
 countries. 
 
44 
 
 MICHIGAN 
 
 The surface of Michigan presents a great variety of forms, most of which have 
 their origin in geologic processes which were attendant on the advance and retreat 
 (some 1 (),()()() to 20, ()()() years agof of the last great continental glacier which covered 
 the central continent as far south as the Ohio river. To continental glaciation we 
 are indebted, not only for the Great Lakes themselves, and hence our insular climate, 
 but also for the character and diversity of our land forms, the configuration of the 
 coast, our inland lakes, and our many and varied types of soil. The flat lands or 
 plains which extend from the south east corner of the state northward in a fringing 
 belt around the "Thumb,” occupying all of the famous Saginaw Valley, are part of 
 the ancient bottoms of the ancestral Great Lakes. With the exception of these flat 
 lands, and other similar but smaller tracts, the surface of the Southern Peninsula 
 is gently rolling, the undulating plains alternating with belts and irregular tracts of 
 hills. The elevation of the surface rises rather gradually from the lakes inland. The 
 
 higher lands in the interior 
 are divided by a remarkable 
 broad valley, extending from 
 Saginaw bay via Grand rivei 
 to Lake Michigan, into a 
 northern highland and a 
 southern highland. The 
 northern highland is an ele- 
 vated tract of country reach- 
 ing from Otsego, Montmor- 
 ency and Alcona counties 
 southwest into Lake, Neway- 
 go and Mecosta counties. The 
 elevation of this tract ranges 
 from 400 to 1,000 feet above 
 Lakes Michigan and Huron. 
 The highest point in Lower 
 
 Bronson Lake, Lapeer County. A typical Moraine Lake. M^ichigan is a fcW milcS SOUth 
 
 east of Cadillac in northern Osceola county, where a group of hills reach a height of about 
 1,100 feet above lake level, or 1,700 feet above the sea. The southeastern highland 
 consists of a much lower and nearly parallel tract extending from southern Huron 
 county southwest through Branch and Hillsdale counties into Indiana and Ohio. 
 Llost of this area is from 200 to 600 feet above Lake Huron, the highest portions lying 
 in Hillsdale and Oakland counties where the elevations are at maximum 1,287 feet 
 to over 1,300 feet above sea level. 
 
 A rise of 120 feet of the waters of Lakes Huron and Michigan would connect 
 Saginaw bay and Lake Michigan with a strait several miles wide and 50 feet deep. 
 The "mitten, ” from a vicinity north of Grand Rapids, northeast nearly to Lake Huron, 
 w’ould become a large island with numerous smaller ones around its shores. A broad 
 peninsula, tapering to the northeast, would extend from Indiana and northwestern 
 
M I (' II I ('. A N 
 
 ■IS 
 
 Ohio into 'Puscola ami Saiiilac' count i('S. U'crc the l.ak(‘S to rise lOO feet the sfnith- 
 oastcni highland would l)ccouu' tucrcly a j^u'oup of islands with one lar^(; one in 
 Oakland and anotlu'r in Jackson, Hillsdale and lhanch counties. 
 
 d'hc Upper Peninsula has a hijjjher westc'rn portion, mj^^^ed and rocky in many 
 localities, and a much lower and k\ss rn}.j^ed and rocky eastern one. d'he heit^ht of 
 the interior table-land of the western portion, ranges from 1, ()()() to 1,200 feet above 
 the lakes or 1,600 to 1,800 feet above sea level, but the rock kn(d)S and hills of drift 
 rise a few’ hundred feet hijjjher. The highest {xnnt in the state, 2,023 feet, is in the 
 Porcupine mountains in Ontonagon county. The eastern y)ortion has a general 
 elevation of only about 250 feet above the lakes, and the highest point is only a little 
 over 400 feet above Lake Michigan. Like Lower Michigan, the Upf)cr I’eninsula 
 is cut across by a prominent valley, the bed of a former glacial river, running south 
 from Au 'brain bay, on the northern shore, to White Fish river and Little Bay de Noc. 
 Were the level of Lake Superior raised 150 feet its w’aters w’ould flow through this 
 old valley into Lake Michigan. 
 
 'Lhe state is drained by a number of important rivers. Many of these streams 
 have been of incalculable value as mediums of transportation of logs to the lumber 
 mills, and have determined the location of some of the most important cities of the 
 state. In the future they are destined to furnish an increasing amount of electric 
 pow’er for transmission to villages, cities, industrial centers, and even to the farms. 
 The Raisin, Huron, Saginaw and AuSable are the most important ones of the eastern 
 slope of the Lower Peninsula, and the Manistee, Muskegon, Grand, Kalamazoo and 
 St. Joseph of the w^estern. The Huron and AuSable, rising in the interior highlands, 
 afford a large amount of water power. The Saginaw^ the largest river of the peninsula, 
 is navigable to Saginaw, the center of one of the richest agricultural and manufacturing 
 districts of the state, and the Grand to Grand Rapids where water power has been 
 extensively developed. 
 
 In the Upper Peninsula the rivers are in general shorter and more rapid, having 
 steeper gradients. The Menominee is the largest river, forming for a great part of 
 its length the boundary between Michigan and Wisconsin. The numerous falls and 
 rapids throughout its course are being rapidly developed for power. The other 
 important rivers are the Escanaba, White Fish, Manistique, Carp, Pine, Tequamenon, 
 Sturgeon and Ontonagon. 
 
 SOILS. 
 
 Under the limitations of space imposed on this article it will be impossible to 
 give even a brief description of the various types of soil which occur in Michigan. I 
 shall therefore confine my remarks on this subject to a brief statement regarding 
 the proper use of the general soil maps of Michigan which accompany this volume. 
 
 These soil maps are the expression of an effort to adapt the results of a careful 
 scientific study and mapping of the surface formations of the state to a distinctly 
 utilitarian purpose. They will be found useful to persons interested in obtaining 
 a knowledge of the character and distribution of the soils in Michigan. 
 
46 
 
 M I C H I G A N 
 
 It is known l)y everyone who has only a slight familiarity with soils that maps 
 whieh show details of soil eomposition and texture do not exist and in the very nature 
 of the ease eannot be made. There is no limitation of subdivisions that might be 
 made were soils to be elassified on the basis of slight differenees in physieal and 
 ehemieal eomposition. On a single seetion of land there may be found one, two, six, 
 or a dozen different kinds of soil, depending on the loasis of elassifieation and the 
 degree of importanee attaehed to minor variations in eharaeter. On the maps whieh 
 aeeompany this volume there are shown in eolor and symbol 14 types and sub-types 
 of soil formations. It is believed that this degree of subdivision expresses admirably 
 the general faets. The eharaeter and relations of these types and sub-types may be 
 readily understood and the number is not so great as to be eonfusing to the general 
 reader or layman. 
 
 While a single small area of land may show wide variations in soil eharaeter, 
 the number of soil types depending, as stated above, on the importanee attaehed to 
 slight variations in eharaeter, it is not less true that the same area may have a great 
 predominanee of soil of a partieular eharaeter and eomposition, depending on origin 
 and manner of formation, and the general soil eonditions in sueh an area eould be 
 properly represented on a small seale map by a single eolor or symbol. The colors 
 and symbols on the soil maps which accompany this volume express dominance in 
 the various areas covered by them of a particular soil of the general character set forth 
 in the legend and not the entire exclusion of other types. In the mapping of the soil 
 formations it should be understood that no attempt has been made to measure general 
 fertility or the crop growing capacity of the soil formations or particular crop adapta- 
 tions to particular soils. Soil fertility is a thing which cannot be expressed on a map. 
 Local conditions of temperature, moisture, topography, physical and chemical com- 
 position, the property of supporting bacterial life, the character of the sub-soil, etc., 
 are important determinants of crop growing capacity and it follows that this being 
 true, relative crop growing capacity cannot be expressed on a soil map. Particular 
 kinds of soil under certain combinations of the above factors will grow excellent crops 
 of particular kinds when other crops will fail wholly or partially. In these days of 
 specialized farming practically every kind of soil can be managed in such a manner 
 as to grow remunerative crops and soil management is a factor in crop growing of 
 importance equivalent to that of the soil itself. 
 
 Vast areas of good agricultural land, mainly in the northern part of the state, 
 await settlement and development. Prospective purchasers of land and prospective 
 settlers should be guided mainly by accurate information regarding local conditions 
 and personal or other trustworthy knowledge of the particular description of land 
 of which purchase is considered, and it should be emphasized that no map and no 
 amount of printed matter can take the place of a personal examination of land on the 
 ground. 
 
 MINERAL RESOURCES. 
 
 Michigan has claim to a distinctive position in each of the leading industries 
 of the nation, viz., agriculture, manufacture, mining and lumbering. Michigan has 
 
M I (' II I ('. A N 
 
 47 
 
 lu'i'ii knmvti ;is a j^ri'al inininj^ stati' siiu'(‘ lai' hack in llic cai'ly lortics and fiflics wlinn 
 she hi'^an tlu' (U'N'rloiniu'nl of licr ^n’('al ('ojjpcr and ii’on mines, and today no otfuT 
 stale produees in sneli vast ([nantitii'S sneh a diversity of mineral products. VVdn'lc 
 Miehi,r;an's fami' as a mininj.^ stale rests mainly on her vast deposits of co[)[)cr .and 
 iron ores, she produees in addition a larj^c' numher of other mineral ])roducts, among 
 the nuire important of whieh arc coal, s.alt, gyjjsum, clay, marl, limcstrjne, gla.ss, 
 whetstones and seythestones, gem stones and silver. Prior to 1896 a considerable 
 amount of gold was produced from ([u.artz veins in the vicinity of ishpeming. 
 
 Baltic Mine. A typical Michigan copper mine. 
 
 GRAVEL, CLAY AND MARL. 
 
 Gravel, clay and. marl are found in the glacial drift wdiich is also the universal 
 
 soil formation of the state. Gravels are becoming more and more valuable for use 
 
 in road building and road ballast. Marls are used in the production of Portland 
 cement. Marl beds occur in many of the inland lakes of the state and constitute 
 the basis of an important cement industry. Michigan makes more cement from 
 
 marl than any other state. Many of the most valuable clay deposits occur around 
 
 the borders of the state in the beds of the extinct glacial Great Lakes which were the 
 predecessors of the present Great Lakes and whose shore lines are found far inland 
 on the present day land surface. These clays form the basis of a brick and tile 
 industry, the value of whose products exceed $2,000,000 annually. 
 
 COAL. 
 
 The Michigan coal basin occupies about 15,000 square miles of territory in the 
 central part of the Southern Peninsula. Coal beds varying from an inch up, to above 
 seven feet in thickness occur in the upper part of the coal measure series. It has 
 been estimated that there are 8,000,000,000 tons of coal in the Michigan basin, much 
 
48 
 
 MICHIGAN 
 
 of which is available for mining. At the present time the active centers of coal mining 
 are Bay City, Saginaw, St. Charles, and in Genesee county. The value of the coal 
 produced is more than $3,000,000 annually. 
 
 SALT, GYPSUM, OIL AND GAS. 
 
 Rock salt occurs in the rocks of the Salina series and is produced through a shaft 
 at Detroit. The greater part of the salt production of the state, however, is obtained 
 by the pumping of brines and evaporation with waste fuel from lumber mills or in 
 specially constructed vaeuum pans. Salt is produced mainly at Detroit and north- 
 ward along Lake St. Clair, in the Saginaw Valley, and at Ludington and Manistee. The 
 value of the annual salt products of Michigan is about $2,500,000 which exceeds that 
 of any other state. 
 
 Gypsum occurs in the Grand Rapids group of the Carboniferous series and is 
 mined and manufaetured into the finished products of commerce mainly at Grand 
 Rapids and Alabaster in Iosco county. The annual production is valued at from 
 $600,000 to $800,000. 
 
 t- \i Michigan produces small quantities of oil and gas. Many of the farmers in 
 the southeastern part of the state and some other places obtain sufficient natural gas 
 from shallow borings for domestic purposes.- It is the belief of many geologists that 
 Michigan may in time become an important producer of oil and gas. 
 
 Copper ingots on dock at Houghton. 
 
 COPPER. 
 
 The copper industry in Michigan began as early as 1845. The mines are located 
 on Keweenaw Point and southwestward in Ontonagon county. Michigan has the 
 distinction of being, all years considered, the largest contributor in metallic copper, 
 of exhibiting the largest copper mining operations, of attaining the lowest cost per 
 ton of ore handled, of exploiting with profit ores of lower grade than are mined else- 
 
M I ( ' 1 1 I ( '. A N 
 
 V) 
 
 wlirri', ami of paN’inj’ larj^of lolal dividt'iids Ilian any oilier niiniii).' di.lriei, in the 
 world. 'I'lu' animal onlpnt of reCnied eo|)|)i-i’ is valued at from $21,000,000 to 
 $•10,000,000 (U'|)(Midinjj[ on (lit' priei' of tiu' iiielal. 
 
 C'oppi'r (H'vurs in nalivi' form, mainly in coiif^lonieratcs and trap beds, d’lie 
 famous ('alnnu'l and 1 li'ela I'oppi'r lodt' is tlirc'e miles lon^^ and twelve to fifteen feel 
 thick ami is mim'd at a (h'plh of about oiu' mile, h'rom the mines tlu' eopjier ore 
 is hauled to tlu' mills, most of which are located on the lak('. In tlu' mills the cojijier 
 is separated from the rock, from whence' it is sent to the snu'Itc'rs whe-re' it is refined 
 and east into shapes for shipment, (ux'at piles of c()])per inj^ots are familiar and 
 eharaeteristie sights on the docks of d'oreh and Portage Lakes. 
 
 Fogarty mine. A typical Michigan iron mine. 
 
 There is vastly more copper in the ground in Michigan than has been mined 
 and Michigan will produce copper for many, many years to come. With the gradually 
 declining tenor of the ores, increasing depths of mines, etc., the question with the 
 mining companies relates not so much to exhaustion of the copper deposits as to the 
 margin of profit that the deposits may be forced to yield on exploitation. 
 
 4 
 
50 
 
 MICHIGAN 
 
 IRON. 
 
 Iron was discovered in the Lake Superior region in 1844 near Negaunee by Wm. 
 A. Hurt, who was in the employ of Dr. Douglass Houghton, the first state geologist 
 of Michigan. For nearly half a century, ])rior to 1901, Miehigan held first place in 
 the ])roduction of iron ore. Since that time the production of Minnesota has been 
 much greater than that of Michigan. The main centers of iron mining are Tshpeming 
 and Negaunee on the Marquette Range, Norway, Iron Mountain, Crystal Falls and 
 Iron River on the Menominee Range, and Bessemer, Wakefield and Ironwood on the 
 (iogebic Range. 
 
 As old mines are abandoned new mines are started on new discoveries of ore and 
 although Alichigan has lieen mining iron ore for nearly seventy years there still remains 
 in the ground ready for mining almost, if not quite, as mueh iron ore as has been 
 produced in all preeeding years. In other words more ore is developed and discovered 
 each year on the average than is mined that year, and at the present time the outlook 
 is exceedingly encouraging for an indefinitely long and prosperous period of iron mining. 
 Michigan produces normally from 10,000,000 to 13,000,000 tons of iron ore annually 
 valued at $25,000,000 to $33,000,000. It is expected that this production will ma- 
 terially increase in future years. 
 
 OTHER MINERAL PRODUCTS. 
 
 I have not space to do more than mention the production of gem stones whieh 
 occur in association with the copper bearing rocks; silver, which is a bi-product of 
 copper smelting: gold, which is known to occur in quartz veins in the vicinity of 
 Ishpeming; building stone and other minor products, nor the pig iron production 
 which is associated with the rapidly growing wood-chemieal industry. 
 
 The state of Miehigan maintains a Department of Geological Survey under the 
 direetion of the State Geologist who will on request furnish details of information 
 regarding the mineral resources of Alichigan. 
 
M I (' II 1 ('. A N 
 
 'rill<: MIC'IIK'.AN ('LIMA'l'K' ( '( )N I )I'rr( )NS. 
 
 |{V 1'. SCIINI'ADICU, 
 
 Dirc'ctor Mit'h. vScclion, V. S. Weather bureau. 
 
 'I'ho clinuile Michij^an is insular to a marked decree on account (jf the influence 
 of the (Ireat Lakes. 
 
 d'he determining factors of climate for any locality arc chiefly latitude and the 
 relative distribution of land and water. Other important factors are the topography 
 of its land surface, and the situation of the area in question with relation to the general 
 movement of storm centers. 
 
 All of Michigan is situated in a latitude that is conducive to some kind of agri- 
 culture, and its comparatively long days and short night during the crop season are 
 not only conducive to crop growth, but they reduce to a minimum, late frosts in spring 
 and early frosts in autumn. 
 
 In lower Michigan the longest day of the year in summer is nearly 15| hours, 
 while at New Orleans the longest day of the year is a little more than 14 hours in length. 
 In Upper Michigan the longest day of the year is nearly 16 hours. The day light 
 promotes all vegetable growth, while the short nights reduce the probability of frosts 
 and also shorten the period of diurnal coolness.* 
 
 The large bodies of water which make up the Great Lakes have a decided effect 
 in modifying any temperature change sweeping from West to East, either as excessive 
 heat or in the form of excessive cold. This influence is very marked in the immediate 
 vicinity of Lake Michigan, although it is very apparent in all parts of the state. In 
 Wisconsin winter temperatures have frequently continued from 10 to 20 degrees 
 lower during periods of extreme cold weather than in lower Michigan on account 
 of the warming influence of the Great Lake which intervenes between the two. In 
 spring, the influence of all of the Great Lakes and particularly that of Lake Michigan 
 is of untold value in modifying the eastward sweep of early hot waves and late in 
 spring cold waves. 
 
 In summer the refreshing southwest and west winds which prevail are making 
 the entire Lake Michigan shore one continuous summer resort. 
 
 The topography of Alichigan, except in the central portions of the Upper 
 Peninsula is not so marked that it exerts a general influence upon its climate, but 
 it has some features that exert marked local effects. The high lands of Houghton, 
 Baraga, Alarquette, Iron and Dickinson counties in the Upper Peninsula, and the 
 elevated portions of Osceola, Wexford, Alissaukee, Kalkaska, and .Antrim counties 
 in the lower Peninsula are noted for their great snow depths in winter, because the 
 moisture laden westerly winds are deflected upward, and the relatively colder tempera- 
 ture of the high altitude condenses the moisture. The influence of Lake Superior 
 is such as to cause early snows in the Upper Peninsula, so that as a rule the ground 
 
52 
 
 M I C II I G A N 
 
 is well protected and frost seldom gets into the soil in that part of the state. In the 
 southern part of the state snow is not as plentiful or regular, nor does it come as 
 early in the fall, and it is a usual condition to have the soil quite heavily frosted during 
 the late fall and early spring. 
 
 As considered from an agricultural standpoint, it may be said that agriculture 
 in all of its varied forms may be carried on with success when the average yearly 
 
 SUPBRIOR 
 
 Plate showing the counties in the various sections, viz.: Upper Peninsula, Northern, Central and Southern. 
 
M 1 (' II I ('. A N 
 
 ,S.< 
 
 pri'i'ipilat ion is wt'll distfibuli'd ( lirouphout. the year, and (•((iials or cxcccfis aijont 
 25 iiu'hi's. 
 
 d'ho ontiri' stain of Mic'Iiij^an has an annual prncipitaticjn that is very (icpially 
 distribnU'd tln\)nKlumt thn year, as a rule the lieaviest occurring during the S[)ring 
 nuniths when it is most needed, of approximately 30 inches. On the other hand, 
 a certain amount of tempt'ralnre is necessary for agriculture, and here again the state 
 
 Plate showing annual mean temperature. 
 
54 
 
 MICHIGAN 
 
 is fortunate, because its crop season is as a rule long enough to mature many of the 
 staj)lc food stuffs and the warmth sufficient to grow them to maturity. 
 
 TEMPERATURE. 
 
 The mean annual temperature of the lower l^eninsula is as a whole about 46 
 degrees, ranging from 49 degrees in the extreme southwestern part to 42 degrees in 
 the extreme northeasterly portion. 
 
 63 
 
 Plate showing July mean temperature. 
 
M I (' II I (', A N 
 
 ■S". 
 
 W Ink' in (lu^ nppi'r I’l'innsnln I lie mean aininal (('iiipcrat nrc is 10 (I('j.m-ccs, ran^M'n ;4 
 li-oin -la (U'Kivc's in tlu' ('xtrcnu' sonllicni ix.rtion; to aOonI, .^0 defaces iii Ilia’ cxItciiic 
 iu)r(lu'ast portion; tlir avi'raKn maxinnnn or day tcinjx'rat nn; ranges from ahont 80 
 di'Kivos in sninnu'r to 2.S di'^ri'i'S in winter, d'lu' averaKe minimnm or m’Klit temiier- 
 ahiiv IS approximately 55 de^n'i'S in snmnu'r, and from <S to 12 de^^rees in winter, 
 k.xtreme (empi'rat nres ol lOt) dej^ri'es or more are not of fn'ijnent occurrence, althoiiKh 
 
 Plate showing January mean temperature. 
 
56 
 
 MICHIGAN 
 
 they have been recorded at some j)laces on one or two days during the majority of 
 summers in the past twenty-five years. 
 
 Zeio tem])eratures are an invariable rule during the most months in the winter 
 in the Upper J'cninsula and northern half of the lower Peninsula; in the southern 
 half of the lower peninsula zero temperatures usually occur although there have 
 been some winters when there has been an entire absence of zero weather. 
 
 AVERAGE MONTHLY PRECIPITATION. 
 
 Upper Peninsula. 
 
 Jan. Fe 
 
 D. Mar. Apr. May June July Auj 
 
 s,, Se 
 
 pt. Oct. Nov. Dec 
 
 4" 
 
 3" 
 
 O 11 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 1 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 1 
 
 1 1 
 
 |_J 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 n 
 
 
 
 oJ 
 
 J 
 
 LJ 
 
 
 
 L 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 M 
 
 
 1 J 1 r 1 _ 1 j 
 
 AVERAGE MONTHLY PRECIPITATION. 
 Northern Section. 
 
 Jar 
 
 4" 
 
 3" 
 
 2" 1 
 V 
 
 0 1 
 
 ..Fe 
 
 1.. Uqj. 
 
 Jip] 
 
 p . ■ Ma.^ 
 
 [■■■Jua£ 
 
 i Jul; 
 
 f Aug. 
 
 Sept 
 
 .. Qci 
 
 1 ^-. Urn 
 
 /. Dec 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 , 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 1 
 
 1 1 
 
 1 1 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 fTiln 
 
 1 1 
 
 1 
 
 I 1 
 
 1 1 
 
 I 1 
 
 
 1 
 
 lJ 1 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Long heated spells in summer or abnormally protracted cold ones in winter are 
 very unusual. Historical ones occurred in the summers of 1911 and 1913 and during 
 the winter of 1899. 
 
M I (' II I ('. A X 
 
 r-.i 
 
 I' U( )s i . 
 
 As a niK' ili'sl lau'l i\'i' iVosls do not occuf after May 15tli in llie sprinj^ nor at, the 
 NH'ry narlii'st brfore Si'pteinl )i'i' 2()tli, or i.Stli, in the fall, t )ver a larye part of Uie 
 sontln'rn peninsula frosts do not ocenr in fall until ( tetoher IsL. 'This ^ives an average 
 of 115 daws, or ni'aiiy 5 months wlu-n in a larpa* jjortion of the slate under avera^'c 
 conditions, then' will ht' no deslrnelive frosts. 
 
 AVERAGE MONTHLY PRECIPITATION. 
 
 Central Section. 
 
 AVERAGE MONTHLY PRECIPITATION. 
 Southern Section. 
 
 PRECIPITATION. 
 
 The precipitation, by which is meant rain and snow, is unusually well distributed 
 throughout the year. Reference to the small charts accompanying this article show 
 that in all parts of the state the precipitation in May is usually the greatest of any 
 
58 
 
 M I C II I O A N 
 
 month in the year, and very well suited to the spring plowing, spring germination, 
 and the forwarding of growth of winter wheat, winter rye, meadows, and pastures. 
 
 Normally the ])recipitation is ample and sufficient for all crop needs during the 
 remainder of the growing season, and then diminishes so that the least amount is 
 found to occur in the mid winter months. 
 
 Plate showing average annual precipitation. 
 
M I C II I G A N 
 
 59 
 
 SNOW. 
 
 The average depth of snowfall for all of the various sections of the state can be 
 found in the tables following. 
 
 The small outline map of Michigan also shows of what counties the various sec- 
 tions arc comi:)rised. It will be noted that snow has never been known to occur in 
 July and August, and rarely in June or September, except in isolated and long 
 apart periods in the Upper Peninsula. The first snow usually occurs in October, 
 increasing in the amount to the end of January, after which there is a decrease in 
 amount which practically ends in April. Light falls are quite usual during May. 
 Nearly 60 inches of snow falls annually in all counties of the Lower Peninsula and 
 something over 70 inches in the Upper Peninsula. 
 
 DROUGHT. 
 
 Short and irregular periods of drought over limited portions of the state have 
 occurred, but long periods of deficient precipitation are rare. An exact statement 
 of the conditions which actually constitute a severe drought are hard to make because 
 much. depends not only in the length of time that there is an absence of rainfall, but 
 on the condition of the soil when deficient periods of rainfall begin, the time of year 
 when the deficiency occurs; and from an agricultural standpoint the texture of the 
 soil and other physical conditions also have a bearing. 
 
 Professor Henry in his climatology of the United States notes that the greatest 
 drought this country has ever experienced in the last hundred years, both as to in- 
 tensity and extent of territory covered, extended over the middle Mississippi, and 
 Missouri valleys, the Lake region, and Atlantic coast districts from early summer 
 of 1894 until -about the first of August 1895, the precipitation deficiency being about 
 10 inches. Since then there has been no real serious droughts in Michigan. 
 
 SUNSHINE. 
 
 The sunshine annually will average somewhat over 50% of the possible amount, 
 the percentage being much higher during the period extending from May until the 
 middle of October than during the winter months. During December, Januar}^ and 
 February it sometimes falls as low as 20% of the ])ossible amount, while during June, 
 July, August and September it exceeds 60 and sometimes 70% of the ])OSsible amount. 
 As a rule July is the sunniest month and December is the cloudiest. 
 
 WINDS. 
 
 The prevailing winds for the greater part of the year are from the west and the 
 average hourly velocity ranges from 121, miles per hour in March and Ajiril to a 
 minimum of about 9 miles per hour in August and vSeptember. The wind is mostly 
 from the west and southwest during the first three months of the year and from June 
 to December; cpiite a large jicriod, but less than a majority of the time during April 
 and May the surface movement of the air is from the east and northeast. 
 
60 
 
 MICHIGAN 
 
 Maximum velocities of short duration ranging from 25 to 40 miles per hour occur 
 (luring most months of the year and velocities of 60 miles and over are of comparatively 
 rare occurrence. Winds are more variable during the cooler half of the year. At 
 all seasons the southerly winds are usually moist and warm; the northerly winds cold 
 and dry. The easterly winds usually herald unsettled weather and the westerly 
 winds presage fair and settled conditions. 
 
 Owing to the fact that the prevailing summer winds are southwesterly, the shore 
 of Lake Michigan from the southern limits of the state northward is much sought 
 for relief during the hot months by people of other states. Water breezes are refresh- 
 ing especially at night. 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 Of all of the northern states, Michigan has perhaps the most even or equable 
 climate on account of the dominating influence of the great water bodies which almost 
 surround it. To the farmer, the fruit grower and the gardener the comparatively 
 even temperatures during spring and fall are of untold value. The moisture laden 
 atmosphere induced by the Great Lakes is beneficent to vegetation and stands as a 
 mighty bulwark against the early hot forcing warm waves of early spring and the 
 later cold waves of almost early summer; the Great Lakes and their moisture produce 
 comparatively even temperatures during the warmest summer months and in the fall 
 retard the advance of early cold. 
 
 The average or normal amount of precipitation and its distribution throughout 
 the year is ideal for field and orchard operations; its long summer days are conducive 
 to plant growth and the ample sunshine of summer is a valuable aid to all of the many 
 favorable items of climate with which nature has endowed the peninsular state. 
 
M 1 (' II I {'. A N 
 
 61 
 
 OKNIOKAI, OI.IMATIC DATA. 
 ll|i|ii'r I'l'iiltiHiilii. 
 
 Montli. 
 
 
 
 Tomperaturo 
 
 llogree.H I'lihronhelt. 
 
 
 
 IT<!(4pltatlon 
 
 In Inches. 
 
 
 Nuintier of ( 
 
 ays. 
 
 
 Mean. 
 
 Mean maximum. 
 
 Mean minimum. 
 
 
 Highest. 
 
 Year. 
 
 «9 
 
 a 
 
 Lowest. 
 
 ! 
 
 Year. 
 
 Q 
 
 Average total. 
 
 Greatest in 24 
 
 hours. 
 
 Total snowfall 
 
 (unmeited.) 
 
 With .01, or more 
 
 of precipitation. 
 
 i 
 
 1 Clear. 
 
 j Partly cloudy. 
 
 Cloudy. 
 
 Prevailing winds 
 
 January . . . 
 
 i:..a 
 
 22.9 
 
 
 0 
 
 r^7 
 
 1894 
 
 14 
 
 —45 
 
 1912 
 
 6,7, 12 
 
 2.19 
 
 2,00 
 
 21.3 
 
 12 
 
 8 ; 0 
 
 17 
 
 NW 
 
 Eehruary . . 
 
 U1.2 
 
 22 . 1 
 
 4 
 
 2 
 
 00 
 
 1890 
 
 27 
 
 — 49 
 
 1899 
 
 7 
 
 1 .05 
 
 1 .80 
 
 10.2 
 
 9 
 
 9 7 
 
 12 
 
 NW 
 
 March, . . . 
 
 22 . 7 
 
 3 1 . 0 
 
 13 
 
 ( 
 
 83 
 
 1910 
 
 30 
 
 — 40 
 
 1913 
 
 4 & 7 
 
 1.99 
 
 2.40 
 
 13.7 
 
 8 
 
 12 8 
 
 11 
 
 NW 
 
 .\i>ril 
 
 37.7 
 
 •10.9 
 
 28 
 
 (> 
 
 90 
 
 1 899 
 
 20 
 
 — 10 
 
 1909 
 
 10 
 
 2.13 
 
 4.40 
 
 5.4 
 
 8 
 
 12 8 
 
 10 
 
 NW 
 
 A lay 
 
 •18.8 
 
 58 , 0 
 
 38 
 
 3 
 
 98 
 
 1895 
 
 20 
 
 10 
 
 1903 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 *1907 
 
 *1 & 4 
 
 3,18 
 
 3 . 58 
 
 0,5 
 
 11 
 
 12 8 
 
 11 
 
 NW 
 
 Juno 
 
 50 . 0 
 
 70.0 
 
 4S 
 
 5 
 
 102 
 
 191 1 
 
 30 
 
 12 
 
 1897 
 
 18 
 
 3 . 03 
 
 5 . 00 
 
 T 
 
 9 
 
 14 8 
 
 8 
 
 S 
 
 July 
 
 C.-t . 3 
 
 71 . 9 
 
 53 
 
 5 
 
 108 
 
 1901 
 
 15 
 
 20 
 
 1903 
 
 1 
 
 2.98 
 
 4.35 
 
 T 
 
 9 
 
 15 9 
 
 7 
 
 w 
 
 .Ausust .... 
 
 02 . 5 
 
 72,0 
 
 52 
 
 5 
 
 100 
 
 1913 
 
 21 
 
 25 
 
 1904 
 
 10 
 
 2.85 
 
 3.45 
 
 0 
 
 9 
 
 14 9 
 
 8 
 
 NW 
 
 September 
 
 50 , 2 
 
 05 , 9 
 
 40 
 
 7 
 
 99 
 
 1900 
 
 8 
 
 10 
 
 1899 
 
 13 
 
 3 . 20 
 
 4.34 
 
 0.1 
 
 9 
 
 12 8 
 
 10 
 
 NW 
 
 Gctober. . . 
 
 ■t-t.5 
 
 52 . 0 
 
 30 
 
 (> 
 
 90 
 
 1897 
 
 1 
 
 —3 
 
 1905 
 
 29 
 
 2.77 
 
 3.10 
 
 2.3 
 
 10 
 
 10 7 
 
 14 
 
 NW 
 
 November . 
 
 31 .1 
 
 38 . 0 
 
 25 
 
 0 
 
 78 
 
 1903 
 
 1 & 3 
 
 — 17 
 
 1897 
 
 27 
 
 2.47 
 
 2.80 
 
 12.5 
 
 10 
 
 7 0 
 
 17 
 
 NW 
 
 December . 
 
 21.2 
 
 27 7 
 
 14 
 
 4 
 
 58 
 
 1889 
 
 29 
 
 —35 
 
 1898 
 
 31 
 
 2.15 
 
 2.42 
 
 17.2 
 
 11 
 
 7 6 
 
 18 
 
 NW 
 
 Average of 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 extremes 
 
 39.8 
 
 48,7 
 
 30 
 
 8 
 
 108 
 
 1901 
 
 7-15 
 
 — 49 
 
 1899 
 
 2-7 
 
 2.55 
 
 3.36 
 
 74.0 
 
 115 
 
 132 90 
 
 143 
 
 N W 
 
 GENERAL CLIMATIC DATA. 
 Northern Section. 
 
 Month. 
 
 Temperature — Degrees Fahrenheit. 
 
 Precipitation 
 in inches. 
 
 Number of days. 
 
 Mean. 
 
 Mean maximum. 
 
 Mean minimum. 
 
 Highest. 
 
 Year. 
 
 Day. 
 
 Lowest. 
 
 Year. 
 
 Day. 
 
 i 
 
 Average total. 
 
 Greatest in 24 
 hours. 
 
 Total snowfall 
 [unmelted.] 
 
 AVith .01, or more 
 of precipitation. 
 
 Clear. 
 
 Partly cloudy. 
 
 Cloudy. 
 
 Prevailing winds. 
 
 January . . . 
 
 20.0 
 
 27.5 
 
 12.4 
 
 59 
 
 1908 
 
 2 
 
 —39 
 
 1899 
 
 31 
 
 2.27 
 
 3.20 
 
 17.5 
 
 10 
 
 6 
 
 7 . 18 
 
 SW 
 
 February . . 
 
 17.8 
 
 26.7 
 
 8.8 
 
 65 
 
 1899 
 
 19 
 
 — 49 
 
 1899 
 
 11 
 
 1.80 
 
 3.05 
 
 15.1 
 
 9 
 
 8 
 
 8 12 
 
 NW 
 
 March .... 
 
 27.4 
 
 36.9 
 
 17.9 
 
 83 
 
 1910 
 
 29 
 
 —35 
 
 1890 
 
 6 
 
 1 .97 
 
 2.50 
 
 9.0 
 
 8 
 
 12 
 
 8 11 
 
 NW 
 
 April 
 
 41.1 
 
 51.9 
 
 30.8 
 
 93 
 
 1899 
 
 29 
 
 — 11 
 
 1911 
 
 2 
 
 2.13 
 
 2.56 
 
 3.6 
 
 7 
 
 12 
 
 8 i 10 
 
 NW 
 
 May 
 
 52.3 
 
 63.6 
 
 40.8 
 
 98 
 
 1895 
 
 29 
 
 10 
 
 1900 
 
 4 
 
 2.96 
 
 3.50 
 
 0.8 
 
 9 
 
 11 
 
 10 10 
 
 NW 
 
 June 
 
 63.2 
 
 75.2 
 
 51.2 
 
 106 
 
 1887 
 
 28 
 
 21 
 
 1891 
 
 5 
 
 2.63 
 
 4.80 
 
 T 
 
 7 
 
 14 
 
 9 - 7 
 
 SW 
 
 July 
 
 67.4 
 
 79.4 
 
 55.4 
 
 103 1 
 
 1901 
 
 1910 
 
 2 } 
 
 25 
 
 1898 
 
 11 
 
 2.71 
 
 4.00 
 
 0 
 
 7 
 
 15 
 
 10 ! 6 
 
 SW 
 
 August .... 
 
 65.2 
 
 76.8 
 
 53.5 
 
 103 
 
 1891 
 
 8 
 
 22 
 
 1887 
 
 25 
 
 2.63 
 
 5.87 
 
 0 
 
 
 14 
 
 10 : 7 
 
 SW 
 
 September 
 
 58.8 
 
 70.2 
 
 47.7 
 
 101 
 
 1891 
 
 20 
 
 15 
 
 1894 
 
 24 
 
 2.83 
 
 4.60 
 
 T 
 
 8 
 
 12 
 
 9 , 9 
 
 SW 
 
 October. . . 
 
 47.0 
 
 56.7 
 
 37.4 
 
 90 
 
 1910 
 
 6 
 
 4 
 
 1887 
 
 30 
 
 2.66 
 
 4.00 
 
 1.2 
 
 8 
 
 10 
 
 8 1 13 
 
 NW 
 
 N ovember . 
 
 34.8 
 
 42.0 
 
 29.6 
 
 77 1 
 
 1903 
 
 1911 
 
 12 } 
 
 —6 1 
 
 1895 
 
 1904 
 
 21 \ 
 28 / 
 
 2.52 
 
 2.40 
 
 8.3 
 
 9 
 
 6 
 
 7 ' 17 
 
 SW 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 [ 
 
 1897 
 
 24 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 December . 
 
 24.9 
 
 31.6 
 
 18.2 
 
 66 
 
 1891 
 
 23 
 
 —22 
 
 1903 
 
 26 1 
 
 2.19 
 
 3.92 
 
 14.3 
 
 10 
 
 6 
 
 7 18 
 
 SW 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 1904 
 
 13 J 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Aver’ges or 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 extremes. . 
 
 43.3 
 
 53.2 
 
 33.6 
 
 106 
 
 1887 
 
 6-28 
 
 —49 
 
 1899 
 
 2-11 
 
 29.30 
 
 4.80 
 
 69.8 
 
 99 
 
 126 
 
 IDl 138 
 
 SW 
 
62 
 
 MICHIGAN 
 
 GENERAL CLIMATIC DATA. 
 Central Section. 
 
 Month. 
 
 Temperature — Degrees Fahrenheit. 
 
 Precipitation 
 in inches. 
 
 Number of days. 
 
 Mean. 
 
 Mean maximum. 
 
 Mean minimum. 
 
 1 Highest. 
 
 A’ear. 
 
 Day. 
 
 Lowest. 
 
 Year. 
 
 Day. 
 
 Average total. 
 
 Greatest in 24 
 
 hours. 
 
 Total snowfall 
 
 [unmelted.] 
 
 With .01, or more 
 
 of i)recipitation. 1 
 
 Clear. 
 
 Partly cloudy. 
 
 Cloudy. 
 
 Prevailing winds. 
 
 •lamiar.v . . . 
 
 22.2 
 
 29.9 
 
 14.8 
 
 62 
 
 
 1907 
 
 10 
 
 
 —31 
 
 1893 
 
 15 
 
 2.26 
 
 4.90 
 
 12.3 
 
 8 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 17 
 
 SW 
 
 Eebriiary. . 
 
 20 . ,5 
 
 29.3 
 
 11.9 
 
 64 
 
 
 1900 
 
 8 
 
 
 —36 
 
 1899 
 
 11 
 
 1.89 
 
 3.35 
 
 24.0 
 
 7 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 13 
 
 SW 
 
 March .... 
 
 30.7 
 
 40.1 
 
 22.0 
 
 84 
 
 
 1905 
 
 
 
 —15 
 
 1890 
 
 6, 7 
 
 2.08 
 
 2.70 
 
 6.6 
 
 7 
 
 9 
 
 10 
 
 12 
 
 SW 
 
 April 
 
 43.9 
 
 54 . 6 
 
 33.4 
 
 90 
 
 
 1899 
 
 29, 30 
 
 — 2 
 
 1899 
 
 1 
 
 2.39 
 
 3.00 
 
 1.8 
 
 7 
 
 11 
 
 9 
 
 10 
 
 SW 
 
 May 
 
 .55.5 
 
 66.7 
 
 43.6 
 
 96 
 
 
 1911 
 
 20 
 
 
 17 
 
 1903 
 
 1 
 
 3.37 
 
 4.10 
 
 0.2 
 
 9 
 
 11 
 
 11 
 
 9 
 
 SW 
 
 June 
 
 65.7 
 
 77.6 
 
 53.4 
 
 101 
 
 
 1888 
 
 19 
 
 
 25 
 
 1907 
 
 4 
 
 2.67 
 
 4.42 
 
 0 
 
 7 
 
 14 
 
 10 
 
 6 
 
 SW 
 
 July 
 
 70.0 
 
 81.9 
 
 57 . 5 
 
 110 
 
 
 1911 
 
 2 
 
 
 31 
 
 1900 
 
 3 
 
 2.65 
 
 5.13 
 
 0 
 
 7 
 
 16 
 
 11 
 
 4 
 
 SW 
 
 August .... 
 
 67.5 
 
 79.7 
 
 55.4 
 
 100 
 
 
 1900 
 
 5 
 
 
 30 
 
 1894 
 
 23 
 
 2.. 57 
 
 3 . 53 
 
 0 
 
 6 
 
 15 
 
 11 
 
 5 
 
 SW 
 
 September 
 
 61.2 
 
 72.9 
 
 49.4 
 
 98 
 
 
 1898 
 
 3 
 
 
 19 
 
 1893 
 
 29 
 
 2.79 
 
 5.50 
 
 T 
 
 7 
 
 13 
 
 10 
 
 7 
 
 SW 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1896 
 
 27 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1897 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 October. . . 
 
 48.8 
 
 59.2 
 
 38.5 
 
 88 
 
 
 1898 
 
 3 
 
 
 10 
 
 1887 
 
 26 
 
 2.64 
 
 4.00 
 
 0.4 
 
 7 
 
 11 
 
 9 
 
 11 
 
 SW 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1900 
 
 5-6 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1901 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 November. 
 
 36.7 
 
 44.6 
 
 29.0 
 
 77 
 
 
 1888 
 
 1911 
 
 1 1 
 11 
 
 
 —6 
 
 1905 
 
 21 
 
 2.37 
 
 3.51 
 
 4.2 
 
 8 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 15 
 
 SW 
 
 December.. 
 
 26.9 
 
 33.8 
 
 20.1 
 
 66 
 
 
 1909 
 
 5 
 
 
 —18 
 
 1895 
 
 13 
 
 2.10 
 
 3.82 
 
 9.2 
 
 9 
 
 5 
 
 8 
 
 18 
 
 SW 
 
 Aver’ges or 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 extremes. . 
 
 45.8 
 
 55.8 
 
 35.8 
 
 110 
 
 
 1911 
 
 7-2 
 
 
 —36 
 
 1899 
 
 2-11 
 
 29.78 
 
 5.50 
 
 58.7 
 
 89 
 
 125 
 
 113 
 
 127 
 
 SW 
 
 GENERAL CLIMATIC DATA. 
 Southern Section. 
 
 Month. 
 
 Temperature — Degrees Fahrenheit. 
 
 Precipitation 
 in inches. 
 
 Number of days. 
 
 1 
 
 Mean. 
 
 Mean maximum. 
 
 Mean minimum. 
 
 Highest. 
 
 Year. 
 
 Day. 
 
 Lowest. 
 
 Year. 
 
 ci 
 
 Q 
 
 Average total. 
 
 Greatest in 24 
 hours. 
 
 Total snowfall 
 [unmelted. j 
 
 With .01, or more 
 of precipitation. 
 
 Chear. 
 
 Partly cloudy. 
 
 Cloudy. 
 
 Prevailing winds. 
 
 January. . . 
 
 23.7 
 
 31.1 
 
 16.4 
 
 70 
 
 1906 
 
 21 
 
 —26 
 
 1892 
 
 20 
 
 2.14 
 
 3 . 55 
 
 10.7 
 
 10 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 17 
 
 SW 
 
 February . . 
 
 22.3 
 
 30.6 
 
 14.2 
 
 66 
 
 1890 
 
 4 
 
 —43 
 
 1899 
 
 12 
 
 2.02 
 
 2.59 
 
 10.7 
 
 9 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 13 
 
 SW 
 
 March .... 
 
 33.1 
 
 42.1 
 
 24.6 
 
 89 
 
 1910 
 
 27 
 
 —14 
 
 1900 
 
 12 
 
 2.25 
 
 2.75 
 
 6.1 
 
 9 
 
 9 
 
 10 
 
 12 
 
 SW 
 
 April 
 
 45.6 
 
 56.3 
 
 35.3 
 
 94 
 
 1899 
 
 21, 28 
 
 3 
 
 1896 
 
 3 
 
 2.49 
 
 4.36 
 
 1.6 
 
 9 
 
 11 
 
 9 ' 
 
 10 
 
 NW 
 
 May 
 
 57.3 
 
 68.1 
 
 45.9 
 
 100 
 
 1895 
 
 31 
 
 19 
 
 1905 
 
 1 
 
 3.42 
 
 5.09 
 
 0.2 
 
 10 
 
 11 
 
 11 
 
 9 
 
 SW 
 
 June 
 
 67.1 
 
 74.2 
 
 55.7 
 
 101 
 
 1894 
 
 15, 23 
 
 29 
 
 1897 
 
 2 
 
 3.37 
 
 5 . 89 
 
 0 
 
 9 
 
 13 
 
 11 
 
 6 
 
 SW 
 
 July 
 
 71.4 
 
 82.7 
 
 59.5 
 
 107 
 
 1911 
 
 5 
 
 32 
 
 1898 
 
 11 
 
 2.96 
 
 4., 59 
 
 0 
 
 8 
 
 15 
 
 11 
 
 5 
 
 SW 
 
 August. . . . 
 
 69.2 
 
 80.7 
 
 57.5 
 
 104 
 
 1890 
 
 3 
 
 26 
 
 1887 
 
 24 
 
 2.62 
 
 4.96 
 
 0 
 
 7 
 
 15 
 
 11 ' 
 
 5 
 
 SW 
 
 September 
 
 62.5 
 
 73.7 
 
 51.3 
 
 100 
 
 1897 1 
 
 8, 9 
 13, 14 
 
 |2l{ 
 
 1893 
 
 1899 
 
 29 1 
 
 30 / 
 
 2.85 
 
 4.79 
 
 T 
 
 8 
 
 13 
 
 9 ! 
 
 8 
 
 SW 
 
 October . . . 
 
 49.9 
 
 60.0 
 
 39.8 
 
 94 
 
 1897 
 
 1 
 
 4 
 
 1906 
 
 11 
 
 2.43 
 
 5.30 
 
 0.3 
 
 8 
 
 12 
 
 9 , 
 
 10 
 
 SW 
 
 
 
 
 
 f 
 
 1895 
 
 5 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 November. 
 
 37.6 
 
 45.4 
 
 29.9 
 
 78 
 
 1901 
 
 2 
 
 —5 
 
 1891 
 
 30 
 
 2.72 
 
 2.78 
 
 4.1 
 
 9 
 
 7 
 
 9 : 
 
 14 
 
 SW 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 1909 
 
 1 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 December . 
 
 27.6 
 
 34.5 
 
 20.7 
 
 66 
 
 1895 
 
 19 
 
 —22 
 
 1909 
 
 29 
 
 2.31 
 
 3.66 
 
 9.7 
 
 10 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 17 
 
 SW 
 
 Averg’s or 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 extremes. . 
 
 47.3 
 
 56 . 6 
 
 37.6 
 
 107 
 
 1911 
 
 7-5 
 
 ^3 
 
 1899 
 
 2-12 
 
 31.58 
 
 5.89 
 
 43.4 
 
 106 
 
 125 
 
 114 
 
 126 
 
 SW 
 
M I (■ II I (' A N 
 
 
 Corner of an exhibit at a Michigan County Fair. Root crops never fail. 
 
64 
 
 MICHIGAN 
 
 MICIIK'.AN A(;R1CULTURE, its present status and wonderful 
 
 POSvSIBILITIES. 
 
 BY R. A. SHAW, 
 
 Dean of Agriculture, Alichigan Agricultural College. 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 The following data has been prepared with the view of furnishing information 
 in concise form, relating to the agriculture of Michigan, which is but one of five great 
 industries in the State. The data presented, except where otherwise indicated, has 
 been procured from the report of the Thirteenth Census of the United States for the 
 years 1909 and 1910. Comparatively few people have access to the Census reports, 
 which contain such a mass of detailed data, that their common use for reference by 
 individual citizens is not possible. The facts hereafter presented are for the purpose 
 of stimulating a more general and complete appreciation of Alichigan, particularly 
 her agricultural industry and the wonderful opportunities open for its development. 
 
 AGRICULTURE. 
 
 The agriculture of Alichigan is notable because of its enormous annual produc- 
 tion and the unsurpassed variety of its products. This industry might well be divided 
 
 into two groups, viz : Agriculture and 
 horticulture, because of the promin- 
 ence of the latter. The following 
 ratings in agricultural production for 
 the year 1909 have been computed 
 from the Thirteenth Census report, 
 viz: 
 
 For the total number of animals 
 on farms, Michigan occupied the fol- 
 lowing rating, viz: Horses 14th, all 
 cattle 15th, dairy cows 10th, swine 
 19th, sheep 8th, poultry 11th, and for 
 colonies of fiees 13th. In making this 
 comparison, it should not be forgotten 
 that the state is pitted against many, 
 the chief business of which is live 
 stock production, and that as later 
 figures will show, in most instances, the rating is raised when expressed in terms of 
 production and values rather than in numbers of animals. 
 
 Plowing on a big scale. 
 
M I (' II I ('. A N 
 
 (> , 
 
 'I'lu' lollowini^ list iiu'luilrs M ic■hiJ^^'ln's ('cfi'.'ils ;iii(l other held erop:^, inehidiiij^ 
 tlu' i':ilin^ of tlu' slati' amoiii.:; all othc'rs fi'oin the slaii(li)oint. ol crop \'ahi.'Lt,ions for 
 \-iz: ('oi'n 15lh. wlu'at 12th, oats hih, barley 11th, rye Is.t,, biiekwheaf Ard, 
 tlr\' inlible beans 1st, dry pi’as 2nd, ^rass si'eds 6fh, llower and vej^elable seed 6lh, 
 hay and forar,a' Sth, ])otatoc'S dth, (second in yield), vejj;(‘tables 7fh, suj'ar bc-ets drd, 
 chicory 1st, and mint IsL 'Phis lone list includes a wide ranj^c of products of hij^h 
 utilitarian value, prcsi'utine in eciu'ral a hi^h ralinj^. 
 
 Acuici’ia ruAi. lands. 
 
 In aililition to the very favorable ])lace Michij^an occupies rej^arding her industries 
 and aerieultural pnHluels, there is still ercat o])p()rtunitics for (lcvclo])incnt, for as 
 yet only 51.5 ])er cent of the total land area of Michigan is included in farms, with 
 enormous areas of good land remaining to be reclaimed. 
 
 Modern method of working a big farm in Michigan. 
 
 Michigan ranks twenty-first in land area among the 48 states of this country, 
 and eighth in population with 2,810,173 inhabitants. This means that the State 
 is only slightly above the average size for the entire number, and is only about one- 
 thirt^^-sixth larger than Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin or Florida; fifty-three times larger 
 than Rhode Island, and less than one-fourth the size of Texas. 
 
 The gross area of the State of Michigan is about 57,980 square miles, including 
 500 square miles of water surface. In comparison with this, the combined land areas 
 of England and Wales is 58,575 square miles, with a population of 36,075,269, these 
 figures forming the basis of comparison with a European country. 
 
 The approximate land area of Michigan is 36,787,000 acres, and of this amount 
 18,940,614 acres only are included in farms, while 12,832,078 acres are classified as 
 improved lands. Expressing these facts in the form of percentages, they appear as 
 follows, viz : Extent of land area in farms, 5 1.5 per cent : per cent of farm land improved, 
 67.8; and per cent of entire land area of the State improved for agricultural produc- 
 
 5 
 
66 
 
 M I C II I G A N 
 
 lion, 34.9. For purposes of comparison, Iowa, one of the richest and most exclusively 
 agricultural states in the country, includes a total of 35,575,040 acres, of which 95 per 
 cent is in farms, with 86 per cent of the farm land in the improved class. In the case 
 of Iowa, therefore, her lands are almost entirely being used for agricultural purposes; 
 she has little, but 5 per cent, of unoccupied land to reclaim and her efforts must be 
 directed toward the improvement of present acquisitions, which is not true of Michigan 
 with 48.5 per cent of her land area not yet included in farms. 
 
 
 Harvesting scene. 
 
 MICHIGAN UNIQUE AGRICULTURALLY. 
 
 The position of Michigan in relation to her sister states is really unique. Though 
 not a new state, in the sense of those to the westward, there still remains great possi- 
 bilities for agricultural development in the state, in addition to the improvement 
 of those portions long ago reclaimed. It would be easily possible for citizens of other 
 states, and perhaps some of our own, to assume, that because settlement began at 
 an early date in the state, that all the good land had already been occupied, and that 
 the portion not under cultivation is of little or no use for agricultural purposes. On 
 the contrary, there are no better opportunities offered anywhere today, for invest- 
 ments in farm lands, than in the state of Michigan where prices at present are much 
 lower than in adjacent states where similar soils and conditions exist. The 48.5 per 
 cent of Michigan land, not in farms, is not all sandy or rocky or swampy by any 
 means; there are enormous areas of good land not yet under cultivation. 
 
 CONDITIONS UNFAVORABLE TO EARLY DEVELOPMENT. 
 
 Among the many questions which arise upon perusal of the foregoing data, 
 probably the most general one is, why have the agricultural possibilities of Michigan 
 not been developed ere this, considering the early date at which the settlement of 
 the country began? As Michigan was originally a timbered area, the development 
 of its agriculture has been slow, which is also true of other states under like conditions. 
 Suitable conditions for crop production did not exist, they had to be produced slowly 
 and laboriously, at the sacrifice of an enormous amount of muscular energy. The 
 rich storehouse of soil fertility was firmly locked by the tenacious grip of the roots 
 
M I (' II I ('. A N 
 
 67 
 
 tif llu' oak, inaplr, hi'i'C'h, basswood, (‘Im, and pities, in fact., l)y <'i ;^reat variel.y of both 
 dt'eidnous and eonib'fons Inn'S. 'Plu'Si' obstriclcs had to be reniovetl before crop and 
 live stock proihudion could bcj^in. ( )n Hk* ollu'r hand, however, with the? extension 
 of nunu'rons jJiri'at railroad systcans into IIk' prairii* states to the westward, vast areas 
 wi'rc made a\-ailabli' to tlu' plow. 'I'hc sini])lc overturning^ of the pr.airie sod {)rf>iluccd 
 suitable conditions for tlu' production of corn, wheat, and oats in abundance, which, 
 eouibinetl with the ^reat wealth of natund grasses, established conditions for the cheap 
 production of caionuous tiuantitics of cereals, meat, milk, and wool, which at once became 
 competitive factors and which have for years pinched Michigan farmers with keenest 
 of competition, forcing a curtailment of agricultural dcveloyiment. d'his competition 
 has almost become a thing of the yiast, for the best of the western agricultural lands 
 have been put under cultivation, while the excessive surpluses of farm products are 
 no longer to be feared owing to the rapidity with which consumption is overtaking 
 production, esyiecially within the bounds of our own country. 
 
 Threshing scene. 
 
 MICHIGAN FARMS AND FARM PROPERTY. 
 
 The following data, procured from the last U. S. Census report, gives the values 
 of Michigan farms and farm property in 1910, viz.: 
 
 Land $615,258,348 56.5% 
 
 Buildings 285,879,951 26.2% 
 
 Implements and machinery 49,916,285 4.6% 
 
 Domestic animals, poultry and bees 137,803,795 12.7% 
 
 Total $1,088,858,379 
 
 Of the sum of $1,088,858,379, including the total agricultural valuations of the 
 state, 56.5 per cent represents land values, 26.2 per cent buildings, 12.7 per cent 
 domestic animals, poultry and bees and 4.6 per cent implements. 
 
 These enormous valuations, when compared with those of an almost purely agri- 
 cultural state, such as Iowa, are a trifle under one-third less. We must not however, 
 lose sight of the fact that only 51.5 per cent of jMichigan land is now in farms, and that 
 the state has four distinctive industries beside agriculture, the products of our manu- 
 factures alone being two and six-tenths times greater than those of Iowa for 1910. 
 
68 
 
 MICHIGAN 
 
 'riie increase in total value of Micliigan farm property during the past decade 
 of the ])resent century amounted to 57.7 per cent, a much greater increase than has 
 oecurred any decade since 1870. Even yet, however, Miehigan farms are changing 
 hands at figures from 20 to 35 per cent lower than for similar lands in neighboring 
 states to the south and west. The average value per acre of Miehigan farm land in 
 1910 is given as $32.48, eight eents above the average for the entire eountry. 
 
 Farm home m Northern Michigan. 
 
 NUMBER OF FARMS. 
 
 In 1910 there were 206,960 farms in Miehigan, varying in size from 3 acres to 
 1,000 acres and over. From 1850 to 1880 the number of farms increased at the rate 
 of 3,997 per year, while from this time on to 1900, the increase dropped to 2,463 per 
 year. During the ten years preceding 1910 the annual increase amounted to 370 
 farms only. The total aereage of farm land improved has risen but slightly since 
 1900. 
 
 AVERAGE ACREAGE PER FARM. 
 
 The average acreage of Michigan farms decreased from 128 acres in 1850, to 
 85.8 acres in 1890, inereasing by 1910 to 91.5 acres. The various sizes of Miehigan 
 
 farms are distributed approximately 
 as follows, viz.: 20 acres and under, 
 7.1 per cent; 20 to 49 acres nearly 25 
 per eent; 50 to 99 acres about 35 per 
 eent and 100 to 174 acres 25 per cent. 
 Fort}^ eighty and one hundred and 
 sixty acre tracts comprise five-sixths of 
 the farms of the state. The average 
 size for all farms in the United States 
 in 1910 was 138.1 acres. 
 
 Another Michigan farm. 
 
M I (' II I ('. A N 
 
 <>•) 
 
 M \IUS Ol' LAND Nor IN I AUMS. 
 
 'I'lu' -IS. 5 pt'r I'lMit of Mii-hi^Mii land not in farms exists IarK<‘ly nndcr the follovvinj^ 
 eonditions, \’i/-: (1) As land t'o\a'red with standinj.j linihers; (2) ent. over timh(;r hands; 
 (a) satul ari'as; and (1) lands as yi't nnrca'lainu'd by drainajf{'. 
 
 'I'he lands of jj;roni) ( 1) ai\' held in varying acreaj^es by privates parties, companies 
 and corporations, eontrt)llin^ lands in some instances by hnndreds of thousands of 
 acres. In most instances these larjj;e ort^anizations are interested primarily in timber 
 t)r mineral resonrees or both, and are interested in agricultural develo])mcnt only in 
 so far as tlu' tinal disposal of the land is concerned, d'he removal of the timf^er in 
 the eommereial ])roduelion of lumber is rapidly placing on the market lands with 
 gcMxl agricultural ])ossibilities. d'hese lands can be reclaimed more economically 
 and satisfactorily if the reclamation begins soon after the timber is first removed; 
 sueceeiling forest growths make the work more and more difficult as the years go by. 
 
 ('.roup (2) includes large areas of so-called cut-over lands in the state, comprising 
 areas of two distinct types, viz.: Those on which hardwoods grew and those pro- 
 ducing pines and other conifers. Stump lands upon which hardwood timber grew, 
 if promptly rough-burned and seeded to a mixture of grasses and legumes, and then 
 pastured for a few years until the stumps decay, may be rapidly and cheaply reclaimed 
 for grazing and crop growing. 
 
 A larger portion of the lands in the state, comprising group (vS) will undoubtedly 
 be utilized than is at present anticipated. For this purpose, fruit growing is being 
 resorted to where the conditions are peculiarly suitable. These very light lands, instead 
 of being fanned intensively in small areas, will some day undoubtedly be operated 
 in large tracts and utilized for grazing purposes, when the proper methods of handling, 
 seeding and improvement are solved, which they surely will be. The sand areas, 
 underlaid with a clay subsoil near the surface, give promise of usefulness for horticul- 
 tural and crop production, as well as for grazing purposes. Where the sand exists 
 as such without a clay subsoil, as heretofore referred to, the problem of agricultural 
 production is still an unsolved one. It is a great misfortune for Alichigan, that some 
 of her pure sand lands have been sold by unscrupulous speculators to city citizens, 
 who have been parted from their savings of years and left without experience or a 
 soil with which to recoup their lost savings. Experienced farmers could not make 
 a living on these types of soils by operating small areas only, and could not be induced 
 to buy them in this way. It is unfortunate that people, particularly those without 
 experience, will persist in buying poor lands without even seeing them or making 
 inquiry of responsible people. It is also equally unfortunate that the laws of our 
 country do not afford protection from the misrepresentations of the dishonest 
 speculator. 
 
 It may be said of group (4) that the possibilities of increasing agricultural pro- 
 duction, in Michigan, by drainage, are practically equal to the possibilities of increased 
 crop production in the average arid state of the West. The reclaimable, tillable 
 swamp and overflow acreage in Michigan, according to recent estimates of the Bureau 
 of Statistics, amounts to 4,400,000 acres. In respect to the swamp land area, Michi- 
 
70 
 
 MICHIGAN 
 
 gan ranks sixth among the states. In this one reclamation project alone, there are 
 great possibilities in the state. Cooperative effort has already greatly increased the 
 prodnctivcncss and value of low-lying farm lands by means of township and county 
 drainage systems. The recovery of Michigan low-lying lands, as far as the work has 
 progressed, demonstrates their unusual value for production because of the peculiari- 
 ties of their formation and composition, geographical location and peculiarly favorable 
 climatic conditions, resulting in large part from environmental influences, such as 
 contiguity to large bodies of water. Most of these lands, when reclaimed, produce 
 some kinds of farm crops and are adapted particularly to specialized crops of high 
 value, such as garden truck, root crops, peppermint, onions, celry, etc., thus increasing 
 the resources of the state by adding both to variety and wealth. 
 
 A prosperous farming section in the Upper Peninsula. 
 
 THE UPPER PENINSULA. 
 
 The land area of the Upper Peninsula includes 10,682,240 acres, a little less than 
 one-third of the entire state. In 1909 the land area in farms amounted to 913,784 
 acres of which 340,602 acres were improved. The number of farms at that time was 
 8,994. 
 
 The following interesting data was procured from a report of the Upper Penin- 
 sula Development Bureau dated October 15th, 1913, procured largely from super- 
 visors and in some instances township clerks. Their report covers the year beginning 
 May 1st, 1912. During this year the number of families locating on farms in fifteen 
 Upper Peninsula counties was 1,770; acres of land sold for farming purposes 132,360 
 
MICHIGAN 
 
 71 
 
 aiul timhi'T laiul sold aa7,21S acres. 'I'lu' follovvinj^ iVnil trees were |)latil,ed, vi/.: 
 AppU'S, SiS,S5‘>, elu'rries, l(),II2: and |)lnms, SJOd, At tliis lime there were 761 
 seliools, of whit'll 15 wert' or^s'itii/t'd in 1612; th(' total school atlendanee. was 52,618. 
 'I'his part of tlu' statt' inelndi'd 5S2 ehnrelu'S. l)nrin;.^ the year $586,816 was spent 
 on roads, iiu'lndinij; 1 , 566 '] tnilt'S of }j;rav('l and maead.'im. Stale roads inelndetl 65{ 
 mill's and county roads 567.', miles. 
 
 'I'he oiiport unities for agricultural development in the counties of the Ufiyier 
 IVniusula of Michigan are very great, indeed. In this area, according to the census rc- 
 l)ort, no etninty except Menominee has more than 20 ])cr cent of its land in farms, d'his 
 portion of Michigan will some day be dcvclo]iC(l into a veritable agricultural cm[)ire. 
 Contrary to a somewhat widespread opinion that this part of the state consists of an 
 alternation of rocky wastes and swamps, there is to be found there some of the finest 
 agricultural land in the state. It is a land of great possibilities for the production 
 of legumes, pasture, and root erops, and is, therefore, devStined to become a notable 
 dairy district. 
 
 ITT 
 
 Mortgage lifters. 
 
 MICHIGAN FARM MORTGAGES NOT BURDENSOME. 
 
 Of the total number of farms owned, in whole or in part by the operators in Michigan, 
 including a total of 172,310 in 1910, 51.8 per cent were found to be free from mortgage 
 and 48.2 per cent mortgaged. These percentages do not differ materially from those pre- 
 sented for some of the richest agricultural states in the country, in fact the percentage 
 of mortgaged farms is highest in two of the richest agricultural states in the country. 
 
72 
 
 MICHIGAN 
 
 Corn 13 feet 6 inches high 
 
M I (• II I C A \ 
 
 7 < 
 
 This field was full woods in 1907. In 1909 this oat crop was grown, yielding 93 bushels per acre. 
 
74 M I C II I G A N 
 
 The percentage of similarly owned farms mortgaged, in the United States in 1910 
 was 33.6 i)cr cent. h''arm mortgaging should not be regarded as an ill omen, pro- 
 viding the indebtedness has been incurred in a legitimate way from proper motives. 
 It is regrettable when resulting from disastrous crop failures, losses from disease, 
 fire, flood, etc., and is dc])lorable when resulting from poor management, questionable 
 speculation or dissipation. If, on the other hand, however, reasonable indebtedness 
 is incurred, as a result of land acquirement, equipment, improvement, etc., the act 
 is commcndal)le and stimulates the young man particularly to increased effort and 
 the employment of Ijetter business methods. Under these conditions the burden 
 of indebtedness should be carried with the head erect, looking the world square in the 
 face without any trace of shamefaced ness. The ratio of mortgage debt to farm value 
 in Michigan is not a burdensome one, being only 30.3 per cent in 1910. It is true 
 that the financial indebtedness may be one of two chief obstacles standing in the way 
 of agricultural improvement, unless the individual is at least an average business 
 man, favored with a series of years of normal crop production. The necessity for a 
 substantial, continuous yearly cash income, to meet interest payments and reduce 
 principal, may prevent the farmer from providing adequate equipment, introducing 
 live stock, establishing the be.st rotations and employing various other improved 
 systems, which he himself would like to do if he had the means. It is unfortunate 
 that recent miethods of land purchase, under the contract system, tempt men to assume 
 far too great financial obligations. 
 
 Rye six feet tall. 
 
M I (' II I ('. A N 
 
 7> 
 
 MICIlKiAN NOT A SrA'I'I-; Ol' KICN'II';!) KAKMS. 
 
 A wroii}^ iiupivssioii prevails with rc'^^anl to farm tenure in the state. 'I'he last 
 eensus report gives the following data, viz.: Per eent of farms operated by owners 
 and managers S4.2, tenants 15.8; of the tenant class 10.3 i)er cent operate on the 
 share and share-cash system, 5.5 per cent including cash and non-Sf)Ccined. In view 
 of the small percentage coming under the ])urcly tenant system the state is not 
 sulTering greatly from the evils usually accom])anying the practice. 
 
 MICHIGAN CROP PRODUCTION. 
 
 In 1000 according to the report of the Census Bureau, the total crop area of Mich- 
 igan was 8,108,578 acres, the products of which were valued at $162,005,000. Of 
 the 12,832,078 acres of 
 improved land in Mich- 
 igan during the year 63.0 
 per cent produced crops. 
 
 (The Census reports con- 
 tained ' the number of 
 trees, vines, etc., rather 
 than acreage for orchard 
 fruits, grapes, nuts, etc.) 
 
 During 1900 the total 
 area of cereal crops grown 
 in the state was 4, 415,620 acres, producing 121,862,638 bushels, valued at $70,544,250, 
 distributed among the various crops as follows, viz: 
 
 Nineteen acres produced 675 bushels of wheat. 
 
 Acres harvested. Yield bushels. Value. 
 
 Corn 1,580,506 52,006,842 $20,580,029 
 
 Oats 1,429,076 43,869,502 18,506,195 
 
 Wheat 802,137 16,025,791 16,586,868 
 
 Emmer or spelt 6,742 154,103 97,414 
 
 Barley 93,065 2,132,101 1,232,344 
 
 Buckwheat 75,909 958,119 594,748 
 
 Rye 419,020 5,814,394 3,944,616 
 
 Kafhr corn 84 1,786 1,136 
 
 The above figures are given in detail, being of general interest. With the ex- 
 ception of two of the crop products listed above, the valuations run into the hundreds 
 of thousands of dollars. 
 
76 
 
 M 1 C 1 1 I G A N 
 
 CORN, OATS, WHEAT, RYE AND BARLEY. 
 
 In order of total acreage and valuation, the leading cereal cro])S rank as follows 
 in order of importance, viz.: corn, oats,\[wheat, rye, and barley. Corn included 
 
 one-third of the total area of all cereal 
 crops for the year and two-fifths of 
 their value; it was reported on 161,901 
 farms and the corn growing area, 
 hitherto limited to the southern part 
 of the lower peninsula, has gradually 
 worked its way northward, even to 
 the shores of Lake Superior. The 
 acreage of wheat is about half that 
 of corn and includes 2,745 acres of 
 the spring variety and 61 acres of 
 the macaroni. Increased live stock 
 production, with the ensuing appli- 
 cation of stable manures and use of 
 suitable crop rotations, will extend, 
 rather than retard wheat production 
 in the state. Michigan is notable 
 for rye production, because of its 
 usefulness in procuring new seedings 
 of clover and other legumes and grasses, 
 and on account of its usefulness for 
 feed and bedding, and also because 
 of its adaptability to the lighter types 
 of soils. Suitable soil and climate 
 conditions would permit of marked 
 extension of the barley growing in- 
 dustry. Oats are reported by 70 per 
 cent of the farms of the state, wheat by 40 per cent, barley by 10 per cent, and rye 
 and beans by about 25 per cent. Southern Michigan soil and climate conditions have 
 proven well suited to buckwheat production; it has a promising future in the state. 
 
 OTHER GRAINS AND SEEDS. 
 
 The following statement includes the amounts of “Other grains and seeds,” 
 produced in Michigan in 1909, viz.: Dry edible beans, 5,282,511 bushels; dry peas, 
 1,162,403 bushels; clover seed, 138,289 bushels; timothy seed, 10,682 bushels; flax 
 seed, 2,943 bushels; millet seed, 2,226 bushels; peanuts, 1,111 bushels; alfalfa seed, 
 203 bushels; other tame grass seed 167 bushels; sunflower seed, 40 bushels; and gin- 
 seng seed valued at $562. The total value of the products of this class amounts 
 
M I ( ' 1 1 I ( ; A \ 
 
 / / 
 
 Red Clawson wheat raised on newly cleared land. Yield 51 bushels per acre. 
 
8 
 
 MICHIGAN 
 
 
 
 
 '^* ■' 'J v>*Aibi 
 
 •l®-»l'l!.lS%isS!<:S 
 
 
 
 i^v> 
 
 
 Abundant crops of hay are the rule in Michigan. 
 
M I (' II I ('. A N 
 
 V) 
 
 to $ 1 2,025, (>-2. cl whii'li 
 
 sum bi'.'ms aloiu' make up 
 $0,7 1 (),,•> 1 5, wliiU' tli'v p('as 
 woi'o worth $1 ,vV>7,-l50, 
 t'loN'i'f si'oil $0|(),.|SS aiul 
 timothy sooil $I0,1()(). 'I'hu 
 opportuuit ios for ('xlc'iuliu^ 
 the product iou of soc'd pt'as, 
 clover atul other legumes 
 within the state are ex- 
 co])tioually great, as the 
 future develo])ment of 
 northern lands will add 
 very materially to the products of the southerly portions. 
 
 The following table gives Alichigan’s rating in acreage, production and values: 
 
 Corn 
 
 Acreage. 
 
 20th 
 
 Production. 
 
 14th 
 
 Value. 
 
 15th 
 
 Wheat 
 
 13 
 
 12 
 
 12 
 
 Oats 
 
 10 
 
 9 
 
 9 
 
 Bariev 
 
 12 
 
 11 
 
 11 
 
 Rye 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 Buckwheat 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 Drv edible beans 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 Dry peas 
 
 4 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 Grass seeds 
 
 
 11 
 
 6 
 
 Hav and forage 
 
 13 
 
 13 
 
 8 
 
 Potatoes 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 4 
 
 Vegetables 
 
 7 
 
 
 7 
 
 Sugar beets 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 Chicorv 
 
 1 
 
 1 (pounds) 
 
 1 
 
 Alint 
 
 1 
 
 1 (pounds) 
 
 1 
 
 HAY, FORAGE, SOILING AND ROOT CROPS. 
 
 Hay, forage, soiling and root crops (not including sugar beets) are reported from 
 170,956 farms, including a total area of 2,715,301 acres, producing 3,632,939 tons, 
 valued at $36,040,087. Timothy and clover mixed included 1,625,229 acres, which 
 produced 1,991,618 tons, valued at $21,276,325. Timothy alone stood second, cover- 
 749,563 acres, with a product of 929,165 tons, valued at $10,499,364. Clover alone 
 was third in area with 168,180 acres, the product being 216,862 tons, worth $2,103,819. 
 The other crops in this class include alfalfa, millet, tame and wild grasses, soiling crops, 
 coarse forage and root crops. Since the date of this census the alfalfa area of the 
 state has been extended enormously invading every county of the state. Despite 
 
 First cutting of alfalfa. 
 
so Ml ('UK'; AN 
 
 the fact tliat Micliij^aii caaiditions arc ])rccniinently a(]a])tc(l, only 770 acres of root 
 cro])s, otlicr than beets for siij^ar manufacture, arc reported; thf)ugh corn ensilage 
 may be made to re])laee root crops in large ])art for stock feed, it still remains a fact 
 thc'y are not grown nor a])preeiatcd by the stockman as they should be. 
 
 I 
 
 Michigan ranks 1st in production of beans. 
 
 An attractive field of buckwheat. 
 
M I ( ' I I I ( ; A .\’ 
 
 ,1 
 
 Michigan ranks second (1913) among all the states in the production of Sugar beets. 
 C 
 
82 MICHIGAN 
 
 SUGAR BEETS. 
 
 In 1909 Michigan produced 78,779 acres of sugar beets, yielding 707,639 tons, 
 worth $4,014,123. It is reported that the sugar manufactured from this crop was 
 wortli $1 0,476,876. Michigan lias an enormous area of soil suited to sugar beet produc- 
 tions, distributed throughout all parts of the state which, combined with suitable 
 climatic conditions and possibilities of suital)le crop rotation, offers splendid oppor- 
 tunity for tlie extension of the industry. 
 
 SUNDRY CROPS. 
 
 The value of sundry crops in 1909 was $10,170,284, including Irish and sweet 
 potato, tobacco, hops, broom corn, ginseng root, chicory and peppermint oil. The potato 
 area alone comprised 365,483 acres, yielding 38,243,828 bushels, worth $9,913,778. 
 During this year the state grew 6,292 acres of peppermint, yielding 120,182 pounds of 
 oil, valued at $192,801 . Michigan produces about three-fifths of the world’s peppermint 
 oil supply and 88 per cent of the total output of this country. In 1909 this state 
 produced 1,584 acres of chicory, amounting to 19,204,000 pounds, valued at $70,020. 
 
 The order of Michigan’s staple farm crops according to their values for 1909 
 was as follows, viz.: (1) Hay and forage, $36,040,000; (2) corn, $29,580,029; (3) oats, 
 $18,506,195; (4) wheat, $16,586,868; (5) potatoes, $9,913,778; (6) beans, $9,716,315; 
 (7) sugar beets $4,014,123 and (8) rye, $3,944,616. 
 
 (At the left) Guernsey Cattle. (At the right) stock pens. 
 
 LIVE STOCK ON MICHIGAN FARMS. 
 
 In 1910 the values of domestic animals, poultry and bees on Michigan farms 
 was $137,803,795, an increase of 74.3 per cent over the preceding decade. The per- 
 centage of increase in values during this period for the different classes of animals, 
 was as follows,- viz. : For horses, 98.6 per cent; cattle, 43.8 per cent; swine, 112percent 
 and sheep and lambs, 34.7 per cent. Cattle valuations are only about four-sevenths of 
 those for horses and colts, but the two together represent 80 per cent of the total live 
 stock valuations, swine representing 7.1 per cent; sheep, 7 per cent and poultry, 4.1 
 per cent. Of the 206,960 farms in Michigan, 196,655 or 95 per cent report domestic 
 animals of some kind. 
 
M 1 (' II I ('. A N 
 
 
 1 1 ( )i<si';s. 
 
 Ill 1 1 0 I lu'fr wiM'i' <> !(),(•>>.' Ik ) rsi'S and (•( )It s on M ichi^an farms, valued al. $7 1 ,d 1 2,47 f. 
 Horses wi'ri' la'porli'd on per ecmt. of the farms in flu; stall*, hut only 15.6 per cent 
 re]>(Hied eolts foaled in 16()<), despite the faet that hor.ses are both scarce and liij^h 
 priced. 'Phere is no reason why a farm-work man*, projierly fed and handled, cannot 
 pnHluee a eood year's work and a stronj^, vi^^orous foal at the same time, d'he climate, 
 soil and eroji products of a larjj;e portion of Michij^an are eminently adapted to the 
 production of heavy horses, for which the market is so willing to pay a premium. 
 Miehi.yau is a purchaser rather than a seller of horses; in this rcsjiect .she is neglecting 
 a valuable opportunity. At this writing, though w'e have jirobably reached the crest 
 id' the high wave of horse ])riccs, the indications are that there will be good profits 
 in horse breeding for some time to come. Mules and mule colts are reported from 
 1,865 Michigan farms, to the number of 3,700, worth $493,825. 
 
 BEEF AND DAIRY CATTLE. 
 
 Cattle numPicring 1,497,823 head, valued at $40,500,318, are reported on 185,081 
 farms or 89.4 percent of all farms, though in some cases the stock consisted of one or more 
 cows only for the production of family 
 dairy supplies. At this time there 
 was a total of 767,083 dairy cows, 
 worth $29,312,252. During this year 
 the dairy products of Michigan farms, 
 not including milk and cream for 
 home use, was $26,727,538, rating the 
 state in eighth place. There has been 
 a constant increase in dairy cattle and 
 their products in the state during the 
 past decade and a half. Much im- 
 provement has resulted from improved 
 methods of breeding through the 
 greatly extended use of pedigreed sires, 
 including Holstein, Guernsey and Jer- Conditions are ideal for Live Stock and cattle raising 
 
 sey breeds. There never was such a m Michigan. 
 
 keen demand for dairy eattle as at present, with priees at an unprecedentedly high 
 level. Large areas of the unreelaimed portion of the northern part of the state are 
 eminently adapted for dairy production. 
 
 The number of cattle other than dairy cows amounted to 730,740 head, worth 
 $11,188,076. These animals were not all of the beef type, as the classification con- 
 tained both males and all young stock of both beef and dairy breeds under fifteen 
 months of age. The number of dairy cows given in a preceding paragraph, un- 
 doubtedly includes many grade animals largely of beef breeding, such as Shorthorn 
 grades which are at least average milk producers. The conditions confronting the 
 
84 
 
 M I C 1 1 I ('. A N 
 
 settler were not favorable to cattle j)roduction, for the country was heavily timbered 
 and the grasses growing within the forest shades and along the water courses and 
 swam])s were s])arse in the former case, and coarse and unnutritious in the latter. 
 The settler was all absorbed in land clearing for crop production and his live stock equip- 
 ment was meagre, consisting of one or more cows and a few pigs and chickens, to 
 ])rovide meat and milk to meet the family necessities. The pioneer’s sacrifices in 
 cro]) ])roduction made him loth to feed to stock, the products of a soil reclaimed at 
 so nmch personal sacrifice. Pedigreed beef cattle were introduced into Michigan 
 at early dates, Devons in 1840, Shorthorns, 184.p Galloways, 1854; Herefords, 1864 
 and Aberdeen Angus in 1884. Devons, though numerous at one time, have practically 
 
 Michigan has unlimited possibilities as a dairy state. 
 
 disappeared. The production of beef flourished in Michigan almost up to the 90’s, 
 when the abundant cheap productions of the West became a serious competitive 
 factor, from which the industry has not yet fully recovered. During the interval 
 which elapsed in the transition from beef to dairy production, during the past two 
 decades, there has occurred an indiscriminate admixture of the blood of both beef and 
 dairy breeds, which produced a lack of uniformity in conformation and function that 
 will require years of good breeding to overcome. The proper conditions prevail and 
 indications at present ])oint strongly to a revival of beef production in Michigan, 
 but on an entirely different basis from that originally followed. Alfalfa, clover, corn 
 and ensilage, feeds which have made the dairy of the state are equally well suited 
 
M I (■ II I ('. A N 
 
 l(M‘ iiu'al inakiiii’,. l)iiiiiij; I he past two (l(‘^•a(l(■s cducal ioiial iiilliicncc'. ol all cla .sc:, 
 rcachinc tiu' I'aiiiu'i'S, liavi' Ih'imi busily (M^ja^i-d stimulating' d.'ury |)rodu(:l ion, while 
 the heel' ip’owiuj; husiiu'ss lias ri'c'eived little or no attention. 'The opport.nnit.ics 
 for pi-odneini; hi'ef, mutton and wool hy ^razinj.^ on the cut, over Limber lands ,and 
 lighter soils of till' state, will open lar^e possibilities .as soon as the jiroper method : 
 of jiroeediire are j^enerally known. 
 
 SWlNIi. 
 
 Swine were reported on ()d.6 per cent of Michigan farms in 1910, to the number of 
 1,245, Sad head, valued at $9,755,042. It may be dinicnlt for this state, excejit for 
 the southerly tiers of eounties, to compete on an even Viasis with the corn belt in the 
 produet ion of lard type hogs. On the other hand, however, with our abundant sup^ilies 
 of dairy by-products, legumes, cereals, corn and root crops, we have conditions emi- 
 nently adapted to the production of the choicest bacon, an industry as yet scarcely 
 begun. 
 
 
 In subduing the ‘‘Wild Lands’’ great flocks of she^ give material assistance, and return a profit while doing it. 
 
 SHEEP. 
 
 Sheep and lambs in 1910 numbered 2,306,476 head, valued at $9,646,565, but were 
 reported from only 26.5 per cent of the farms of the state. Michigan has long been 
 famous as a sheep breeding and feeding state, occupying a place in the front rank 
 as regards numbers and values up to the time of the opening up of the western ranges. 
 
86 
 
 M I C I I I C} A N 
 
 As breeding ewes were rei)orted on 54,146 farms, the indicaticms point to the main- 
 tenance in fair degree of shec]) breeding operations in the older settled portions of 
 the state, despite the large use of western feeding stocks in our fattening pens. Con- 
 sidering the total area of the state available for grazing puri)Oses, and the fact that 
 the slice]) thrives on waste materials and by-])roducts, there is still before us great 
 possibility for the development of the sheep industry. 
 
 Poultry pays well. 
 
 POULTRY. 
 
 The number of farms in Michigan in 1910 reporting poultry, amounted to 91.5 per 
 cent, with total valuations of $5,610,958. This sum, representing values of stocks only 
 on farms, amounts to over half the total valuations of sheep or swine, and represents 
 a very valuable asset as the returns from the farm poultry flock are almost clear gain 
 throughout the year, procuring a living largely from what would othenA’ise be waste 
 material. The total number of fowls raised in the state in 1909, including cities, 
 towns, and villages, was 12,877,537 head, valued at $6,191,440. The egg production 
 for 1909 was 59.915,851 dozens, worth $11,734,799. There is no section of Michigan 
 where the right kind of poultry cannot be made to produce profitably. 
 
 BEES. 
 
 Michigan is notably a honey producing state. In 1910 bees were reported on 1 6,892 
 farms or 8.1 per cent of the whole number. There were 115,274 colonies, valued 
 
M 1 (' II I ('. A N 
 
 at S l l(), l() l. Ill Mic'hif^an pm- 
 
 ihu'i'il 2,5()7,S10 pouiuls ol honey and 
 2S,52l pouiuls of wax, with a total 
 wiluation of (rankinj^ second). 
 
 Aliehij^an’s tret', crop, wild plant and 
 weed j^rowth is of a eharaet('r cMiiinently 
 suited for honey production, furnish- 
 ing an ever changing source' of supply 
 throughout the season. 
 
 The following rating gives the rela- 
 tive position of Michigan among other 
 states regarding both numbers and valuations of Michigan liye stock: 
 
 
 Rahliing 
 
 
 
 numbers. 
 
 Value. 
 
 Horses on Michigan farms 
 
 14 
 
 13 
 
 Cattle 
 
 15 
 
 14 
 
 Dairy cows 
 
 10 
 
 9 
 
 Swine 
 
 19 
 
 13 
 
 Sheep 
 
 8 
 
 7 
 
 Poultrv 
 
 11 
 
 9 
 
 Bees 
 
 
 8 
 
 The amount and value of honey and wax produced rates the state first. 
 
 The following list includes the numbers and value of domestic animals within 
 the state, but not on Michigan farms and not included in the data heretofore given, 
 viz. : 
 
 
 Numbers. 
 
 Value. 
 
 Cattle 
 
 47,385 
 
 $1,745,203 
 
 Horses 
 
 100,238 
 
 13,660,280 
 
 Mules 
 
 700 
 
 105,514 
 
 Asses and Burros 
 
 74 
 
 6,001 
 
 Sheep 
 
 6,453 
 
 32,231 
 
 Goats 
 
 2,116 
 
 6,128 
 
 Swine 
 
 13,894 
 
 144,986 
 
 I3ces and fruit go well togetlier. 
 
 RURAL ORGANIZATION. 
 
 Probably no state in the Union is as extensively organized with rural cooperative 
 agencies as Michigan. The following figures are procured from the 1913 Alichigan 
 Farmer’s Institute Annual, viz.: 
 
 Michigan Farmer’s Clubs 1 18 membership 7,000 
 
 Michigan Granges 800 membership 60,000 
 
 Michigan Gleaner Arbors 1,015 membership 64,920 
 
 Total 
 
 131,920 
 
88 
 
 M I (' II I (1 A N 
 
 Everyone knows the quality and productiveness of Michigan potatoes. 
 
M I (' II I C A N 
 
 
 'I'lu' iiilUuMU'('S of all llu'St' ( )i'^Mtii/at i( )iis ai’c cxIciKlcd towards the iinprovcinciil, 
 ■of ri'li^ious, soc'ial and busiiu'ss c'oiulit ions, and tlu' (‘Heels of the ellorls exerted ,'ir(‘ 
 inarki'dly inanild'St in any c'onnnnnity wlu're one or more of these insLit tit, ions exists. 
 
 'I'ho I'xti'iision service of the Aijric'nlt ural ('olIej,^e is in.akinj,^ rapid advaiutcts in 
 rural orj^ani/.ation, now wi'll ri’prest'nt.c'd by cooiierat ive live sttjck brc'cders’ associ.a- 
 tions, eow-test associations, cxpcriiiKMit Union, alfalfa clubs, and juvenile corn and 
 vcj^ctablc i^rowin^ clubs. Thoui^h these elTorts may at first be regarded as individual, 
 they, nevertheless, form the pivotal point from which general intere.sts evolve, leading 
 to universal improvement of the state’s agricultural conditions. 
 
 MICHIGAN OPI’ORTUNITIKS HETTEK THAN WESTERN. 
 
 Michigan is a good state in which to live comfortably. There may be newer 
 countries in which money might be made more rapidly for a time, but wTen it comes 
 to the matter of comfortable living, the wade range of natural resources, industries 
 and possibilities for greatly varied production, makes it possible for the farmer in 
 Michigan to provide as many, if not more, of the comforts and luxuries of life, than 
 any state in the Union. The mere acquirement of wealth alone is a sordid and self- 
 ish ambition. The desire to establish good homes, surrounded by comfortable living, 
 enjoyed by strong, healthy, intelligent families, is the most worthy purpose in life. 
 The American West has lured many young men away from the Michigan farm, to 
 aid in the development of a country of cheap lands, and become producers of farm 
 products in enormous quantity at low cost, appearing on markets in competition wuth 
 the Michigan farmer father, increasing in years and declining in strength, while con- 
 fronted by a labor situation making our sturdiest manhood stagger. As the most 
 productive lands of the west have been developed, the very best opportunities for the 
 young man are to be found within our owm state. 
 
 STIMULUS TO AGRICULTURE GENERAL. 
 
 The conditions which have developed in Michigan make it somewhat more diffi- 
 cult to stimulate agricultural development through educational effort than in a purely 
 agricultural state, because of our great diversity of industries and production in agri- 
 culture. Our citizens are not all interested in the same things, but in many things, 
 thus state wide campaigns for agricultural betterment do not attract as in the case 
 of a state where every square yard of land is capable of supporting a hill of corn. 
 
 During the past few years, a world-wide movement has developed, tending to 
 stimulate agricultural production. It is a theme wffiich has found a place in the mes- 
 sages and addresses of the country’s presidents and of the state’s governors, as w^ell. 
 It has been subject to discussion by the greatest railroad magnates, financiers and 
 statesmen. The United States government has supplemented state aid for agri- 
 cultural betterment with generous appropriations, and private organizations con- 
 trolling much wealth have given material assistance. The agricultural journals are 
 no longer alone in their efforts, for agriculture has become a favored subject wfith 
 
90 
 
 MICHIGAN 
 
 tlic country-town weekly newspai)er, the city daily, the metropolitan press, and the 
 most noted weekly and monthly periodicals of the country. 
 
 In view of the great stimulus favoring the improvement and extension of agri- 
 culture, cou]:)led with the fact that people have long been accustomed to look to the 
 West, which is beginning to approach its limitations, it seems desirable for us to study 
 the great possi])ilities of the home state of Michigan. It is very doubtful whether 
 the average citizen has an adequate idea of the present status and future possibilities 
 of Michigan agriculture. 
 
 A commercial cherry orchard. 
 
M I (' II I ('. A N 
 
 'H 
 
 IK )R'i'i('in/ruki<: in mk'iiican. 
 
 uv II. |. i‘:nsiA( ic, 
 
 Professor of 1 lorficullurc', Mic'hijjjan Aj^riciilt.nral ('ollej^e. 
 
 Miehij^aa is ])roeiiiitK'ntly a horticultural state. Its niany regions of .soil a(lai)tecl 
 to fruit i)laul jinHluetion and the ])roxiuuty of the.se regions to lar^e bodies of water 
 and short shi])pin^ distances to some of the larj.^est and best markets in the world, 
 attest to its horticultural im])ortance. 
 
 APPLES. 
 
 Apples and peaches are the most important commercial fruit crops. The 
 opportunities for the culture of both of these crops are very attractive. In a great 
 many parts of the southern portion 
 of the state are to be found old apple 
 orchards of various size that offer splen- 
 did opportunities for men wdth a limited 
 capital to rent or secure a share basis 
 for a series of years and by applying 
 the modem scientific care and attention, 
 a profit may be realized in a year or 
 tw'O when it would require ten, fifteen 
 or eighteen years to achieve if one 
 had to plant out the trees and wait 
 for them to bear. Frequently this busi- 
 ness of renting orchards is carried on 
 
 while young orchards are being estab- Apple orchard forty-two years old. and st.ll vigorous. 
 
 lished. In Bulletin 237 of the Michigan 
 
 Experiment Station may be found the facts and figures on the results that have actually 
 been secured in this work of rejuvenating or improving old orchards. 
 
 PEACHES. 
 
 Peach growing has, for a great many years, been a very important fruit industry, 
 especially in the western part of the state bordering upon Lake Michigan. The busi- 
 ness now requires more skill and ability than it did in the “Bonanza” days, but with 
 intelligent work and good judgment a peach orchard is an excellent piece of farm 
 property. In Special Bulletin 63 of the Michigan Experiment Station is to be found 
 the story of the life history and profit of a young peach orchard that any one who 
 contemplates peach growing should peruse wdth great care. The details as to start- 
 ing the orchard and selecting a site are also given in this bulletin. 
 
*)2 
 
 M I C 11 I i) A N 
 
 A fifteen-year-old apple orchard worth $1,500 an acre. 
 
 Fruit raising and summer resorting make an ideal combination 
 
M I (' II I.C, A N 
 
 'M 
 
 t'lu'fi'v r;tisiiij; is ;i n’im'v l.'irj^c and im|)(irlaiil Iniil iiuhr.lry in ccrl.'iin 
 
 jKitis of llu' slatt', notably in llu* ( ii'and 'Pravcrso rc^'ion. \'cry larj^c orchard , arc 
 hnnul in that ri'j^ion as widl as for sonic distaiu'c south even as lar .as ( )ccana ('onnty. 
 \’cry Iai');t' ori'hards of both swcc't and sour clu'rrics arc tlourisliin^; .also in certain fiurt.; 
 of the I’ppi'r I’cMiinsula larjj;e orc'hards have' recently bt'en put out. More of the varieties 
 e)f senir I'lu'rrii's than swe'ct elu'rrie'S have bc'c'u started and the deiuaud for sour eherries 
 from eauuiu^ faetories seem to be inexhaustible. Rc'ceut iiKiuirics of some of these 
 factories iiulieate that they eau use a jj;reat many more in the future, d'he sweet 
 cherries ilemaud extra care and skill and the best shipjiiug facilities to handle them 
 pro]K'rly and their culture should not be attem])ted by anyone until they hjrve had 
 some experience in fruit growing. 
 
 A view of a cherry orchard of forty acres. 
 
 PEARS AND PLUMS. 
 
 Pears and plums are grown success- 
 fully in all the important fruit regions of 
 the state. Some very old pear trees are 
 located in the eastern part of the state. 
 The culture of the pear demands a fairly 
 strong, heavy soil whereas peaches and 
 sour cherries will flourish on the lighter 
 soils and plum and prune culture should 
 be confined to regions where these crops 
 can be transported very quickly after 
 picking. 
 
 Bartlett pear orchard. 
 
94 M I C -ri I G A N 
 
 SMALL FRUITS. 
 
 The profits from small fruits are fully equal to those from tree fruits, but as with 
 all fruits, general care and culture is the most important feature that determines 
 the profits of all small fruits and marketing is, undoubtedly, next in importance. The 
 small fruit culture of Michigan has developed so rapidly in the last few years that 
 the last United vStates Census shows Michigan as ranking 3rd, with all other states 
 in the matter of small fruit acreage and 2nd, in value of small fruit products. 
 
 STRAWBERRIES. 
 
 The strawberry is the most im- 
 portant of the small fruits and by many 
 considered the choicest of all small 
 fruits. The strawberry can be grown 
 upon almost any soil that is suitable 
 for corn and potatoes after proper prep- 
 aration. 
 
 This strawberry patch is making the grower rich. 
 
 Gooseberry patch. The yield under good care is phenomenal. 
 
 GOOSEBERRIES. 
 
 The second earliest fruit ready for market is the gooseberry. Its market is more 
 limited than that of the strawberry but it is not nearly as perishable and can be picked 
 
M I (' II I ('. A N 
 
 '>.S 
 
 aiul usi'd al various ‘>1 maturity. More of this fruit is l»cin^' couimcrf iali/cd 
 
 auil pri'sorx'c'il c\’i'rv yi'ar. 'I'hr profits arc* _yoo(l sometimes heiuj^ as hij^li as several 
 luuulred dollars pi'r aens 
 
 ( l U KAN IS. 
 
 Like the Gooseberry, the eurraut doc'S not rt'ciuire the care that the strawberry 
 tloes aud fmds (piiek and rc'ady marked.. 
 
 Kia) KASIMUCRKIKS. 
 
 Raspberries are an im])ortant source 
 of pn)tU te> the small fruit grower — 
 the demand is always strong for good 
 fruit used in the fresh state or for can- 
 ning aiul ])reserving. 
 
 Otlier varieties of small fruit that 
 can be raised iri Michigan at a ])rofit 
 are Black Raspberries, Pur|:»lc Rasp- 
 berries and the Blackberry, which is 
 undoubtedly the most ])rofitable of the 
 brambles — also the dewberry which is 
 too often overlooked by the small fruit 
 grower. 
 
 CUCUMBERS. 
 
 The cucumber crop is one of far more importance in the state of Michigan than 
 it is generally supposed. Some of the largest preserving companies have many salting 
 stations within the state and the culture of the cucumber affords a very attractive 
 field for the beginner in fruit growing. The crop is known as a quick cash crop for 
 the reason that by mid-summer the returns are available and thus money is readily 
 realized from this crop. The culture of cucumbers for pickles does not require ex- 
 pensive outlay for tools and it is a crop that will be very greatly increased in the near 
 future. The Michigan Experiment Station has a good circular No. 19, upon the 
 culture of this crop. 
 
 CELERY. 
 
 The celery crop in certain regions of 
 the state is world known, notably the 
 Kalamazoo region. This crop is parti- 
 cular about the kind of soil but it does 
 not require expensive tools and one will 
 be able to start in with the culture of this 
 vegetable without very much capital. 
 
 Full directions are given in ^Michigan 
 Experiment Station Special Bulletin No. 
 
 60. 
 
 Celery. 
 
96 
 
 M 1 C 11 I G A N 
 
 ONION CROP. 
 
 ^J'he onion cro]) offers a way to utilize a great deal of the muck lands of Michigan 
 which now can be ])urchased for a reasonable price and after lieing put in condition 
 it is demonstrated that they will jiroduce good crops of onions, and will increase in 
 value very rapidly. The expense of growing the crop is not a great one and it will 
 afford work for all of the family. Information is available in Michigan Experiment 
 Station Special Bulletin No. 67. 
 
 POTATOES. 
 
 The potato is grown in nearly every part of the state and with splendid success. 
 Very definite steps have been taken to increase the quality of the product and to 
 increase the yield by better methods of culture, fertilizers, preventing insects and 
 diseases and superior seed. It is one of the standard crops of the state. Detailed 
 information may be had in Michigan Experiment Station Circular No. 15. 
 
 Michigan ranks first in potatoes. 
 
 SPECIAL INFORMATION OBTAINABLE. 
 
 No settler in the state who is considering the starting of any orchard should do 
 so until he has read and studied very carefully the Michigan Experiment Station 
 Bulletin “Suggestions on Planting Orchards,” No. 262. This tells in a very plain 
 and concise- way the requirements for soil and site of the orchard and list of varieties 
 that are known to do well in this state is suggested. Similar information for the 
 culture of small fruits is given in Sj^ecial Bulletin No. 59. From time to time liulletins 
 are issued on spraying and cultivation of horticultural crops and other topics of interest 
 to fruit growlers. All of these bulletins are available and will be gladly sent to anyone 
 who applies for them. 
 
M I ( ' 1 1 I ( ; A N 
 
 07 
 
 IlOK IK I III UAL l‘l<;()|)l ( I ION. 
 
 'I'lu' horl irull iiral iiitrri'sts of Michi^K'in have lonj.^ j.(ivcn llic slate a posilif)!) 
 national importaiu'e in tiu'si' liiu'S of prodmi ion. In 1010 Mic-hij^an ranked eleventdi 
 in total nninlxM' of frnil tri'es of Ix'arin^ aj.,K', the mnnher heinj' 12,S42,X27; the jirod- 
 net.s ot 1000 ainonnti'd to 15,220,101 hnsluds, ratinj.^ third, with a total valuation for 
 tlu' N'c'ar of S*hd20,S12, akso ralinjj; third in this respect. 
 
 Apples 
 
 1 Vaehes 
 
 Pears 
 
 Plums 
 
 C 'berries 
 
 ('■rapes (vines) 
 
 d'rees of bearinjj; 
 
 aj;e, 1010. 
 
 7.554.545 
 
 2.007.545 
 1,156,151 
 
 464,017 
 
 760,185 
 
 11,015,576 
 
 Production, 
 
 bu.shels. 
 
 12,552,206 
 
 1,686,586 
 
 666,025 
 
 181,188 
 
 558,045 
 
 120,605,007 lbs. 
 
 Value. 
 
 $5,060,080 
 
 1,700,550 
 
 555,771 
 
 205,765 
 
 500,820 
 
 1,551,057 
 
 Raspberries that produced 300 cases to the acre. 
 
 Michigan’s horticultural rating. 
 
 The following data illustrates Michigan’s rating among all other states in the 
 country from the standpoint of numbers of bearing trees in 1910 and production and 
 values for 1909: 
 
 7 
 
98 
 
 MICHIGAN 
 
 All orchard fruits 
 
 No. of bearing 
 trees. 
 
 10 
 
 Production, 
 
 bushels. 
 
 3 
 
 Value 
 
 3 
 
 A])ples 
 
 7 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 Peaches 
 
 11 
 
 5 
 
 4 
 
 1 ^ears 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 Plums 
 
 15 
 
 9 
 
 8 
 
 Cherries 
 
 6 
 
 4 
 
 4 
 
 ( irapes (vines) 
 
 3 
 
 3 lbs. 
 
 3 
 
 Small fruits 
 
 3 (acreage) 
 
 4 qts. 
 
 2 
 
 h''lowcrs and plants . . . 
 
 8 (acreage) 
 
 
 9 
 
 Nursery products 
 
 12 
 
 
 13 
 
 Forest products from farms 
 
 
 10 
 
 The crop and horticultural products, heretofore enumerated, are wonderful in 
 their variety and aggregate values, when viewed from the standpoint of a single state. 
 The possibilities of ultimate production in the case of many of these crops has scarcely 
 begun. The 51.5% of land now in Michigan farms can be stimulated to greater pro- 
 duction by improving the fertility of the land still further, introducing live stock 
 and by the more general use of suitable rotations, including legumes. 
 
 Strawberries that made returns of over $700 per acre. 
 
M I (' II I (', A N 
 
 
 M I ( ' 1 1 1 ( '. A N ’S M A N U I<\\( 'T U K I N ( '. I N 1 ) I ' S'P k I IvS. 
 
 No staU' in llu' Union olTors greater ol^f^orliiHilics to the niannfactnrcr than 
 Michigan. 'Tlu' hisloi-y of the j^rowlh of (he inannfactnrin^ industries of the 
 state is proof eonelnsive of the truth of this I'lssertion. While the growth of 
 inanufaetnrins^ imlnstries has been closely rebated to the devcloj)mcnt of the sj)lendid 
 transportation facilities of the state, yet the rapid advance in manufacturers dates 
 back as far as 1825 when the birie C'anal, affording connection with the eastern sea- 
 board, was opened. The transportation facilities of the state at present, both by 
 rail and by water arc excellent. With over nine thousand miles of railroad, Alichigan 
 is sixth state in the Union in its length of trackage. The state borders on four of 
 the Ureat Lakes, which furnish splendid intrastate and interstate communication 
 by water. In addition to these splendid rail and water transportation facilities, the 
 state is most fortunately located with reference to the great markets of the country. 
 
 Street scene in Michigan’s largest city. 
 
 Successful manufacturing industries are the builders of great cities which in turn afford home markets for the products of the farm. 
 
 It should be noted that Michigan is located but a short distance from the center of 
 population of the country, thereby giving the state remarkable market advantages. 
 New York, Buffalo and in fact the entire East is a ready and accessible market for 
 Aliehigan products. Cleveland, Indianapolis, St. Louis and the other cities of the 
 south are within easy reaeh. Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul, Minneapolis and other 
 eities of the West, likewise receive their portion of made in Michigan goods. There 
 are, perhaps, two other features that places Michigan in the fore ranks as a 
 manufacturing state. One is the abundance of water-power, afforded by the many 
 rivers and streams, and seeond, the varied mamffacturing industries within its borders. 
 
 IMPORTANCE AND GROWTH OF MANUFACTURES. 
 
 Llichigan has for many years been one of the leading manufacturing states. In 
 1849 the value of its manufactured products amounted to $11,169,000; by 1869 it had 
 increased to $118,395,000; and in 1909 it amounted to $685,109,000. The early 
 
Michigan ranks first in the 
 manufacture of automobiles. 
 
 The last census (,l9IOl showed 
 Michigan producing 38.8% of all 
 automobiles manufactured in the 
 United States. 
 
 v,v 1 
 
102 
 
 MICHIGAN 
 
 development of manufaetiires in the state was due largely to the utilization of its 
 extensive forests, while the growing markets afforded by the rapidly developing West, 
 the advantageous situation of the state with respeet to the markets of both the East 
 and the West, and its important agricultural and mineral resources have also been 
 influential factors in its later progress. 
 
 During 1849 an average of 9,344 wage earners, representing 2.3 per cent of the total 
 population of the state, were employed in manufactures, while in 1909 an average of 
 
 231,499 wage earners, or 8.2 per cent of the total 
 population, were so engaged. During this pe- 
 riod the gross value of manufactured products 
 per capita of the total population of the state 
 increased from $28 to $244. The proportion 
 which the manufactures of the state repre- 
 sented of the total value of the products of 
 manufacturing industries in the United States 
 increased from 1.1 per cent in 1849 to 2.8 per 
 cent in 1899 and 3.3 per cent in 1909. The 
 growing industrial importance of Michigan is 
 indicated by the fact that in the value of 
 Street scene m Michigan s second largest city. manufactured products it has advauccd froui 
 
 seventeenth place among the states of the Union in 1849 to ninth in 1899, eighth in 
 1904, and seventh in 1909. 
 
 In 1909 the state of Michigan had 9,159 manufacturing establishments, which gave 
 employment to an average of 271,07 1 persons during the year and paid out $153,838,000 
 in salaries, and wages. Of the persons employed, 231,499 were wage earners. These 
 establishments turned out products to the value of $685,109,000, to produce which 
 materials costing $368,612,000 were utilized. The value added by manufacture was 
 thus $316,497,000, which figure best represents the net wealth created by manufactur- 
 ing operations during the year. 
 
 MANUFACTURES. 
 
 Five Leading Industries of Michigan as Measured by Value of Products. 1909. 
 
 A large stove factory. 
 
M 1 (' II 1 ('. A N 
 
 KM 
 
 INUUS'lltllOH. 
 
 Valiir of 
 
 lU'OllllctH. 
 
 Tur (KMit (if tdtul for all 
 
 111 thd Htaliu 
 
 Tor of total for ttm 
 
 liicliiHtry lo till, linllf'l Htaloa 
 
 Vallio of 
 prodiiclH. 
 
 Wano cariiorH 
 aviTatjo 
 
 iminliiT. 
 
 Vallio of 
 proiliict.H 
 
 WiiKo oarriora. 
 avi'.riKfo 
 iiiiiril.or. 
 
 Autoiilolilli'.H, liu'lililliiK uikI imiiIh 
 
 Sim.tl.'ll.l.'il 
 
 II 1 
 
 1 1 
 
 0 
 
 WH 
 
 .'t;t r. 
 
 I.vuutior luul rinilx'r 
 
 111.. 'll:!,. '■.mi 
 
 11.(1 
 
 ir, 
 
 t 
 
 r» . li 
 
 r,. t 
 
 l'\iuiulrv A Miu'liliu' sluip 
 
 
 tl . (> 
 
 0 
 
 ■1 
 
 :t.7 
 
 -t 1 
 
 l''loiir-nilU >1 (i list -mill 
 
 IM.Kmi.SOH 
 
 ry. 1 
 
 n 
 
 7 
 
 :t.'i 
 
 :< , '.f 
 
 l''uriiltiiro lU'frlKt'i'ators ... 
 
 •.•K.dU.liSl 
 
 ■l.'J 
 
 * 
 
 2 
 
 1 1 . 1 ) 
 
 12 'J 
 
 A nest of furniture factories. 
 
 AUTOMOBILES. 
 
 The manufacture of automobiles in Michigan on any considerable scale com- 
 menced in Detroit less than a decade ago, although it had been carried on to a limited 
 extent prior to that time. The industry developed rapidly, and by 1904, Michigan 
 had become the leading state in the manufacture of automobiles, which position it 
 held in 1909. In 1904 Michigan contributed 26.6 per cent of the total value of products 
 for this industry for the country as a whole, while in 1909 the proposition had increased 
 to 38.8 per cent. The total value of products for this industry in Michigan in 1909 
 was $96,651,000, which was more than twelve times the amount reported for 1904, 
 while the value added by manufacture in 1909 was over nine times that reported in 
 1904. Of the total value of manufactured products and value added by manufacture 
 for the state in 1909, the automobile industry contributed 14.1 per cent and 13.5 per 
 cent, respectively while of the total increase of $255,989,000 in value of products for 
 all manufacturing industries in the state from 1904 to 1909, $88,654,000, or over one- 
 third, was reported for this one industry. 
 
 LUMBER AND TIMBER PRODUCTS. 
 
 This industry in ^Michigan dates from 1834, when the first steam sawmill was 
 built in the Saginaw Valley. Its growth thereafter was very rapid, for in 1849 there 
 were 558 establishments reported, which employed an average of 2,730 wage earners 
 and turned out products valued at $2,464,000. The industry was at first concen- 
 trated along the valleys of the Grand, Saginaw, and Muskegon Rivers and their tribu- 
 taries, and at such lake ports as Alpena, Manistee, Ludington, Cheboygan and Grand 
 Haven. Until the rise of the automobile industry, this was the most important in- 
 
104 
 
 M I C 1 1 I Cl A N 
 
 (liistry in tlie state as measured by value of ])rodiicts, and it still eontinues to lead 
 all others in number of establishments, average numlier of wage earners, and amount 
 l)aid in wages. The su])ply of timber in the state has been deelining steadily, and 
 the value of i)roducts showed a decrease both from 1889 to 1899 and from 1899 to 1904. 
 Since 1904, however, the industry has shown a slight increase in this respect. In 
 1909 the total value of products reported for this industry was $61,514,000 and it 
 gave employnient to an average of 35,627 wage earners during the year. Until now 
 the cut consisted very largely of white pine, but the depletion of the great white pine 
 forests, which made Michigan at one time the foremost lumber state, has necessitated 
 the utilization of other woods, of which the state has a considerable supply. In 1909 
 the combined output of softwood formed only a little over one-half of the total cut. 
 Hemlock contributed nearly two-thirds and white pine only about one-fourth of the 
 softwood while small quantities of spruce, cedar, tamarack, and balsam fir were also 
 reported. Maple was by far the most important of the hardwoods, while beech, 
 basswood, birch, elm, and oak constituted most of the remainder. The state still ranks 
 first in rnakle and beech. 
 
 FOUNDRY AND MACHINE-SHOP PRODUCTS. 
 
 In addition to the general class of foundries and machine shops, this industry 
 also includes establishments which manufactures bells, gas machines and meters, 
 hardware, plumbers’ supplies, steam fittings, and structural iron-work. The industry 
 was really of greater importance in the state than is indicated by the statistics, as 
 some machine shops manufactured a distinctive product and were assigned to other 
 classifications. A number of the most important establishments were engaged in 
 the manufacture of cast-iron radiators and boilers for steam cranes and pile drivers. 
 The gross value of products increased from $25,430,000 in 1899 to $45,399,000 in 1909, 
 or 78.5 per cent for the decade. 
 
 FOOD AND KINDRED PRODUCTS. 
 
 This group of industries in Michigan includes seven industries, namely: flour 
 mills and grist mills; the butter, cheese, and condensed milk industry; slaughtering 
 and meat packing; the manufacture of food preparations; bakeries; the beet sugar 
 industry; and canning and preserving. The classification, “Food preparations,” 
 includes the statistics for the factories which manufacture fancy cereals, mincemeat 
 canned soups, and similar preparations as chief products. The canning and preserv- 
 ing industry embraces all establishments in which fruit, vegetables, and fish are canned 
 or preserved, as well as those which prepare pickles, preserves, and sauces. In 1909 
 there were 1,980 establishments reported for these seven industries, which employed 
 10,978 wage earners and manufactured products valued at $100,605,000, adding 
 $26,480,000 to the cost of materials by the process of manufacture. This group of 
 industries, however, is of much less importance relatively when measured by value 
 added by manufacture or average number of wage earners than when measured by 
 value of products, owing principally to the comparatively simple processes involved 
 
iM I (' II 1 C. A N 
 
 10 ' 
 
 in llu' iu;mul;ii't uri' ol lloui’ mill mid ^I'isl mill pn xlncl s, mid duller, clieesc mid eon- 
 diMisi'd milk, mid in slmij^lit eriiip^ mid iik-;iI imekiiipn IC.'icIi of lliese seven indir'.t.rie:. 
 showed a noteworthy iiu'rease in value of jirodnels dnrin}^ the decade, Ihe lar^^cil 
 piM'eentai^e of )j[ain lu'inpf that of 551 in tiu' heel-sn^ar industry and the smalles t that 
 of (il.l in the llonr-niill and ei-isL-niill industry. 
 
 (\1icl\i){aii nink.s hccoikI anions all .states in iiia tin fact tire of food protlucts.) 
 
 Two large food factories 
 in Michigan. 
 
 FURNITURE AND REFRIGERATORS. 
 
 Michigan was the second, state in the Union in the manufacture of furniture and 
 refrigerators in 1909, and first in the manufacture of refrigerators alone. Of the 
 202 establishments included in this classification in 1909, only 10 were primarily en- 
 gaged in the manufacture of refrigerators, the value of the output of these establish- 
 ments constituting about one-twelfth of the total value of products reported for the 
 industry. The importance of the industry in the state is no doubt due largely to 
 the abundant available supply of pine and hardwood suitable for these purposes. 
 While the supply of such woods in the state has diminished in late years, the quantity 
 of high grade lumber imported has increased largely, and the industry in the state 
 has maintained the impetus afforded by its early natural advantages and continued 
 to prosper, as indicated by the fact that the average number of wage earners employed 
 increased from 12,833 to 16,610, or 29.4 per cent, and the value of the products from 
 $16,040,000 to $28,642,000 or 78.6 per cent, during the decade. The value of the 
 
106 
 
 MICHIGAN 
 
 products of the furniture and refrigerator industry in Michigan equaled nearly 12 
 per cent of the total value for the industry in the entire United States. 
 
 A furniture exposition building. 
 
 Michigan ranks second among all states in manufacture of furniture. 
 
 MANUFACTURES. • 
 
 Industries in which Michigan Ranked First — Second — Third, 
 as measured by value of products. 1909. 
 
 FIRST. 
 
 Industry. 
 
 SECOND. 
 
 Industry. 
 
 0) rfs 
 
 THIRD. 
 
 Industry. 
 
 Automobiles, including bodies 
 
 ' ’ and parts 
 
 Charcoal 
 
 Oil. essential 
 
 Salt 
 
 Show’cases 
 
 Wheelbarrows 
 
 Basket, ratan and willow ware. . 
 38.8 Billiard tables and materials. . . 
 29.6 Ca.sh registers and calculating 
 
 28.0 machines 
 
 32.2 Food preparations 
 
 26.0 Furniture and refrigerators 
 
 (1) Graphite and Graphite refining 
 
 Grindstones 
 
 Patent medicines and compounds 
 and druggists’ preparations. . . 
 
 Vinegar and cider 
 
 Wall plaster 
 
 Wirework, including wire rope 
 and cable 
 
 8.4 
 
 ( 1 ) 
 
 ( 1 ) 
 
 9.2 
 
 11.9 
 
 ( 1 ) 
 
 ( 1 ) 
 
 9.5 
 
 11.5 
 
 11.1 
 
 Beet sugar 
 
 Brass and Bronze products. . . . 
 
 Corsets 
 
 Flags, banners, regalia, society 
 
 badges and emblems 
 
 Fur goods 
 
 Springs, steel car and carriage. . 
 Stoves and furnaces, including 
 
 gas and oil stoves 
 
 Window shades and fixtures. . . . 
 Wood distillation, not including 
 turpentine and rosin 
 
 12.6 
 
 c a , 
 
 >S 
 
 III 
 
 21.8 
 
 9.3 
 
 13.1 
 
 ( 1 ) 
 
 4.1 
 
 14.5 
 
 11.6 
 
 7.0 
 
 24.6 
 
M 1 (' II I A N 
 
 107 
 
 Large threshing machine manufacturing plant. 
 
108 
 
 M I C I f I A N 
 
 A KKW OTHER IMPORTANT MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES. 
 
 1'iiE Bicict Sugar Industry of Michigan has had a tremendous growth. The 
 (luantity of l:)eets used in the several large beet sugar factories within the state in- 
 creased from 205,925 tons in 1 899 to 816,609 tons in 1909. The total value of granu- 
 lated sugar products in 1909 was $9,756,587. The total value of all other products, 
 including granulated sugar, molasses, sirup, pulp, and other by-products of the in- 
 dustry, was $10,476,876 as against $1,602,266, ten years previous. The last census 
 of the United States show Michigan in 1909 as ranking third with all other states 
 in the Union in the lieet sugar industry. The latest available figures indicate that 
 the state has taken second place. 
 
 One of Michigan’s many large beet sugar factories. 
 
 Printing and Publishing. This industry includes the printing and publishing 
 of newspapers, periodicals, books, music — bookbinding and making — lithographing 
 and engraving, etc. In the number of establishments, this industry ranks second 
 in the state, having a very decided growth during the last decade, the value of its 
 product increasing $9,142,000 or 111.4 per cent. 
 
 Tobacco Manufactures. This industry covers the manufacture of cigars, 
 cigarettes, chewing and smoking tobacco and snuff. The total value of products 
 produced from this industry in 1909 was $16,179,000, which was a gain of $6,934,000 
 or approximately 75 per cent for the last decade. 
 
 Leather Goods. The real development of this industry has taken place since 
 1889 but in 1849 the state reported 61 establishments which employed 283 wage earners 
 and turned out products valued at $402,000. In 1909 there were 24 plants reported, 
 which employed 2,291 wage earners, the value of whose products totaled $15,331,000. 
 
 Paper and Wood Pulp. The development of this industry in Michigan has 
 been due to the more extensive use of wood pulp in the manufacture of paper. In 
 
M I ( ' II I ('. A N 
 
 ]()<) 
 
 ISS*) tlu'fi' wt'iH' Al I'stalilislinu'iils I'cpi )i'l(’(! fni- tli(> slalc, which employed an avera^'c 
 ol I,21<) waj;i' eai'iuTS and luaiuilael ni'i'd pi-odnels valued rd 1 d,()0(). 'The ^M'owth 
 
 diirinj^ tlu' di'cadi' iVoiu 1 1 was pai l ienlarly noteworthy as t he value of the 
 
 prodiu'ls ini'fi'asi'd from S4,21S,0()0 to $ 1 a, d22, (•**(). A j^ain of 1$9,7() l.ddO or 220.1 per 
 iH'nt . 
 
 Hk.v.ss and llKON/h: I'uoDrc'is. In 1000 this industry in Alichij.^an included 
 ()0 ostahlishments of which 45 wt'fc jirimarily enj^a{.jcd in the manufacturing (A brass 
 casting and brass goods. 4'hc remarkable development of this industry in the state 
 during recent years has been due largely to the increased demand for brass specialties 
 in the manufacturing of automobiles. 4'hc total value of products increased from 
 $2,148,(100 in 1800 to $12,800,000, in 1000. Michigan ranked third among the states 
 in the Ibiion in this industry as measured by value of jiroducts. 
 
 Patknt Mkor’inks, and Compounds and Druggists’ Preparations. Alichigan is 
 seeond among the states in the Union in this industry as a whole and first in the manu- 
 faeture of druggists’ preparations. In 1900 the value of products was $13,475,000 
 as compared with $7,284,000 ten years previous. 
 
 A large chemical plant. 
 
 Chemicals. Although this industry does not rank among the first in the state, 
 Alichigan holds fourth place among the states in the Union in the value of chemical 
 products manufactured. The large supply of brine from the salt wells of the state 
 has made the manufacture of alkali products of great value. The value of sodas 
 form five-eighths of the total value of the products of this industry. A comparatively 
 large number of small establishments engage in the manufacture of potash, prin- 
 cipally from wood ashes. The growth of the industry has been rapid, the value of 
 the product being $12,890,000 in 1909, an increase over 1899 of 142.1 per cent. 
 
no 
 
 M I C II I G A N 
 
 Another group of Michigan factories. 
 
M 1 (' II I ('. A N 
 
 111 
 
 Of (itlu'r iiuportanl iiuliisti’ii's tin* vSmicminc. and Ivici'iNiNfi oi' ('oiM’ivk is one 
 of the most, important and ranks as om* of the leading industries of the state, 
 
 'riie construction of Siicam Kaii-road ("ars, in Michij^an consists almost cntirfily 
 of freij^ht cars, and is pcrhai)S, next in importance, d'ho manufacture of Casif 
 R icc.iSTic R.s, ('ai.ciu.atinc M.\('iiin1';s, Hii.iuard d'Aiujcs and Matciiks, are worthy of 
 mention, as Michij^an is one of the chief states in the Union in the manufacture (^f 
 these products. 
 
 Other industries which arc of less importance in the state, but in which Michigan 
 holds high rank among the states in the Union, arc the manufacture of Carriages 
 AND Wagons, Stoves and Furnaces, Salt Industry, Wood Distillation, Fur 
 C ooDS, Show Cases, Wall I’i-aster, etc. 
 
112 
 
 M I C II I O A N 
 
 THE COUNTIES OF THE STATE. 
 
 The information contained in the following pages concerning each county of 
 the state is, on account of space, necessarily brief. The object is to give the reader 
 a general idea of any county in which he may be interested. The data concerning 
 each county is accurate, so far as it has been obtainable, but attention is called to the 
 fact that in some instances there have undoubtedly been changes since the securing 
 of this data that would make the information contained in this publication appear 
 slightly at variance with the conditions found at any future date. Conditions are 
 ever changing. A city or town may have several new and important industries added 
 within the period of only a few weeks. New public buildings are being constantly 
 added and other important improvements made. The population of a community 
 is constantly changing, and since the United States census of 1910 is the only accurate 
 information obtainable, the figures concerning the population as well as certain other 
 information must be based upon this census, or otherwise only estimated as to present 
 day conditions. 
 
 It is not the intention to show the advantages of one county over another from 
 an agricultural, horticultural or industrial standpoint. No attempt has been made 
 to enumerate the individual agricultural or horticultural crops, the raising of which 
 may be particularly adapted to certain counties, for this too is an ever changing con- 
 dition. As has been conclusively shown in the history of the state from the days of 
 its early development to the present time, counties that a few years ago were not 
 considered adapted to the raising of fruit are now numbered among the great fruit 
 raising counties of the state. This condition is not alone true of counties, but of 
 certain portions of counties as well, and is also applicable to the raising of many other 
 crops besides fruit. Generally speaking, a crop that can be grown in one county 
 of the state can also be grown in many of the others, but each county has its particular 
 advantages, and because of the soil or other conditions may be peculiarly adapted 
 to the raising of certain crops. The prospective settler should keep this in mind and 
 should thoroughly investigate, before purchasing, the suitability of the land for the 
 raising of particular crops he may have in mind. 
 
 ALCONA COUNTY. 
 
 Alcona county was first laid out in 1840 and was first called Negwegon, after a well known Chippewa 
 chief. It was afterwards named Alcona, meaning, “A fine or excellent plain,” and was organized as 
 a county in 1869. It is one of the eastern tier of counties and is located towards the northern part of 
 the Lower Peninsula. 
 
 The total land area is 435,247.34 acres, of which 105,000 acres are in farms, producing good crops. 
 
 The population is 5,703, (1910 census). 
 
 The valuation of taxable property as estimated by the State Board of Tax Commissioners in 1911, 
 is $2,921,885. 
 
 The county has a large lake frontage, being bounded entirely on the east by Lake Huron. 
 
M I (' II I ('. A N 
 
 1 1 ,< 
 
 'Plu-rt' Mil' 4.< schools which were Mltcndcd hy 1,557 pupils Inst, ycMr, rc(|niriiij' I.Ik' ‘.crvicc', of 4K 
 teachers. 
 
 'Pile county has telephone, telegraph and rural mail service, hank;; .'iiid 2 new:.f)apers ( )iie paper 
 is pnhiished at 1 larrisville and the other at. hineoln. 
 
 I larrisville, which is the county seat, has a population of about .500 and is located on the main litu; 
 of the Hetroit and Mackinac Railroad, on the west shore of hake Huron in I larrisville Township, about 
 2tH) miles above 1 Detroit, lt)0 above Ih'iy t'ity and 54 miles south of Aljiena. 
 
 'Phere are Baptist, ('atholie, I’resbyterian and Methodist chnrehes, new six room hij'h school, court 
 house, ayrienltural hall, ^ood hotel, roller llonring mills, creamery, contract seed house, electric lij'hting 
 plant, a bank and one newspaper. 
 
 'Phe other principal towns are Lincoln and Mikado, both located on the Detroit and Mackinac 
 Railroad to the southwest of 1 larrisville — each having a bank and chnrehes of different denominations, 
 hotel, flour mill, etc. 
 
 'Phe principal transjiortation facilities of the county are the Detroit and Mackinac Railroad and 
 the Au Sable I'c Northwesteni Railroad. 
 
 ALGER COUNTY. 
 
 Alger county was laid out and organized in 1885 and was named in honor of Russell A. Alger, 
 then Governor of Michigan, and afterwards Secretary of War and United States Senator. 
 
 'Fhis county is located in the northern part of the Upper Peninsula and is bounded on the north and 
 part of the west by Lake Superior. 
 
 The total land area of the county is 589,948.58 acres, having about 30,000 already converted into 
 fanns. 
 
 The valuation of taxable property as estimated by the State Board of Tax Commissioners in 1911, 
 is $9,436,997. 
 
 The population is 7,675, (1910 census). 
 
 There are a total of 29 schools which were attended by 1,545 children last year, requiring the ser- 
 vices of 61 teachers. 
 
 The county has telephone and telegraph service, 2 banks and one newspaper which is published 
 at Munising. 
 
 Munising is the coimty seat and has a population of about 3,000. It is located on the Munising, 
 Marquette and Southeastern Railway; Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic Ry., and the Minn. St. Paul 
 and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad. 
 
 There are churches of different denominations, a high school building costing about $60,000, water 
 works, electric lighting plant, opera house, a live weekly newspaper, 2 banks and a court house costing 
 about $40,000. The industries include lumber mills, woodenware plant, a tannery and a paper factory 
 which is one of the most modem in the United States. The plant is in operation night and day and is 
 mn by electricity. 
 
 The streams throughout the county are planted each year with brook trout, the nearby lakes teem 
 with bass and perch, making Munising one of the best fishing spots in Michigan. 
 
 Grand Marais, on the shore of Lake Superior has a population of about 1,000. The village is lighted 
 by electricity, has a fire department and a municipal pimiping station. Water pipes are laid in all 
 streets and water is furnished to ever>' resident free, absolutely no charge being made and no restric- 
 tions as to how much is used or for what purpose. 
 
 There are chinches of the Catholic, Methodist and Episcopal denominations, excellent schools, 
 opera house, hotels telephone exchange, etc. Lumbering is the principal industry and fishing is ex- 
 tensively carried on. 
 
 The principal transportation facilities of the county are the Mtmising, Marquette and Southeastern 
 Railway, Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic and the Minn. St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railways. 
 
 8 
 
114 
 
 MICHIGAN 
 
 ALLEGAN COUNTY. 
 
 Allcj^an County was laid out in 1831, and was named for an ancient Indian tribe in the Alleghanies. 
 It was organized as a county in 1835. 
 
 1 1 is located in the western tier of counties near the southern part of the state and is bounded on the 
 entire west side by Lake Michigan. 
 
 The total land area of the county is 529,873.41 acres, about 475,000 acres of this land being in farms. 
 
 Taxable ])ro])crty in the county was placed at a valuation of $38,915,767 by the State Board of 
 Tax Commissioners in 1911. 
 
 4'hcre are 196 schools in the county which were attended by 8,540 children last year and requiring 
 a total of 301 teachers. 
 
 The county has efficient telephone, telegraph and rural mail service, fourteen banks, eight news- 
 pa])ers, etc. 
 
 Allegan is the county .seat and has a population of about 3,500. It is located on the Kalamazoo 
 river and on the Lake Shore and IMichigan vSouthem Railway, the Michigan Central and the Pere Mar- 
 quette Railways, twenty miles east of Lake Michigan, thirty-three miles south of Grand Rapids. 
 
 It is the receiving and distributing point for a rich and thickly settled agricultural section and 
 ships large quantities of grain and general farm produce. 
 
 It is lighted by electricity, has a municipally owned water plant, well paved streets, an efficient 
 fire department, eight churches, a splendid high school and four ward schools, a public library, hospital, 
 three l)anks, opera house, good hotels, a $100,000 court house, a $10,000 city hall and two weekly news- 
 papers. 
 
 The most important industries comprise the following; saw and planing mills, glass factory, foimdn,' 
 and machine shops, manufacturies of candy, cigars, kitchen cabinets, furniture, carriages, wagons, 
 folding boxes, flour, cement blocks, caskets, chemicals, vinegar, patent medicines, etc. 
 
 The other principal towns in the county are: Douglas, Fennville, Otsego, Plainwell, Saugatuck and 
 Wayland. The main transportation facilities through the county are the Pere Marquette Railway, 
 Grand Rapids and Indiana Ry., Michigan United Ry., Michigan Southern Ry. and Grand Rapids, 
 Holland and Chicago Railway. 
 
 ALPENA COUNTY. 
 
 Alpena County was laid out in 1840 and was first called xMiimickee, after a well known Chippewa 
 Chief. Later the name was changed to x-\lpena, meaning the “Partridge Country.” 
 
 iMpena county was organized in 1857. It is located in the northeastern part of the Lower Penin- 
 sula and is bounded on the entire east by Lake Huron. The land area of the county is 371,153.39 acres 
 of which 150,000 acres are already devoted to farms. The entire population is given at 19,965. (1910 
 
 census) . 
 
 In 1911, the State Board of Tax Commissioners placed the value of taxable property in the county 
 at $12,949,233. 
 
 There are a total of 76 schools requiring the services of 131 teachers, while last year’s report 
 shows a total of 3,493 children in attendance. 
 
 The county has good telephone, telegraph and rural mail service. 
 
 Alpena is the judicial seat of iVlpena County, and has a population of 12,706 (U. S. census 1910). 
 It is beautifully' located on Thunder Bay at the mouth of Thunder Bay River, and is a station on the 
 Detroit and Mackinac Railroad. 
 
 The City owns and operates an excellent water works system and electric lighting plant costing 
 in the neighborhood of $250,000, has a good sewerage system, paved streets, a police department. Are 
 dej^artment, two opera houses, first class hotels, a $20,000 court house, $100,000 post-office, public 
 library, a $75,000 depot, a $50,000 city hall and a $50,000 public hospital are now being constructed. 
 The County has three banks, two of them being located in i\lpena. 
 
M I (' II I ('. A N 
 
 1 IS 
 
 'I'lu' ri'liy;i(>us jiiid ('(lucalinnal a(lvanla|,'t'S arc very nood, llicrr hciii^^ chiirclic:; of l.lia followiii;' 
 di'iioiniiiations : Adx ciit ist , two Haptist, tlu'cc ('atliolic, ( 'oiij^i'c^^al.ional, I'ypiscopal, l''rcc McUiodiat, 
 lli'liri'w, ladU-r Dav Saints, 'I'wo ('l(‘|•ma^ ICvanvjclical l/Uthcraii, Norwc^i.-in lail.licran, Methodist iC[)i:i- 
 eopal and I’ri'shyterian elniri'lu's 'I'lu're are nine i)nl)lie and six i)aroelii;d seliools, also a well ef|nii)ped 
 Inisiiu'ss e('lle^e. 
 
 'Pile eity has three iu'wspai>ers, two i)nl)lislu'd daily and oiu' weekly. 
 
 ( )ni' linds .Alpena supplied with nunu'rous industrial estahlishnients, sonic of which arc as follows: 
 laimher, shingle and planing mills, factories nianufacturinj^ all kinds of lumber jiroducts, an automobile 
 factory, pulp works, flour and ^rist mills, two tanneries, two veneer works, pajicr mill, mattress works, 
 breweries, elei-trie lij^ht iilant, jiower plant, eement works, foundry, ruf^ and cigar factories, ciuarrics, etc. 
 
 A government fish hatchery is located at Alpena. 
 
 'Phe bay forms an excellent harbor and during the season of navigation, steamers bring in many 
 visitors, making Al|iena ciuite popular as a summer resort. 
 
 A large ])ortion of the surrounding country is rich, fertile soil, capable of producing all cereals and 
 roots ailapted to the climate in abundance as well as some very fine fruit. 
 
 'Pransportation facilities throughout the county include the following: Detroit and Mackinac, 
 Boyne C'ity, Gaylonl and Alpena railroads, and the Detroit and Cleveland Navigation Co. 
 
 ANTRIM COUNTY. 
 
 Antrim County was laid out in 1840 and was first called Aleegisce, meaning “Eagle,” and was 
 named after a famous Chippewa Chief, and later, in 1843, it was changed to the name it now bears. 
 The name “Antrim” is that of a county in the Northeastern part of Ireland. 
 
 The county was finally organized in 1863. It is located in the northwestern part of the Low^er 
 Peninsula and is bounded on the entire west by Grand Traverse Bay and Torch Lake, forming a penin- 
 sula of part of the coast line. 
 
 The total land area of this county is 305,558.44 acres, with nearly 120,000 acres already in splendid 
 farms. 
 
 The valuation of taxable property as given out by the State Board of Tax Commissioners in 1911, 
 is SIO.865,174. 
 
 The population is 15,692 (1910 census). 
 
 Antrim County has a total of 78 schools, employing 136 teachers and an attendance of 3,495 children 
 last year. 
 
 There is good telephone, telegraph and rural route service in the county. 
 
 Bellaire is the capital of the county and has a population of about 1,400. It is located on the Pere 
 Marquette, East Jordan and Southern Railroads, 37 miles south of Charlevoix. 
 
 There are Congregational, Methodist and Catholic churches, good schools, electric lighting plant, 
 a bank and a weekly newspaper. A few of the industries include: Feed and grist mills, saw mdls, etc. 
 
 Other important towns of the county include: Elk Rapids, Alancelona and Central Lake. 
 
 Elk Rapids is a towm of about 1,800 inhabitants and is picturesquely located on Grand Traverse 
 Bay at the mouth of the Elk River and is a station on the Pere Marquette Ry., 34 miles southwest of 
 Bellaire. The town is lighted by electricity, has a fine water system, churches of the Episcopal, Alethod- 
 ist. Catholic, Gennan Reformed, Presbyterian and Norwegian Lutheran denominations, a $24,000 
 school building, good public library, a bank and two weekly newspapers. There is a good market for 
 apples, potatoes, peas and other fanu products which are raised in the vicinity. Manufacturing indus- 
 tries include an Iron and Chemical Co., saw and flour mills and a cigar factory. 
 
 Mancelona, located 12 miles southeast of Bellaire on the Grand Rapids and Indiana R. R. has a 
 poiDulation the same as that of Elk Rapids. It is surrounded by a fertile tributary section with agricul- 
 tural resources and possibilities, making it rich in opportunities and for which it is the trade center. 
 
 There are churches of the Congregational, Episcopal, Methodist, Gennan Refonn and Catholic 
 denominations, a good school system, a township librar}', opera house, good hotels, a bank and two 
 
116 
 
 MICHIGAN 
 
 weekly newspapers. There are a number of prosperous industries, including saw mills, planing mills, 
 flour mill, creamery, and manufactories of veneer, screens, brooms, hoops, cheese box material, gasoline 
 engines, etc. 
 
 Central Lake has a population of about 1,000 and is located 8 miles north of Bellaire on the Pere 
 Marquette R. R. It is well known as a summer resort. Has Congregational, Free Methodist and 
 Methodist Episcopal churches, good schools, electric lighting, two banks and a weekly newspaper. 
 
 Principal transportation facilities of the county are the Grand Rapids and Indiana, Pere Marquette, 
 Boyne City, Gaylord and Alpena, Detroit and Charlevoix and the East Jordan and Southern Railroads, 
 and the Northern Michigan Trans. Co. 
 
 ARENAC COUNTY. 
 
 Arenac county was laid out in 1831, and in 1857 it was incorporated into the newly formed Bay 
 County. In 1883 it was re-established wdth its present limits. It is located in the northeastern part 
 of the Lower Peninsula and is bounded entirely on the east by Saginaw Bay. 
 
 The total land area of the county is 235,097.58 acres, of which about 115,000 acres are good pro- 
 ductive farms. 
 
 The last census taken in 1910, gives Arenac a population of 9,640 inhabitants. 
 
 There are forty-five schools in the county, with an enrollment of 2,665 children, requiring the ser- 
 vices of 75 teachers. Also seven banks and three newspapers. 
 
 Standish is the county seat and has a population of about 1,000. It is located on the middle branch 
 of the Pine River and on the Michigan Central Railroad. 
 
 The town is well located, being but five miles west of the shore of Saginaw Bay and 28 miles north 
 of Bay City. It is the trade center of a productive contributory section. It is modem in many respects, 
 having broad, shaded and well laid out streets, a good electric lighting plant, an abundance of pure 
 water, good sewerage system, fire department, churches of the Baptist, Catholic, Christian, Congrega- 
 tional and Methodist denominations, good public school system, court house, opera house, good hotels, 
 two banks and a weekly newspaper. 
 
 Other important towns of the County are Au Gres and Omer. 
 
 The main transportation facilities of the county are the Detroit and Mackinac and the Michigan 
 Central Railroads. 
 
 BAY COUNTY. 
 
 Bay County was laid out in 1831 and was at that time called Arenac. In 1857 it was organized 
 and took the name of Bay, because of its location on the Bay of Saginaw. 
 
 The total land area of the county is 284,626.69 acres of which about 215,000 acres are in good farms. 
 
 Bay County is located in the eastern part of the Lower Peninsula and is bounded entirely on the 
 east by Saginaw Bay. It has a population of 68,238. (1910 census). 
 
 In 1911, the State Board of Tax Commissioners placed the value of taxable land throughout the 
 county at $39,331,544. 
 
 There are a total of 93 schools with an enrollment of 12,085 children, requiring 322 teachers. 
 
 The county has 17 banks, 8 newspapers, telegraph, telephone and rural route service. 
 
 Bay City is the county .seat and has a population of 45,166. (U. S. census 1910). It is a natural 
 
 railroad, deep water, and manufacturing center, and occupies an ideal location at a point where the 
 Saginaw river flows into Saginaw Bay, and is surrounded by a rich and productive farming section. It 
 is a little more than 100 miles north of Detroit, the chief city of the State. 
 
 It has nearly 200 miles of streets; 35 miles of paving; over 100 miles of sewers; 25 miles of electric 
 street railway; 50 miles of gas mains; 10 public parks covering 35 acres and valued at $600,000; a water 
 works plant valued at $1,000,000; 100 miles of water mains; a $147,000 municipal electric lighting plant; 
 a fire department comprising ten station houses; a police department; 18 public school buildings; 19 
 
M I ( ' 1 1 I ( '. A N 
 
 117 
 
 p:inu'l>i;il si'liools; pul'lit' lil)rary; llicalirs; liospilals; first class hotels; H liaiiks; a $.<00,000 city hall; 
 State armorv, an $St),000 M. A., a $200,000 post-olfice, and lieautiful churc:hc'; of nearly every 
 ilenonhnation. 
 
 'fhere are two daily and three weekly newspapers pnhiished in May (aty. 
 
 In 1S()0, the inexhanstihle salt hasin that nnderlies this section was tapped, the success oi which 
 resnlteil in the inannfuctnre of salt, which has since developed into iinnicnse yiroportions. The first 
 Meet siiiyar plant to be erected in the State was built in Hay City in 1808. Since then other laryye and 
 modern beet snyyar plants have been pnt into operation, d'he beet snyyar industry has proved to be a 
 larj;:e factor in the sneoess of this locality as a manufacturing community. 
 
 t'lose to the limits of the city arc coal mines with a large annual output, which are now supplying 
 some of the railroads ami many manufacturing plants. 
 
 The fishing on Saginaw Hay gives em[)loyment to a large number of people. Pickerel, bass, white- 
 fish, perch, cattish, sturgeon and other fish are caught. 
 
 'fhe city’s industries include saw mills, sash and door factories, largest plant in the United States 
 for making wooden j^ipc, large woodenwarc factory, veneer works, hardwood flooring mill, large Port- 
 land cement plant, railroad locomotive wrecking crane works, denatured alcohol plant, chemical Co., etc. 
 
 Other important cities of the county are Pinconning and Essexville. 
 
 Pinconning with a population of about 800 is located on the Michigan Central and Detroit and 
 Mackinac Railroads, and on the Pinconning river miles from Saginaw Bay and 19 miles above Bay 
 City. It is lighted by electricity, has Catholic, Gennan Lutheran, Methodist and Presbyterian churches, 
 public school, library, 2 banks, a weekly newspaper, water works, etc. 
 
 Essex\'ille is a town of about 1,600 and is located on the east bank of the Saginaw river near its 
 mouth, and about 3 miles below Bay City, of which it is in fact, a suburb. Has Baptist, Congregational 
 and Catholic clmrches, sugar factory, chemical works, shingle mill, etc. A street railway affords com- 
 munication with Bay City. 
 
 The transportation facilities of the county include the Michigan Central, Pere Marquette Grand 
 Trunk, Detroit and Mackinac Railroads, The Erie and Michigan Ry. and Navigation Co., and the 
 Saginaw and Bay City Electric. 
 
 BARAGA COUNTY. 
 
 Baraga County was laid out and organized in 1875. It was named in honor of Bishop Frederick 
 Baraga, the great Indian apostle of the Northwest, who labored among the Indians from 1831 until his 
 death in 1868. 
 
 This cormty is located in the northwest part of the Upper Peninsula and is bounded almost entirely 
 on the north by that part of Lake Superior known as Keweenaw Bay. 
 
 It has a land area of 583,805.56 acres, of which about 35,000 acres are already in farms. 
 
 1910 censiis gives Baraga a popiilation of about 6,127. 
 
 In 1911 the State Board of Tax Commissioners placed a value of $7,613,642 on all taxable property. 
 
 The County has a good school system. There are 31 schools, requiring 49 teachers and last year’s 
 report shows a total of 1,611 children in attendance. 
 
 The county has telegraph, telephone and rural mail service. There are two banks and two weekly 
 newspapers, one published in Baraga and the the other at L’Anse. 
 
 L’Anse is the judicial seat of the county and has a population of about 1,000. The town is located 
 at the head of L’Anse Bay on the Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic Railway, 32 miles south of Houghton 
 and 63 miles northwest of Marquette. It is almost ideal as a summer resort, with a climate delight- 
 fully cool and refreshing, and within a short distance, are streams well supplied wdth brook trout, while 
 deer and other, game are plentift:!. 
 
 L’Anse has electric street lights, water works, fire department, court house, good schools, good 
 hotel, towm haU and a progressive newspaper. There are also a number of slate, graphite and brown- 
 stone quarries in the immediate vicinity. 
 
118 
 
 M I C II I G A N 
 
 Baraga is a station on the Duluth, wSouth Shore and Atlantic Railway and is located on Keweenaw 
 Bay, live miles by rail or two across the bay from L’Ansc and twenty-six miles south of Houghton. The 
 beauty of location, the coolness of the climate and surrounded as it is by excellent trout streams, make 
 it an ideal summer resort. 
 
 Transportation facilities are the Duluth, S. Shore and Atlantic, Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul 
 and the Mineral Range Railroads. 
 
 BARRY COUNTY. 
 
 Barry County was laid out and organized in 1829 and was named in honor of Post Master General, 
 William T. Barry. 
 
 d'he county is located near the southwestern part of the Lower Peninsula and is bounded by Kent 
 and Ionia counties on the north, Eaton county on the east, Kalamazoo and Calhoun counties on the 
 south and Allegan county on the west. 
 
 The entire acreage of the county is given as 354,029.41 acres, of which almost 340,000 acres are de- 
 voted to excellent farms. 
 
 In 1911, the State Board of Tax Commissioners placed a value of $21,175,834 upon all taxable land 
 in the county. 
 
 The county has a good school system throughout, there being a total of 145 schools requiring 210 
 teachers, with an enrollment of 4,575 children. Excellent telephone, telegraph and rural mail servdee 
 is found in every locality. There are also 8 banks and 8 newspapers. 
 
 Hastings, with a population of about 5,000, is the county seat, and was named in honor of E. P. 
 Hastings, formally a well-known citizen of Detroit. It is located on the Michigan Central and the 
 Chicago, Kalamazoo and Saginaw Railroads, and on the Thomapple river, 32 miles southeast of Grand 
 Rapids. 
 
 The city is modem, having electricity, gas, water works, fire department, churches of the Adventist, 
 Baptist, Catholic, Christian Science, Episcopal, Methodist, Presbyterian and United Brethem 
 denominations, excellent public schools, first class hotels, an opera house, a good court house, 2 banks 
 and 2 weekly newspapers. 
 
 There are numerous manufacturing interests, among them being a large felt boot factory, large 
 table factory, book-case factory, chair factory, international lock and seal factory, press and tool factory, 
 kitchen cabinet factory, planing and flour mills, cigar factories, gas works and an electric light and power 
 plant. 
 
 Other towns in the county are Nashville, Freeport and Middleville. 
 
 Transportation facilities include the Michigan Central, Pere Marquette, Chicago Kalamazoo and 
 Saginaw Railroads, and Michigan United Traction Co. 
 
 BENZIE COUNTY. 
 
 In 1863 the county of Benzie was laid out and organized, being taken from the lower part of Lee- 
 lanau County. The derivation is uncertain, one explanation being that it is a corruption of “Betsey,” 
 the name of a river mnning through the county, which in turn is a corruption of the French name of 
 the river. Riviere Aux Bee Scies, and is a translation of the Indian name of the river Uns-zig-o-ze-bee. 
 Another explanation is that it was taken from the word “Benzonia,” a place located in that county 
 and which was the county seat. 
 
 Benzie county is located in the Northwestern part of the Lower Peninsula and is bounded on the 
 north by Leelanau County, on the east by Grand Traverse county, on the .south by Manistee county 
 and on the west by Lake Michigan. 
 
 The total land area is 204,192.43 acres, 98,588 acres of which are devoted to famis. 
 
 The federal census of 1910 gives the county a population of about 10,638. 
 
M I (' II I ('. A N 
 
 1 10 
 
 III 1011, the Stall' Hoard of 'I'ax ( 'ommir.sioiici'; iilarcd a \alualioii of S0,.<ld,lld on all l.axahN' 
 
 land. 
 
 A si'hool sNsti'in is hv no inran;; larUiii)^' in Mni/.ii' county, there hein^; a total of 57 schools, fnrni .h- 
 iu^ positions for HKI teachers and has an enrolhnent of 2,702 children. 
 
 (iood telephone, tele^;rai>h and rural mail si-rviee is to he fonnd. 
 
 'I'he county has 1 hanks and (> ne\vs|)ai)ers. 
 
 'I'lie jndieial seat of the eonnfy is Ilonor, a little town of ahont 550 inhahitants. It is located on 
 the I’lalte river and on the Mtnhstee and Norlhetistern, and Here ManinetU' Railroads. 
 
 It has a ('on,v;re!tational ehnreli, a newspaia-r, a hank, hotels, saw and veneer mills, etc. 
 
 Other towns of the eonnty include hh'ankfort, Menzonia, Lake Ann, Alherta, and 'riiompsonvillc. 
 
 h'rankfort. with a popnlation of over 1,()0(), is the lar}j;cst town in Henzic county. It is a port of 
 entry on Lake Miehi}:;an, located on the Ann Arhor Railroad, 16 miles southwest of Ilonor, the County 
 Seat. 2S miles from Manistee, and 40 miles from Traver.se City. It is picturesquely situated and has a 
 ma};nifieent harbor with ei<;hteen feet of water in the channel. It has a lighthouse and life .saving station; 
 is supplied with electric light and water works; churches of several denominations; a twenty-five thous- 
 and dollar school building; library; hotels, and a daily newspaper. During the season, numerous lines 
 of steamers connect hTankfort with Manistee, Milwaukee and Chicago, Mackinac, Charlevoix, Manis- 
 tique and other points north, also Ann Arbor car ferries which run the year round. Like many other 
 sections of Benzie county, .Frankfort is a great fruit center, there being many acres of land in that county 
 adapted to the raising of fruits. 
 
 Benzonia has a population about the same as that of Honor. The two towns being within 6 miles 
 of each other. Has a Congregational church, the Benzonia Academy (a Congregational institution), 
 a batik and a weekly newspaper. 
 
 The main transportation facilities of the county arc the Pere Marquette, Manistee and Xorth- 
 eastcni and the Ann Arbor Railroads. Also the Northern Michigan Trans. Co. 
 
 BERRIEN COUNTY. 
 
 Berrien County was laid out and organized in 1829 and was named in honor of Attorney General 
 John M. Berrien. 
 
 This county is located in the extreme southwest comer of the Lower Peninsula in what is known 
 as the heart of Michigan’s original fmit belt. It is bounded on the north by Van Buren county, on 
 the east, by Van Buren and Cass counties, on the south by Indiana and on the West by Lake 
 Michigan. 
 
 This county has a total land area of 362,981.63 acres, of which 333,326 acres are devoted to splendid 
 farms. The county has a population of about 53,622 (1910 census). 
 
 In 1911, a valuation of $65,105,048 was placed on all taxable lands by the State Board of Tax Com- 
 missioners. 
 
 The school system is equal to that of any in the state, there being in all 160 schools, requiring the 
 services of 365 teachers, with an enrollment last year of 10,837 students. 
 
 All parts of the county are equipped with good telegraph, telephone and mral mail servdee. 
 
 There are 18 banks and 18 newspapers, five of which are published daily. 
 
 St. Joseph is the county seat and has a population of about 6,000. It is beautifidly located on the 
 east shore of Lake Michigan at the mouth of the St. Joseph river and on the Pere Marquette and Mich- 
 igan Central Railroads 63 miles by water from Chicago and 90 miles from Aldwaukee. 
 
 The natural advantages of convenient transportation routes by rail or by water, the added attrac- 
 tion of a beautiful and exceptionally* healthful location, the interest centering in scenic environs, 
 fishing, boating and other amusements, have made this one of the most popular summer resorts in 
 the state. It is lighted by electricity', has broad, shaded, well paved streets, water works, fire 
 department, sanitary' sewerage sy'stem, two banks, first class hotels, trolley sy'stem, public library*. 
 
120 
 
 MICHIGAN 
 
 churches of the Catholic, Church of God, Congregational, Episcopal, German, Baptist, German 
 ICvangelical, German Lutheran, German United Evangelical, Methodist and Swedish Lutheran 
 ^Icnominations, public school system. 
 
 Large ejuantities of fruit that grow in this section are shipped from St. Joseph. Two daily and 
 three weekly newspapers are published. Some of the city’s important industrial establishments are 
 basket and fruit package factories, knit goods factory, iron works, sash and door factory, paper mill, 
 flour and planing mills, door, map, air rifle, electrical machinery, boiler and washing machine factories. 
 
 It is connected with Benton Harbor, one mile distant, by electric railway. 
 
 Benton Harbor, the largest city in the county, has a population of about 10,000. It is 63 miles by 
 water from Chicago, 90 miles by rail, and 94 from Milwaukee and is on the Pere Marquette and Mich- 
 igan Central Railroads, near the confluence of the Paw Paw and St. Joseph rivers, one mile inland from 
 the mouth of the latter on Lake Michigan and connected therewith by a ship canal of sufficient depth 
 to receive the largest lake steamers and affording one of the best harbors on the shore. It is the center 
 of a great fruit growing district and one of the most important fruit shipping ports on the lake. 
 
 The city is lighted by electricity and gas, has water works, an efficient fire department, police de- 
 partment, electric street railway, wide, shaded and well paved streets, excellent sewerage, handsome 
 churches of many denominations, fine school system, public library, opera house, 3 banks, first class 
 hotels, 4 wholesale fruit houses and 3 progressive newspapers, 2 of which are published daily and 1 
 weekly. Eastman Springs, a well-known health resort is located 1 mile east and is connected by car 
 line. The city’s principal manufacturing industries include one of the largest book binding and loose 
 leaf plants in the world, malleable foundry plants, metal sectional furniture factory, lumber mills, saw 
 and planing mills, box and fruit package factories, wagon and buggy factory, pickle, cider and vinegar 
 works, ornamental stamping works, metal and iron company, flour and feed mills, garment factory, 
 cigar factories, also manufactories of saw filing machinery, brooms, gas engines, tents and awnings, etc. 
 
 Other principal towns of the county are Berrien Springs, Buchanan, Coloma, Watervliet, Three 
 Oaks, New Buffalo, Niles, and Eau Clair. The principal transportation facilities are the Michigan 
 Central, Pere Marquette, Southern Mich, (electric), the Graham & Morton Trans. Co., Benton Transit 
 Co., and the Benton Harbor & St. Joseph Ry. 
 
 BRANCH COUNTY. 
 
 Branch county was laid out and organized in 1829 and was named in honor of Secretary of Navy, 
 John Branch. 
 
 It is located in the middle of the lower tier of counties in the lower Peninsula and is bounded on 
 the north by Calhoun county, on the east by Hillsdale county, on the south by Indiana and on the west 
 by St. Joseph county. The entire population is 25,605 (1910 census.) 
 
 The total land area is 320,719.92 acres, of which about 307,000 acres are in farms. 
 
 In 1911, the State Board of Tax Commissioners placed a valuation of $33,297,585 on all taxable 
 lands. 
 
 There are 131 schools, an enrollment of 4,856 scholars, requiring the services of 211 teachers. 
 
 The county has nine banks, one daily and six newspapers. Good telegraph, telephone and rural 
 mail service can be found in every locality. 
 
 The capital city of Branch is Coldwater, a city of about 6,000 inhabitants. It is located on the 
 Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Ry., 43 miles southwest of Jackson and 65 miles south of Lansing. 
 The name “Coldwatex ” is an interpretation of the Indian word applied to the beautiful group of lakes 
 in the vicinity. The city has wide and well laid out streets, is lighted by electricity, has good sewerage 
 system, municipal water works and electric lighting plant, fire department, a $12,000 public Library, 
 three banks, opera house, hospital, a $50,000 post office, public Hall, good hotels, one weekly and two 
 daily newspapers. 
 
M I (' II I ('. A N 
 
 ]>] 
 
 'I'lu' various iuiluslrii's iiu-ludi' a I’oimdry, creamery, y;as li^liL and fuel plant,, planinj' mills, maeliine 
 sl>op, brass works, llour mill, i'arriay;e fai’lory, eemeiit, plant and mannfaetories of ladder:;, eij'ars, y.'eioliiie 
 en);ines, lawn fnrnitnri', wooden novelties, mediiine, eastings, etc. l''onr public schools, elmrches of 
 the leadinj,; ili'iiominations, the Stati' Public School, eonsistinjj of IH buildings and occni)yin^ 160 acres, 
 is locatcil in ('oldwatt'r. 'The snrroimdin^^ country is a rielt and productive aj^ricnltnral section. 
 
 'The other prineipal towns ari' Bronson, vSherwood, Union ('ity and (Jnincy. 
 
 Transportation faeilities of the county are the Lake Shore atul Michigan Southern and the Michigan 
 C'entral Railroails. 
 
 CALHOUN COUNTY. 
 
 C'alhonn county was laid out in 1820. In 1833 it was organized and named in honor of Vice-Presi- 
 dent. John C. Calhoun. 
 
 It is kK'ated in the southern i)art of the lower peninsula and is bounded on the north by Barry and 
 Eaton counties, on the east by Jackson county, on the south by Branch and Hillsdale counties and on 
 the west by Kalamazoo county. 
 
 Calhoun has a total land area of 447,452.44 acres, of which 411,801 acres are already devoted to 
 fanns. 
 
 The valuation of taxable property as estimated by the State Board of Tax Commissioners in 1911 
 is $73,846,732. 
 
 The county is well supplied with schools, there being a total of 185, supplying positions for 409 
 teachers with an enrollment of 10,747 students. 
 
 The total popvdation is 56,638 (1910 census). 
 
 There are 11 banks, four daily and nine weekly newspapers, telegraph, telephone and rural route 
 ser\dce. 
 
 Marshall, which is the county seat, has a population of about 5,000 and is located at the confluence 
 of Rice Creek with the Kalamazoo River and on the Michigan Central and the Lake Shore and Michigan 
 Southern Railways, and the Michigan United Railway. (Electric) 
 
 The city owns an electric lighting plant, the power for which is generated by the water power which 
 was purchased by the city. The city also owns its own system of water works, which cost about $50,000. 
 It has a good school system, ten churches of different denominations, two banks and three daily news- 
 papers, also a court house costing about $80,000. The grounds of the Calhoun Agricultural Society 
 are also located here. Among the most prominent manufactories are flouring mills, cigar factories, 
 furniture factory, carriage factory, a creamery and cold storage food factory, two furnace factories, 
 marble and granite works, also foundry and machine shops. 
 
 Other towns of the county include Albion, Athens, Battle Creek, Burlington and Homer. The 
 most important of these are Albion and Battle Creek. 
 
 The population of Battle Creek is about 30,000. It is located at the confluence of the Battle Creek 
 and Kalamazoo rivers; on the Michigan Central and Grand Trunk Railroads, and on the Michigan 
 L'nited Traction Co. It is 13 miles west of Marshall, the county seat, 45 miles southwest of Lansing 
 and 23 miles east of Kalamazoo. 
 
 Battle Creek’s manufactories include threshing machines, portable engines, health foods, stoves, 
 oven racks, paper roofing, tables, paper, boilers, electrical goods, wire novelties, steam pumps, printing 
 presses, woodworking machinery, flour, sash, door and blinds, brass goods, furniture, printing ink, rail- 
 road cars and engines, etc. One of the large engine shops of the Grand Trunk System, erected at a cost 
 of about $2,000,000 is located here. This is also the home of the Battle Creek Sanitarium, which is the 
 largest of its kind in the world. 
 
 There are 4 banks, 14 public and 2 parochial schools, including a new high school building which 
 has just been completed at a cost of about $90,000, and a beautifid public library. The religions of 
 the city are represented by many handsome churches, of which the most prominent are the Baptist, 
 
122 
 
 .MICHIGAN 
 
 Adventist, Conj^regational, Episcopal, German Evangelical, and Methodist. The city has 8 first class 
 hotels, 8 daily newsjiapcrs and 5 monthly publications, electricity and gas, a municipally owned water 
 plant which cost about $800, ()()(), well equipped fire departments and a post-office building costing 
 $150,000. 
 
 The country surrounding Battle Creek is very productive and wheat, oats, corn, hay, fruits and 
 garden products arc raised in abundance. Electric street car lines connect with all surrounding points. 
 
 Transportation facilities of the county are the Grand Trunk, Michigan Central and the Lake Shore 
 and Michigan Southern Railroads, and the Michigan United Railway Co. 
 
 CASS COUNTY. 
 
 In 1829, the county of Cass was laid out and organized, and was named in honor of Louis Cass, 
 then Territorial Governor. 
 
 The county is located in the .southwestern part of the Lower Peninsula. It is bounded on the 
 north by VanBuren county, on the cast by St. Joseph county, on the south by Indiana and on the west 
 by Berrien county. 
 
 Nineteen hundred ten census gives Cass county a population of about 20,604. 
 
 The total land area comprises 816,898.00 acres. Of this number, 295,485 acres are devoted to 
 fanns which are wonderfully productive, and in 1911, the State Board of Tax Commissioners placed 
 a valuation of $24,517,691 on all taxable lands. 
 
 The school system is equal to that of any of the larger counties, there being 114 schools, attended 
 by 4,008 children and requiring 170 teachers. 
 
 Telephone, telegraph and rural mail service can be found in every community throughout the 
 county. 
 
 There are 10 banks, 1 daily and 5 weekly newspapers. 
 
 Cassopolis is the judicial seat of the county and has a population of about 1,500. It is located on 
 the Michigan Central and Grand Tnmk Railroads, 14 miles northeast of Niles and 89 miles southwest 
 of Jackson. The town is lighted by electricity, has water works, a fire department, handsome court 
 house, opera house, two banks, churches of the Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, African Methodist, 
 Episcopal and African Baptist denominations, excellent educational advantages, and two weekly news- 
 papers. 
 
 Among the other thriving communities of the county are Uowagiac, Alarcellus and Vandalia. 
 
 Dowagiac is an enterprising city of 5,088 inhabitants, (1910 census), and is located on the Michigan 
 Central and Benton Harbor and St. Joseph Railways, and on a branch of the Dowagiac river. It is 
 10 miles northwest of Cassopolis. 
 
 The city is situated in the heart of one of the finest agricultural districts in the state, is well laid 
 out with wide, well paved and shaded streets, is lighted by electricity, has municipally owned water 
 works, fire department, opera house, 8 banks, 3 newspapers, churches of the Congregational, Christian, 
 Catholic, Baptist, Disciples and Methodist denominations, a public school system on a plane with any 
 city of its size in the state, public library and a ladies library. Among the leading industries are manu- 
 factories of stoves and furnaces, carriages, wagons, auto carriages, grain seeders, flour, cigars, carriage 
 tops, leather novelties, sash doors, lumber, axles, cabinets, brooms, tanks, oils, etc. 
 
 Marcellus has a population of about 1,100 and is a station on the Grand Trunk Railway, 14 miles 
 northwest of Cassopolis; has Baptist, Evangelical, Methodist and United Brethern ehurches, publie 
 hall, water works, eleetric lighting plant, 2 banks and a newspaper. 
 
 The Michigan Central, Grand Trunk Railways and the Benton Harbor and St. Joseph Electrie Ry., 
 are the prineipal transportation facilities of the county. 
 
M I (' II I ('. A N 
 
 l.^^ 
 
 ('ll AUlJCVf )IX ('()l'^''l'^^ 
 
 ('h;irli'\ (iix I’oimty was laid out in IS 10 .'ind was al that lime callisl Kcslikaiiko, I lie ii.'imc of a Icad- 
 iii); child' of the ('hippewas. In ISdd the name was ehanp'ed to ( 'h.'irlevoix in honor of I’ierre l-'raneois 
 Xa\ ier de ( 'liarle\'oix, the h'reneli Ji-snit Missionary, traveler and historian, d'he county was or).'ani/-(d 
 diirinp the year 1S()‘). 
 
 It is located in the northwestern ])art of the Lower I’eninsnka; is hounded on the north hy ICmmet 
 county, east hy ('liehoyj^an and (ttsejjo eonntios, on the south hy Otsej'o and Antrim counties and on 
 the west hy Lake Miehiy[an. 
 
 'I'lie total land area is 26(),22 LOS acres, 127,625 acres of which arc devoted to farms. 
 
 d'he population is 16,157 (1610 census). 
 
 'Phere are 77 schools in Charlevoix county, with an enrollment of about 4,536 students, requiring 
 the services of 163 teachers. 
 
 4'hcre are 7 hanks, one daily and six weekly newspapers in the county, also telegraph, telephone 
 and niral mail scr\'ice. 
 
 CharlcN'oix is the capital city of the county and has a population of about 2,500. It is beautifully 
 located on the shore of Lake Michigan at the entrance to Pine Lake and its ideal attractions and many 
 channs have made it famous as a summer resort. It is located on the Pere Marciuette Railroad, 210 
 miles north of Crand Rapids. The city owns and controls its own electric light and water plants, has 
 churches of the Baptist, Congregational, E]nscopal, Methodist and Catholic denominations, an up-to- 
 date public school system, public library, good hotels, 2 banks, an opera house and two weekly news- 
 papers. 
 
 There are saw and shingle mills, and manufactories of flour, beet sugar, cement, boilers, boats and 
 launches, nrstic furniture and bridges. A large shipping trade is done in wood, bark, ties, cedar posts, 
 lumber and fish. 
 
 Other cities of importance are Boyne City, Boyne Falls and East Jordan. 
 
 Boyne City has a population of 5,218 (1610 census), is located on the Boyne City, Gaylord and Al- 
 pena Ry., and Pine Lake, 16 miles southeast of Charlevoix. The city is lighted by electricity, has per- 
 fect natural drainage supplemented by a splendid sewerage system, fire department, paved streets and 
 good water for domestic and industrial purposes. In the hills surrounding the city to the north and 
 south is a never failing supply of flowing wells and spring water which is furnished to users through 
 16 miles of mains. There are churches of the Baptist, Evangelical, German Evangelical, Methodist, 
 Presbyterian and Roman Catholic denominations, a first class public school system, 2 banks, first-class 
 hotels, a hospital and two newspapers. 
 
 In the list of manufacturing industries of Boyne City, that of the manufacture of lumber constitutes 
 one of the most important industries. The city is destined to become one of the largest manufacturing 
 centers in the state for lumber, lath, shingles, flooring, veneer, sash, doors, and other timber products, 
 as well as for furniture and carriages. The industrial interests include some of the largest hard wood 
 lumber mills in the world, large veneer plant, planing mills, largest shingle plant in the State, manufac- 
 tories of boxes and baskets, charcoal, brick and tile, chemicals, etc. Principal transportation facilities 
 of the county are the Pere Marquette, Boyne City, Gaylord and Alpena, Detroit and Charlevoix, Grand 
 Rapids and Indiana Rys., and the Northern Michigan Transit Co. 
 
 CHEBOYGAN COUNTY. 
 
 Cheboygan County was laid out and named in 1840, and was organized in 1853. It was named 
 from a river of the same name and has many meanings ascribed to it. 
 
 The county is located in the extreme northern part of the Lower Peninsula. It is bounded on the 
 north by Lake Huron, on the east by Presque Isle county, on the south by Otsego and Montmorency 
 coiinties and on the west by Charlevoix and Emmet counties. 
 
124 
 
 M I C II I G A N 
 
 The total land area comprises 462,439.73 acres. Of this number 120,418 acres are devoted to 
 famis. It lias a total population of 17,872 (1910 census). 
 
 The valuation of taxable property as estimated by the State Board of Tax Commissioners in 1911, 
 is $12,003,821. 
 
 The county has splendid educational advantages. There are in all, 84 schools, requiring 139 
 teachers, with a total enrollment of 4,138 students. 
 
 There are 6 banks, 1 daily and 3 weekly newspapers in the county, also telegraph, telephone and 
 rural mail service. 
 
 Cheboygan is the judicial seat of the county and has a population of about 8,000. It is a thriving 
 manufacturing and shipping point and the lake port of one of the best farming sections in Michigan, 
 located in the Straits of Mackinac at the mouth of the Cheboygan and Black rivers and on the Mich. 
 Central and the Detroit and Mackinac Railroads. 
 
 In addition to its rail facilities, it has many boat lines connecting with nearly every large port on 
 the lakes. 
 
 The city is thoroughly modem, has well paved streets, fine sewerage system, water works, a well 
 equipped fire department, 10 miles of water mains, police department, 9 public schools, a county normal 
 school, 3 parochial school, public library, opera house, first class hotels, 3 banks, churches of different 
 denominations, electric light, gas and power plant and 3 newspapers. 
 
 This section grows large quantities of such fruits as cherries, plums, and apples. Potatoes, hay, 
 oats, barley, com and rye are raised in abundance. 
 
 The principal industries of the city are saw mills, one of the largest tanneries west of New York, 
 large paper mill, foundries, snow plow works, automobile factory, fire kindle factory, cannery, flour 
 mill, sash, door and blind factor>^ wood turning works, boiler works, machine shops, cigar factories, 
 packing industries, planing mills, etc. The other principal towns are Tower and Wolverine. 
 
 The transportation facilities of the county are the Mich. Central and the Detroit & Mackinac 
 Railroads. The Detroit & Cleveland Nav. Co., Northern Mich. Nav. Co., and the Arnold Trans. Co. 
 
 CHIPPEWA COUNTY. 
 
 Chippewa county was laid out and organized in 1826, and was at one time part of Michilimackinac 
 county. The name was taken from the Chippewa or Ojibway Indians, the largest of the Algonquin 
 tribes. 
 
 The county is located in the extreme eastern part of the Upper Peninsula and is bounded on 
 the north by Lake Superior and White Fish Bay, on the east by Lake George, St. Mary’s river. Mud 
 Lake, and a portion of the North Channel, on the south by Mackinac coimty and Lake Huron, and on 
 the west by Luce county. 
 
 The county has a total land area of 999,960.22 acres, with about 176,000 acres devoted to farms. 
 A considerable acreage of the agricultural land in Chippewa county is being very successfully devoted 
 to dairying and stock raising. 
 
 The federal census of 1910 gives Chippewa county a population of 24,472. 
 
 In 1911, the State Board of Tax Commissioners placed a valuation of $19,764,959 on all taxable 
 lands in the coiinty. 
 
 There is a good school system throughout the county, there being 90 schools, requiring 166 teachers, 
 and last year’s records show a total of 5,516 children in attendance. 
 
 In the county may be found good telegraph, telephone, and mral mail service. 
 
 There are 5 banks, 1 daily and 2 weeldy newspapers. 
 
 Sault Ste. Marie is the judicial seat of the county as well as being the largest city and has a popMa- 
 tion of 12,615 (1910 census). It is located on the St. Mary’s river, near the outlet of Lake Superior, 
 opposite the famous Sault rapids, 170 miles east of Marquette. 
 
 Here is the location of one of the greatest ship canals in the world through which the commerce 
 
M I (' II I ('. A N 
 
 125 
 
 Ilf Liu' ('iH'at LaUi'S |)a;;s('s on its way to and from Lake Superior and Lake linron. 'I'lie city’s position 
 on llu' vSt. Mary's river on a series of rapi<ls which made neeesr.ary the :;hi[) canal is respotisiLle for a 
 stvond j^reat attract ion at this point the power canal with all its atUaidant possihilities. 
 
 In this (Miterprise is reali/.i'd llu' ntili/.ation of the natural forces inherent in tlie water, af Lake 
 Superior as the\' Ilow over a sandstoiu' roek led}.;e al)()nt half a mile lonjt and half u mile wide, with a 
 fall of twenty fi-et. 
 
 Water power ilevelopiiumts have l)ecn planiu'd, attemi)te(l and carried out and locks by which 
 boats liave biam imabled to pass these falls have been constructed and operated durinf' the past HK) 
 years, but it has Ihh'u left to this day and generation to witness the practical consummation of the great- 
 est pi>ssibilities in both ilirections, since of this formerly dormant power more than half has now been 
 brought under eontrol, while locks are now in operation and l)eing improved, capable of passing up and 
 down the largest licet of merchant carrying vessels on the face of the globe. 
 
 Lake Superior covers an area of some v50,()()() square miles, fed from a water shed of hundreds of 
 thousands of square miles, the Sault rapids being its only outlet. The cpiantity discharged fluctuates 
 with the varying conditions of precipitation and evaporation from about 3,000,000 to 7,000,000 cubic 
 feet per minute, which, rushing over the Sault rapids, represents an equivalent of 130,000 to 260,(K)0 
 horsepower. 
 
 The freight movement to and from Lake vSuperior consists largely of such commodities as hard 
 and soft coal, ore, wheat and lumber. 
 
 The total tonnage of these commodities that passed through the canal during the season of 1912 
 was 72,472,676 net tons, an increase of 18,955,460 tons over the shipments of the year previous. The 
 work of widening the Soo Ship Canal is now under way. 
 
 Sault Ste. Marie is lighted by electricity, has a complete sewerage system, efficient fire department, 
 and the purest water is supplied by a $200,000 sy.stem of water works. There are churches of the Baptist, 
 Catholic, Disciples, Episcopal, Finnish and Swedish Evangelical Lutheran, Free Methodist, Methodist 
 Episcopal and Presbyterian denominations, a high school and 6 ward schools, a public library, a hand- 
 some courthouse which was erected at a cost of about $75,000, a city hall, a beautiful new Federal 
 building, well laid out streets, 3 banks, first class hotels, a daily and 2 weekly newspapers. 
 
 Situated as it is, among ideal surroundings, “The Soo’’ has gained the reputation of being one of 
 the finest summer resorts in the country. 
 
 The shipping facilities of the county are exceptionally good and include the Minneapolis St. Paid 
 and Saidt Ste. Marie, and the Duluth South Shore and Atlantic Railroads, the Erie and Mich. Ry. and 
 Nav. Co., Northern Mich. Nav. Co., Erie and Western Trans. Co., Northern Steamship Line, Canadian 
 Pacific S. S. Co., the hlutual Anchor Line, and the C. D. & G. B. Trans. Co. 
 
 CLARE COUNTY. 
 
 Clare county was laid out in 1840 and was at that time called Kaykakee, which in the Chippewa 
 language means “pigeon hawk.” Later, in 1843 the name was changed to Clare, taken from the name 
 of a county in Ireland. The county was organized in 1871. 
 
 This coimty is located in the North central part of the Lower Peninsula. It is bounded on the 
 north by Missaukee and Roscommon cotmties, east by Gladwin county, south by Isabella county, and 
 west by Osceola county. The total land area is 364,756.51 acres, about 165,000 acres of which are 
 already devoted to farms. The valuation of all taxable property as estimated by the State Board of 
 Tax Commissioners in 1911, is $4,071,360. In 1910 the county had a population of 9,240. The total 
 number of schools in the county is 71, furnishing positions for 102 teachers and about 2,376 scholars in 
 attendance. 
 
 The co-unty has 6 banks and 4 weekly newspapers, also good telephone, telegraph and rural mail 
 service. The county is rich in agriculture and stock raising. 
 
 Harrison is the county seat and has a population of about 600. It is located on the shore of Budd 
 
126 
 
 M I C II I G A N 
 
 lake, one of the most beautiful inland bodies of water in Northern Michigan. It is a station on the 
 Pere Marciuettc Ry., 72 miles from vSaginaw. 
 
 It has Catholic, Congregational, Methodist and United Brethcrn churches, good schools, electric 
 light, water works, opera house, 2 banks and a weekly newspaper. 
 
 ( )ther towns of the county include Clare, which is the largest town in the county and has a 
 po])ulation of about 1,400, and Farwell, with a population of about 535. 
 
 Clare is located on the Pere Marquette and Ann Arbor Rys., 18 miles south of Harrison, 50 miles 
 from Saginaw and 64 miles from Lansing and is surrounded by excellent farms. 
 
 It is lighted by electricity, has water works, churches of the Baptist, Catholic, Congregational, 
 Free Methodist, German Lutheran and Methodist denominations, a $25,000 school building, public 
 hall, opera house, good hotels, 2 banks and 2 weekly newspapers. Manufacturing industries include 
 saw, shingle and planing mills, flour mill, stave and heading factories, electric lighting plant, foundry, 
 machine shops, creamery, pickle salting station, etc. The chief shipments include lumber, shingles, 
 hoops, handles, staves, heading, bark, telegraph poles, wheat, hay, produce and cattle. 
 
 The principal transportation facilities of the county are the Pere Marquette and Ann Arbor rail- 
 roads. 
 
 CLINTON COUNTY. 
 
 Clinton county was laid out in 1831 and was organized in 1839. The county was named in honor 
 of Dewitt Clinton, through whose efforts the Erie Canal had been built, which had a great effect upon 
 the fortunes of Michigan. 
 
 This county is located in the south central part of the Lower Peninsula. It is bounded on the 
 north by Gratiot county, on the east by Shiawassee and Ingham counties, on the south by Eaton and 
 Ingham counties and on the west by Ionia county. 
 
 The total land area is 364,972.96 acres, about 352,000 acres of which are already devoted to wonder- 
 fully productive fanns. 
 
 The valuation of all taxable property as estimated by the State Board of Tax Commissioners in 
 1911, is $30,428,680. 
 
 The federal census of 1910 gives Clinton county a population of 23,129. 
 
 The school system is equal to that of any of the larger counties, there being 131 schools, attended 
 by 4,385 children and requiring 200 teachers. 
 
 There are 10 banks and five weekly newspapers. Also the best of telegraph, telephone and rural 
 mail service. 
 
 St. Johns is the county seat, also the largest town. It has a population of about 3,500, and is located 
 on the Grand Trunk Ry., and the Mich. United Traction Co. (electric), 18 miles north of Lansing, 26 
 east of Ionia and 98 northwest of Detroit. 
 
 The city is well laid out and possesses many attractive features among which are its churches, of 
 which there are Congregational, Episcopal, Baptist, A4ethodist, Free Methodist, Catholic and German 
 Lutheran denominations. 
 
 Has municipally owned electric light and water works plant, a ladies library, 3 school buildings, 
 opera house, three banks, good hotels and 2 weekly newspapers. Among the prominent industries 
 are saw and grist mills, grain elevators, a foiindry, gasoline engine works, heating boiler works, a quilt 
 factory, agricultural implement supply works, drilling and prospecting tool works, canning factory, 
 creamery, 2 portable building factories, wagon factory and a cider mill. The town is connected with 
 Lansing b}" electric railway. 
 
 Other thriving towns of the county include Elsie, (pop. 600); Fowler, (pop. 476); Maple Rapids, 
 (pop. 529); Ovid, (pop. 1,100); and Westphalia, (pop. 375). 
 
 Ovid is located on the Grand Trunk Ry., and on the Maple river, about 10 miles east of St. Johns, 
 10 west of Owosso and 24 northeast of Lansing. Has electric light and water works plant, churches 
 
M 1 (' II I A N 
 
 127 
 
 of thi' I ioiKil, Miiptisl, l''nH' Met liodi;! niid Mel li(idi:;| dciioiiiiti.-il.ioiis, .'i ).;r.'idcd piihlif: :;cliof)l, 
 opiMM hmisi', 2 |>ul)lic h:dls, a haiiU and a weekly newspaper 
 
 'I'lu' transporlation I'aeililies of the eonnly ineinde the ('irand 'I'nink, Mere Mar(|uet.l,e, Ann Arhor 
 and Miehipan (kaitral Railroads, and ihi' Miehip'aii United 'I'raeLion ('o. (elecLrie). 
 
 ('RAWMORD ('OUNTV. 
 
 C'rawl'ord eonnty was originally ealled Shawono, the name of a famous ('hij)j)cwa ('hief. d'he 
 word means “southern.” Later, in lS4d the name was elianged to ('rawford, f)eing named in fumor 
 of t\il, W’m. C'rawford who was eai)lured by Indians and l)urned at the stake. 
 
 It is loeated in the north eentral ])art of the Lower Peninsula. Is bounded on the north by fttsego 
 eountv, on the east by Oseoda eonnty. on the south by Roscommon county and on the west by Kalkaska 
 county. 
 
 d'he cinmly has a total land area of 450,845.89 acres. Of this number, about 46,000 acres are in 
 in fanns. 
 
 The iiopuUition is 5,054 (1010 census). 
 
 The valuation of taxable property as estimated by the State Board of Tax Commissioners in 1011, 
 is $4,471,577. 
 
 There are 24 schools, requiring the services of 48 teachers, and last year’s report showed a total 
 of 1,005 scholars in attendance. 
 
 The county has 2 banks and 1 weekly newspaper. Also good telegraph and telephone service. 
 
 Grayling is the largest town and also the judicial seat of the county. Lias a population of about 
 2,000, is 02 miles northwest of Bay City and 00 from Mackinaw. 
 
 It is the division point of the Michigan Central Railroad between Bay City and Mackinaw. 
 
 The Manistee and North-eastern Railroad was extended to Grayling via Walton Junction about 
 two years ago and opened up direct communication to Chicago by way of Lake Michigan through Manis- 
 tee and also a new route south and east by way of the Grand Rapids and Indiana and the Pennsylvania 
 roads. The town is lighted by electricity, has water works, fire department, opera house, fine court 
 hoiise, a bank, a weekly newspaper and the Grayling Mercy Hospital costing about $25,000. 
 
 Has churches of the Catholic, Liitheran, Methodist Episcopal, Presbyterian and Protestant Meth- 
 dist denominations, and good schools. 
 
 Principal transportation facilities of the county arc the Michigan Central, Detroit 8z Charlevoix 
 and the Manistee & Northeastern Railroads. 
 
 DELTA COUNTY. 
 
 Delta county was laid out in 1845 and was organized in 1861. The county as originally laid out 
 included not only the present territory, but also Menominee and part of Dickinson, Alarquette and 
 Iron counties, giving it the shape of the Greek letter “ Delta” from which the county takes its name. 
 
 It is located in the south central part of the Tapper Peninsula. Is bounded on the north by Alger 
 county, on the east by Schoolcraft county and Lake Michigan, on the south by that part of Lake Alich- 
 igan known as Green Bay, and on the west by Menominee and Marquette counties. 
 
 The total land area of the county is 748,015.44 acres. Of this number, about 115,000 acres are 
 in profitable farms. 
 
 The federal census of 1910 gives Delta county a population of about 50,108. 
 
 In 1911, the State Board of Tax Commissioners placed a valuation of $18,848,782 on all taxable 
 lands. 
 
 The county has a good school system. There are 82 schools, supplying positions for 199 teachers 
 and an enrollment of 6,776 children. There are six banks, 2 daily and 5 weekly newspapers, also good 
 telephone, telegraph and rural mail sendee in the county. 
 
128 
 
 MICHIGAN 
 
 Escanaba is the largest city, as well as being the capital city of the county. It has a population 
 of about 14,000, is located on the Chicago & Northwestern, and the Escanaba & Lake Superior railroads. 
 Its situation is as beautiful as it is advantageous for commerce. It is located on a point of land divid- 
 ing Green Hay from Little Bay dc Noe, the latter forming one of the best harbors on the entire chain 
 of lakes. It is very easy of approach, having an entrance three miles in width and depth sufficient to 
 float the largest vessels. 4'he city is one of the two great shipping points for iron ore. 
 
 The statistics of the port and its capabilities are almost incredible to any one who has not already 
 something like a just appreciation of the magnitude of the iron interests of this great region. Its six 
 enormous iron docks have a capacity of 95,000 tons, at which 30 vessels can be loaded simultaneously 
 and from 20,000 to 30,000 tons can be shipped in twenty-four hours. The docks are lighted by electric 
 lights and are kept in full operation day and night. There are also large merchandise and commercial 
 docks, handling 150,000 tons of coal annually. 
 
 The fish trade is an important industry, daily shipments being large. 
 
 The city is lighted by electricity, has broad and well paved streets, water works, fire and police 
 departments, electric street railway, 2 Baptist, 3 Catholic, Episcopal, 4 Lutheran, 2 Methodist, Pres- 
 byterian and Swedish Mission churches, a high school building costing about $40,000, a public library, 
 hospital, first class hotels, a handsome court house costing about $27,000, 2 daily and 4 weekly news- 
 papers, 3 banks, 3 theatres, etc. 
 
 Good farming and hardwood timber land lies within a few miles of the city and the Escanaba river 
 which rises in the iron region and here flows into the lake, furnishes splendid water power. 
 
 Other towns of importance are Gladstone, (pop. 4,211); Garden, Ford River and other small but 
 thriving towns. 
 
 Gladstone is located on the west shore of Little Bay de Noc, seven miles north of Escanaba 
 with which it is connected by electric railway. It is a station on the main line of the Milwauke, St. 
 Paul & Sault Ste. Marie railroad. Has a municipal electric lighting plant, a water works plant built at a 
 cost exceeding $35,000, fire department, opera house, 2 banks and 2 weekly newspapers. Has churches 
 of the Congregational, Baptist, Catholic, Evangelical Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, Swedish, 
 Finnish Baptist, and Swedish Mission denominations. 
 
 Excellent boating, bathing and fishing make this city an ideal summer resort. The Soo Line has 
 made this point its water terminus and has erected a grain elevator, flour, iron and coal docks, which 
 are among the largest individual docks on the lakes. 
 
 The transportation facilities of the county are the Minneapolis St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie, 
 Chicago & Northwestern, Escanaba Traction Co., and the Escanaba & Lake Superior railroads. The 
 Arnold S. S. Line, and the Goodrich S. S. Co. 
 
 DICKINSON COUNTY. 
 
 Dickinson county, which was at one time part of Menominee, Iron and Marquette cormties, was 
 organized in 1891, and was named in honor of Postmaster General Don M. Dickinson. 
 
 The cotmty is located in the south central part of the Upper Peninsula and is bounded on the north 
 by Marquette county, on the east by Marquette and Menominee counties, on the south by Menominee 
 county and Wisconsin and on the west by Iron county and Wisconsin. 
 
 The total land area of the county is 491,925.09 acres. Of this number, about 24,000 acres are 
 devoted to farms. 
 
 Nineteen himdred ten census gives the county a population of 20,524. 
 
 In 1911, the State Board of Tax Commissioners placed a valuation of $23,132,495 on all taxable 
 land in the county. 
 
 There are a total of 44 schools, requiring the services of 164 teachers and an enrollment of 5,560 
 children. 
 
 The county has 3 banks, 1 daily and three weekly newspapers. 
 
M I (' II I (I A N 
 
 12 '; 
 
 Iron Mountain is the jndirial st'al and the larjjcst city in the coniiLy. It lias a [(opnial.ion of alioiil 
 10,000, is locatod on tlio C'hi^•a^^o X’ Nort luvostcrn and t he ( 'liic.'i^^o, .MiKvankoc and SL. I’anI R.nlroads, 
 72 inilos northwi'st of MiMioininoo. 
 
 It is li^ihtod by I'lnotrioity and I'-'is waU-r works, tiro dcpartincnl and nxcdkaiL scwcra^n. 'I'licrn 
 aro I'hnri'lu'S of tlu' baptist., ('atholio, ICpisoopal, ('icnnan LuLhcran, Mct.liodist, l'y()is('opal, I’rcsbyt.nr- 
 ian, Swodish Mission, Swcalish Nb'thodisl, Swedish baptist and Swedish bntheran denorninations, 
 0 handsome sehool buildings, a library eostinj^ $20,000, a line; opera house, an $85,000 county buildiiif', 
 2 banks, a daily newspaper, etc. 'I'he Actual bu.sincss ('ollcpc, located here, occupies a [)romincnt 
 place among the commereial educational institutions of the State. 
 
 'Phis is the location of the famous Chapin Iron Mine, one of the largest and best in the (J[)per benin- 
 sida, producing a very rich hematite ore, from which is made the best bessemer iron and steel. The 
 mine is workeil at a depth of about 1 ,500 feet. 'Phe plant is of the most modem description, and immense 
 hydraidic machinery, costing aboiit $500,000, has been constructed to convey compressed air into the 
 mine and is used for operating all machinery connected with the mine. There are other iron mines 
 surrounding the city and with carriage and wagon works, cement works, etc., arc the principal 
 industries of the place. 
 
 Norway, another town in Dickinson county, has a population of about 5,000, is located on the 
 Chicago iSL' Northwestern and the Michigan and Wisconsin Railroads, 8 miles east of Iron Mountain. 
 Mining, fanning and lumbering are the principal industries. There are churches of the Baptist, Catholic, 
 Lutheran, Methodist Episcopal, Norwegian and Swedish Mission denominations, good schools, a con- 
 vent, a bank and I weekly newspaper. 
 
 Vulcan, also in Dickinson County, with a population estimated at nearly 3,000, is located on the 
 Chicago (.'c Northwestern Railway’, ten miles southwest of Iron Mountain, the Cotmty’ seat, and two 
 miles from Norway. Among the principal industries are the manufacture of brick and the mining and 
 handling of iron ore in large quantities. There are churches of several denominations. 
 
 The transportation facilities of Dickinson county are the Escanaba & Lake Superior, Chicago & 
 Northwestern, Chicago Milwaukee and St. Paul, and the Wisconsin and Michigan Railraods. 
 
 EATON COUNTY. 
 
 Eaton county was laid out in 1829 and was organized in 1837, and was named in honor of Sec. of 
 War, John H. Eaton. 
 
 This county is located in the South central part of the Lower Peninsula. It is bounded on the 
 north by Ionia and Clinton counties, on the east by Ingham county, on the south by Calhoun and Jack- 
 son cotmties and on the west by Barry’ county. 
 
 The total land area is 366,033.45 acres, of which about 345,000 acres are devoted to splendid farms. 
 
 Nineteen hundred ten census gives Eaton county a population of 30,499. 
 
 There are 149 schools, a total enrollment of 5,967 children, requiring the serv’ices of 249 teachers. 
 
 The county has 14 banks, 14 weekly newspapers, good telephone, telegraph and rural mail service. 
 
 The valuation of taxable property as estimated by the State Board of Tax Commissioners in 1911, 
 is $33,785,181. 
 
 Charlotte is the largest city’ and the judicial seat of the county. It has a population of about 5,000, 
 is located on the hlichigan Central and Grand Trunk Railways, 18 miles southwest of Lansing and 59 
 miles southeast of Grand Rapids. 
 
 The city is lighted by electricity and gas, has wide paved streets, fire department, water works, 
 a number of beautiful parks, churches representing the leading denominations, excellent public schools, 
 a library’, three newspapers and two banks. 
 
 The principal manufacturing industries consist of brass lubricator works, fottndry’, library’ and 
 dining table factory’, auto accessory’ works, hay’ fork pulley factory, flour and grist mills, brick and tile 
 works, scy’the snath factory’, iron culvert works, manufactory’ of wooden specialties, etc. 
 
 9 
 
1.30 
 
 MICHIGAN 
 
 Other entcri^rising towns of the CMunty inelude Grand Ledge, Eaton Rapids, Bellevue, Olivet and 
 1 )imondale. 
 
 Grand Ledge with a population of about 3,000 is loeated on the Pere Marquette Ry., sixteen miles 
 northeast of Charlotte and about twelve miles from Lansing. Soft coal is mined to the west of the 
 city, also fire clay for two large sewer pipe works; the city is lighted by electricity, has water works, fire 
 dci)artment, telephone service, opera house, two banks, gas works, two union schools, four churches 
 and two weekly ncw.spapers. The manufacturing industries include two chair factories, a foundry, 
 two power companies, sewer pipe and tiling works, flour mill, wire works, paint works, cement block 
 woi’ks, planing mill, carriage and wagon works, two grain elevators, etc. 
 
 Eaton Rapids another thriving and prosperous city of the County, with a population of about 
 2,200, is located on the Grand River, upon the Lansing branch of the Lake Shore & Mich. Southern 
 Ry. and also upon the Michigan Central Ry. It is lighted by electricity, the City owning its own plant; 
 has water works, fire department, churches of several denominations, an excellent system of public 
 schools, public library, two banks and an opera house. The city has several thriving manufacturing 
 industries. The entire county is particularly well adapted to farming and from most every town in 
 the county, quantities of grain, live .stock, flour, fruit, butter and eggs are shipped. 
 
 Transportation facilities of the county are the Grand Trunk, Michigan Central, Lake Shore and 
 Michigan Southern, and the Pere Marquette Railroads. 
 
 EMMET COUNTY. 
 
 Emmet county was laid out in 1 840 and was first called Tonedagana. In 1843 the name was changed 
 to Emmet, in honor of the Irish patriot, Robert Emmet. 
 
 The county was finally organized in 1853. ^ 
 
 It is located in the extreme northern part of the Lower Peninsula, is bounded on the north by Lake 
 Michigan and the Straits of Mackinac, on the east by Cheboygan county, on the south by Charlevoix 
 county and on the west by Lake Michigan. 
 
 The total land area of the county is 300,855.39 acres. About 125,000 acres are now being farmed 
 with great success. 
 
 The population is 18,561, (1910 census). 
 
 The valuation of taxable property as estimated by the State Board of Tax Commissioners in 1911, 
 is $16,646,690. 
 
 The school system is equal to that of most any of the larger counties, there being 78 schools, 
 attended by 3,765 children and requiring 150 teachers. 
 
 There are 5 banks, 1 daily and 4 weekly newspapers. 
 
 Good telegraph, telephone and rriral mail service is found. The county in general is well adapted 
 for fanning. 
 
 Petoskey with a population of over 5,000 is the judicial seat, and also the largest city in the 
 county. The county seat was originally located at Harbor Springs but was removed to Petoskey by a 
 vote of the people of the county in 1910. 
 
 It is located on the Grand Rapids & Indiana, and the Pere Marquette Rys., at the mouth of Bear 
 river, on Little Traverse Bay, which is 6 miles wide and 9 miles long. The city is lighted by electricity, 
 has water works, fire department, gas plant, an opera house, 2 banks, a beautiful court house erected 
 at a cost of about $30,000, 2 weekly newspapers, churches of the Adventist, Baptist, Catholic, Christian 
 Science, Episcopal, German Evangelical, German Lutheran, German Methodist, Methodist, Mennonite 
 and Presbyterian denominations, excellent public schools, a public library, first class hotels and numer- 
 ous substantial manufacturing and business houses. 
 
 Paper, leather, sectional blocks and lumber are the leading manufactured articles. 
 
 Other towns of importance are Alanson, (pop. 500), Harbor Springs, (pop. 2,000), and Pellston, 
 (pop. 1,200). 
 
M I (' II I ('. A N 
 
 I ?1 
 
 'riu' l:ir};(‘st of lIu'Si' is llarlx)!’ vSpriiij'S, wliicli i:'. localcil on l.lic firaiKl ka[)i(I;'. iKr, Indiana railroad, 
 S uiiK's norlli of I’t'loslcc'V, on llio north sid(' of a line land-loclvcd liarhor fortTicd hy tlin projontifai of 
 Harbor I’oint ac'ros^; tlii' northern part of Little 'I'raverse May. It is one of the Lest n.atnral liarLors 
 upon tlu' iMitire t'hain of (ireat Lakes. 
 
 ('liinali', loeatit>n and natural Ix-anty have made I harbor Sprinj^s fainons as a summer resort. 'rh(;re 
 are eluna'hes of Maptist, ('atholie, ICpiscopal, Methodist and I’nisbytcrian denominations, cxecdlent 
 sehools, water works, ).:;ood hotels, a boat factory, a bank and a newspafXT. 
 
 l.arj^e quantities of f;rain, produce, lumber, wood, maple su}.tar and fish arc shiiqKxl 
 'I'he principal transportation facilities of the county arc the (Irand Rapids & Indiana, and the 
 More Marquette railroails, the Northern S. S. Co., Northern Michigan Trans. Co., and the Goodrich 
 'I'l'ans. t'o. 
 
 GENESEE COUNTY. 
 
 Genesee county was laid out in 1835 and was organized in 1836, and was named from that part of 
 New York from whence many of its settlers had come. The name originated with the Chenussio tribe 
 of Indians and means “beautiful valley.” 
 
 The county is located in the east central part of the Lower Peninsula. Its boundaries are : Saginaw 
 and Tuscola counties on the north, Lapeer county on the east, Livingston and Oakland county on the 
 south, and Shiawassee and Saginaw counties on the west. 
 
 The total land area comprises 403,979.92 acres. Of this number, about 390,000 acres are devoted 
 to famis which are wonderfully productive. 
 
 The federal census of 1910 gives the county a population of about 64,555. 
 
 In 1911, the State Board of Tax Commissioners placed a valuation of $65,385,459 on all taxable 
 lands. There are 177 schools, requiring 380 teachers, and a total of 11,436 students in attendance. 
 
 The county has 19 banks, 2 daily and 9 weekly newspapers, excellent telephone, telegraph and 
 rural mail service. 
 
 Flint is the judicial seat of the county, also the largest city. Population 38,550 (census 1910). 
 This city has had a wonderful growth, showing an increase in population during the last decade of about 
 25,000. It has an area of 12 square miles and is located on both banks of the Flint river, 34 miles from 
 Saginaw, 49 from Lansing and 68 from Detroit. It has excellent facilities for the shipment of the prod- 
 ucts of its factories. It is on the Grand Trunk and Pere IMarquette Rys., also the Detroit United 
 Electric, and the Saginaw and Flint Electric Rys. 
 
 The city is laid out with fine, wide and beautifully shaded streets, is lighted by electricity and gas, 
 has a water works plant valued at $775,000, has 70 miles of w'ater mains, a thoroughly equipped fire 
 department, 15 acres of parks, a police department, 16 public schools employing 150 teachers, 25 churches, 
 3 hospitals, 12 hotels, efficient sewer system, electric street car system, a public library, a new $125,000 
 Y. M. C. A. Bldg, a $130,000 Masonic Temple, a new city hall, a $100,000 court house, a $75,000 post- 
 office, 5 banks, a $110,000 high school, theatres, a daily newspaper and two weeldies. 
 
 Flint is the home of the Michigan school for the deaf which is surrounded by 200 acres of beautifully 
 laid out grounds. 
 
 It is also the location of one of the largest automobile plants in the w’orld, 3 other growing auto- 
 mobile plants, and an immense quantity of vehicles of almost every description are manufactured. 
 Other industries include an electric stove plant, a steel spring plant, an automobile parts plant, auto- 
 mobile carbtuetor plant, saw and planing mills, flour mills, gasoline engine works, and plants for the 
 manufacture of axles, wheels, carriage hardware, auto bodies, varnish, paint, electric and gas fixtures, 
 pumps, cigars, brooms, cigar boxes, rugs, paper, brick, boilers, mattresses, ladders, woolen goods, potash, 
 show cases, furniture, heaters, etc. 
 
 Fenton located on the Grand Trunk Railway, sixteen miles south of Flint and with a population 
 of about 2,500, is the next largest town of the county. It has churches of several denominations, fine 
 
132 
 
 MICHIGAN 
 
 high school Iniilding, opera house, good hotels, two banks, eity hall and fire station and municipally 
 owned water works and electrie light plant. Its principal industries inelude a sereen door faetory, 
 water works, maehinery factory, cement works. Hour mill, ereamery, carriage and wagon works, foundry 
 and machine shop, cheese faetory and two grain elevators. It is situated in a rieh agricultural section 
 and in the vicinity of several attraetive lakes, including Long Lake, whieh is surrounded by summer 
 cottages and with which Fenton is connected by an electric railway. 
 
 The other principal towns of the County are Flushing, Clio, Davidson, Mount Morris, Montrose, 
 Linden, and Gaines, all of which are located in a highly productive agricultural section and from which 
 grain, hay, fruit, potatoes and other farm products are largely shipped. 
 
 The principal transportation facilities of the county are the Pere Marquette, Grand Trunk and the 
 Michigan Central Railways; Detroit United Traction Co., and the Saginaw and Flint Ry. (electric). 
 
 GLADWIN COUNTY. 
 
 Gladwin county was laid out in 1831 and was organized in 1855. It was named in honor of Major 
 Henry Gladwin, who was in command of Fort Detroit during the Indian war. 
 
 It is located in the northeast central part of the Lower Peninsula. Is bounded on the north by 
 Roscommon and Ogemaw counties, on the east by Arenac and Bay counties, on the south by Midland 
 county and on the west by Clare county. 
 
 The total land area is 330,764.78 acres. Of this number, about 130,000 acres are in farms. 
 
 The population is about 8,413 (federal census 1910). 
 
 In 1911, the State Board of Tax Commissioners placed a valuation of $4,303,873 on all taxable 
 land in the county. 
 
 There are 61 schools, an enrollment of 2,477 children, furnishing positions for 86 teachers. 
 
 The county has 3 banks, 2 weekly newspapers, also telephone, telegraph and rural mail service. 
 
 Gladwin is the county seat, also the largest city. Has a population of about 1,200. It is located 
 on the Michigan Central Railroad and on the Cedar river, 47 miles northwest of Bay City. 
 
 It is lighted by electricity, has water works, excellent sewerage, churches of the Episcopal, Free 
 Methodist, Catholic, Methodist and Presbyterian denominations, a $20,000 public school, an opera 
 house, 2 banks, saw, planing and shingle mills, flour mills, basket factory, electric lighting plant and 
 a weekly newspaper. 
 
 Beaverton, a thriving community in Gladwin county, has a population of about 500. It is located 
 on the Pere Marquette Railroad at the confluence of the middle, north and south branches of the Tobacco 
 and Cedar rivers, 9 miles south of Gladwin and 52 northwest of Saginaw. It is lighted by electricity, 
 has a good water works system, churches of several denominations, a graded public school, opera house, 
 a bank and a weekly newspaper. 
 
 Transportation facilities of the county are the Michigan Central and Pere Marquette Railroads. 
 
 GOGEBIC COUNTY. 
 
 Gogebic county was laid out and organized in 1887 and was named for the Gogebic Iron district. 
 It is also probable that the name was taken from Lake Agogebic which is partly in this county and partly 
 in Ontonagon county. 
 
 It is located in the extreme western part of the Upper Peninsula. It is bounded on the north by 
 Lake Superior and Ontonagon county, on the east by Ontonagon and Iron counties, on the south by 
 Wisconsin, and on the west by Wisconsin. 
 
 The total land area of the county is 712,032.76 acres. Of this number, about 15,000 acres are in 
 farms. 
 
 The valuation of all taxable property, as is estimated by the State Board of Tax Commissioners 
 in 1911, is $56,467,012. 
 
 The total population of the county is about 23,333 (1910 census). 
 
M I (' II I ('. A N 
 
 
 'This (■ovint\' has a ^.'.ood si’honl system, there heiny; 4iS sehouh;, .'it tctided hy 5, 1.^0 eliildreti, ruirl 
 reiiuiriii),; l‘J5 teaehers. 
 
 'I'lu'i'e are 1 hanUs and d wi'ekly newsiiapers. ('lood telephone and tele^p’aph service is found in 
 the eounly. 
 
 lU'ssenuM" is the capital ('ily of the county and has a population of ahout 4,.S0(). ft is located on tho 
 Duluth South Shore and Atlantic, 'I'hc Mimusipolis vSt. Paul and Sault Ste. Xhirio, .'ind the Mic hij^an & 
 Northwestern Railways, 47 miles cast of Ashland, Wisconsin. 
 
 It is the center of the famous ('iO}:;el)ic Iron Ranj^c, with many larf'c producing mines in the irnmerli- 
 ate vicinity. 
 
 The city has electric li;^ht, water works, churches of the (icrman livangclical. Catholic, Methodi.st, 
 Preshvtcrian, and Swedish livangelieal denominations, fine school facilities, including a new high school 
 building, costing about 845,000, a 850,000 court house, a public library, an opera house, city hall, a 
 bank, and a weekly newspaper. 
 
 Other cities of importance include Ironwood and Wakefield. 
 
 Ironwood is the largest city in the county and has a population of about 13,000. It is located on 
 the Chicago tN Northwesteni, and the Minneapolis St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroads, and on the 
 Montreal River, a small stream which fonns the boundary line between the States of Michigan and 
 Wisconsin. 
 
 Iron mining is the chief industry, there being within the city’s limits, several large iron mines pro- 
 ducing the highest grade Bessemer ore found in this country. 
 
 The city is lighted by electricity, has water works, fire department, opera house, 2 hospitals, a bank, 
 good hotels, churches of the Swedish Lutheran, Methodist Episcopal, Presbyterian, Swedish Baptist, 
 Swedish Mission, Swedish Methodist, Finnish, and Catholic denominations, 10 school buildings, a manual 
 training school, erected at a cost of about 830,000, a public library and 2 weekly newspapers. 
 
 Wakefield is located on the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, 6 miles east of Bessemer. Has 
 Lutheran, Methodist, and Catholic churches and a bank. Iron mining is the chief industry throughout 
 the county. 
 
 The shipping facilities of the county are the Chicago & Northwestern, Duluth, South Shore and 
 Atlantic, Xlinneapolis St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie Rys., and the Ironwood & Bessemer Railway & 
 Light Co. 
 
 GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY. 
 
 Grand Traverse county was laid out in 1840 and was then called Omeena, taken from the Indian 
 language and meaning “the point beyond.” Later, in 1851, the county was organized and the name 
 changed to that which it now bears. The county takes its name from the bay upon which it borders. 
 
 It is located in the northwestern part of the Lower Peninsula, and is bounded on the north by Lee- 
 lanau county. Grand Traverse Bay and Antrim county, on the east by Kalkaska county, on the south 
 by Wexford county and on the west by Benzie county. 
 
 The total land area of the county is 299,277.93 acres. Of this number, about 178,000 acres are 
 devoted to fanns which are wonderfully productive. 
 
 The population is 23,784 (federal census 1910). 
 
 In 1911, the State Board of Tax Commissioners placed a valuation of $15,056,946 on all taxable 
 lands. 
 
 The county has a good school system. There are 73 school, employing 156 teachers and an enroll- 
 ment of 5,126 students. 
 
 There are 6 banks, 1 daily and two weekly newspapers, also good telephone, telegraph, and rural 
 mail service. 
 
 Traverse City is the largest city and the judicial seat of the county. It has a population of about 
 12,500, is located on the Pere Marquette, Grand Rapids & Indiana, and the Manistee and Northeastern 
 
134 
 
 MICHIGAN 
 
 Railroads, at the head of the west arm of Grand Traverse Bay, where the Boardman river, its chief 
 tributary, caiters the bay. 
 
 d'liis city has long been famous as a summer resort. It is also the gateway to the Grand Traverse 
 region, a region of one of the most beautiful and healthful summer places of recreation in the northwest, 
 d'he country surrounding Traverse City has long been settled and is rich in farming and fruit lands, 
 ddie Northern Michigan Asylum is located here. 
 
 Prominent manufacturing interests consist of one of the largest oval wood dish factories in the 
 world, as well as one of the largest l)asket factories in the State, potato implement factory, canning 
 factory, candy factory, iron works. Hour and feed mills, tanneries, brick and tile works, foundry 
 and machine shops. Sash doors, electrical appliances, gasoline engines, boats, chairs, cigar boxes, 
 refrigerators, lumber, motor boats, flooring, caskets, shoes, brick machines, carriages, wagons, vinegar, 
 etc., are also manufactured. 
 
 The religious and educational interest are represented by 23 church organizations, a high school 
 and four ward schools. 
 
 There are 3 Ijanks, a city library, a hospital, theatres and 2 newspapers. The city is lighted by 
 electricity and gas, has a good water works plant, good police and fire departments, and well paved streets. 
 In the immediate vicinity one finds good brook trout and bass fishing. 
 
 Other thriving communities of the county are Fife Lake, and Kingsley. 
 
 Kingsley is located on the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad, 18 miles southeast of Traverse City. 
 Has Baptist, German Lutheran, and Methodist churches, a bank, flour and planing mills, electric light 
 and water works. 
 
 Fife Lake is located on the body of water from which it takes its name, 26 miles southeast of Trav- 
 erse City and 67 southwest of Petoskey. It is a station on the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad and 
 is a shipping point for a large lumbering and potato growing region. Has churches of several denomina- 
 tions, good public school system, 2 hotels, a bank and a weekly newspaper. 
 
 The principal transportation facilities of the county are the Pere Marquette, Grand Rapids & 
 Indiana, and the Manistee & Northeastern Railroads, also the Northern Michigan Trans. Co. 
 
 GRATIOT COUNTY. 
 
 Gratiot county was laid out in 1831 and was organized in 1855. It was named in honor of Chas. 
 Gratiot who, as captain and engineer, built Fort Gratiot at the head of the St. Clair river. 
 
 This county is located in the central part of the Lower Peninsula, and is bounded on the north 
 by Isabella and Midland counties, on the east by Saginaw county, on the south by Clinton county, and 
 on the west by Montcalm county. 
 
 The total land area is 364,623.63 acres, of which about 335,000 are in splendid farms. 
 
 The population is 28,820 (1910 census). 
 
 The valuation of taxable property as estimated by the State Board of Tax Commissioners in 1911, 
 is $26,936,121. 
 
 There are 135 schools which were attended by 6,544 pupils last year, requiring the services of 230 
 teachers. 
 
 The county has 17 banks and 11 weeldy newspapers. 
 
 Good telegraph, telephone, and rural mail service is forind throughout the county. 
 
 Ithaca is the capital city of the county and has a population of about 2,000. It is located on the 
 Ann Arbor Railroad, 42 miles north of Lansing. It does a big grain and produce business and is the 
 central supply station for a large and fertile agricultural area. There are churches of the Adventist, 
 Baptist, Methodist, Free Methodist, and Presbyterian denominations, also a splendid school system, 
 4 banks, good hotels, a $100,000 court house, a sewerage system costing about $60,000, a $45,000 electric 
 light and pumping plant. Has roller flouring mills, 3 grain elevators, a large creamery, foundry and 
 machine shop, beet lifter factory, brick and tile works. There are two live weekly newspapers published 
 here. 
 
M I ( ' 1 1 I ( ; A N 
 
 I <s 
 
 (Mlu'r towns of imporlaiu’f include Alma, (pop. d, ()()()), ;in(! Si,. I-oni:;, (pop. 2,000^, .il .o A'.lilcy 
 and Ihccki'ni'idj^c. 
 
 Alma is locaU'd on the I’inc river and on Llie IV re Mar((nelle and Ann Arlior Railroads, H miles 
 south of Ithaca and >'7 miles west, ol Saj^inaw. 
 
 'I'lie city has pa\’ed strei-ts and the Honlevard system of sIreeL liy^hliiiK. IL has an eleet.rie liKht 
 aiul water plant, modern sewera).,a' system, j^ood lire department, 2 hanks, first class hotels, an ojx.Ta 
 house and I iu'wsi>apers. 
 
 'Phere are ehurehes of several denominations, and a splendid i)iil)lic school system. 
 
 'Phe Alma t\)lk'}j;c' is loc'atc'd lu're. 
 
 Prominent industries of the eity ineliulc a large sugar factory, automatic gasoline engine works, 
 foundry and machine shop, one of the largest creameries in the State, and manufactories of hay presses, 
 overalls aud jaekets, skirts, heaters, bee smokers, wall board and roofing, chemicals, cement blocks, etc. 
 
 'Phe prineipal transi)ortatiou facilities of the county are the Pere Marquette, Grand 'Prunk, and 
 the Ann Arbor Railroads. 
 
 HILLSDALE COUNTY. 
 
 Hillsdale county was laid out in 1829, and was organized in 1835. The county was well named 
 and describes in a word the condition of the surrounding country. 
 
 It is located in the central part of the southern tier of counties, in the Southern Peninsula, and is 
 bounded on the north by Calhoun and Jackson counties, on the east by Lenawee county, on the south 
 by Indiana and on the west by Branch county and Indiana. 
 
 This county has a total land area of 386,087.50 acres. Of this number about 375,000 acres are 
 devoted to fanns which are wonderfully productive. 
 
 The population is 29,673. (Federal census). 
 
 In 1911, the State Board of Tax Commissioners placed a valuation of $34,090,892 on all taxable lands. 
 
 The school system is equal to that of any of the larger counties. There are 171 schools, requiring 
 the services of 273 teachers, and last year’s records show an enrollment of 5,928 students. 
 
 The comity has 12 banks, 1 daily and 9 weekly newspapers. Good telegraph, telephone, and rural 
 mail service is found throughout the county. 
 
 Hillsdale is the judicial seat and the largest city of the county. It has a population of about 5,000. 
 
 It is located on the St. Joseph river and on the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad, 29 
 miles south of Jackson and 91 southwest of Detroit. The city is lighted by electricity and gas, has 
 water works, wide and well shaded streets, good fire department, sanitary sewerage system, first class 
 hotels, opera house, 3 banks and a daily newspaper. 
 
 There are churches of the Adventist, Baptist, Episcopal, Free Will Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist, 
 Presbyterian, L^niversalist, and Catholic denominations, an up-to-date public school system, public 
 librarv’, a postoffice building costing about $65,000, City Hall costing about $45,000. This is the home 
 of Hillsdale College, situated upon one of the most sightly spots in the State. 
 
 There are a number of prosperous indtrstrial enterprises, including planing mills, flouring mills, 
 gasoline engine works, glove and mitten factories, gas plant, shoe factory, truck and wagon w'orks, wheel 
 works, screen door works, door rail and door hanger factory, creamery, tannery, handle factory, etc. 
 
 Other enterprising towms include Camden, Jonesvrlle, Litchfield, Montgomerj’-, North Adams and 
 Reading, the largest of which are Jonesville (pop. 1,400) and Reading (pop. 1,100). 
 
 JonesviUe is located on the St. Joseph river and on the Lake Shore & Mich. Southern Railroad, 
 4§ miles west of Hillsdale and 25 miles from Jackson. It is lighted by electricity, has water works, 
 good educational facilities, a public library, a theatre, a public hall, a bank and 2 weekly newspapers. 
 There are churches of several denominations. 
 
 Reading is located on the Lake Shore & Mich. Southern Ry., 10 miles southwest of Hillsdale and 
 36 miles from Jackson. It is supported by a rich agricultural section and is an important shipping point 
 
1.36 
 
 M I C II 1 (} A N 
 
 for wlu-at, corn, wool, fruit and i)ro(]uce. Has Baptist, Free Will Bapti.st, Methodist and Presbyterian 
 churches, a graded jniblic school, opera house, a bank, tanneries, a robe factory, flour and saw mills, 
 chair lactory, feed and grist mill and a weekly newspaper. 
 
 d'hc principal transportation facilities of the county are the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern, 
 and the Cincinnati Northern Railroads. 
 
 HOUGHTON COUNTY. 
 
 1 loughton county was laid out and organized in 184,S, and was named in honor of Douglas Houghton, 
 first State Geologist of Michigan. It is bounded on the north by Keweenaw county and Lake Superior, 
 on the cast by Keweenaw Bay and Baraga county, on the south by Iron county and on the west by 
 Ontonagon county and Lake Superior. 
 
 The total land area of the county is 647,466.14 acres, of which about 95,000 acres are devoted to 
 fanns. 
 
 The population is 88,098 (1910 cemsus). 
 
 The valuation of taxable property as estimated by the State Board of Tax Commissioners in 1911, 
 is $117,626,097. 
 
 The educational advantages offered, are eciual to those of any other county throughout the State. 
 There are 135 schools, 19,169 students in attendance, requiring the services of 668 teachers. 
 
 There are 13 banks, 5 daily and 8 weekly newspapers. The county also has telephone, telegraph 
 and rural mail service. 
 
 Hotighton is the capital city of the county and has a population of about 5,500. It is located on 
 the Duluth South Shore & Atlantic, the Copper Range, and the Mineral Range Railroads, and on the 
 south shore of Portage lake, 14 miles from the mouth of Portage river, 10 from Lake Superior on the 
 west and 94 northwest of Marquette. 
 
 It is in the midst of the Lake Superior copper region, a strip of country 4 to 6 miles in width, ex- 
 tending from southwest to northeast, through the entire length of Keweenaw peninsula and beyond. 
 This range is very rich in native copper, and some of the most productive mines in the world are located 
 in the vicinity of the town. 
 
 Houghton contains one of the finest court houses in the Upper Peninsula, a city hall. Catholic, 
 Episcopal, Methodist Episcopal, and Presbyterian churches, 2 banks, daily and weekly newspapers, 
 and a public school building costing $60,000. The Michigan College of Mines is also located here. 
 
 Calumet is the largest city in the county and has a population of about 30,000. It is located on 
 the Mineral Range, the Copper Range, the Keweenaw Central, and the Hancock & Calumet Railroads, 
 14 miles north of Houghton and 4 from Lake Linden, its shipping point by water. 
 
 The city is well lighted by electricity, has good police and fire departments, excellent drainage 
 and sewer system, two systems of water works, opera house, handsome parks, 2 hospitals, first class 
 hotels, splendid school system, handsome churches, 3 banks, 2 daily and 3 weekly newspapers. 
 
 Calumet is the site of the famous Calmnet & Hecla Copper mine. This mine is one of the richest 
 in the world. The machinery used for elevating the copper rock to the surface and for pumping and 
 condensing air for the drills is all on an immense scale and of the most perfect design. 
 
 The stamp mills and furnaces at Lake Linden are said to be the largest in the world. 
 
 Other important cities of the county include Laurium (pop. 9,000), Hancock, (pop. 9,000), Hubbell, 
 (pop. about 1,200), and Lake Linden, (pop. about 2,500). 
 
 The transportation facilities of the county are the Duluth South Shore & Atlantic, Copper Range, 
 Alineral Range, Keweenaw Central, Chicago Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroads, Houghton Traction Co. 
 (electric), U. S. & Dom. Trans. Co., Erie & Western Trans. Co., Northern S. S. Co., and the Mutual 
 Transit Co. 
 
M I (' II I ('. A N 
 
 1 <7 
 
 IH'RON ('ORN'I'N'. 
 
 Huron I’ounlv was laiti out in IS 10 and was or^^ani/cd in IS50. 'I'lic coniiLy w>'is named for the 
 laUi' horderinj', on tin' north, east and west, and the lake in turn was so called from a t.rilie of Indians 
 called th(' Unrolls, which lived then'. 
 
 'I'he eonntv is located in the eastc'rn jiart of the Low('r l’('ninsnla in wliat is known as ihe “'rhnmh” 
 district. It is honiuU'd on tlu' north hy Lak(' I Inron, on tiu' cast I)y Lake I Inron, on the. south hy 'I'liserda 
 ami Sanilac I'onnties, and on the west hy that part of hakc' Huron known as Sa^imaw Hay and hy 'I'lra'ola 
 I'onnty. 
 
 'The total land area is 5d6,h82.()d acres. ( )f tins nnniher, about 472,000 acres are devoted to farms, 
 some of which are of the hesl in the eastern part of the State. 
 
 'Pile total po]mlation of the county is 44,758 (IdlO census). 
 
 In 1011, the State Hoard of Tax Commissioners placed a valuation of $24,866,457 on all taxable 
 
 lamb 
 
 'Phere arc 126 schools which were attended liy 8,475 [lupils last year, requiring 222 teachers. 
 
 The county has 17 hanks and 11 weekly newspapers. Also good telegraph, telephone and rural 
 mail scr\’ice throughout. 
 
 Hml Axe is the judicial scat of the county and has a population of about 2,000. It is located on 
 the Pore Marciucttc and Crand Trunk Railroads, 63 miles northwest of Port Huron. It has Baptist, 
 Rpiscopal, Gennan Evangelical, Mennonite, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Catholic churches, a $40,000 
 high school, water works, opera house, good hotels, a $40,000 court house, 2 banks and 2 newspapers. 
 
 This is the trading center for a productive agricultural section and large quantities of grain, hay, 
 seed, produce and live stock are shipped. 
 
 Harbor Beach has a population of about 2,000, and is located on the shore of Lake Huron and the 
 Pere Marquette Railroad, 18 miles east of Bad Axe and 60 miles above Port Huron. It is a great grain 
 market for the whole of the Huron Peninsula. There are Baptist, Free IMethodist, Lutheran, Methodist 
 Episcopal, Presbyterian and Catholic churches, good schools, a library, an opera house, 3 publie halls, 
 2 banks, water works, fire department, electric lighting plant, and two live newspapers. Manufactories 
 consist of flour, com starch, wheat starch, macaroni, food pastes, cement tile, building blocks, and butter. 
 As a summer resort, the surroundings are splendid. 
 
 Other towns of the county are Caseville, Elkton, Kinde, Owendale, Pigeon, Port Austin, and Port 
 Hope, whose shipments consist largely of wheat, cattle, hay, sugar beets and flax. 
 
 The principal transportation facilities of the county are the Grand Tmnk, Pere Alarquette, Pontiac 
 O.xford Northern, Michigan Central, and the Detroit and Huron Railroads, also the Detroit and 
 Cleveland Nav. Co. 
 
 INGHAM COUNTY. 
 
 Ingham county was laid out in 1829 and was organized in 1838. The county was named in honor 
 of Secretary of Treasury Sam’l D. Ingham. 
 
 This county is located in the south central part of the Lower Peninsula and is bounded on the north 
 by Clinton and Shiawassee counties, on the east by Livingston county, on the south by Jackson county 
 and on the west by Eaton county. 
 
 The total land area is 355,272.91 acres, of which about 334,000 acres are devoted to splendid farms. 
 
 The population is about 53,310 (1910 census). 
 
 The valuation of taxable property as estimated by the State Board of Tax Commissioners in 1911, 
 is $56,119,681. 
 
 There are 154 schools, requiring 339 teachers, and an enrollment of 8,843 students. 
 
 The county has 13 banks, 2 daily and 9 weekly newspapers. 
 
 Excellent telegraph, telephone and mral mail servdee is found in every community throughout 
 the cormty. 
 
138 
 
 MICHIGAN 
 
 Mason is the county seat and has a popvilation of about 2,000. It is located on the Michigan Central 
 Railway, and on the Michigan United Traction (electric), 12 miles south of Lansing and 25 north of 
 Jackson. 
 
 It is lighted by electricity, has water works and sewerage system, fire department, a fine court 
 house, a good public school system, school library, an opera house and 2 weekly newspapers. 
 
 The country surrounding is rich and fertile and many wonderfully productive farms are found. 
 Live stock, fniit, grain and farm produce are largely shipped. 
 
 Lansing, the Capital city of the State, has a population of about 40,()(K). It is located on the Grand 
 Trunk, Michigan Central, the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern, and Pere Marquette Railroads, also 
 the Michigan United Traction, (electric), 37 miles north of Jackson and 88 northwest of Detroit. 
 
 The city has beautiful, wide and well paved streets, splendid water works system, is lighted by 
 electricity, excellent police and fire departments, electric light and gas plants, theatres, first class hotels, 
 16 jmblic and 5 parochial schools including the new high school just erected at a cost of over $125,000, 
 a public library costing abortt $35,000, 31 churches of most all denominations, a Young Men’s Christian 
 Association, a Young Women’s Christian Association, 2 daily and 3 weekly newspapers, 4 banks, etc. 
 
 The manufacture of automobiles forms the chief industry of Lansing, there being two large automo- 
 bile plants located here. Other industries include auto wheel works, auto body works, wheelbarrow 
 factory, several gasoline engine plants, cut glass factories, cigar factories, candy factories, machine 
 shops, foundries, etc. 
 
 The State Capitol, a magnificent structure in the classic style of architecture, built of stone, brick 
 and iron, and costing complete, $1,510,130.59, was begun in 1872 and finished in 1878. It occupies 
 a beautiful, elevated site, consisting of four blocks, in the heart of the city. 
 
 The Alichigan Agricultural College, located 3 miles east of the city, on a farm of 684 acres, divided 
 by the Cedar river, is a great attraction to all who visit the city. 
 
 The State Industrial School for Boys is located in the eastern part of the city, on a farm of 260 
 acres. 
 
 The Michigan School for the Blind is located in the northwest part of the city, on fine grounds 
 of 45 acres. 
 
 A post office costing $150,000 has been erected. 
 
 Other towns of the county include Leslie, (pop. 1,200), Lyons, (800 pop.), and Williamston, (pop. 
 
 1,200). 
 
 The country tributary to these towns is among the richest and most productive sections in the 
 State. The soil is adapted to many kinds of grains, fruits, vegetables, etc., and stock raising is an im- 
 portant industry. 
 
 The transportation facilities of the county include the Grand Trunk, Michigan Central, Pere Mar- 
 quette, Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroads, and the Michigan United Traction Co. 
 
 IONIA COUNTY. 
 
 Ionia county was laid out in 1831 and was organized in 1837, and was so named for the ancient 
 Greek district on the west shore of Asia Minor, which for several centuries was famous for its commerce, 
 wealth, high civilization and social development. 
 
 The county is located in the west central part of the Lower Peninsula. It is bounded on the north 
 by Montcalm county, on the east by Clinton county, on the south by Barry and Eaton counties and 
 on the west by Kent county. 
 
 The total land area is, 366,291.10 acres. Of this nmnber, about 351,500 acres are devoted to splendid 
 farms. 
 
 The valuation of taxable property as estimated by the State Board of Tax Commissioners in 1911. 
 is $33,657,709. 
 
 The population is 33,550 (1910 census). 
 
M I (' II I ('. A N 
 
 HO 
 
 'I'hi' I'dimty Ii;is 150 schools. I'uniishiii^; |)(>^;it ions lor 250 Ic.-u licrs, mikI an cnrolIincnL of 5,722 .Lti 
 
 (llMltS. 
 
 'I'hi'iv ari' lO banks, 2 daily and 10 wci'kly lu-wsiiapcrs. 
 
 ('iiuul trK'Krapli, trli-plioiu- and rural mail survicu is I'ound Uiroti^^lioul, the {•ounly. 
 
 Ionia is tho judirial suat and llu' lar^osL city of tlu- county. It has a [)opulation of abmit 5,500. 
 It is Ku'atcd amouji the hills alony; the (Irand rivc-r, 51 miles cast of ("irand Rai)ids, and 38 northwest 
 of Lansinj::. It is a station on tlu' Pcrc Mar(|ucttc, and (Irand d'runk Railways. 'I'he dty’s location 
 on the hills, following:; the ^iMieral line of the river and extendin}^ far l)ack, makes it one rjf the most pic- 
 turo.sque and attractively arranpanl places in tlie State. 
 
 'rhere are S ehurelu'S, 3 i)ul)lie school buildings, a $50,000 i)arochial school building, 2 banks, a 
 $30,000 aruu)ry, public library, a fire hall, a $15,000 city hall, opera house, municipally owned water 
 works, handsome eourt hou.se, electric lighting and water power jilant, gas plant, a $65,000 post office, 2 
 daily ami twii weekly newsiiapcrs. 
 
 Among the propsperous industrial establishments arc found clothing and skirt factories, auto body 
 factory, gasoline engine and implement works, flour mills, planing mills, pottery, Pere Marquette shops, 
 glove factory, funiiture factory, washing machine factory, brick and tile works, automobile plant, cigar 
 factories, machine shop, grain elevator, creamery, 2 monument w'orks, etc. 
 
 Four miles to the southwest is the Ionia County House, to the west of the city is the Michigan 
 Refonnatory, and to the south, the State Hospital. 
 
 Ionia is the rccei\dng and distributing point for a rich agricultural section and is one of the largest 
 bean shipping points in the United States. 
 
 Belding has a population of about 5,000. It is located on the Pere Marquette Railroad, and on 
 the Flat River, 15 miles northwest of Ionia. It has churches of several denominations, excellent schools, 
 electric light plant, opera house, 3 banks, first class hotels and two live newspapers. 
 
 Manufacturing industries consist of 4 silk mills, one basket factory, a canvas coal bag factory, 
 shoe factory, a paper box factory, sash, door and blind factory, a saw mill, feed mill, refrigerator factory, 
 etc. 
 
 Other important towns of the county are Portland, Hubbardston, Lake Odessa, Muir, Pewamo 
 and Saranac. The surrounding country produces beans, grain, and fruit in abundance. 
 
 The principal transportation facilities of the county are the Pere Marquette, and the Grand Trunk 
 Railroads. 
 
 IOSCO COUNTY. 
 
 This county was laid out in 1840, and was then called Kanotin, the name of a famous Ottawa chief. 
 During the same year the name was changed to that which it now bears, and means “water of light.” 
 The county was finally organized in 1857. 
 
 It is located in the northeastern part of the Lower Peninsula, is boimded on the north by Alcona 
 county, on the east by Lake Huron, on the south by Arenac county, and on the west by Ogemaw county. 
 
 The total land area of the county is 354,821.51 acres, of which about 115,000 acres are devoted 
 to good farms 
 
 The population of the county is about 9,753 (1910 census). 
 
 The valuation of taxable property as estimated by the State Board of Tax Commissioners in 1911, 
 is $3,573,893. 
 
 Educational advantages offered in Iosco county are equal in many respects to those of the larger 
 counties. There are schools, requiring 69 teachers, and 2,173 students in attendance. 
 
 The county has 6 banks and 3 w'eekly newspapers. 
 
 Good telegraph, telephone and rural mail service is to be found in the county. 
 
 Tawas City is the judicial seat of the county and is located on the Detroit & Alackinac Ry., at the 
 mouth of the Tawas river, on the indentation of Saginaw Bay, known as Tawas Bay, one of the best 
 
140 
 
 MICHIGAN 
 
 natural harbors on Lake Huron, 60 miles by rail from Bay City. Has Baptist, 2 German Lutheran, 
 Methodist and Presbyterian churehes, exeellent public schools, 2 Lutheran schools, a county normal 
 school, a ])ublic lil)rary, a bank, a court house, 2 grain elevators and a weekly newspaper. The shops 
 of the Detroit and Mackinac Railroad arc also located here. The population of the town is about 1,300. 
 
 East Tawas is the largest town in the county and has a population of about 1,500. It is located 
 on the Detroit & Mackinac Ry., and on the north shore of Tawas Bay, 11 miles above Tawas City and 
 61 l)y rail from Bay City. 
 
 ft is lighted by electricity, has water works, fire department, churches of the Baptist, Episcopal, 
 Methodist, Presljyterian and Catholic denominations, good schools, an opera house, 2 banks and a 
 weekly newspaper. 
 
 Other thriving towns of the county include Au Sable, Oscoda, and Whittemore. 
 
 The leading transportation facilities of the county are the Detroit and Mackinac, and the Au Sable 
 & Northwestern Railroads, the Detroit & Cleveland Nav. Co., and the Erie and Michigan Ry. & Nav. 
 Co. 
 
 IRON COUNTY. 
 
 Iron county was laid out and organized in 1885. It was so named because of the heavy iron de- 
 posits which are found throughout. 
 
 It is located in the southwestern part of the Upper Peninsula, is bounded on the north by Houghton 
 and Baraga counties, on the east by Marquette and Dickinson counties, on the south by Wisconsin 
 and on the west by Gogebic and Ontonagon counties. 
 
 The total land area of the county is 760,143.11 acres. Of this number, about 30,000 acres are now 
 devoted to fanns. 
 
 The population is 15,164 (1910 census). 
 
 In 1911, the State Board of Tax Commissioners placed a valuation of $30,314,143 on all taxable 
 land. 
 
 The county has 41 schools, furnishing positions for 141 teachers, and last year’s records showed 
 a total of 3,807 students in attendance. 
 
 There are 3 banks and 2 weekly newspapers, also telegraph and telephone service in the coimty. 
 
 Crystal Falls is the largest city, also the county seat. It has a population of about 3,500. The 
 city is located on the Paint river and on the Chicago & Northwestern, and the Chicago Milwaukee 
 & St. Paul Railroads, 18 miles east of Iron River, and 17 from Florence, Wis. 
 
 In the vicinity are 29 iron mines. The city owns and operates its own water works and electric 
 light plant, has a good fire department, sanitary sewerage, a good public school system, including a 
 high school erected at a cost of about $65,000, churches of the Episcopal, Methodist, Presbyterian, Bap- 
 tist, Catholic, Swedish and Finnish Lutheran and Swedish Methodist denominations, a $60,000 court 
 house, an opera house, a bank and a weekly newspaper. 
 
 Iron River has a population of about 3,000. It is located on the Chicago & Northwestern Rail- 
 road, 17 miles west of Crystal Falls. It has churches of the following denominations: Episcopal, 
 Methodist, Presbyterian, Swedish Baptist, Swedish Lutheran and Catholic, a good school system 
 including a high school erected at a cost of about $35,000, water works, fire department, a bank and 
 a weekly newspaper. 
 
 The principal transportation facilities of the county are the Chicago Milwaukee & St. Paul, and 
 the Chicago & Northwestern Railroads. 
 
 ISABELLA COUNTY. 
 
 Isabella county was laid out in 1831 and was organized in 1859, and was named in honor of Queen 
 Isabella of Spain. 
 
 It is located in the central part of the Lower Peninsula and is bounded on the north by Clare county. 
 
M I (' II I ('. A N 
 
 111 
 
 (Ml tlu' ('list liy Midlaiicl county, un the south by Moutcahu and (iratJoL count, ic:. ;iud on l.hc west hy 
 Mi'costa county. 
 
 'I'lu' total laud area is d()S.7 U) aiTcs, of which about, dOO, ()()() acres arc devoted to farms which are 
 very produi'tivi'. 
 
 'Pile federal census of l')l() I’ivcs the county a population of '2d, (>20. 
 
 'Phe valuation of taxable' property as estimati'd by the State Hoard of 'I'ax (Commissioners in 191 1, 
 is S1().()2S.215. 
 
 'Phe school system is ceiual to that of any of the larger counties, there btiing 11.'? sehofels, reeiuiring 
 the services of 152 teaehers, and an attendance of 4,806 students. 
 
 'Phe county has 8 banks and 4 weekly newspapers, (food telephone, telcgrafjh and rural mail 
 serviee is to be had in every community. 
 
 Mount Pleasant, the capital city of the county, contains about 4,500 people. It is located on the 
 Chippewa river, and on the Ann Arbor, and Pore Marciucttc Railroads, 53 miles northwest of Saginaw 
 and 149 from Detroit. The city has an excellent system of public improvements, is lighted by gas and 
 electricity, a good sewerage and drainage system, a good water works, fire department, paved streets, 
 a 40 acre park, oj)era house, 2 banks, first class hotels, a fine court house, public library, 2 weekly news- 
 papers, churches of the Adventist, Baptist, Disciples, Episcopal, Gcnnan Imtheran, Methodist, Presby- 
 terian, Unitarian and Catholic denominations, splendid school system, etc. 
 
 'fhe city’s industrial interests include among others a milk condensing plant, veneer works, chicory 
 factory, calcium works, cigar factories flour mill, planing mill, grain elevators, light and fuel plant, 
 hub and lath mill, foundrj^ etc. The surrounding country is rich and productive and produces a wide 
 diversity of crops. 
 
 Shepherd has a population of about 1,000. It is located on the Ann Arbor Railroad, and on Salt 
 river, 7 miles southeast of Mount Pleasant. It has Baptist, Christian, Methodist, United Brethren 
 and Catholic churches, a graded public school, an opera house, 2 banks and a weekly newspaper. 
 
 The principal transportation facilities of the county are the Ann Arbor, and Pere Marquette Rail- 
 roads. 
 
 JACKSON COUNTY. 
 
 Jackson county was laid out in 1829 and was organized in 1832, and was named in honor of Presi- 
 dent Andrew Jackson. 
 
 It is located in the south central part of the Lower Peninsula, and is botmded on the north by Eaton 
 and Ingham counties, on the east by Washtenaw county, on the south by Hillsdale and Lenawee counties 
 and on the west by Calhoun county. 
 
 The total land area of the county is 453,452.12 acres. Of this number, about 423,000 acres are 
 in splendid farms. 
 
 The population is 53,426. (1910 census.) 
 
 The valuation of taxable property as estimated by the State Board of Tax Commissioners in 1911, 
 is $53,728,238. 
 
 The county has 172 schools, attended by 8,831 students, requiring 345 teachers. 
 
 There are 13 banks, 2 daily and 8 weekly newspapers. 
 
 All parts of the county are provided with telephone, telegraph and rural mail servdee. 
 
 Jackson is the largest city, also the judicial seat of the county. It is located on Grand River, and 
 on the Michigan Central, Lake Shore & Michigan Southern, Grand Trunk, Cincinnati Northern Rys., 
 also the Michigan United Traction, and the Detroit L^nited Railway (electric). The Michigan Central 
 car shops are located here. 
 
 The city has an area of 9 square miles, 10 m les of paving, 54 miles of public sew'ers, 6 public parks, 
 comprising 58 acres, a water works plant valued at $900,000, 85 miles of water mains, well equipped 
 fire department, efficient police department, 32 churches, 17 public school building, 3 sanitarimns, a 
 
142 
 
 MICHIGAN 
 
 city hospital, 2 daily and 2 weekly newspapers, a library, 5 banks, 6 theatres, first class hotels. The 
 State Penitentiary is also located here. 
 
 The manufactnring industries are many and include acetylene gas generators, advertising sign 
 boards, agricultural tools, aluminum castings, antiseptic cans, automatic machinery, automobiles, 
 automobile accessories, bank and office fixtures, boilers, blank books, carriages and wagons, cement 
 mixers, flour, flour mill machinery, furnaces, gasoline engines, glass, mirrors, machine tools, pumps, ete. 
 
 A large and very successful industry is the cultivation of celery, onions, and small fruits. 
 
 (4thcr towns of the county include Grass Lake, Springport, Brooklyn, Concord, Hanover, and 
 Panna. Their shiynnents consist largely of grain, apples, potatoes and live stock. 
 
 The transportation facilities of the county are the Grand Trunk, Michigan Central, Lake Shore 
 and Alichigan Southern, Cincinnati Northern Railroads, and the Detroit United Railways Company, 
 and the Michigan United Traction Company. 
 
 KALAMAZOO COUNTY. 
 
 Kalamazoo county was laid out in 1829 and was organized in 1830. It takes its name from the 
 river which was called Ke-Kala-mazoo, which name is said to be of Indian derivation and interpreted 
 by some as meaning “bright, sparkling water.” 
 
 It is located in the southwestern part of the Lower Peninsula and is bounded on the north by Allegan 
 and Barry counties, on the east by Calhoun county, on the south by St. Joseph county and on the west 
 by Van Buren county. 
 
 The total land area is 359,234.70 acres, of which about 332,000 acres are in beautiful farms. 
 
 The population is 60,427 (1910 census). 
 
 In 1911, the vState Board of Tax Commissioners placed a valuation of $73,098,142 on all taxable 
 lands. 
 
 There are 138 schools which were attended by 10,642 pupils last year, requiring the services of 
 415 teachers. 
 
 The county has 13 banks, 2 daily and several weekly newspapers. Telephone, telegraph and rriral 
 mail service provide for the necessities and add to the comforts of life. 
 
 Kalamazoo is the county seat, also the largest city, having about 45,000 inhabitants. It is located 
 on the Michigan Central, Grand Trunk, Lake Shore & Michigan Southern, Grand Rapids & Indiana, 
 Chicago Kalamazoo & Saginaw, and the Kalamazoo Lake Shore & Chicago Railroads, also the Mich- 
 igan United Traction Co. (electric), 144 miles west of Detroit and 49 south of Grand Rapids. 
 
 The city has an excellent water system, police and fire departments, municipal electric lighting 
 plant, gas plant, sanitary sewerage system, 22 miles of brick and asphalt pavement, hospitals and sani- 
 tariums, first class hotels, beautiful theatres, several parks, incltiding more than 85 acres, splendid school 
 system, — the Western State Normal School, a new million dollar institution, is located here, a beautiful 
 public library, about 42 churches representing the leading denominations, 4 banks, 2 daily and 7 weekly 
 newspapers. 
 
 The principal industries . include manufactories of book paper, corsets, windmills and tanks, gas 
 lamps and heaters, and regalia for fraternal organizations. There are 6 paper mills in the city and 
 immediate vicinity, 41 metal working plants, vehicle works, and numerous plants manufacturing blank 
 books, playing cards, tablets and other paper goods. Kalamazoo is known as the world’s center in 
 the growth of celery and peppermint. 
 
 Vicksburg is located on the Portage River, at the intersection of the Grand Trunk, and the Grand 
 Rapids & Indiana Rys., 13 miles south of Kalamazoo, 23 southwest of Battle Creek and 62 south of 
 Grand Rapids. The population is about 2,000. 
 
 The city is lighted by electricity, has water works, opera house, good hotels, churches of several 
 denominations, a union school, two banks, and two weekly newspapers. 
 
 The more important industrial interests include a paper mill, flour mill, 2 gasoline engine works, 
 
M I (' II I ('. A N 
 
 Mi 
 
 niiu’liiiu' l;u'ti>ry. cement liloek wnrks. I'lii'ine governor works, elot.liiii^' faeLory, erearriery, frte. 
 Vieksl)Ul•^; is llie I'et'eiein).; and slii|)|)in); point, for lar^e ( |nant it ies of }.;rain, farm prodnec;, wool and flour, 
 
 (>tlH‘r towns of importanei' ari“ ( falesl )nrpp where eonsiderahle blooded stock is raised; An^Mista, 
 (.'limax and Schoolcraft, all in }j;ood aprienlt ural si'ction. 
 
 'I'ransportalion faeilitii'S of the comity inelndi' the bake shore? iK: Michigan Sonthern, flnanel ka.[)ids 
 vV Imliana, (fraud 'I'rnnk, Mii'hi^an ('I'litral, and the ('hica^jo Kakamazoo & Saginaw Railroarls, and 
 the Michij^an United 'Prae'tiou ('o. (electric). 
 
 KALKASKA COUNTY. 
 
 Kalkaska county was laid out in 1840, and was at that time called Wahasscc. the name of a Potta- 
 watomie chief. In 1843 the name was changed to Kalkaska, and later in 1871 the eounty was finally 
 organized. 
 
 'Phis county is locateel in the northern part of the Lower lYninsula. It is bounded on the north 
 by Antrim county, on the east by Crawford eounty, on the south by Missaukee eounty and on the west 
 by (fraud Traverse eounty. 
 
 'Phe total land area of the eounty is 359,669.30 aeres. Of this number, about 81,000 aeres are 
 already devoted to good farms. 
 
 The poimlation is 8,097 (1910 eensus). 
 
 The valuation of taxable property as estimated by the State Board of Tax Commissioners in 1911, 
 is $8,082,745. 
 
 The eounty has 55 sehools, supplying positions for 77 teaehers, and last year’s report showed a 
 total of 1,972 ehildren in attendanee. 
 
 There are 2 banks and 1 weekly newspaper, and good telegraph, telephone and rural mail serviee 
 is to be found. 
 
 Kalkaska is the largest town, also the judieial seat of the eounty. It is loeated on the Pere Mar- 
 quette, and the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroads, 137 miles north of Grand Rapids. It has eleetrie 
 lights, good water works system, an up-to-date sehool system, ehurches of the Congregational, Method- 
 ist, Baptist, Christian Seienee and Diseiples denominations, a $17,000 eourt house, a light and power 
 plant, 2 banks and 2 weekly newspapers. The industries inelude a saw mill, eant hook works, grist 
 and planing mill, eyele works, ete. Lumber, ginseng, live stoek, farm and dairy produets are shipped. 
 
 Prineipal transportation faeilities of the eounty are the Pere Marquette, Grand Rapids & Indiana, 
 and the Manistee and Northeastern Railroads 
 
 KENT COUNTY. 
 
 Kent County was laid out in 1831 and was organized in 1836, and was named in honor of James 
 Kent, a well known expounder of the prineiples of the Ameriean Law. 
 
 The eounty is loeated in the west eentral part of the Lower Peninsula and is bounded on the north 
 by Newa 5 ^go and Montealm eounties, on the east by Montealm and Ionia eounties, on the south by Alle- 
 gan and Barry eounties, and on the west by Muskegon and Ottawa eounties. 
 
 Total land area is 545,815.30 aeres, of whieh about 487,000 aeres are in splendid farms. 
 
 The population is 159,145 (1910 eensus). 
 
 In 1911, the State Board of Tax Commissioners plaeed a valuation of $187,536,358 on all taxable 
 lands. 
 
 The eounty has 240 sehools, an enrollment of 25,958 students, requiring 881 teaehers. 
 
 There are 22 banks, 3 daily and 22 weekly newspapers. 
 
 There is good telegraph, telephone and rural mail serviee throughout the eounty. 
 
 Grand Rapids, is the judieial seat and the largest eity in the eoimty. It is also the seeond largest 
 eity in the State. Population is shown by 1910 eensus to be 112,571, now estimated at more than 
 130,000. 
 
144 
 
 MICHIGAN 
 
 It is located at the head of navigation on Grand River, in a rieh agricultural section, 30 miles from 
 Lake Michigan, and on the Pere Marquette, Grand Rapids & Indiana, Grand Trunk, Michigan Central 
 and Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroads, also several electric lines. 
 
 The City has an area of 17.5 sqi;are miles, 46 miles of paving 191 miles of public sewers, 195 miles 
 of gas mains, 196 miles of water mains. There are many beautiful parks, covering over 400 acres, 18 
 theatres and vaudeville house, 31 public homes and hosjutals, and about 100 churches representing 
 nearly every denomination. There are 37 public schools, in addition to which are many private and 
 denominational schools, a l)eautiful public library, beautiful new post office building, an immense water 
 works, police and fire departments, 10 banks, many of which have several branches. 
 
 Grand Rapids is one of the largest furniture manufacturing cities in the world and is known the 
 world over as the “Furniture City.” A few of the many successful manufacturing industries are, all 
 kinds of furniture, show cases, sticky fly paper, flour and grist mills, gypsum, planing and interior finish 
 mills, printeries, foundry and machine shops, carpet sweepers, vehicles, boots and shoes, hosiery and 
 knit goods, railway construction and repair shops, refrigerators, wood turning and carving, mirrors, 
 and ornamental glass, cigars, copper and sheet metal works, etc. It is estimated that in the manu- 
 facture of furniture, the annual output is in excess of $10,000,000. 
 
 Grand Rapids is the center of one of the finest producing districts in the entire country. The 
 city affords an excellent home market for the products of many nearby farms and orchards, but solid 
 carload lots of potatoes, beans, peaches, apples, small fruits and greenhouse products are also shipped 
 by the commission men. 
 
 Other towns of importance are Caledonia, Cedar Springs, Grandville, Lowell, Sparta, Ada, Rockford 
 and Sand Lake, all in good agricultural sections. 
 
 The principal transportation facilities of the county are the Grand Rapids and Indiana, Pere Mar- 
 quette, Grand Trunk, Michigan Central, Lake Shore & Michigan Southern, Grand Rapids Holland 
 & Chicago and the Grand Rapids Grand Haven & Muskegon Railways, and the Michigan United 
 Traction Co. 
 
 KEWEENAW COUNTY. 
 
 Keweenaw county was laid out and organized in 1861, and included Manitou and Isle Royal. The 
 name is taken from the Indian word “ Ki-wi-wai-ni-ning” meaning a portage or a place where a portage 
 is made. 
 
 This county is of peninsular formation and is located in the extreme northern part of the Upper 
 Peninsula. It is bounded on the north, east and west by Lake Superior, and on the south by Lake 
 Superior and Houghton county. 
 
 The total land area is 348,468.34 acres. Of this number about 3,000 acres are devoted to farms, 
 although the cotmty is particularly noted for its copper mines. 
 
 The poptflation is 7,156. (1910 census). 
 
 The valuation of taxable property as estimated by the State Board of Tax Commissioners in 1911, 
 is $16,784,413. 
 
 The school system of the comity is good and consists of 15 schools, an enrollment of 1,713 students, 
 requiring the services of 50 teachers. 
 
 There is 1 bank and 1 weekly newspaper. The county has good telegraph and telephone service. 
 
 Eagle River has a population of about 200, and is the judicial seat of the county. It is located 
 on the north shore of the Keweenaw peninsula on Lake Superior, at the mouth of the stream from which 
 it derives its name. It is 2 miles from Phoenix, the nearest railroad approach. It has a Methodist 
 church. The banking facilities are at Calumet, 16 miles distant. 
 
 Ahmeek has a population of about 1,200 and is the largest town in the county. It is 11 miles from 
 Eagle river and 2| miles from Mohawk. 
 
 The principal transportation facilities of the county are the Mineral Range, Keweenaw Central 
 Railroads, and the Houghton Traction Company. 
 
M I (' II I ('. A N 
 
 MS 
 
 I.AKIC ('OUN'I'Y. 
 
 LaUt' I'ouiity was laid oul. in IS 10 and was lirsL named Ais.Iienm, I he name of a I'ol lawalomie Chief, 
 In IS-Id the nami' was ehai4;ed. 'rhi'eonnty was linally or},;ani/,ed in 1S7I. d'lie name Cake i'. peenliarly 
 nnapproi'fiale to this eonnty as it is an inland comity and contains hnt few lakes of any size. 
 
 It is loi'ated in aliont the west eentral part of the Lower I'eninsnia. Its Ixnmdaries are; MariisUa: 
 and Wexford I'onnties on the north, Osceola eonnty on the ('ast, Newayj'o eonnty on the south, and 
 Mason eonnty on the west. 
 
 'I'lie total land area of tlic eonnty is 365, ,30.1.85 aeres. Of this numltcr, about 88, ()()() acres arc 
 now in farms. 
 
 'Pile population is 4,0,34. 
 
 In 1011, the State Hoard of 'Pax Commissioners placed a valuation of $4,267,208 on all taxable 
 lamls. 
 
 'Phere are 48 schools, requiring the services of 67 teachers, and an enrollment of 1,237 stndents 
 last year. 
 
 'Phe county has 2 banks, 2 weekly newspapers and good telegraph, telephone and mral mail service. 
 
 Baldwin is the county scat, and has a population of about 550. It is located on the Perc Marquette 
 river and on the Pere Marquette Railroad, 74 miles nortli of Grand Rapids. It has Congregational and 
 Episcopal churches, a graded public school, good hotels, a $10, ()()() court house and a weekly newspaper. 
 In the immediate vicinity are to be found some of the finest trout streams in Northern Michigan. Live 
 stock, potatoes and huckleberries are shipped. 
 
 Luther is the largest town in the county. Population, 900. It is located on the Little Manistee 
 river and on the Manistee and Grand Rapids Railroad, 18 miles northeast of Baldwin. It has churches 
 of Baptist, Christian, Epi,scopal, Methodist and Catholic denominations, a graded public school, a bank 
 and a weekly newspaper. 
 
 Transportation facilities of the county are the Manistee and Grand Rapids, and the Pere Marquette 
 Railroads. 
 
 LAPEER COUNTY. 
 
 Lapeer county was laid out in 1822 and was organized in 18,35. The name was taken from the 
 french word “La Pierre,” which means flint stones. 
 
 It is located in about the east central part of the Lower Peninsula, and is bounded on the north by 
 Tuscola and Sanilac counties, on the east by Sanilac and Saint Clair cotmties, on the south by Oakland 
 and Macomb counties and on the west by Genesee county. 
 
 Total land area is 423,535.96 acres, of which about 400,000 acres are in fine farms. 
 
 The population of the county is 26,0,33. (1910 census). 
 
 The- valuation of taxable property as estimated by the State Board of Tax Commissioners in 1911, 
 is $21,060,841. 
 
 The school system in this county is equal in every respect to that of the other counties. There 
 are 135 schools, attended by 5,491 students, supplying positions for 205 teachers. 
 
 There are 16 banks and 7 weekly newspapers. Good telephone, telegraph and rural mail service 
 are found throughout the county. 
 
 Lapeer is the judicial seat and the largest city in the county, with a population of about 4,000. 
 It is located on the Flint river at the crossing of the Grand Tiamk, and Michigan Central Railroads, 
 in the heart of one of the richest and most productive agricultural sections in the State, 46 miles west 
 of Port Huron and 60 north of Detroit. 
 
 There are churches of the Episcopal, Baptist, Methodist Protestant, Presbyterian, and Catholic 
 denominations, and public schools which rank among the best in the State. The Michigan Home for 
 the Feeble-AIinded and Epileptic is located here on 360 acres of land. 
 
 The city is lighted by electricity, has a fine water works system, good fire department, complete 
 JO 
 
146 
 
 MICHIGAN 
 
 sewerage system, wide and well paved streets, a library, first class hotels, 3 banks, 2 live weekly news- 
 papers, etc. 
 
 The manufacturing industries consist of flour mills, stove factory, foundry and machine shops, carri- 
 age and wagon works, creamery, etc. 
 
 Other thriving towns of the county arc Almont, Clifford, Columbiaville, Dryden, Imlay City, 
 Metamora, North Branch, and Otter Lake. 
 
 Imlay city is located on the Belle river and on the Grand Trunk Railway, 12 miles east of Lapeer, 
 and 59 north of Detroit. It is lighted by electricity, has water works, fire department, churches of 
 the Congregational, Methodist, Episcopal, Baptist, Gernian Lutheran and Catholic denominations, a 
 $20, 000 school, a city hall, opera house, 2 banks and 2 weekly newspapers. The principal exports of 
 the surrounding country are grain, live stock, lumber and farm produce. 
 
 The principal transportation facilities of the county are the Grand Trunk, Michigan Central, and 
 the Pontiac Oxford & Northern Railroads. 
 
 LEELANAU COUNTY. 
 
 Leelanau county was laid out in 1840 and was organized in 1863. The name — according to an 
 Indian legend — means “Delight of Life.” 
 
 This county is located in the northern part of the Lower Peninsula. Its boimdaries are Lake Mich- 
 igan on the west and north. Grand Traverse Bay on the east, and Benzie and Grand Traverse 
 counties on the south. 
 
 The total land area of the county is 220,233.58 acres, of which about 160,000 acres are in good farms. 
 
 The population is 10,608. (1910 census). 
 
 The valuation of taxable property as estimated by the State Board of Tax Commissioners in 1911, 
 is $6,388,512. 
 
 There are 61 schools, supplying positions for 84 teachers, and an enrollment of 2,385 sttidents. 
 
 The county has 5 banks and 3 weekly newspapers, also telegraph, telephone and rural mail service. 
 
 Leland is the county seat, and has a population of about 400. It is located at the mouth of Leelanau 
 river, the outlet of Lake Leelanau, on the west shore of the peninsula forming Leelanau county, 25 miles 
 northwest of Traverse City, and 4h north of Provemont, its nearest railroad point. There are Lutheran 
 and Methodist churches, and a weekly newspaper is published. Leland has become popular as an ideal 
 summer resort. 
 
 Empire, the largest town in the county has about 650 inhabitants. It is located on the shore of 
 Lake Michigan and on the Manistee and Northeastern Railroad, 28 miles southwest of Leland and about 
 the same distance from Traverse City. It has Catholic and Methodist churches, a bank and a weekly 
 newspaper. 
 
 Other towns of the county are Northport, (pop. 600), and Buttons Bay, (pop. 600). 
 
 The transportation facilities of the county are the Empire and Southeastern, Manistee and North- 
 eastern, Traverse City Leelanau & Manistique Railroads, and the Northern Michigan Trans. Co. 
 
 LENAWEE COUNTY. 
 
 Lenawee county was laid out in 1822 and was organized in 1826. The name is of Indian deriva- 
 tion from the Delaware Indian word “Leno,” meaning man. 
 
 It is located in the extreme southenr part of the Lower Peninsula and is bounded on the north by 
 Jackson and Washtenaw counties, on the east by Monroe county, on the south by Ohio, and on the 
 west by Hillsdale county. 
 
 The total land area is 466,677.51 acres, of which about 463,000 acres are devoted to farms which 
 are wonderfully productive. 
 
 The population is 47,907. (1910 census). 
 
M I (' II I ('. A N 
 
 147 
 
 In 1*M1, th(' Stall' Hoard of 'I'ax ('oniiniMsioiU'rs placed a v.ahialioti of $5K,337,S81 on all taxable 
 lands in the connly. 
 
 'I'hc school system is c([nal in every respect to that of the other eonnties. 'I'here are 2t)S sehiiols, 
 S,721 children in attendance, rciinirin^ d51 teaclicrs. 
 
 'rhcrc arc 22 hanks, 2 daily and S weekly nowspajK'rs. 
 
 ICxccllcnt telegraph, telephone and rnr.al mail service is found in every (community. 
 
 Adrian is the jndieial seat of the county, .also the largest city, having about 11,000 inhabitants. 
 It is located on the south branch of the river Raisin and on the Detroit Toledo & fronton. Lake Shore 
 tV Michigan Southern, and the Wabash Railroads, 33 miles northwest of Toledo, 58 southwest of Detroit 
 and S3 south of Lansing. 'Phe city is noted for its beautiful shade trees and its wide pleasant avenues. 
 It is lighted by electricity, with good iiolice and fire departments, a fine system of water works, 5 parks, a 
 $51,000 iiostolliec, a $40,000 Y. M. C. A., a $36,000 public library, a high school erected at a cost of 
 about $100,000. Adrian college, an institution controlled by the Methodist Protestant denomination, 
 and the State Industrial Home for Girls are located here. There are about 17 churches representing 
 the leading denominations. 
 
 The school facilities of Adrian arc among the best in the State and include several public schools 
 and 4 parochial schools. Adrian has 5 banks, an opera house, first class hotels and 2 daily newspapers. 
 
 Adrian is one of the largest producers of wire fence in the country. In addition to this great in- 
 dustry there are funiiturc factories, basket and veneer works, a large condensed milk factory, 2 large 
 knitting mills, flour mills, brick and tile machinery manufactory, carriage works, handle factory, 
 planing mills, granite and marble works, foundry and machine shops, steel casting works, boiler works, 
 bicycle and machinery works, manufactories of screen doors, steel posts, pumps, cheese, cigars, razor 
 strops, cement blocks, gloves, etc. 
 
 Large quantities of grain, live stock, dairy produce, pork, lard, fruit, etc., are shipped. There 
 are numerous large nurseries located near the city. 
 
 Tecmnsch, another prosperous city has a population of about 3,000. It is located on the River 
 Raisin and on the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern, the Detroit Toledo & Ironton Railways, and the 
 Detroit Toledo and Monroe Short Line Ry., 9 miles north of Adrian, 33 from Jackson, and 59 from 
 Detroit. 
 
 The town is beautifully laid out with wide, well paved and shaded streets, owns and operates its 
 own electric light plant and water wnrks, has a fine sewerage system, an efficient fire department, churches 
 of the leading denominations, a high school and 3 wnrd school buildings, good hotels, an opera house, 
 2 banks and 2 newspapers. 
 
 Among the more prominent industries are 2 floiuing mills, brick and tile machinery and clay crusher 
 manufactory, planing mill, a foundry, wire fence factory, manufactories of building material, engines, 
 castings, boilers, brick and tile, macaroni, carriages, w^agons, etc. 
 
 Tecumseh is the trade center for one of the richest agricultural sections in the State, and an im- 
 portant industry is that of celery growdng. 
 
 Other important towns are Addison, Blissfield, (pop. 1,550), Britton, Clayton, Clinton, (pop. 1,200), 
 Deerfield, Hudson, (pop. 2,300), Morenci, (pop. 1,600), and Onsted, and Cement City. 
 
 The principal transportation facilities of the county include the Lake Shore and Alichigan Southern, 
 Wabash, Detroit Toledo & Ironton, and the Cincinnati Northern Railways, and the Detroit Toledo 
 & Short line (electric). 
 
 LIVINGSTON COUNTY. 
 
 Livingston county was laid out in 1833 and was organized in 1836. It was named in honor of 
 Edw'ard Li\4ngston, then Sec. of State and subsequently Ivlinister to France. 
 
 This county is located towards the southeastern part of the Lower Peninsula. It is bounded on 
 the north by Shiawassee and Genesee counties, on the east by Oakland county, on the south by Wash- 
 tenaw county and on the west by Ingham county. 
 
148 
 
 MICHIGAN 
 
 4'hc total land area is 370,871.03 acres, of which about 350,000 acres are in farms which are among 
 the very best in the State. 
 
 The population is 17,736 (1910 census). 
 
 In 1911, the State Board of Tax Commissioners placed a valuation of $22,502,238 on all taxable 
 lands in the county. 
 
 d'hcre are 137 schools, 3,413 students in attendanee, requiring the serviees of 199 teachers. 
 
 The county has 8 banks and 7 weekly newspapers. 
 
 Good telegraph, telephone and rural mail service is found in every eommunity. 
 
 Howell is the judicial seat, also the largest town in the county, having about 2,500 inhabitants. It 
 is located on the Pere Marquette, and Ann Arbor Railroads, 34 miles southeast of Lansing and 54 north- 
 west of Detroit. It is lighted by electrieity, has a fine system of water works, a fire department, 7 
 ehurches, a eentral high and 2 ward sehools, a $15,000 library, a $25,000 eourt house, opera house, 
 good hotels, 2 banks, and up-to-date newspapers. 
 
 A large eondensed milk faetory using about 70,000 pounds of milk daily is loeated here. Other 
 industries consist of wire specialty works, creamery, flour mills, planing mills, cigar factories, grain ele- 
 vators, etc. This is the location of the State Sanitorium for Tuberculosis and is the second largest 
 Holstein cattle center in America. 
 
 Fowlerville has a popidation of about 1,000. It is located on the Pere Marquette Railroad, 9 miles 
 northwest of Howell and 63 from Detroit. 
 
 It has Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist Episcopal and Catholic churches, good schools, an opera house, 
 electric lights, a city hall, 2 banks and 2 weekly newspapers. 
 
 The entire county is particularly well adapted for dairying and cattle raising and has some of the 
 largest Holstein dairies in America. The surrotmding coimtry is also adapted to agriculture, large 
 quantities of wheat, com, beans, potatoes and hay are raised. 
 
 Other towns of the county are Brighton and Pinckney. 
 
 The principal transportation facilities of the county are the Pere Marquette, Grand Tnmk, and 
 Ann Arbor Railroads. 
 
 LUCE COUNTY. 
 
 Luce county was laid out and organized in 1887 after being separated from Chippewa and Maekinac 
 counties of which it was a part. It was named in honor of Cyms G. Luce, then Governor of the State. 
 
 The total land area of the county is 582,654.15 acres. Of of this number about 21,000 acres have 
 already been converted into farms. 
 
 This county is located in the northeastern part of the Upper Peninsula. Is bounded on the north 
 by Lake Superior, on the east by Chippewa county, on the south by Mackinac county, and on the west 
 by Alger and Schoolcraft counties. 
 
 The population is 4,004 (1910 census). 
 
 The valuation of taxable property as estimated by the State Board of Tax Commissioners in 1911, 
 is $6,256,418. 
 
 The county has 17 schools, an enrollment of 962 students, requiring the serviees of 38 teachers. 
 
 There is 1 bank and 1 weekly newspaper, while telegraph, telephone and mral mail service add 
 to the conveniences. 
 
 Newberry is the county seat, also the largest town, (pop. 1,300). It is loeated on the Duluth South 
 Shore & Atlantic Railroad, 55 miles northwest of St Ignace, 56 southwest of Sault Ste. Marie and 96 
 southeast of Marquette. It has good system of water works, eleetric lights, churches of the Episcopal, 
 Presbyterian, Methodist, Lutheran and Catholie denominations, a graded public school, an opera 
 house, a bank and a weekly newspaper. 
 
 Newberry is surrounded by good agricultural lands and is rapidly developing, being settled by a 
 prosperous farming community. The Upper Peninsula Hospital for the insane is located here. 
 
 The principal transportation facility of the county is the Duluth South Shore & Atlantic Railroad. 
 
M I (' II I ('. A N 
 
 I 10 
 
 MA('KINA(' ('OlIN'I'Y. 
 
 MarUiiiai' t'ounty was laid out and ory'aniz('d in l.SKS, 'I'lu' couiiLy was (Irst called Micliiliuiackitiac, 
 in mcinorv of an ancient Indian trihc who at one tinic (U'cnpicd this territory. Later, the iiaiia; was 
 ehan);i'd to that whii-h it now lusirs. 
 
 'I'his eonnty is located in about the sontheastern i)art of the Upper I’eninsnla. It is l)f)nnded on 
 the north by Lnee aiul ('hippewa counties, on the east by ('hii)pewa eonnty, on the south by Lake 
 Miehij^an, Straits of Mackinac, and Lake Huron, and on the west by Schoolcraft county. 
 
 d'he total land area is ()50,'255.42 acres, of which about 50, ()()() acres have been converted into 
 farms. 
 
 'Phe population of the county is b,24‘) (lb 10 census.) 
 
 'Phe valuation of taxable land as estimated by the State Board of Tax Commissioners in 1911, is 
 sSS.OOl.bCv 
 
 'Phere are ()0 schools which were attended by 1989 pupils last year requiring the services of 77 
 teachers. 
 
 The county has 2 banks and 2 weekly newspapers, also good telegraph, telephone and rural mail 
 ser\'ice. 
 
 St. Ignace has about 2,500 inhabitants and is the largest town and also the judicial seat of the county. 
 
 It is located on the Duluth South Shore and Atlantic Railroad, and the car ferries which run from 
 St. Ignace to Mackinac City, connect with the Michigan Central and The Grand Rapids & Indiana 
 Railroads. 
 
 It has fine broad streets, good cement walks, electric lights, the purest of water, a bank and 2 news- 
 papers. 
 
 St. Ignace has won the reputation of being one of the finest and most healthful summer resorts 
 in the Upper Peninsula, and the thousands of people who visit here annually, enjoy her natural beauty. 
 In the woodland lakes and trout streams, hidden in the nearby forests are perch, black bass, pike, pickerel, 
 Mackinac trout and brook trout. 
 
 A large amount of shipping passes through her waters on the way to and from Chicago, Buffalo, 
 Detroit and Duluth. 
 
 Mackinac Island is picturesquely located on the south shore of Mackinac county, in the Straits of 
 Mackinac, 18 miles northwest of Cheboygan, 5| from St. Ignace, the nearest rail approach, and 9 from 
 Mackinaw. 
 
 The island is famous as a siunmer resort and is a paradise for the lover of outdoor sports, boating 
 and fishing. 
 
 Among its historice land marks is Mackinac Island Park, ceded by the United States to the State 
 of Michigan for the purpose of a State park. The park comprises old Fort Mackinac with 35 buildings, 
 the military reser\’ation of 104 acres and the old National Park of 911 acres. Fort Mackinac is the 
 second oldest fortification now standing in the United States. 
 
 The religions are represented by churches of the Episcopal, Catholic and Union Alission denomina- 
 tions. There is also a public school. 
 
 Transportation facilities of the county include the Minneapolis St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie; 
 Diiluth South Shore & Atlantic; Manistique Railroads, and the Amo’d S. S. Line; Northern Michigan 
 Trans. Co.; Goodrich Trans. Co.; Erie and Michigan Ry. and Nav. Co.; Canadian, Atlantic Trans. 
 Co.; Mutual Trans. Co., and the Detroit & Cleveland Nav. Co. 
 
 MACOMB COUNTY. 
 
 Alacomb county was laid out and organized in 1818 and was named in honor of Alex Macomb, 
 a General in the United States Anny. 
 
 This county is located in the southeastern part of the Lower Peninsula. It is bounded on the 
 
150 
 
 MICHIGAN 
 
 north by Lapeer and St. Clair conn tics, on the east by St. Clair county, Anchor Bay and Lake St. Clair, 
 on the south by Lake St. Clair and Wayne county, and on the west by Oakland county. 
 
 d'hc total land area is 3()(),()3().2() acres, of which about 287,000 acres are in splendid farms. 
 
 'I'hc population is 32,606 0910 census). 
 
 'I'hc valuation of taxable property as estimated by the State Board of Tax Commissioners in_1911, 
 is $41,803,462. 
 
 The county has 123 schools, attended by 5,808 students last year, requiring 203 teachers. 
 
 There arc 17 banks, 1 daily and 11 weekly newspapers. Excellent telegraph, telephone and rural 
 mail service is found in every community throughout the county. 
 
 Mount Clemens is the judicial seat and the largest city in the county. The population is about 
 9,000. 
 
 The city is located on the Grand Trunk Railway, 36 miles from Port Huron and 21 from Detroit, 
 and on the Detroit United Railway, 2 \ miles from Lake St. Clair. 
 
 It has city water works, fire department, electric lights, a fine high school and 5 ward buildings, 
 a fine public library, churches of the leading denominations, an opera house, 3 banks, 3 newspapers, etc. 
 
 This city is known as the “Carlsbad of America’’ and is visited every year by thousands of health 
 seekers. The estimated amount now invested in the mineral wells, the hotels, boarding houses and 
 bath houses devoted to the treatment of visitors, is about $35,000,000. 
 
 Romeo, a town of about 2,000 inhabitants, is located on the Grand Tntnk Railroad, and on the 
 Detroit United Electric Ry., 20 miles northwest of Mount Clemens and 40 from Detroit It has a 
 municipally owned water works, and electric light plant, about 16 miles of side walks, churches of the 
 Congregational, Baptist, Christian, Lutheran and Methodist denominations, a central school building 
 valued at $35,000 and 2 ward schools, a new $10,000 public library, an opera house, 2 banks and a weekly 
 newspaper. The town is surrounded by one of the best farming districts in the State. 
 
 Richmond has a population of about 1,500. It is located on the Grand Trunk, and Michigan 
 Central Railways, about 16 miles northeast of Moimt Clemens, and 38 miles northeast of Detroit. It 
 is supported by a rich agricultural section, and has Congregational, Methodist Episcopal, Baptist, 
 German Evangelical, Lutheran and Catholic churches, 2 schools, good hotels, an opera house, 2 banks 
 and 2 newspapers, and a number of prosperous manufacturing establishments. The shipments com- 
 prise grain, butter, eggs, apples and live stock. 
 
 Other thriving towns of the county are Annada, Fraser, New Haven, Utica, and Warren. 
 
 The principal transportation facilities of the county include the Grand Trunk, Michigan Central, 
 Pere Marquette Railroads, and the Detroit United Railway (electric). 
 
 MANISTEE COUNTY. 
 
 Manistee county was laid out in 1840 and was organized in 1855. The name is taken from the 
 river which flows through it and empties into Lake Michigan within its borders. The word is of Indian 
 origin and is supposed to mean “river with islands.’’ 
 
 It is located in the western part of the Lower Peninsula, and is boimded on the north by Benzie 
 county, on the east by W'exford county, on the south by Mason and Lake counties, and on the west 
 by Lake Michigan. 
 
 The total land area of the county is 350,101.39 acres. Of this number about 145,00 acres are in 
 farms. 
 
 The population is 26,688 (1910 census). 
 
 The valuation of taxable land as estimated by the State Board of Tax Commissioners in 1911, 
 is $18,195,005. 
 
 The county has 76 schools, an enrollment of 5,283 students, requiring the services of 181 teachers. 
 
 There are 7 banks, 2 daily and 7 weekly newspapers. 
 
 Good telegraph, telephone and niral mail servdee is found in nearly every locality. 
 
M I (’ II I ('. A N 
 
 I SI 
 
 Mimisttr is tlu' t'ouiily si'al and llic larj.',cst. cily, having; alioni, iiiliahil aiiL:; fldlO 
 
 ll is lu'aut il iilly located on the sliorc of hake Micliij^an at. Ilic inonlh of t,lic ManisLcc river, 17S mile;; 
 by water fnan t'hi('a>;o. It is a station on the I’ei'e Mar(|nett,e, Manistee cK' Nortliea;.t,ern, and tlu; 
 Manislei' X- (irand Rapids Railroads. 'I'he city is situated in tlie famous Northern Miefii^^an l''rnit 
 lU'lt and lias a tributary territory of j^nsit prodiiel iveness. It has well jiaved and ;;haded i.treets, 
 a niodern electric' lij;htin^; plant , a nuinieipally owned water works, a modernly e(|nipi)C'd lire deiiartmerit, 
 2 hospittils, a pnblie library, an opc'ra house, bc'anlifnl parks, first class hotels, ^ banks, 2 daily and 2 
 wc'ckly nc'wspapers, also a };;ood school systc'tn. 'I'here are ehnrchcs of the ( longrej'ational, baptist, 
 ICpiseopal, (ic'nnan Lntlu'ran, Methodist, Unittirian and Ckatholic denominations. This enty is well 
 known as a summer resort. 
 
 'fhe more important industrial interest include saw, shingle and planing mills, salt blocks, a mo- 
 ernly eciuip])ed dry dock and shipyard, iron works, brewery, tower eloek faetory, cooperage machinery 
 works, emery wheel works, furniture factories, saw and tool works, shoe factory, lumber and mill carts, 
 carriages, wagons and sleighs. Hour mills, briek and tile works, novelty works, broom factory, boiler 
 and engine wewks, cigar factories, glove, candy and shirt factories, etc. 
 
 Other towns of the eounty are Rear Lake, Copemish, and Onekama. 
 
 Ti'ansportation facilities of the county arc the Manistee & Northeastern, Arcadia & Betsey River, 
 Pere Maniuette, Ann Arbor, Manistee c^' Luther, and the Manistee and Grand Rapids Railroads, the 
 Northern Michigan Trans. Co., and the Pere Marquette line of steamers. 
 
 MARQUETTE COUNTY. 
 
 Marquette county was laid out in 1843 and was organized in 1851 and was named in honor of Father 
 Jaques Marquette, who established several missions among the Indians. 
 
 It is located in the northern part of the Upper Peninsula, is bounded on the north by Lake Superior, 
 east by Alger and Delta counties. South by Dickinson, Menominee and Delta counties, and west by 
 Iron and Baraga counties. 
 
 The total land area is 1,182,851.15 acres. Of this number, about 68,000 acres are in farms. 
 
 The total population is 46,739 (1910 census). 
 
 In 1911, the State Board of Tax Commissioners placed a valuation of $74,089,264 on aU taxable 
 lands. 
 
 The countj" has 92 schools, furnishing positions for 342 teachers, and a total enrollment of 10,253 
 students. 
 
 There are 10 banks, 2 daily and 6 weekly newspapers. There is also good telegraph, telephone 
 and rural mail service. 
 
 Marqtiette is the county seat and has about 12,000 inhabitants. It is pictrrresquely located on 
 the south shore of Lake Superior on an inlet known as Marquette Bay, 170 miles west of Sault Ste. 
 Marie. It is the metropolis of the mining interests of the Lake Superior iron region. The first iron 
 dock was built in 1845. 
 
 This cit}^ is the general headquarters of the Duluth South Shore & Atlantic Railroad, also the home 
 office of the Lake Superior and Ishpeming Ry. It has wide and well laid out streets, a complete sewerage 
 system, thoroughly equipped fire department, good water works, police department, mtmicipal light 
 and power plant, a public library, a normal school library, an opera house, a $250,000 court house, first 
 class hotels, 3 hospitals, a $50,000 city hall. This is also the location of the Upper Peninsula State 
 Prison and House of Correction. The school property includes 10 buildings, the high school, which 
 includes the Manual Training School, costing about $100,000. There are churches of the leading denomi- 
 nations, also 3 banks, 1 weekly and 2 daily newspapers. 
 
 The manufacturing interests comprise iron works, foundry and machine shops, saw and planing 
 mills, brewery, powder plant, charcoal works, carriage and wagon works, boiler and sheet iron works, 
 gas light plant, etc. There is also a large stone quarry udthin the citj^ limits. 
 
152 
 
 MICHIGAN 
 
 the largest city in the county has a population of about 12,448 (1910 census). It is 
 located on the Duluth South Shcjre & Atlantic, Chicago & Northwestern, and the Lake Superior & 
 Ish])cnung Railroads, 15 miles southwest of Marquette, and 3 west of Negaunee. 
 
 1 L is the largest city and one of the most important mining centers in the Lake Superior iron distriet, 
 having located within its corporate limits 8 iron mines; there is also a smelting furnace, a boiler shop, 
 carriage and wagon factories, etc. There are churches of the leading denominations, good public and 
 I)arochial schools, an opera house, a public library. The city is lighted by gas and electricity, has a good 
 water works system, cfllcient fire department, 2 banks, 4 weekly newspapers, etc. 
 
 Negaunee has a population of about 8,460 (U. S. census 1910). It is located on the Duluth South 
 vShore & Atlantic, Chicago & Northwestern, and the Lake Superior & Ishpeming railways, in the heart 
 of the iron district, 12 miles southwest of Marquette and 3 from Ishpeming. 
 
 The city is lighted by electricity, has water works, a well equipped fire department. Episcopal, 
 Methodist, Presbyterian, Catholic, Swedish and Finnish Lutheran churches, 6 school buildings, an 
 opera house, a library, 3 banks and a weekly newspaper. 
 
 The principal transportation facilities of the county are the Chicago Milwaukee & St. Paul, Es- 
 canaba & Lake Superior, Chicago & Northwestern, Munising Marquette & Southeastern, Lake Superior 
 & Ishpeming, and the Duluth South Shore & Atlantic railroads, and the Erie & Western Trans. Co., 
 and the Northern S. S. Co. 
 
 MASON COUNTY. 
 
 This county was originally laid out in 1840 and was named Notipekago, the Indian name of Pere 
 Marquette river. Later, in 1843 the name was changed and the present name given in honor of Stevens 
 T. Mason, the first Governor of the State. The county was organized in 1855. 
 
 It is located in the extreme west central part of the Lower Peninsula, is bounded on the north by 
 Manistee county, on the east by Lake county, on the south by Oceana county, and on the west by Lake 
 Michigan. 
 
 The total land area is 315,526.87 acres, of which about 172,000 acres are in fine fanns. 
 
 The population is 21,832 (1910 census). 
 
 The valuation of taxable land as estimated by the State Board of Tax Commissioners in 1911, 
 is $13,791,430. 
 
 The county has a school system equal to those of the larger counties, there being 78 schools, attended 
 by 4,834 students, requiring the services of 153 teachers. 
 
 There are 8 banks, 1 daily and 5 weekly newspapers. 
 
 Good telegraph, telephone and rural mail service is found in nearly all localities. 
 
 Ludington is the judicial seat, also the largest city in the county, having about 9,132 inhabitants. 
 It is situated about half way up the east shore of Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Pere Marquette 
 river, 98 miles from Milwaukee and 156 from Chicago. It is the western tenninus of the Pere Mar- 
 quette Railroad, and is in the heart of the Michigan fruit belt. 
 
 The city has paved streets, good sewerage system, excellent schools, a fine public library, an efficient 
 fire department, electric light and power plant, an opera house, first class hotels, domestic gas for fuel 
 and light, a municipally owned water works system, churches of the Congregational, Episcopal, Danish 
 Episcopal, German Lutheran, Methodist, Baptist, Norwegian Baptist, Presbyterian, Swedish Lutheran 
 and Catholic denominations, 2 banlcs, 3 newspapers, etc. 
 
 Among the more prominent industrial establishments are saw and shingle mills, several big salt 
 factories, including one of the largest salt producing plants in the world, one of the largest manufactories 
 of game boards in the world, watch case factory, foundry, machine shops, boiler works, planing and 
 feed mill, a cannery, boat and engine works, cigar factories, mamfiactories of wood type and printers’ 
 specialities, vehicle specialties, woodenware, enameled wood goods, baskets, sash, doors and blinds, 
 snuff, wooden bowls, a grain elevator, etc. 
 
M I (' II I ('. A N 
 
 \S.\ 
 
 Ludiiij^toii is I’tn’ its smnmci' rcsmi I'licilit ics. 
 
 OtluT towns of tlu' county nrc Scot t xillc, Ijx)]) l.lOO), .'ind ('nstcr, fpo]). .V2.S). 
 
 Scottvillc is locntcd on tlu- I'cn- M;n(|ncttc Knilrond ;ind on the I’crc M.'ir(|nct.t c river, 9 tnilc. 
 i-ast of Lndinyton, and 10 west of Keed ('ity. It is sn|)|)ortcd liy a ricli fanninj^ district, and fia-; 
 churches of scvi-ral ill-nominations, a yraded iinhlic school, water works, an opi-ra Itonse, (lour mill, 
 j;rain clc\'alor, luitlcr factory, 2 hanks and a weekly newsi)aper. Quantitii-s of j^rain, laitti-r, fruit. 
 Hour, potatoes and prodnee arc sliippcd. 
 
 Tin- transportation facilities of tlu- county include the Manistee & ('irand Rapiils, Ludinf'ton & 
 Northern, and the Tere Mariiuette Railroads, the here Maniuctte S. S. Line, the Northern Michigan 
 Trans. C'o. 
 
 MI-:C()STA COUNTY. 
 
 Mecosta county was laid out in 1840 and was organized in 1859. The name is that of a once famous 
 Potlawalotnie chief and is thought to mean “bear cub.” 
 
 'rihs eoindv is located in about the west central part of the Lower Peninsula and is bounded on the 
 north by Osceola county, on the cast by Isabella county, on the south by Montcalm county, and on the 
 west by Newaygo county. 
 
 The total laiul area comprises 562,778.58 acres. Of this number, about 286,000 acres arc devoted 
 to good fanns. 
 
 The poiKilation is 19,466 (1910 census). 
 
 In 1911, the State Board of Tax Commissioners placed a valuation of $10,936,441 on all taxable 
 lands. 
 
 There are 113 schools, which were attended by 4,383 pupils last year, requiring the services of 162 
 teachers. 
 
 The county has 6 banks, 2 daily and 5 weekly newspapers. 
 
 Telephone, telegraph and rural mail service is found throughout the county. 
 
 Big Rapids, the judicial seat and largest city of the county has a population of about 5,000. It is 
 located on the Grand Rapids & Indiana, and the Pere Marquette Railroads, 56 miles north of Grand 
 Rapids. 
 
 The city is named after the big rapids of the Muskegon river, which flows through it and furnishes 
 unexcelled water power. It is lighted by electricity, has a good water works system, fire and police 
 departments, excellent sewerage system, a public library, an opera house, a court house costing about 
 $30,000, good hotels, paved streets, 2 banks and 3 newspapers. The religious and educational 
 advantages include Congregational, Episcopal, Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Catholic, Norwegian 
 Lutheran, German Lutheran and Swedish Lutheran churches, a central high and 3 ward schools, and 
 the Ferris institute which is knowm throughout the country. 
 
 Among the city’s prominent industries are planing and saw mills, maple floor factories, gas light 
 and fuel plant, electric light and power plant, machine shop, and manufactories of furniture, cigars, 
 brooms, flour, spring seats, hot blast grates, saw filing machiner\^ carriages, veneer, brick, etc. 
 
 Other thriving communities of the county are Barryton, Mecosta, Morley, and Stanwood. 
 
 The principal transportation facilities of the county are the Grand Rapids & Indiana, and the 
 Pere Marquette Railroads 
 
 MENOMINEE COUNTY. 
 
 Menominee county was laid out by the Legislature in 1861 as Bleeker county, but the following 
 session, in 1863, it was organized and the name changed to that which it now bears. The word Menom- 
 inee is derived from the Chippewas and means “good grain.’’ 
 
 It is located in the extreme south central part of the Upper Peninsula. Is bounded on the north 
 by Dickinson, Marquette and Delta counties, on the east by Delta county and Green Bay, on the south 
 by Green Bay and Wisconsin, and on the west by Wisconsin and Dickinson counties. 
 
154 
 
 MICHIGAN 
 
 The total land area is 670,297.43 acres. Of this number, about 168,000 acres are devoted to fine 
 productive fanns. 
 
 The population is 25,648 (1910 census). 
 
 The valuation of taxable property as estimated by the State Board of Tax Commissioners in 1911, 
 is $19,673,938. 
 
 There are 101 schools, attended by 6,445 students, requiring 195 teachers. 
 
 The county has 6 banks, 1 daily and 2 weekly newspapers, also good telegraph, telephone and rural 
 mail servdcc. 
 
 Menominee, the county seat and largest city, has about 12,000 inhabitants. It is prettily located 
 at the mouth of Menominee river, on the shore of Green Bay, on the Chicago Northwestern, Chicago 
 Milwaukee & St. Paul, and the Wisconsin & Michigan Railroads, 264 miles from Chicago and 137 from 
 Marquette. 
 
 The city is lighted by electricity and gas, has good water works system, paved streets, splendid 
 sewerage system, a well equipped fire department, a public library, first class hotels, a postoffice com- 
 pleted at a cost of about $50,000, an opera house, 3 banks, 1 newspaper, etc. 
 
 The manufacturing industries include an immense beet sugar plant, one of the largest manufactories 
 of children’s vehicles in the U. S., the second largest saw mill machinery manufactory and steel 
 casting plant in the country, an electric manufacturing plant, one of the largest and best equipped 
 canning plants in the world, also several smaller industries. 
 
 There are churches of the Episcopal, Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptist, German Methodist, Lutheran, 
 Norwegian Lutheran, Catholic, Seventh Day Adventist, Swedish Lutheran and Swedish Methodist 
 denominations. There are nine public schools, a high school building costing $65,000. The Menominee 
 County School of Agriculture and Domestic Science is located here. The surrounding coimtry is a 
 productive agricultural section. 
 
 Other towns of the county are Daggett, and Stephenson. 
 
 The principal transportation facilities of the county are the Chicago & Northwestern, Wisconsin 
 & Michigan, Miimeapolis St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie, and the Chicago Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroads. 
 
 MIDLAND COUNTY. 
 
 Midland county was laid out in 1831 and was organized in 1850. The name is descriptive of the 
 geographical location of this county as it is very nearly in the center of the Lower Peninsula. 
 
 It is bounded on the north by Gladwin cotuity on the east by Bay and Saginaw counties, on the 
 south by Gratiot and Saginaw counties, and on the west by Isabella county. 
 
 The total land area is 336,476.23 acres, of which about 177,000 acres are in farms wffiich are very 
 productive. 
 
 The population is 14,005 (U. S. census 1910). 
 
 The valuation of all taxable lands as estimated by the State Board of Tax Commissioners in 1911, 
 is $9,239,473. 
 
 There are 87 schools, supplying positions for 125 teachers, and 3,812 children in attendance. 
 
 The county has 4 banks and 3 weekly newspapers. 
 
 Telegraph, telephone and mral mail ser\dce is found in nearly every locality. 
 
 Midland, the county seat and largest town of the county, has about 3,000 inhabitants. It is located 
 at the confluence of the Tittabawassee and Chippewa rivers, and on the Pere Marquette and Michigan 
 Central Railroads, about 20 miles northwest of Saginaw and 18 west of Bay City. It is well laid out 
 with broad and well shaded streets, has churches of the Episcopal, Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist, 
 German Lutheran and Catholic denominations; 6 good schools, a free library, an opera house, has good 
 sewerage and water works, good hotels, 2 banks and 2 weekly newspapers. 
 
 The manufacturing industries consist of flour, lumber, shingle, lath, cider and heading mills, pickle 
 depots, brick and tile works, cigar factories, electric lighting plant, chemical works, a bleaching powder 
 
M I (' II I ('. A N 
 
 IS.S 
 
 faolory, I'ouiulry, luacliiiu' sliops, cU’. 'I'lu' siirrouiKlin^^ cotiiilry produces cxccIlctiL cro[)S of wheat, 
 oats, liay, hisiiis, sup.ar liei'l.s, eUs 
 
 (.'oleiuaii lias a population of about 1 , 100. I L is located on the I ’ere Mar(|uette Ky., 20 mih^s nortfi- 
 west of Midland, and It) from Saginaw. 
 
 lias ICpiseopal, Presbyterian, Mi'thodist, batter I )ay Saints, and ('atholie ehnrehes, yu(i<\ eilnea- 
 tional advanta^^es, an electric lij;htinf^ plant, a bank and a weekly newsiiaper. 
 
 'I'lic county’s transiiortation facilities include the Miehij^an ('entral, .and Perc Maninette Railroads. 
 
 MlSSAUIvlCh: COUNTY. 
 
 Missaukee county was laid out in 1840 and was organized in 1871. It was named for a famous 
 Ottawa (diief and the name is thought to mean “at large mouth of river.” 
 
 'I'he cx)unty is located in about the north central [lart of the Lower Peninsula. Is bounded on the 
 north by Kalkaska county, on the cast by Roscommon county, on the south by Osceola and Clare counties, 
 and on the west by Wexford county. 
 
 The total land area is 868,289.57 acres, of which about 148,000 acres are now devoted to farms. 
 
 The jiopulation is 10,606 (1910 census). 
 
 The valuation of taxable property as estimated by the State Board of Tax Commissioners in 1911, 
 is $5,575,61 1. 
 
 There are 68 schools, which were attended by 2,707 students last year, requiring 102 teachers. 
 
 The county has 4 banks and 8 weekly newspapers. Also telegraph, telephone and rural mail service. 
 
 Lake City is the largest town, also the county seat, and has a population of about 800. It is situ- 
 ated on the Grand Rapids & Indiana Ry., 16 miles from Cadillac and 118 from Grand Rapids. It is 
 the receiving and distributing point for a tributary section having good agricultural possibilities. Has 
 electric light and water works plant, churches of the Methodist, Episcopal, Free Methodist, Presbyterian 
 and Catholic denominations, a good school system, an opera house, flour and saw mills, 2 banks and 
 2 weekly newspapers. 
 
 McBain has a population of about 750. It is located on the Ann Arbor Ry., 10 miles south of 
 Lake City. 
 
 It has Methodist and Presbyterian churches, a bank and a weekly newspaper. 
 
 The principal transportation facilities of the county are the Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids & Indiana,, 
 and the Pere Marquette Railroads. 
 
 MONROE COUNTY. 
 
 Monroe county was laid out in 1817 and was organized in 1822, and was named in honor of President 
 Monroe. 
 
 This county is located in the extreme southeastern part of the Lower Peninsula. It is bormded 
 on the north by Washtenaw and Wame counties, on the east by Lake Erie, on the south by Ohio and 
 on the west by Lenawee county. 
 
 The total land area is 855,292.52 acres, about 888,000 acres of which are in splendid farms. 
 
 The population is 82,917 (1910 census). 
 
 The valuation of taxable property as estimated by the State Board of Tax Commissioners in 1911, 
 is $88,968,252. 
 
 There are 145 schools, furnishing positions for 199 teachers, and an enrollment of 6,287 students. 
 
 The county has 18 banks and 10 weekly newspapers, also good telegraph, telephone and rural mail 
 service. 
 
 Monroe, the second oldest city in the State and the judicial seat of Monroe county has a popula- 
 tion of about 7,500. It is situated on the River Raisin, about 8 miles above its mouth on Lake Erie, 
 
156 
 
 MICHIGAN 
 
 and is a station on the Lake Shore & Michigan vSouthern, Michigan Central, and Pere Marquette Rail- 
 roads, 35 miles southwest of Detroit and 25 from Toledo, Ohio. 
 
 The Detroit United Railway (electric) connects Detroit, Toledo and Monroe. 
 
 The city is lighted by electricity, has good water works system, a well equipped fire department, 
 good .sewerage system, churches of the leading denominations, a fine high school building and several 
 ward schools. There is also a Catholic orphan asylum for girls, a convent, the St. Mary’s Academy, 
 and St. Mary’s College, a handsome public library, a court house costing about $40,000, 3 newspapers, 
 etc. 
 
 The manufactures include flour, lumber, sash, doors and blinds, furniture frames, glass, paper 
 boxes, cordage, beer, wine, pumps, cigars, butter, cheese, agricultural implements, paper, carriages, 
 wagons, etc. Within the past few years the beef industry has developed wonderfully, the people of the 
 county giving special attention to rearing fine beef cattle, also the well known Percheron horses. 
 
 The land in the neighborhood is fertile, and grain, grass, fruit, grapes and berries are grown in large 
 ejuantities. Monroe is also noted for its extensive nurseries. 
 
 Dundee has a population of about 1,100, and is located on the River Raisin, and on the Ann Arbor, 
 Detroit Toledo & fronton, and the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railways, 15 miles west of 
 Monroe, 22 northwest of Toledo, O., and 48 southwest of Detroit. 
 
 The town is lighted by electricity, has Congregational, Baptist, German Lutheran and Methodist 
 churches, good educational advantages, 2 banks and a weekly newspaper. 
 
 Other towns are Maybee, and Petersburg. 
 
 The principal transportation facilities of the coimty are the Detroit & Toledo Shore Line, Michigan 
 Central, Lake Shore & Michigan Southern, Pere Marquette, Detroit Toledo & Ironton, Ann Arbor, 
 Wabash, and the Toledo Ann Arbor & Jackson Railways. 
 
 MONTCALM COUNTY. 
 
 Montcalm county was laid out in 1831 and was organized in 1850, and was named in honor of Mar- 
 quis De Montcalm. 
 
 It is located in about the west central part of the Lower Peninsula and is bounded on the north 
 by Mecosta and Isabella counties, on the east by Gratiot County, on the south by Ionia and Kent 
 cormties, and on the west by Newaygo and Kent counties. 
 
 The total land area is 454,460.77 acres, about 393,000 acres of which are in splendid farms. 
 
 The population is 32,069 (U. S. census 1910). 
 
 The valuation of taxable property as estimated by the State Board of Tax Commissioners in 1911, 
 is $20,829,816. 
 
 There are 143 schools, with an enrollment of 6,879 students, requiring the services of 239 teachers. 
 
 The county has 18 banks, 1 daily and 11 weekly newspapers, also telegraph, telephone and rural 
 mail service. 
 
 Stanton, the county seat, has a population of about 1,200. It is located on the Pere Marquette 
 R. R., 24 miles north of Ionia, and 61 northwest of Lansing. 
 
 It is lighted by electricity, has water works, churches of the Congregational, Methodist, Free Meth- 
 odist, Baptist and Catholic denominations, a union school building, 2 opera houses, a new court house 
 costing about $80,000, a bank and 2 weekly newspapers. The soil in the vicinity is especially adapted 
 for farming. 
 
 Greenville with its 4,200 inhabitants, is the largest city in the county. 
 
 It is located on the Flat River, and on the Grand Trunk and Pere Marquette Railroads, 15 miles 
 southeast of Stanton, and 41 northeast of Grand Rapids. 
 
 It is lighted by electricity and gas, has water works, fixe department. Episcopal, Congregational, 
 Adventist, Baptist, Catholic, Danish Lutheran, and Methodist churches, excellent schools, a ladies’ 
 library, 2 public halls, good hotels, 3 banks, a daily and weekly newspaper. 
 
M I (' II I ('. A N 
 
 l,S7 
 
 'I'Ik' inaiiufart uriii^; iiili'rcsls iiu-hulc .1 (lotir mills, 2 of (lie lar>;csl. rcfri^'oraloc f.'icloric", in America, 
 siiU'hoonl factory, ayricullural implcmeiil factories, lilasL ftirnacc, praiii and i)ol,al,o |)lanl,er faclories, 
 plaiiinp and saw milts, cider mill, sasli and door factories, 2 elect, ric lijdd, .and power plant.:;, ,a f)Ot,at,f» 
 starch factory, cti'. 
 
 ('irccnvillc is known as oiu' of tlu' most imi)()rtant i)otriLo markets in the .State. 
 
 (Mhcr important towns itu'lndc Howard ('ity (pop. 1,100), ('.arson ('ity (pop. 1,000), I'almore (]>(>]>. 
 .''()()), Lakeview ti>op. 1,000), McBrides and Slu-ridan, .all snrronnded by j^ood f.arminf^ country. 
 
 'I'lu' transportation facilities of tlu' comity are tlu' (Irand Rapids & Indiana, Bore Marfinettc and 
 ('irand 'I'rnnk Railroads. 
 
 MONTMORICNCY COUNTY. 
 
 In 1.S40, this county w.as laid out and was then named Checonociuet, for a Chijipewa chief, d’hc 
 muue is supposed to mean “Big Cloud.’’ In 1843 the county was organized and the present name 
 given it. It is uncertain what the name Montmorency commemorates. 
 
 4'his county is located in the northern part of the Lower Peninsula. Is bounded on the north by 
 Cheboygan and Presque Isle counties, on the east by Alpena county, on the south by Oscoda county, 
 and on the west by Otsego county. 
 
 The total land area is 355,528.77 acres, and about 56,()()() acres are already devoted to farms. 
 
 The population is 3,755 (1910 census). 
 
 In 1911, the State Board of Tax Commissioners placed a valuation of $2,022,828 on all taxable 
 land. 
 
 The county has 32 schools, furnishing positions for 37 teachers, and an enrollment of 743 students. 
 
 There are 3 banks and 3 weekly newspapers. 
 
 Telephone, telegraph and rural mail service is also to be found. 
 
 Atlanta is the county seat and has about 200 inhabitants. It is located 14 miles from Lewiston 
 which is on the Michigan Central Railroad, and is the shipping point, and 39 west of Alpena. Has a 
 Congregational church, a bank and a weekly newspaper. 
 
 Hillman has a population of about 500, and is located on Thunder Bay river, and on the Detroit 
 & Mackinac Railroad, 16 miles northeast of Atlanta, and 24 from Alpena. Has Episcopal, Presbyterian, 
 Alethodist Episcopal and Catholic Churches, a bank and a weekly newspaper. 
 
 The principal transportation facilities of the county are the Michigan Central, Detroit & Mackinac, 
 and the Bojme City Gaylord & Alpena Railroads. 
 
 MUSKEGON COUNTY. 
 
 Muskegon county was laid out and organized in 1859. It took its name from the river running 
 through it and emptying into Lake Michigan. The word is taken from the Pottowattomie language 
 and is thought to mean “Marshy River.’ 
 
 It is located in the extreme west central part of the Lower Peninsula, and is bounded on the north 
 by Oceana and Newaygo coimties, on the east by Newaygo and Kent eounties, on the south by Ottawa 
 county and on the west by Lake Michigan. 
 
 The total land area is 322,434.68 acres, of which about 185,000 acres are in fine farms. 
 
 The population is 40,577 (1910 census). 
 
 The valuation of taxable land as estimated by the State Board of Tax Commissioners in 1911, 
 is $29,183,320. 
 
 There are 116 schools, attended by 8,437 students, requiring the ser\fices of 311 teachers. 
 
 The county has 10 banks, 2 daily and 4 weekly newspapers, also telegraph, telephone and rural 
 mail service. 
 
 Muskegon is the judicial seat, also the largest city in the county, having over 30,000 inhabitants. 
 It is located on the east shore of Lake Michigan, and on the Pere Marquette, Grand Rapids & Indiana 
 
158 
 
 MICHIGAN 
 
 and the Grand Trunk Railroads, and the Grand Rapids Grand Haven & Muskegon Ry. (electric). 
 It is one of the best harl)ors on the cast shore of Lake Michigan and is located directly across the lake 
 from Milwaukee, being 84 miles distant from that city and 113 from Chicago, to which cities, boat ser- 
 vice is maintained all the year round. At this point the Muskegon river broadens out into a beautiful 
 lake 6 miles long and from 1 to 3 miles wide, which empties into Lake Michigan through a channel 300 
 feet wide and of sufficient depth to admit into the harbor the largest and heaviest vessels that ply the 
 lakes. 
 
 The city has an area of 6 square miles, 35 miles of pavement 40 miles of public sewers, 5 public 
 parks, covering 85 acres, a thoroughly equipped fire department, municipally owned water works, 21 
 public school buildings, one of the best equipped free manual training schools in the United States, 
 many churches of different denominations, first class hotels, theatres, a beautiful public library costing 
 $230,000, 2 hospitals, 4 banks, 2 daily and 1 weekly newspaper, etc. 
 
 The city is in the great Michigan fruit belt and in the vicinity are some of the finest and most pro- 
 ductive sections devoted to raising the small fruits, grapes, peaches, plums and apples. The rich lands 
 of the Muskegon river bottom are especially adapted to the cultivation of celery, which promises to 
 become a most important industry. 
 
 Among the more prominent industries are iron foundries and machine shops, a refrigerator works, 
 billiard and pool table factory and a curtain roller factory which are among the largest in the world, 
 automobile works, marine motor works, paper mill, furniture factories, brewery, electric cranes, etc. 
 
 The city of Muskegon Heights which adjoins the city limits, has a population of about 3,000. 
 
 Whitehall has a population of about 1,800. It is located at the head of White Lake and on the 
 Pere Marquette Railroad, 16 miles north of Muskegon, and 5 inland from Lake Michigan, and Montague, 
 with about 1,200 inhabitants, located at the head of White Lake, opposite Whitehall, on the Pere Mar- 
 quette Railroad, 19 miles from Muskegon and about 6 from Lake Michigan, are other thriving towns 
 of Muskegon County. 
 
 The principal transportation facilities of the county are the Pere Marquette, Grand Trunk, Grand 
 Rapids & Indiana, and the Grand Rapids Grand Haven & Muskegon Railroads, and the Goodrich 
 Crosby Trans. Go’s Boat Lines. 
 
 NEWAYGO COUNTY. 
 
 Newaygo county was laid out in 1840 and organized in 1851, the name being that of a famous 
 Chippewa Chief. 
 
 It is located in the west central part of the Lower Peninsula, and is bounded on the north by Lake 
 county, on the east by Mecosta and Montcalm counties, on the sotith by Muskegon and Kent counties, 
 and on the west by Oceana and Muskegon counties. 
 
 The total land area is 542,741.03 acres. Of this nvunber about 326,000 acres are devoted to farms 
 which are very productive. 
 
 The population is 19,220 (federal census 1910). 
 
 The valuation of taxable land as estimated by the State Board of Tax Commissioners in 1911, is 
 $13,884,995. 
 
 There are 127 schools, furnishing positions for 185 teachers, and an enrollment of 4,706 students. 
 
 The county has 7 banks, 5 weekly newspapers, also telephone, telegraph and rural mail service. 
 
 White Cloud, which is the county seat, has a population of about 700. It is located on the White 
 river, and on the Pere Marquette Railroad, 35 miles northeast of Muskegon and 45 north of Grand 
 Rapids. It owns and operates its own electric light and water works plant, has a fire department, public 
 haU, excellent schools, churches of the Congregational, Methodist, Swedish Evangelical and Catholic 
 denominations, 2 banks and 2 weekly newspapers. 
 
 Fremont, the largest town of the county has about 2,000 inhabitants. It is located on the Pere 
 Marquette Railroad 12 miles northeast of Newaygo, 24 northeast of Muskegon, and 58 north of Grand 
 
M I (' II I ('. A N 
 
 1.S9 
 
 Rapids, I las C 'oii^^ri'p.at ioiial, Mi-t hodist, United Mrethren, Holland, I )i:;eiplcs, .'irid C'atliolie clinrehes, 
 l)nlilie liall, water works, };ood schools, Hour mills, s;ivv mill, t.'umery, eatminj,' factory, [jickle hictory, 
 eleiirie lip.htin^ plant, 2 hanks, ;i weekly nt'wspaper, c‘tc. 
 
 Other hnvns of the eonnty iiu'lndi' ('irant, (|)op. 500), ;ind Ncwayy^o, (i)op. 1,500). 
 
 I’rineipal transportation facility of the comity is the I’ere Manincttc Railroad. 
 
 OAKLAND COUNTY. 
 
 Oakland county was Laid out in ISIO ;vnd orj^anizcd in 1820. The county was so named because 
 of the numerous oak openings. Bela Iluhl),ard in his “Memorials of a ILalf C'entury” speaks of the 
 character of the “oiienings" as that of “a majestic orchard of o,aks and hickories varied by small prairies, 
 grassy loams and clear lakes.” 
 
 It is located in the southeastern part of the Lower Peninsula, and is bounded on the north by Gene- 
 see and Lapeer counties, on the east by Macomb county, on the south by Washtenaw and Wayne 
 counties, ami on the west by Livingston and Genesee counties. 
 
 The total land area is 575,400.15 acres, of which about 543,000 acres are in farms which are among 
 the finest in the State. 
 
 The pojnilation is 49,576 (LT. S. census 1910). 
 
 The valuation of taxable property as estimated by the State Board of Tax Commissioners in 1911, 
 is $55,543,810. 
 
 The county has a splendid school system. There are 213 schools, an enrollment of 9,407 students 
 students last year, requiring 379 teachers. 
 
 There are 22 banks, 1 daily and 1 monthly and eleven weekly newspapers. Good telegraph, tele- 
 phone and rural mail service is found in every locality. 
 
 Pontiac, the largest city, also the judicial seat of the county has about 16,000 inhabitants. It is 
 located on the Clinton river, on the Detroit United Railway (electric), the Grand Trunk, and the Pontiac 
 Oxford cY Northern Railroads, 26 miles northwest of Detroit and 57 miles southwest of Port Huron. 
 
 The city is beautifully located in the heart of Michigan’s inland lake district, has broad and well 
 shaded streets, is lighted by electricity, has w^ater works, an efficient fire department, sewerage system, 
 churches of the leading denominations, 8 graded schools and a $70,000 high school building, a public 
 library, theatres, first class hotels, a public hospital, a court house costing $120,000, a handsome city 
 hall, 4 banks, a daily and weekly newspaper, and is the location of the Pontiac State Hospital. 
 
 The larger manufacturing industries included a wire fence factory, spring factory, planing mills, 
 bending works, and manufactories of auto tops, autos, motor trucks, knit goods, paint, leather goods, 
 bean pickers and seeders, woodwork wheels, oak flooring, vinegar, flour, tools, machinerjq etc. 
 
 Rochester has a population of about 2,000. It is located at the confluence of the Clinton river 
 and Paint creek, on the Michigan Air Line division Grand Trunk Railway, the Bay City division 
 Michigan Central Railroad, and on the Flint division of the Detroit United Railway (electric), 9 miles 
 northeast of Pontiac, and 27 from Detroit. 
 
 It has Congregational, Methodist, Baptist and Universalist churches, a graded public school, a 
 ladies’ library, an opera house, good hotels, 2 banks and 2 weekly newspapers. 
 
 The industries include paper and saw mills, tile roofing factory, handle factory, woolen mills, foundry", 
 electric light works, etc. 
 
 Other enterprising towns of the cotmty include Birmingham, Clarkston, Farmington, Holly, Leonard, 
 Milford, Orion, Ortonville, Oxford, Royal Oak, and South Lyon. 
 
 The principal transportation facilities of the county are the Alichigan Central, Grand Trunk, Pere 
 Marquette, and the Pontiac Oxford & Northern Railroads, and the Detroit United Ry. (electric.) 
 
160 
 
 MICHIGAN 
 
 OCEANA COUNTY. 
 
 Oceana county was laid out in 1831, and was organized in 1855. It is so named because of its 
 bodering upon the large fresh water sea or ocean. 
 
 It is located in the extreme west central part of the Lower Peninsula. The boundaries are Mason 
 county on the north, Newaygo county on the east, Muskegon county on the south, and Lake Michigan 
 on the west. 
 
 The total land area is 345,416.25 acres. Of this number, about 244,000 acres are devoted to fine 
 fanns. 
 
 The population is 18,379 (1910 census). 
 
 In 1911, the State Board of Tax Commissioners placed a valuation of $11,853,671 on all taxable 
 land. 
 
 There are 95 schools, furnishing positions for 156 teachers, and a total of 4,314 pupils in attendance. 
 
 The county has 8 banks, 7 weekly newspapers, also splendid telegraph, telephone and rural mail 
 service. 
 
 Hart, the judicial seat and largest town in the county has a population of about 1,600. It is located 
 on the Perc Marcpiette Railroad, and on the south branch of the Pentwater river, 8 miles south of Pent- 
 water, and 42 north of Muskegon. 
 
 It is lighted by electricity, has water works, fire department, a high school building erected at a 
 cost of about $50,000, churches of several denominations, 2 banks and 3 weekly newspapers. 
 
 The industries include saw, flour, planing and shingle mills, canning factories, etc. The shipments 
 comprise peaches, plums, small fruits, potatoes, lumber, flour, wheat, canned goods and wool. 
 
 Pentwater has a poprtlation of about 1,400. This town is located on the shore of Lake Michigan 
 at the outlet of Pentwater lake, and on the Pere Marquette Railroad, 8 miles northwest of Hart, and 
 44 north of Muskegon. 
 
 It is lighted by electricity, has Baptist, Episcopal, Methodist, Church of Christ, and Catholic 
 churches, excellent educational advantages, a public library, an opera house, a fire department, water 
 works, a fruit canning factory, 2 banks and a weekly newspaper. 
 
 The shipments consist of lumber, lath, shingles, tanbark, fish and large quantities of apples, peaches, 
 potatoes and produce. 
 
 Other towns of the county are Hesperia, Shelby and Walkercille. 
 
 The principal transportation facilities of the county are the Pere Marquette Railroad, The Northern 
 Michigan Trans. Co. and the Hill Boat Line. 
 
 OGEMAW COUNTY. 
 
 Ogemaw county was laid out and organized in 1840. The name is taken from the Chippewas’ 
 and the meaning of which is “Chief.” 
 
 This county is located in about the north-eastern part of the Lower Peninsula. It is bounded 
 on the north by Oscoda county, on the east by Iosco county, on the south by Gladwin and Arenac counties, 
 and on the west by Roscommon county. 
 
 The total land area is 366,811.14 acres, about 145,000 acres of which are already in good farms. 
 
 The population is 8,907 (census 1910). 
 
 The valuation of taxable land as estimated by the State Board of Tax Commissioners in 1911, 
 is s$4,817,885. 
 
 The school system is equal to that of most of the larger counties. There are 59 schools, 2,342 
 students in attendance, reejuiring the services of 82 teachers. 
 
 The county has 5 banks and 4 weekly newspapers. Also good telegraph, telephone and rural mail 
 service. 
 
 West Branch is the judicial seat and largest town of the county. The poprflation is about 1,800. 
 
 It is located on the Mackinaw division Michigan Central Railroad, 53 miles northwest of Bay 
 
M I (' II I ('. A N 
 
 K.l 
 
 City aiul l(>i iiortliwi-st of |)ctroil. It is liylilcd hy (•l(‘(•| licily, ha", well shaded and |);ived streets, a 
 handsome eonrt houst', j^ood wider and drainay.e system, opei'a house, (ire depart ment, a pnl)lie library, 
 ICpisi'opal, Mi'thodist and C'alholie elmrehes, 2 hanks and 2 live newspapers. 
 
 'I'lu' industrial imterprist's inelude saw and planiny mills, machine shop, (lour mill, electric li>dilin>.j 
 plant, creamery, etc. har^^c' (|nantitic'S of live stock, clover seed and hnckleherri(;s are s.hippcfl. 
 
 Rose C'ity has about 550 inhaliitants, and is located on a branch of Ride river, and on the Detroit 
 and Mackinac Railroad, 15 miles nortlusist of West Mranch. 
 
 It has h'ree Mi'tiiodist, butlu-ran and Methodist l'>i)iscoi)aI churches, a bank and a weekly 
 newspaper. 
 
 'I'he transportation faeilitics of the county are the Michij^an C'cntral, and Detroit & Mackinac 
 Railroads. 
 
 ONTDNAt'.ON COUNTY. 
 
 Dntonaj^on county was laid out in liS45, was orj^anized in 1848. The county was originally much 
 larger and included that territory known as Isle Royal. It took its name from the river of the same 
 name, emptying into Lake Superior. The word “Ontonagon” is thought to mean “fishing fdace.” 
 
 It is located in the extreme northwestern i)art of the Up])er Peninsula. Is bounded on the north 
 by Lake Superior, on the east by Houghton and Iron counties, on the south by Gogebic county, and 
 on the west by Gogebic county and Lake Superior. 
 
 'Phe total land area is 844,753.71 acres. About 39, ()()() acres are already in good farms. 
 
 The population is 8,650 (1910 census). 
 
 The valuatioii of taxable property as estimated by the State Board of Tax Commissioners in 1911, 
 is $15,597,875. 
 
 The county has a good school system. There are 55 schools, an enrollment of 2,484 students, 
 requiring 99 teachers. 
 
 There are 6 banks and 2 weekly newspapers. There is also good telephone and telegraph ser\dce. 
 
 Ontonagon is the county seat and has about 2,000 inhabitants. 
 
 It is situated on the south shore of Lake Superior at the mouth of the Ontonagon river, and is a 
 station on the Chicago Milwaukee & St. Paul railway. 
 
 It owns and operates its own water and electric light plants, has Episcopal, Presbyterian, Method- 
 ist Episcopal, Swedish Lutheran and Roman Catholic chttrehes, fine schools, 2 banks, a w'eekly news- 
 paper, etc. This locality is fast becoming known as a healthful summer resort. 
 
 In the vicinity of Ontonagon are several billion feet of hemlock, pine, ash, basswood, birch, maple, 
 elm, cedar, and other timber of the finest quality, making it a fine location for saw' mills, furniture fac- 
 tories, stave and heading mills, tanneries, pulp and paper mills, w'oodenware plants, chemical plants, 
 etc. Clays and shales for the manufacture of paving brick and fine face brick are found in abundance. 
 
 The agricultural possibilities of this locality are good and fine fanns are numerous. The soil is 
 adapted to the growing of many kinds of grains, vegetables and fruits. 
 
 The principal transportation facilities of the county are the Duluth South vShore & Atlantic, Chicago 
 •S: Northw'estem, Chicago Mihvaukee & St. Paul, and the Copper Range Railroad, also the United 
 States & Dominion Trans. Co. 
 
 OSCEOLA COUNTY. 
 
 Osceola county w'as laid out in 1840 and was originally called “Lmw'attin,” the name of a famous 
 Ottawa chief. Later, in 1843 the name was changed to Osceola w'hich is said to mean “black drink.” 
 The county w'as finally organized in 1869. 
 
 This county is located in about the northw'estern part of the Low'er Peninsula. It is bounded on 
 the north by Wexford and Missaukee counties, on the east by Clare county, on the south by Mecosta 
 county, and on the w'est by Lake county. 
 
 11 
 
162 
 
 MICHIGAN 
 
 The total land area is 367,337.05 aeres, and about 249,000 acres are already in good productive 
 farms. 
 
 The population is 17,889 (1910 census). 
 
 The valuation of all taxable property as estimated by the State Board of Tax Commissioners in 
 1911, is $10, .397, 176. 
 
 d'he school system in this county is good. There are 98 schools, furnishing positions for 150 teachers, 
 and a total enrollment of 4,127 students. 
 
 d'he county has 9 banks and 7 weekly newspapers. Also telegraph, telephone and rural mail service. 
 
 Ilerscy is the judicial seat of the county. The village has about 350 inhabitants, and is located 
 at the conllucnce of the Hersey and Muskegon rivers, on the Pere Marquette, and Grand Rapids and 
 Indiana Railroads. It has churches of the Congregational, German Evangelical and Methodist Epis- 
 copal denominations, an electric light and power plant, a bank and a weekly newspaper. 
 
 Reed City, the largest town of the county has a population of about 2,000. This town is located 
 on the Ilerscy river at the intersection of the Pere Marquette and Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroads, 
 4 miles west of Hersey, 48 east of Ludington, and 68 north of Grand Rapids. It is also in a good agri- 
 cultural section. 
 
 It is lighted by electricity, has a good water works system, good hotels, an opera house, grain ele- 
 vator, excellent educational advantages, a library, churches of the Congregational, Baptist, Lutheran, 
 Gennan Lutheran, Mennonite, Swedish, German Methodist, Methodist and Catholic denominations, 
 2 banks and 2 weekly newspapers. 
 
 There are manufactories of shingles, maple flooring, saw, planing, heading, flour and woolen mills, 
 foundry, etc. 
 
 Other towns of the county include Evart, (pop. about 1,400), Le Roy, Marion, and Tustin. 
 
 Evart is situated on the Pere Marquette railroad, between Saginaw and Ludington. It has good 
 hotels, an opera house, good school system. Baptist, Catholic, Methodist and Presbyterian churches 
 2 libraries, electric light and water works plant, fire department, 2 banks and a weekly newspaper. The 
 shipments include lumberman’s tools, lumber, farm produce and grain. 
 
 The transportation facilities of the county include the Grand Rapids & Indiana, Pere Marquette, 
 Manistee & Grand Rapids, and the Ann Arbor Railroads. 
 
 OSCODA COUNTY. 
 
 Oscoda county was laid out and organized in 1840. The name is of Indian origin and is said to 
 mean “pebbly prairie.’’ 
 
 It is located in the northeastern part of the Lower Peninsula and is bounded on the north by Mont- 
 morency county, on the east by Alcona county, on the south by Ogemaw county, and on the west by 
 Cravidord county. 
 
 The total land area is 364,769.48 acres. Of this number about 60,000 acres are now devoted to 
 fanns. The population is 2,027. 
 
 The valuation of taxable property as estimated by the State Board of Tax Commissioners in 1911, 
 is $2,264,747. 
 
 There are 29 schools, 521 students in attendance, requiring the sendees of 33 teachers. 
 
 The county has 2 banks, 1 weekly newspaper, telegraph, telephone and rural mail service. 
 
 Mio, the county seat has a population of about 300. It is situated on the Au Sable river, 15 miles 
 from Comins. its shipping point. 
 
 It has a Methodist church, a bank and a weekly newspaper. 
 
 The transportation facility of the county is the Au Sable and Northwestern Railroad. 
 
M 1 (' II I ('. A N 
 
 163 
 
 O'I'SICdO ('OUNTY. 
 
 'Phis I'lMinty was I'lrsL laid out in ISK), and was aL Ltiat limn nailed ‘‘Okknddo.” In lKt3 Uu; name 
 was nhan^^nil lo Dtse^jo whii'h is said Lo mean “clear water. ” 'I'he connly was nrjjanized in 1H75. 
 
 It is Inc'ated in the nortlK'rn part of the Lower Peninsula, d'lic Lonndaries arc (dielK)yj(an eonnty 
 on the north, Montmorency eonnty on the east, Crawford eonnty on tlie south and Antrim and Charle- 
 voix counties on the west. 
 
 'I'he total land are;i is 334,272.% acres. Of this numl)cr about 60,000 acres arc already in good 
 fanns. 
 
 'I'he population is 6,552 (tOU) ccn.sus). 
 
 'I'lie valuation of taxable property as estimated by the State Hoard of 'Fax Commissioners in 
 1611. is $6,014,036 
 
 A good school system is to be found throughout the county. There are 40 sehools, an enrollment 
 of 1,642 students, furnishing positions for 72 teaehers. 
 
 'I'he county has five banks and two weekly newspapers, while good telegraph, telephone and rural 
 mail service is also to be found. 
 
 Caylord, the judicial seat of the county, has about 1,800 inhabitants. It is located on the Mich- 
 igan Central, and the Boyne City Gaylord and Alpena Railroads, 63 miles south of Mackinaw City. 
 
 It is the trading point for a prosperous agricultural section, has Congregational, Methodist, Baptist 
 and Catholic churches, a high school building erected at a cost of about $27,000, municipally owned 
 water works and electric light plant, opera house, two banks and a weekly newspaper. 
 
 A wooden ware factory, a grist mill and a motor car plant comprise the chief industries. 
 
 Vanderbilt, with about 550 inhabitants, is located on the Michigan Central Railroad, eight and 
 one-half miles north of Gaylord ; has Congregational and Alethodist churches, a shingle mill and a bank. 
 
 Transportation facilities of the county are the Michigan Central, Boyne City Gaylord & Alpena, 
 and the Detroit and Charlevoix Railroads. 
 
 OTTAWA COUNTY. 
 
 Ottawa county was laid out in 1831, and was organized in 1837. The name is that of a once power- 
 ful tribe of Indians that inhabited the northwestern portion of the Lower Peninsula. 
 
 This county is located in the western part of the Lower Peninsvda and is bounded on the north 
 by Muskegon county, on the east by Kent county, on the south by Allegan county, and on the west 
 by Lake Michigan. 
 
 The total land area is 357,839.46 acres, of which about 325,000 acres are in splendid farms. 
 
 The population is 45,301 (1910 census). 
 
 The valuation of taxable property as estimated by the State Board of Tax Commissioners in 1911, 
 is $44,347,162. 
 
 The school system is equal to that of any of the larger counties, there being 136 schools, 10,277 
 students in attendance, requiring the ser\dces of 297 teachers. 
 
 The county has 13 banks, 2 daily and 12 weekly newspapers, also good telegraph, telephone and 
 rural mail service. 
 
 Grand Haven, the capitol city of the coimty has a population of about 5,856. It is the western 
 terminus of the (D. & M. div.) Grand Trunk Railway, 31 miles west of Grand Rapids. It is also a sta- 
 tion on the Pere Marquette R. R., and the Grand Rapids Grand Haven & Muskegon Ry. (electric). 
 The town is pictiuesquely located at the mouth of the Grand River, on the shore of Lake Michigan, 
 and is one of the most important ports on the shore of the lake. 
 
 The city has churches representing the leading denominations, a $60,000 high school, 1 union and 
 5 ward school buildings, an institute, a library, an opera house, first class hotels, 2 banks, a daily and a 
 weekly newspaper. It is lighted by electricity and gas, has an excellent system of water works, good 
 fire department, etc. 
 
164 
 
 MICHIGAN 
 
 Grand Haven is in the eenter of Miehigan’s great fruit belt and large ciuantities of grapes and berries 
 are shipped annually. h''ishing is also an important interest. 
 
 Holland, the largest city in the county has a pojmlation of about 12,000. It is located on the Pere 
 Marciuettc Ry., and on the Grand Rapids Holland & Chicago Ry. (electric), 20 miles south of Grand 
 Haven and 25 southwest of Grand Rapids. It has a good natural harbor at the head of Black Lake 
 and has a permanent channel of 18 feet. 
 
 The city is lighted by electricity and gas, has water works, fire department, excellent sewerage 
 system, churches of the leading denominations, a high school and 5 ward schools and Hope College, 
 said to be the seat of learning of the Reformed church in America. The Western Theological Seminary 
 of the Reformed church in America is also located here. One daily and five weekly newspapers are 
 published here. 
 
 Holland is an important fruit market and general farm produce is largely shipped. The leading 
 manufactories are woodenware and leather. There are also planing mills, iron foundries, glass, ma- 
 chinery, tool, chemical engine, screen, basket, piano and furnace factories, a beet sugar factory, the 
 second largest pickle works in the United States, roller flouring mills, canning factories, furniture 
 factories, a rail way printing plant, saw mills, shoe factory, etc. 
 
 Adjacent to the city arc located three large summer resorts. 
 
 Other thriving towns of the county are Zeeland, Coopersville and Spring Lake. 
 
 The principal transportation facilities of the county are the Grand Trunk, Grand Rapids & Indiana, 
 Pere Marquette Railroads, Grand Rapids Grand Haven & Muskegon (electric). Grand Rapids Hol- 
 land & Chicago, (electric) and the Graham & Morton Trans. Co., Goodrich S. S. Line, Crosby Trans. 
 Co., and the Grand Trunk Car Ferry. 
 
 PRESQUE ISLE COUNTY. 
 
 This county was laid out in 1840, and was organized in 1871. The county was so named from the 
 nan'ow peninsula — presque isle — jutting out into Lake Huron toward the southern end of the county. 
 
 It is located in the extreme northeastern part of the Lower Peninsula and is bounded on the north 
 by Cheboygan county and Lake Huron, on the east by Lake Huron, on the south by Montmorency 
 and Alpena counties, and on the west by Cheboygan county. 
 
 The total land area is 428,874.97 acres. About 132,000 acres are already in good farms. 
 
 The population of the county is 11,249 (1910 census). 
 
 In 1911, the State Board of Tax Commissioners placed a valuation of 85,457,792 on all taxable 
 land. There are a total of 50 schools, 2,360 scholars in attendance, requiring 74 teachers. 
 
 The county has 4 banks and 4 weekh^ newspapers, also telephone, telegraph and rural mail service. 
 
 Rogers, the judicial seat of the county has a poprdation of about 700. It is located on the shore of 
 Lake Huron, 35 miles northwest of Alpena, 45 southeast of Cheboygan, and Ilf miles from Metz Depot 
 on the Detroit & Mackinac Railroad. It has Methodist, Lutheran and Catholic churches, a bank and 
 a weekly newspaper. 
 
 The largest town in the county is Onaway, which has about 2,700 inhabitants. It is located on 
 the Detroit & Mackinac Ry., 27 miles southwest of Rogers, 26 miles southeast of Cheboygan, and 46 
 miles northwest of Alpena, in the midst of timbered lands, agricultural lands, and trout streams. It 
 has Episcopal, Methodist, Baptist and Catholic churches, good schools, municipally owned electric 
 light and water plant, opera hoixse, 2 public halls, good hotels, 2 banks and 2 weekly newspapers. The 
 industries inckxde manufactories of bicycle and automobile steering wheel rims, cooperage, saw mills, 
 a foundry and machine shop, shingle mills, handle factory, stave and heading mills, planing mill, hoop 
 mill, etc. Onaway is located near two of the best trout streams in northern Michigan — the Black and 
 Rainy rivers. 
 
 Millersburg, with its 550 inhabitants, is located on the Detroit & Mackinac Ry., and on the Ocqueoc 
 river, 18 miles southwest of Rogers, and midway between Alpena and Cheboygan. It has Methodist, 
 Presbyterian and Catholic churches, a graded public school, a bank and a weekly new.spaper. 
 
 The principal transportation facility of the county is the Detroit & Mackinac Railroad. 
 
M I (' II I ('. A N 
 
 K,.S 
 
 R()S('()MM()N ('OUN'I'V. 
 
 Rosi'ominon anmty was laid oiil in IS 10 and was at lliaL lime called Mikcnank, the name of a farnon:. 
 Ottawa cliicf. Later, in lS4d the name was changed and in 1S75 the connly was finally or^'anizerl. 
 'I'he name Roseommon was taken from a eoimly in the eenlral i)arL of Ireland. 
 
 'Phis eounty is located in ahoiiL the north eenlral part of the Lower Peninsula. Is Lounried on 
 the north by ('rawford eounty, on the east by Ojjemaw county, on the south by Clare and Cladwin 
 eovmties, aiul on the west by Missaukee eounty. 
 
 The total laml area is ddS.dlS.dd acres, with about 34,()()() acres now converted into farms. 
 
 The population is 2,274 (1010 census). 
 
 The valuation of taxable i)roperty as estimated by the State Board of Tax Commissioners in 1911, 
 is S2.()28.967. 
 
 The county has a jjood school system, there being 27 schools, an enrollment of 551 students, and 
 supplying positions for v?8 teachers. 
 
 There is 1 bank and 1 weekly newspaper, also telegraph and telephone service in the county. 
 
 Roscommon is the county scat and has a population of about 550. It is a station on the Michigan 
 Central Railroad, 45 miles south of Gaylord, 77 northwest of Bay City, and 105 south of Mackinaw 
 City. It has Congregational, Methodist and Catholic churches, a graded public school, electric light 
 and water works plant, a bank and a weekly newspaper. 
 
 The transportation facilities of the county are the Michigan Central, and Grand Rapids & Indiana 
 Railroads. 
 
 SAGINAW COUNTY. 
 
 This county was first laid out in 1822 by Lewis Cass, then Governor of Michigan. It was again 
 laid out by the Legislature in 1831 and was finally organized in 1835. The county takes its name from 
 the river and bay of that name. 
 
 Saginaw county is located in the east central part of the Lower Peninsiila. It is boimded on the 
 north by Midland and Bay comities, on the east by Tuscola county, on the south by Shiawassee and 
 Genesee counties, and on the west by Gratiot and Alidland counties. 
 
 The total land area of the county is 520,291.45 acres. Of this number, about 431,000 acres are de- 
 voted to farms which are wonderfully productive. 
 
 The population is 89,290 (1910 census). 
 
 The valuation of taxable property as estimated by the State Board of Tax Commissioners in 1911, 
 is 862,859,589. 
 
 There are 193 schools, an enrollment of 15,837 pupils, requiring the sendees of 482 teachers. 
 
 The county has 17 banks, 2 dailj' and 11 weekly newspapers. Splendid telegraph, telephone and 
 rural mail ser^dee is foimd in every community. 
 
 Saginaw, the largest city and judicial seat of the county has a population of about 50,510 (U. S. 
 census 1910). 
 
 It is located on the Grand Trunk Ry. System, the Michigan Central R. R., Pere Marquette, the 
 Saginaw & Baj' Cit}*, (electric) and the Saginaw & Flint Ry., (electric), 93 rmles northwest of Port Hmon 
 and 98 northwest of Detroit, at the point where the Bad Cass, Shiawassee and Tittabawassee rivers 
 and Swan Creek unite to form the Saginaw river. Down these rivers were floated 16,000,000,000 feet 
 of logs and in the early days Saginaw was dependent on activity as a lumber center. It is said more 
 logs have gone dowm the Saginaw river than have been floated on any other stream in the world and 
 the Saginaw manufactmdng district has manufactmed more pine timber than any other district in the 
 world. 
 
 Coal and salt have taken the place of lumber in an industrial way, above ground the fertile fields 
 of the Saginaw valley have shown what resources can be developed in the way of sugar beets and the 
 
166 
 
 MICHIGAN 
 
 foundation has been laid for the long list of staple industries. There are numerous coal mines in the 
 neighborhood of the city. 
 
 vSaginaw has an area of about 12 square miles, 220 miles of streets, 68 miles of paving, 113 miles 
 of public sewers, 30 miles of electric street railway, several parks covering in all about 240 acres, a first 
 class water works plant, 101 miles of water mains, a thoroughly eciuipped fire department, police de- 
 partment, 26 public schools, one of the finest manual training schools in the country, costing about 
 $250,000, a number of parochial schools, churches of the leading denominations, several hospitals, beau- 
 tiful first class hotels, theatres, magnificent federal building and free public library, etc. 
 
 The city has a great diversity of industries, some of which are automobiles and auto parts, agri- 
 cultural implements, maple flooring, wood alcohol, barrels, beer and malt, lumbering tools, boilers, 
 brass castings, brick, carriages, corsets, coal cars, elevators, furniture, gas engines, glass, matches, motors, 
 underwear, portable houses, patent medicine, pianos, railroad machinery, sash, doors, and blinds, saws, 
 seed cleaning machinery, wagons, wheelbarrows, windmills, woolen goods, etc. 
 
 Other important towns of the county are Chesaning, Frankenmuth, Merrill, and St. Charles. 
 
 A very fine quality of bituminous coal has been found at a depth of from 218 to 300 feet where a test 
 has been made in this county. 
 
 The principal transportation facilities of the county are the Michigan Central, Pere Marquette, 
 Grand Trunk Railways; Saginaw & Flint Ry., (electric) and the Saginaw & Bay City, (electric). 
 
 SANILAC COUNTY. 
 
 Sanilac county was laid out in 1822 and was organized in 1848. The county takes its name from 
 a famous Indian chief who took part in the early wars between the Iroquois and Wyandottes. 
 
 It is located in the extreme eastern part of the Southern Peninsula. Its boundaries are Huron 
 county on the north. Lake Huron on the east, Lapeer and St. Clair cormties on the south, and Lapeer 
 and Ttiscola cotmties on the west. 
 
 The total land area is 616,213.60 acres. Of this number about 552,000 acres are devoted to splendid 
 farms. 
 
 The popvdation is 33,930 (1910 census). 
 
 The valuation of taxable property as estimated by the State Board of Tax Commissioners in 1911, 
 is $25,979,839. 
 
 There are 159 schools, furnishing positions for 79 teachers and an enrollment of 8,659 students. 
 
 The county has 26 banks and 12 weekly newspapers. 
 
 Good telegraph, telephone and rural mail service is found in nearly every locality. 
 
 Sandusky is the judicial seat of the county and has a population of about 1,000. It is located 
 on the Pere Marquette Ry., 8 miles west of Carsonville, and 46 northwest of Port Huron; has Episcopal, 
 Methodist, and Presbyterian churches, electric light and power plant, opera house, water works, sewer- 
 age, good hotels, 2 banks and 2 weekly newspapers. 
 
 Croswell, the largest town in the county has about 1,500 inhabitants. It is located on the Black 
 river and on the Pere Marquette Ry., 20 miles southeast of Sandusky, 26 above Port Huron and 90 
 above Detroit. 
 
 It has large area of fine agricultural territory tributary for which it is the receiving and distributing 
 point. It is lighted by electricity, has good sewerage system, water works, churches of many denomina- 
 tions, excellent, public schools, opera house, sugar factory, brick and tile works, flour mill, creamery, 
 bridge and culvert works, 2 banks, 2 newspapers, etc. 
 
 Other towns of the county include Marlette, Applegate, Brown City, Deckerville, Forestville, and 
 Lexington, all in a good agricultural section. 
 
 The principal transportation facilities of the county are the Pere Marquette, Detroit Bay City 
 & Western, and the Detroit and Huron Railroads. 
 
M I (' II I ('. A N 
 
 167 
 
 S('ll( )( )L('KAI'''I' COI’N'IA'. 
 
 'Phis ('oimty was laid oiil. and orj;ani/(‘<I in l.SIK and wa:. nanicil in honor of Ih'iiry kowc School- 
 craft, whose nanu' is associated with his resi'arehes in all in.atters eonneei.eil with the Indians. 
 
 'I'his eoniUy is loeaU'd in ahont the eentr.'il p.art of the Tpiu-r I’eninsnia. IL is l)onndc(| on ihf; 
 north by Alj;er county, on the t'ast. by bnet' and Mackinac connti(!S, on Uu; south by I^akc Michi^'an 
 aiul on till' west by .\ls;er and l)i'lta connlies. 
 
 'Pho total land .area is 75S,()65.76 acres, of wliich .abont 16, 1)00 acres are now in ^ood farms. I’opu- 
 latiiin, S,6S1. ( 16 U) census.) 
 
 'Phe valuation of taxable property as cstim.ated by the State Hoard of 'Pax ('oinrnissif)ners in 1611, 
 is SS,d‘H),56-l. 'Phe school system is eciual to that of many of the larger counties, there being .34 schools, 
 an enrollment of 1,84S students reciuiring the services of 76 teachers. 
 
 'Phe county has 2 banks and 2 weekly newspapers, telegraph, telej)hone and mral mail serviee. 
 
 Manistique, the largest city and judicial seat of the county has a population of about ,3,000. It 
 oeeujnes a beautiful location on the shore of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the Manisticpie river, 60 
 miles by water from St. Ignace, 107 from Sault Ste. Marie and 256 from Chicago. It is a station on 
 the Milwaukee St. Haul and St. Ste. Marie Ry., and on the Manistee and Northeastern railroads. 
 
 'Phe city is electrically and gas lighted, has a good sewer system, a fine system of water works, well 
 equipped fire department, beautiful churches of the leading denominations, an opera house, hospital, 
 a splendid school system, 2 banks and 2 progressive newspapers. The principal industries include 
 lumber mills, chemieal works, lime faetory, box factory, tannery, planing mills, etc. 'Phe magnificent 
 areas of scenery, good hunting and fishing has made Manistique well known as a summer resort. 
 
 Transportation facilities of the county include the Duluth South Shore & Atlantic Ry., Manis- 
 tique Ry., Ann Arbor Car Ferry, Manistee & Lake Superior Ry., and the Minneapolis St. Paul & Sault 
 Ste. Marie Ry. 
 
 SHIAWASSEE COUNTY. 
 
 Shiawassee county was laid out in 1822 and was organized in 1837. The name is taken from the 
 river extending through the county which derives the name from the words meaning “straight ahead.’’ 
 
 It is located in about the south central part of the Lower Peninsula and is bounded on the north 
 by Saginaw county, on the east by Genesee county, on the south by Ingham and Livingston counties, 
 and on the west by Clinton county. 
 
 The total land area is 345,200.32 acres. Of this number about 328,000 acres are in splendid farms. 
 
 The population is 33,246 (1910 census). 
 
 The valuation of taxable property as estimated by the State Board of Tax Commissioners in 1911, 
 is $30,723,295. 
 
 There are 128 schools, furnishing positions for 251 teachers, and a total enrollment of 6,515 students. 
 
 The county has 12 banks, 2 daily and 9 weekly newspapers. Telegraph, telephone and rural mail 
 seiAuce is found throughout the coimty. 
 
 Corunna, the judicial seat of the county has a population of about, 1,384. It is located on the 
 Grand Trunk Ry. and the Ann Arbor Railroad, the Owosso & Corunna Electric Ry., and on both sides 
 of the Shiawassee river, 3 miles from Owosso, 39 south of Saginaw, 30 northeast of Lansing, 22 west of 
 Flint and 75 northwest of Detroit. It has Episcopal, Presbyterian, Methodist, Free Methodist and 
 Baptist churches, a fine school house, a library, a beautiful park, a court house costing about $142,000, 
 a bank, 2 weekly newspapers. 
 
 Furniture, lumber, flour, robes and cigars are manufactured, and coal is mined and shipped. 
 
 Owosso is the largest city in the county and has about 11,000 inhabitants. It is sitiiated on the 
 Shiawassee river and on the Ann Arbor, the Grand Trunk, and Michigan Central roads, 3 miles north- 
 west of Corunna, 28 from Lansing and 78 from Detroit. The city is lighted by electricity, has a mimic- 
 ipal water works system, 6 miles of street paving, sewerage system, fire department, opera house, a 
 $65,000 post office, 4 school buildings, churches of many denominations, 3 banks, 2 daily newspapers, etc. 
 
16S 
 
 M I C 1 1 I (', A N 
 
 'Pile car sho])S of the Ann Arbor Railroad arc located here giving employment to a large numljer of 
 men. The city’s manufacturing interest include the second largest casket company in the world, one 
 of the i)iggest motor truck factories in the United States, a table i)lant, stove works, iron and engine 
 works, screen door and sash works, one of the largest butter concerns in the State, packing house, arti- 
 ficial icc jilant, handle works, carriage and sleigh works, knitting works, planing mills, flour mill, sugar 
 plant, etc. 
 
 Other important towns of the county all located in good agricultural sections are Bancroft, Byron, 
 Durand, Laingsburg, Morrice, Perry, and Vernon. 
 
 Durand, with a i)Oi)ulation of about 2,500, is located at the junction of the Grand Trunk, Grand 
 Trunk Western , and Ann Arbor Railroads, 8 miles southeast of Corunna, 17 from Flint and 67 from 
 Detroit, fl'he Grand Trunk Railroad has spent something like $300,000 on property in and around 
 Durand, including a round house, one of the largest on its system, a $100,000 depot, coal chutes, car- 
 jK'nter shoj) and foundry, etc. The city has a municipally owned electric light and water plant. Congre- 
 gational, Episcopal, Methodist, Baptist, Christian and Catholic churches, 2 school buildings, a combi- 
 nati(jn fire hall, council chamber, public library and city office building, a fire department, 7 miles of 
 sewers, a creamery, machine and stamping works, a hoop works, flour mill, 2 grain elevators, a $10,000 
 Y. M. C. A. building, 2 banks, a weekly newspaper, etc. 
 
 Transportation facilities of the county are the Grand Trunk, Michigan Central, Ann Arbor Rail- 
 roads, and the Michigan United Traction Co., (electric). 
 
 ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 
 
 St. Clair county was laid out and organized in 1821 and is thought to have been named in honor 
 of General Arthur St. Clair, first Governor of the Northwest Territory. 
 
 This county is located in about the southeastern part of the Lower Peninsula. It is bounded on 
 the north Ijy Sanilac county, on the east by Lake Hirron and the vSt. Clair river, on the south by Anchor 
 Bay, Lake St. Clair and Macomb county, and on the west by Lapeer county. 
 
 The total land area of the county is 443,391.12 acres, of which about 415,000 acres are already 
 in wonderfully productive fanns. 
 
 The population is 52,341 (1910 census). 
 
 The valuation of taxable property, as estimated by the State Board of Tax Commissioners in 1911, 
 is $48,470,323. 
 
 There are 174 schools, an enrollment of 9,802 students, giving positions to 336 teachers. 
 
 The county has 15 banks, 1 daily and 10 weekly newspapers, also good telegraph, telephone and 
 mral mail service. 
 
 Port Huron is the judicial seat and largest city in the county and has a population of about 23,000. 
 The city is advantageously located at the foot of Lake Huron at the head of St. Clair river, 65 miles by 
 water, and 57 by rail from Detroit, and 1 13 from Lansing. It has 7 miles of water front, 3 miles of which 
 are given over to ideal homes and bathing beaches. It is a station on the Pere Marquette and the Grand 
 Trunk Rys., with the Detroit United Railway interurban line to Detroit. Two ferry lines connect 
 the city with Sarnia and Port Edward, on the Canadian side of the river. The railway tunnel under 
 the St. Clair river, built by the Grand Trunk Railway, is one of the greatest engineering achievements 
 on the continent. It is over a mile in length from the American to the Canadian side and cost about 
 $3,0()0,0()0 to build. This is an important port of entry and a large customs business is transacted. 
 There are two dry docks and three ship yards. The city is lighted by electricity, has broad cement walks, 
 25 miles of good pavement, modem system of water works, thoroughly equipped fire departments, 
 police department, about 75 acres of public parks, a handsome court house, and city hall, auditorium, 
 opera houses, a customs house and post office building, a $30,000 Y. M. C. A. building, a hospital costing 
 about $40,000, and a detention hospital, churches representing the leading denominations, 16 public 
 schools including the County Normal, a beautiful library, 4 banks, 1 daily and 1 weekly newspaper, etc. 
 
M I (' II I ('. A N 
 
 ](,•) 
 
 'I'lu' lai'm'r inilu:;l rial instilulions iiu'ludc an cn^^iiic and llimslicr works, a snlpliiU- fihrn works, 
 a sail I’aclorv which is one of ihc larja-sl in the world, anloinohilc factory, knittinj' factory, an anto 
 luuly faclorv, planiny mills, waj;on works, hrooni factories, boiler works, etc. 
 
 Other thri\in^ communities of llu' county arc Marine Oily, St. ('lair, Al^'onac, ('apac, I'humet 
 aiul \'alc, all surrounded l)y farms. 
 
 'I'hc priiu'ipal transportation fai-ililics of the' comity arc' tlie I’cre Mar(|uette, Orand d'nmk, Mieh- 
 i^^an ('c'utral, I’ort Huron iV Soutlu'ru Rys., Detroit United Railway (elc'clric'), Star (ado lane, Detrccit 
 vV ('k'vclaud Nav. ('o., ICric i<.- Michi}:;au Ry. and Nav. ('<>., Northern S. S. C'o., 8c Itrie & Western 1'raus. 
 (\)., tAuchor Lino) and the Nortliern 'I'raus. C'o. 
 
 ST. JOSIilMI COUNTY. 
 
 'Phis county was laid out and organized in 1S29 and takes its name from the river which flows through 
 it and the river in turn was so called in honor of the j^atron Saint of New France. 
 
 St. Joseiih county is located in the extreme southern part of the Lower Peninsula. It is bounded 
 on the north by Kalamazoo county, on the east by Branch county, on the south by Indiana, and on the 
 west by Cass county. 
 
 The total land area is 319,794.45 acres, of which nearly 301,000 acres are in farms which rank 
 among the best in the State. 
 
 The population is 25,499 (1910 census). 
 
 The valuation of taxable property as estimated by the State Board of Tax Commissioners in 1911, 
 is $29,099,846. 
 
 There are 128 sehools, furnishing positions for 227 teachers, and a total enrollment of 4,729 students. 
 
 The eounty has 13 banks. 1 daily and 8 weekly newspapers. First class telegraph, telephone 
 and rural mail scr^^cc is found in every community. 
 
 Centerville, the judieial seat of the county has a population of about 700. It is located on the 
 Michigan Central Railroad and on the Prairie river, 64 miles southwest of Jackson and 141 from Detroit. 
 It has Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist and Presbyterian ehurehes, electrie light, water works, fire 
 department, a bank and a weekly newspaper. 
 
 Sturgis, one of the largest cities of the county has about 4,500 inhabitants. It is located in the 
 heart of one of the riehest and most produetive sections of the State, at the intersection of the Grand 
 Rapids Sc Indiana, and the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Rys., 13 miles southeast of Centerville, 
 85 from Grand Rapids. It owns and operates its own eleetrie light, power and water plant, has a fire 
 department, sanitary sewerage system, broad streets, ehurehes of many denominations, a publie library, 
 2 banks and 2 live newspapers. 
 
 The manufactures embrace, fumitrire, children’s go-carts, steel tanks, shears, stair rods, brass 
 goods, plumbers’ goods, reels, com poppers, doors, blinds, medicines, woodenware, etc. 
 
 Other tovms of the county are Burr Oak, Colon, Constantine, Mendon, Three Rivers, and White 
 Pigeon. 
 
 Three Rivers, with a population of about 5,000, is located at the junction of the Portage, Rock 
 and St. Joseph rivers, hence the name, and is a station on the Michigan Central Railroad, and the Lake 
 Shore and Michigan Southern Railway, 6 miles west of Centen.dlle. 
 
 The location of the city is unique in itself and each of the three streams have wide sweeping bends 
 and are bordered with rich fami lands and woods. The city has broad, well paved and beautifully 
 shaded streets, is lighted by electrieity, has water works, sewerage system, fire department, several 
 chtrrches, a $30,000 union high school, a commercial college, a publie library, 4 ward sehools, an opera 
 house, first class hotels, 2 banks, a daily newspaper, etc. Each of the rivers offer excellent water power 
 facilities and each is harnessed by a mammoth cement dam. 
 
 The principal manufactures embrace intemrban cars, hand cars, observation cars and railroad 
 velocipedes, sweaters, wool undergarments, paper, rattan ftuniture, brass goods, farm implements. 
 
170 
 
 MICHIGAN 
 
 electrical supplies, castings, etc. There is also a pork packing establishment, 2 robe tanneries and one 
 of the largest strawberry nurseries in the world. 
 
 The transportation facilities of the county are the Michigan Central, Lake Shore & Michigan 
 Southern, Grand Rapids & Indiana, and the Grand Trunk Railroads. 
 
 TUvSeOLA COUNTY. 
 
 This county was laid out in 1840 and was organized in 1850. The name is thought to mean “level 
 lands.” 
 
 It is located in about the east central part of the Lower Peninsula and is bounded on the north 
 by Saginaw Bay and Huron county, on the east by Sanilac county, on the south by Lapeer and Genesee 
 counties, and on the west by Saginaw and Bay counties. 
 
 The total land area is 454,440.14 acres. Of this number about 451,000 acres are devoted to fine 
 farms. 
 
 The population is 34,913 (1910 census). 
 
 In 1911 the State Board of Tax Commissioners placed a valuation of $26,092,395 on all taxable 
 lands. 
 
 There are 157 schools, an enrollment of 7,693 students, requiring the services of 248 teachers. 
 
 The county has 23 banks and 10 weekly newspapers, also good telegraph, telephone and rural mail 
 service in every community. 
 
 Caro is the county seat and the largest town. The population is 2,500. This town is located on 
 the Caro branch Bay City division Michigan Central Railroad, and Detroit Bay City & Western Ry., 
 32 miles southeast of Bay City, 39 miles north of Lapeer and 100 miles northwest of Detroit. It is 
 lighted by electricity, has an excellent system of water works, a voluntary fire department, good 
 hotels, churches of the leading religious denominations, good schools, 2 banks, 2 newspapers and one 
 of the largest beet sugar factories in the State. 
 
 Vassar, another town in the county is advantageously located on the Cass river and on the Mich- 
 igan Central and Pere Marquette Railroads, 13f miles southwest of Caro and 86 from Detroit. 
 
 It is surrounded and supported by a rich agricultural section, is lighted by electricity, has broad, 
 well shaded and well paved streets, a fine system of water works, a fire department, natural drainage 
 aided by a sanitary sewerage system, a public library, opera house, good hotels, several churches, a 
 splendid public school system, 4 banks and 2 newspapers. 
 
 The manufacturing interests include flour and feed mills, shipping crate factory, machine shop, 
 milk condensing factory, dye factory, cement block works, grain elevators, etc. 
 
 Other towns in the county are Cass City, Fairgrove, Gagetown, Kingston, Mayville, Millington, 
 and Reese, all in a good agricultural section. 
 
 The transportation facilities of the county are the Michigan Central R. R., Pere Marquette R. R., 
 Pontiac Oxford & Northern R. R., Detroit & Huron R. R., Detroit Bay City & Western R. R. 
 
 VAN BUREN COUNTY. 
 
 Van Buren comity was laid out in 1829, was organized in 1837 and named in honor of Secretary of 
 State Martin Van Bmen. 
 
 It is located in the southwest part of the Lower Peninsula and is bounded on the north by Allegan 
 county, on the east by Kalamazoo county, on the south by Cass county, and on the west by Lake Mich- 
 igan and Berrien county. 
 
 The total land area is 391,442.62 acres, of which about 362,000 acres are in wonderfully productive 
 farms. 
 
 The poprflation is 33,185 (1910 census). 
 
 The valuation of taxable property as estimated by the State Board of Tax Commissioners in 1911, 
 is $35,164,410. 
 
M I (' II I ('. A N 
 
 171 
 
 'I'Ik'iv ari' 155 st-liools, a total cnrolliiK'iiL ol f),.S2 l sttidciiLs, cmployinj' .Ml LaaclKa';;. 
 
 'I'ln' county has I I hanUs, 2 daily and weekly newsiuiper.s. (lood telegraph, Lelepliotic and nind 
 mail .si'fvii'e is found in every loc'ality. 
 
 I’aw I’aw is the judieial si'at. of Lhc county and has about 1,K()0 inhabitants. It is situated on the 
 Kalamazoo Lake Short' iV ('liieaj^o Ry., and on the I’aw I’aw river, 18 mil<!S southwes.t of KaIamazf>o, 
 4 from laiwton, where eonneetious is made with the main line of tlie Miehij^an ('entral R. R., 15 miles 
 from llartfonl, where eonueetion is made witli the main line of the I’ere Martiuctte R. R., and 3.5 miles 
 from South Haven, where connection is made with tlie Michigan ('entral Railroad and a line of steamers 
 plying to C'hieagt). I’aw Raw is lighted by eleetrieity, has water works, sewers, fire department, churches 
 of many denominations, excellent schools, an oi)era house, 2 Itanks and 2 weekly newspapers. 
 
 Wheat, pork, live slock, beans, i)eachcs, apples, grapes and small fruits are shipped. 
 
 South Haven is the largest towm in the county and has a population of about 4,000. 
 
 This city occupies a commanding j)Osition on the shore of Lake Miehigan at the mouth of the Black 
 River, which fomis a safe and commodious harbor. It is a station on the Michigan Central Railroad 
 and on the Kalamazoo Lake Shore & Chicago Railroad, 30 miles northwest of Paw Paw, 40 from Kala- 
 mazoo, and 75 by water from Chicago. It has well laid out and shaded streets, is lighted by electricity, 
 has a good system of water works, a fire department, sewerage system, opera house, churches of several 
 denominations, a splendid public school system, a $15,000 public library, a gas plant, two banks, four 
 newspapers, etc. 
 
 The more prominent industries embrace piano manufacturing, fruit packages and lumber manu- 
 factories, canning factory, wood carvdng works, foundry, planing mills, syrup, pickle, vinegar and basket 
 factories, etc. 
 
 Other enterprising towns of the county are Hartford, Lawton, Bangor, Bloomingdale, Decatirr, 
 Goble\dlle, and Lawrence. The surrounding coimtry is well adapted for agriculture and fruit growdng 
 and wheat, live stock, peaches and apples are exported. 
 
 Fruit growing is however, the principal indvistry and large quantities of fruit are shipped. 
 
 The principal transportation facilities of the coimty are the Michigan Central R. R., Pere Mar- 
 quette R. R., the Kalamazoo Lake Shore & Chicago R. R., and the Chicago & South Haven S. S. Line. 
 
 WASHTENAW COUNTY. 
 
 Washtenaw county was laid out in 1822, and was organized in 1826. This county •was part of 
 the region lying west of the Detroit district commonly called by the Chippewa Indians “ Washtenong,” 
 meaning a river that extends far off, referring to the Grand River. 
 
 It is located in the southeastern part of the Lower Peninsula and is bounded on the north by 
 Lmngston and Oakland covmties, on the east by Wayne county, on the south by Lenawee and Monroe 
 counties, and on the west by Jackson county. 
 
 The total land area is 454,047.24 acres. Of this munber about 428,000 acres are in splendid farms. 
 
 The population is 44,714 (1910 census). 
 
 The valuation of taxable property as estimated by the State Board of Tax Commissioners in 1911, 
 is $54,719,685. 
 
 The county has a fine school system. There are 174 schools, a total enrollment of 7,818 students, 
 requiring the services of 341 teachers. 
 
 The cotmty has 16 banks, 3 daily and 16 weekly newspapers. 
 
 Good telegraph, telephone and rural mail service is found throughout the cotmty. 
 
 Ann Arbor, the capitol city of the county, has a population estimated at about 16,000. This city 
 is, of course, most widely kno'wm as the seat of Michigan’s great State University. It is situated on the 
 Huron river, on the main line of the Michigan Central R. R., on the Ann Arbor R. R., and on the Detroit 
 United Railway, (electric), 38 miles from Detroit. The city is lighted with, electricity and a large well 
 established gas company also furnishes light and fuel gas, has a good sewerage system, a court house 
 
172 
 
 M I C I I I C) A N 
 
 erected at a cost of about $75, ()()(), well equipj^ed fire department, a $45,000 Y. M. C. A. building, an 
 excellent jmblic school system including one of the finest high school buildings in the state erected at 
 a cost of about $300,000, a beautiful new auditorium, first class hotels, 200 acres of j:)arks and boule- 
 vards, a beautiful public library, churches of many denominations, 5 banks, 2 daily newspapers, etc. 
 
 d'hc industrial institutions include manufactories of pianos, organs, furniture, agricultural imple- 
 ments, lamps, ladders, aiitomobile attachments, hay baling machines, flour, corsets, skirts, waists, 
 baking powder, carriages, wagons, brick, tile, cement building block, beer, boilers, engines, sash, doors 
 and blinds, knitted goods, trusses, beet sugar machinery, pumps, etc. 
 
 Y])silanti, the second largest town in the county has a population of about 6,230. It is located 
 on the Lake vShore and Michigan vSouthem Railroad, and the Michigan Central Railroad, and the 
 Detroit United Railway, (electric), 29 miles southwest of Detroit, and 8 southeast of Ann Arbor. It is 
 lighted by electricity, and has an excellent system of public water supply, has churches of the leading 
 denominations, excellent schools, a ladies’ library, an opera house, a business college, first class hotels, 
 2 banks and a daily newspaper. Ypsilanti is the seat of the State Normal College. 
 
 The manufacturing interests include paper mills, foundries and machine shops, flour mills, knitting 
 mills, a creamery, novelty works and manufactories of carriages, wagons, buggy bodies, rubber tire 
 setters, flour mill and elevator machinery, bean pickers, underwear, farm implements, axe handles, sash, 
 doors, blinds, dress stays, etc. 
 
 Other important towns of the county are Chelsea, Dexter, Manchester, and Saline. 
 
 Chelsea is located on the Michigan Central R. R., and on the Detroit Jackson & Chicago Ry., 14 
 miles west of Ann Arbor, and 54 from Detroit. It has a municipal electric light plant and water works 
 system, churches of the leading denominations, excellent educational advantages, 2 banks and 2 
 weekly newspapers. 
 
 The country contributory to Chelsea is very fertile and is one of the best wheat raising districts 
 in the State. The principal shipments are cereals, wool, fruit, berries and live stock. 
 
 The principal transportation facilities of the county are the Pere Marquette R. R., the Michigan 
 Central R. R., Ann Arbor R. R., Lake Shore & Michigan Southern R. R., Wabash R. R., and the De- 
 troit United Railway, (electric.) 
 
 WAYNE COUNTY. 
 
 In 1796, Secy. Sargent, acting Governor, instituted the county of Wayne. It originally included 
 all the Lower Peninsula and a large section of Indiana and Ohio and a strip along the west shore of Lake 
 Michigan, (for the purpose of including the settlement of Green Bay), and the east part of the Upper 
 Peninsula. For a name they selected that of Mad Anthony Wayne — a conquering hero then in their 
 midst. 
 
 The present county of Wayne is located in about the south east comer of the Lower Peninsula. 
 It is bounded on the north by Oakland and Macomb counties, on the east by the St. Clair river and 
 Lake St. Clair, on the south by the St. Clair river and Monroe county, and on the west by Washtenaw 
 county. 
 
 The total land area is 367,038.57 acres. Of this number about 317,000 acres are in fine fanns. 
 
 The population is 531,590 (1910 census). 
 
 The valuation of taxable property as estimated by the State Board of Tax Commissioners in 1911, 
 is $695,913,145. 
 
 There are 254 schools with a total enrollment of 91,615 students, requiring the services of 2,214 
 teachers. 
 
 The county has 30 banks, 8 daily newspapers and 43 weekly newspapers. 
 
 Telephone, telegraph and mral mail service is found in every locality throughout the county. 
 
 Detroit the largest city in the State and the county seat of Wayne county has a population of over 
 500,000. The city has an area of 41.44 square miles, 202 miles of public sewers, 480 miles of lateral 
 
M 1 (' II I ('. A N 
 
 17 .< 
 
 s»'\vtMs, -lOO mill's of piiNcil slrci'ts, .<! jiarUs and paikways with a coniMncd acrcaK'' "f 1,2M, a waf,<T 
 works i>lan( witli a daily oaparily of alioiil 1 j^allons, a mmiicipally owned cleel.i ie liplil, plant, 
 lire and poliee deparlnu-nls wliieh rank amoiif.; I he liesi in the eonntry, ‘>,S puhlie school htiildinj'S, a hean- 
 (ifnl |)ul>lic library, many churches icprcscnt inj; nearly every denomination, a Y. M. f'. A. huiMiiif' 
 erected at a cost of about $750,000, many banks, newspapers, etc. 
 
 I'rom a standpoint of beauty, then' are few cities that can compare with it, and situated on the 
 pathway of the commerce of the (nvat bakes, I )etroil does not watch it all j'o by, by any moans, (lases, 
 boxes, bales, barrels, ba}t:s and paeka}^os, will be found destined for every civilized land and bound for 
 all points alouj^ the ehain of the inland seas. 
 
 An important aid to Detroit’s eommeree and traflic is the tunnel beneath the river, completed 
 and opened in 1010 by the Michigan t'entral Railroad, at a cost of ai)i)roxiniately $1(),(M)0,000. As 
 an engineering feat, it takes rank with the famous undertakings of the world. 
 
 A few of the principal manufacturing interests of the city arc automobiles and auto parts, cloth- 
 ing, boots and shoes, ear building and repairing, cigars, food j^roducts, stoves and other heating appara- 
 tus, soda ash aiid other alkaline products, printing, fumiture and numerous other industries. 
 
 Wyandotte has a population of about 10, ()()(). It is located on the Detroit river and on the Detroit 
 iS: d'oledo Shore Line, the Detroit Toledo & Ironton, the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern and the 
 Miehigati Central Railroads, and the Detroit United Electric Ry., 12 miles from Detroit, and 47 from 
 Toledo. The city has municipally owned water and electric light plants, paved streets, fire department, 
 a public library, churches of the leading denominations, a central school building, 2 ward schools and 6 
 parochial schools, 2 banks and 2 weekly newspapers. 
 
 This city possesses some of the largest manufacturing plants in the State. Among the more prom- 
 inent industries are 3 salt manufacturing plants, a ship building company, chemical manufactory, 
 cement factory, rug and fur factory, foundries, trunk factor}’, a sheet metal works, etc. 
 
 Other enterprising cities and towns of the county are Belleville, (pop. 500), Dearborn (pop. 1,000), 
 Ford City (pop. 1,S00), Grosse Pointe, (Suburb of Detroit), Hamtramck, (pop. 4,000), Highland Park 
 (suburb of Detroit) River Rouge (pop. 4,500), St. Clair Heights, (pop. 1,300), Trenton (pop. 1,225), 
 Plymouth, (pop. 2,000) and Wayne, (pop. 1,500). 
 
 These towns are surrounded by a thickly settled and rich agricultural district and ship large quan- 
 tities of grain, hay, straw, fruit, potatoes and farm produce of all kinds. 
 
 The principal transportation facilities of the county are the Detroit Toledo & Ironton R. R., Pere 
 Marquette R. R., Wabash R. R., Detroit & Toledo Shore Line, Lake Shore & Michigan Southern R. R., 
 Michigan Central R. R., Detroit iMonroe & Toledo Short Line R. R., Grand Trunk, Canadian Pacific, 
 Detroit United Ry., (electric). Northern S. S. Co., Erie & Western Trans. Co., (Anchor Line), Detroit 
 & Buffalo S. B. Co., E. Al. Ry. & Nav. Co., Detroit & Cleveland Nav. Co., and other boat lines. 
 
 WEXFORD COUNTY. 
 
 This county was laid out in 1843 and was organized in 1869. It was originally named “Kautawa- 
 bet” and is the last of the changes to Irish names. 
 
 It is located in about the northwestern part of the Lower Peninsula and is bounded on the north 
 by Grand Traverse county, on the east by Missaukee county, on the south by Lake and Osceola counties, 
 and on the west by Manistee county. 
 
 The total land area is 366,675.69 acres, of which about 148,000 acres are devoted to farms. 
 
 The population is 20,769 (1910 census). 
 
 In 1911, the State Board of Tax Commissioners placed a valuation of $15,544,273 on all taxable 
 lands. 
 
 There are 88 schools, a total enrollment of 5,175 students, furnishing positions for 201 teachers. 
 
 The county has 8 banks, 3 daily and 5 weekly newspapers, also telegraph, telephone and rural 
 mail service. 
 
174 
 
 MICHIGAN 
 
 Cadillac is the judicial seat, also the largest city in the county and has a population of about 10,000. 
 
 It is attractively located on the shore of Lake Cadillac and on the Grand Rapids & Indiana and 
 Ann Arbor R. Rys., 98 miles north of Grand Rapids. It dates its settlement from 1871, previous to 
 which time, it was the heart of an unbroken wilderness, surrounded by forests of both pine and hard- 
 wood timber. The city has electric and gas lights, a water works system, an excellent system of 
 sewerage, a beautiful new court house, a fine city hall, public library, graded schools, a first class high 
 school, two banks, 2 daily and 2 weekly newspapers, churches of the leading denominations, etc. 
 
 The principal shipments consist of large quantities of potatoes, other farm products, lumber, veneer, 
 fruit packages, store fumitxire, broom handles, last blocks, billiard cues, lath, maple flooring, charcoal, 
 wood alcohol, pig iron, saw mill machinery, chemicals, carriage stock and shingles. Other industries 
 include boiler shops, stave and heading works, basket and brick works, a woodenware factory, table 
 factory, smelting works, floioring mills, etc. 
 
 Other towns of the county include Buckley, Harrietta, Manton, Mesick, and Sherman. 
 
 Manton which is located in a good agricultural section is a station on the Grand Rapids & Indiana 
 R. R., 12 miles north of Cadillac and 110 from Grand Rapids. It owns and operates its own electric 
 light and water works plant, has a sanitary sewerage system, wide and well laid out streets, an opera 
 house, good hotel, a public school building costing about $16,000, churches of the leading denominations, 
 a school and township library, a bank and a live weekly newspaper. 
 
 The industries include 2 saw mills, stave mill, flour mill, pickle factory, lumber mill, grist mill, etc. 
 
 The transportation facilities of the cotmty are the Ann Arbor R. R., Grand Rapids & Indiana R. R., 
 Manistee & Northeastern R. R., and the Manistee and Luther Railroad. 
 
M I (' II I ('. A N 
 
 175 
 
 TIIIC I)EVl<:i.()l‘MICNT HURICAUS. 
 
 Followtnj; will bo found the name and address of the Seeretaries of the three large Development 
 llureaus of the State. These organizations have been doing si)lendid publicity work for the several 
 counties comprising their territory. 
 
 The territory of the Upper Peninsida Bureau consists of the entire Northern Pcnin.sula. 
 
 The Territory of the Western Michigan Bureau comprises all of the counties in the west portion 
 of the Lower Peninsula from the Straits of Mackinac to the southern boundaries of Kent and Ottawa 
 comities. 
 
 The Territory of the Northeastern Michigan Bureau comprises all of the counties in the northeast 
 portion of the State, from the Straits of Mackinac to the southern boundary of Saginaw Coimty. 
 
 UPPER PENINSUL.\ DEVELOPMENT BUREAU. 
 
 C. W. Mott, Secretary. Menominee, Miehigan. 
 
 WESTERN MICHIGAN DEVELOPMENT BUREAU. 
 
 John I. Gibson, Secretary, Grand Rapids, Michigan. 
 
 NORTHEASTERN MICHIGAN DEVELOPMENT BUREAU. 
 
 T. F. Marston, Secretary, Bay City, Michigan. 
 
 List of Civic, Industrial and Commercial Organizations, together with the name and address of the 
 Secretary, from whom information may be obtained concerning almost any City or Community of the 
 State. 
 
 CITY OR TOWN. 
 
 COUNTY. 
 
 ORGANIZATION. 
 
 SECRETARY. 
 
 Adrian 
 
 Lenawee 
 
 Commerce Club 
 
 Fred L. Johnson. 
 
 Albion 
 
 
 
 W. S. Price. 
 
 Allegan 
 
 Allegan 
 
 Board of Trade 
 
 Walter W. Miller. 
 
 Alma 
 
 Gratiot 
 
 Board of Trade 
 
 D. L. Johnson. 
 
 Alpena 
 
 Alpena 
 
 Chamber of Commerce 
 
 J. F. Wilkinson. 
 
 Ann Arbor 
 
 Washtenaw 
 
 Civic Association 
 
 Wm. W. Welsh. 
 
 Bad Axe 
 
 Huron 
 
 
 G. E. English. 
 
 Battle Creek 
 
 Calhoun 
 
 Chamber of Commerce 
 
 Chas. W.~Ward. 
 
 Bav City 
 
 Bay 
 
 Board of Commerce 
 
 Jas. C. McCabe. 
 
 Belding T 
 
 Ionia 
 
 Board of Trade 
 
 V. L. Warner. 
 
 Benton Harbor 
 
 Berrien 
 
 
 M. J. Hall. 
 
 Bessemer 
 
 Gogebic 
 
 
 W. S. Baird. 
 
 Big Rapids 
 
 Mecosta 
 
 Big Rapids Board of Trade 
 
 W. A. Stillwell. 
 
 Boyne City 
 
 Charlevoix 
 
 Cliamber of Commerce 
 
 A. Q. Urquhart. 
 
 Calumet 
 
 Houghton . . 
 
 
 G. L. Price. 
 
 Cadillac 
 
 Wextord 
 
 Board of Trade 
 
 
 Charlotte 
 
 Eaton 
 
 
 
 CheDoygan 
 
 Cheboygan 
 
 
 
 Coldwater 
 
 Branch 
 
 
 S. A. Wakeman. 
 
 Croswell 
 
 Sanilac 
 
 Business Men’s Association 
 
 J. W. Dexter. 
 
 Crystal Falls 
 
 Iron 
 
 
 Thos. Conlin. 
 
 Caro 
 
 Tuscola 
 
 Business Men’s Association 
 
 
 Cassopolis 
 
 Cass 
 
 Cassopolis Commercial Club 
 
 F. Fagler. 
 
 Chelsea 
 
 Washtenaw 
 
 
 J. T. Woods. 
 
 Detroit 
 
 Wavne 
 
 
 Byres H. Gitchell. 
 
 
 
 
176 
 
 M ICIIIGAN 
 
 CITY OH TOWN. 
 
 COUNTY. 
 
 ORGANIZATION. 
 
 SECRETARY. 
 
 lOast Jordan 
 
 (hiarlcvoix 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 A. L. Black. 
 
 JOaton Uapids 
 
 Katon 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Klk Hapids 
 
 Antrim 
 
 
 W. E. Olds. 
 
 Kvart 
 
 Osceola 
 
 
 Win. H. Umphrey, 
 
 Tliiit 
 
 Gene.see 
 
 
 A. Galbraith. 
 
 Kreinout 
 
 Newaygo 
 
 
 
 Teuton 
 
 Cene.see 
 
 Fenton Board of Commerce 
 
 W. H. King. 
 
 Frankfort 
 
 
 
 
 (Jladstone 
 
 Delta 
 
 
 O. W. Jackson. 
 
 (Jraiui Haven 
 
 Ottawa 
 
 
 Jas. W. Oakes. 
 
 (irand Ledfje 
 
 Eaton 
 
 
 C. Alexander. 
 
 Cirand Kapids 
 
 Kent 
 
 
 W. K. Plumb. 
 
 CJreenville 
 
 Montcalm 
 
 
 
 (Jraylinjj 
 
 
 
 
 Harbor lieach 
 
 Huron 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 llolland 
 
 
 
 Dick Boter. 
 
 Hudson 
 
 
 
 M. E. Power. 
 
 liarf)or Sjirings 
 
 
 
 Allen Reynolds. 
 
 Hart 
 
 Oceana 
 
 
 Highland Park 
 
 Wayne 
 
 
 C. PJ. Gittins. 
 
 Holly 
 
 Oakland 
 
 
 Henry Ellis. 
 
 Houghton 
 
 
 
 G. L. Price. 
 
 Hotvard City 
 
 Montcalm 
 
 
 R. S. Jennings. 
 
 Howell 
 
 Livingston 
 
 
 A. R. Crittenden. 
 
 Ionia 
 
 
 
 
 Iron Mountain 
 
 
 
 John Garvey. 
 
 
 
 
 H. M. Erickson. 
 
 
 
 
 R. J. Wise. 
 
 Iron River 
 
 
 
 G. R. Walder. 
 
 Ithaca 
 
 
 
 Geo. Lampier. 
 
 
 
 
 Paul A. Leidy. 
 
 Kalkaska 
 
 Kalkaska 
 
 
 I. M. Clark. 
 
 
 
 
 F. C. Butler. 
 
 Lansing 
 
 
 
 Rov R. Darwin. 
 
 Ludington 
 
 
 
 IF f'. Hutton. 
 
 
 
 
 W. F. Pre.scott. 
 
 Manistee 
 
 
 
 
 Mancelona 
 
 
 
 H. FI. Wellman. 
 
 Manistique 
 
 
 
 M. H. Barton. 
 
 Alarquette . . . . 
 
 
 
 E. A. Daley. 
 
 Marshall . . 
 
 
 
 P. Grohens. 
 
 
 
 
 W. L. Clark. 
 
 IVIenominee 
 
 
 
 G. P. Chambers. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 E. C. Steiner. 
 
 Mt. Clemens 
 
 
 
 Clifton 1). Jackson. 
 
 Muskegon 
 
 
 
 Louis H. Conger. 
 
 Marcellus 
 
 
 
 Oscar Romig. 
 
 Marlett.. 
 
 
 
 FI. C. Biirge'tt. 
 
 
 
 
 O. J. McCrillis. 
 
 
 
 
 Chas. E. Smith. 
 
 
 
 
 L. L. Ball. 
 
 
 
 
 T. A. Green. 
 
 Otsego. 
 
 
 
 Geo. H. Gerphiede. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Watson Snyder. 
 
 
 
 
 E. B. Linabury. 
 
 
 
 
 J. D. Asman. 
 
 
 
 
 
 Plaiiiwell 
 
 
 Plainwell Business Men’s Association 
 
 F’’oster Fuller. 
 
 
 
 
 Wm. J. Burrows. 
 
 Reed Citv 
 
 
 
 A. M. Fleischhauer. 
 
 
 
 
 R. L. Skinner. 
 
 
 
 
 Geo. D. Slaymaker. 
 
 
 
 
 M. L. Johinson. 
 
 
 
 
 John P. Old. 
 
 
 
 
 
 Stanton 
 
 
 
 Clyde F. Smith. 
 
 
 
 
 E. H. Ilatchkiss. 
 
 
 
 
 S. L. Marshall. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 H. G. Muellerweis. 
 
 
 
 
 F. E. Lewellyn. 
 
 
 
 
 
M I (' II I A N 
 
 177 
 
 ITI'Y (in I'OWN. 
 
 COHNI'Y. 
 
 OIttiANIZA 1 ION. 
 
 Hl'.t 'lll; l AItV. 
 
 Simrtii 
 
 Kent 
 
 MnsIneNN Men's OrKaiil/.atlon 
 
 KrastiiH Hrriitti. 
 
 
 
 
 C. 1) OowrilriK. 
 
 
 
 (Jotiunareti ( huh . . , , 
 
 
 
 
 
 Thnn' Uivorn . . 
 
 St. Joseph 
 
 'I'linMi ItlvorH (hitniiiurelal (huh 
 
 
 
 (iraiol Traverst* 
 
 (h)tnfiilttuo of 21 
 
 W II (Jrnlor. 
 
 I'nloM I'it V 
 
 Hraiu'h 
 
 lUisiiioHH Men’s AHsorlalion 
 
 M. M. Teeter. 
 
 Vii.ssiir 
 
 'I’uscola 
 
 Vassar Board of Trad*' 
 
 K. W. Kills. 
 
 Vli’UsburK 
 
 Kiilaniazoo 
 
 Business Men’s Association 
 
 Don B. .Sharpe. 
 
 Whitehall 
 
 
 
 
 Wllliaiiislon 
 
 1 nf^itaiu 
 
 (htizen’s Association 
 
 
 Wi'st Hniiu'li 
 
 OKi'in.iw 
 
 West Brandi linproveinent Association 
 
 it. B. HaiK 
 
 
 
 
 
 Ypsiliinti 
 
 Washtenaw 
 
 Ypsilanti Industrial Association 
 
 A. McAndrew. 
 
 Zeeland 
 
 Ottawa. 
 
 Civic Club 
 
 Angus DeKniif. 
 
 
 
 
 12 
 
17S 
 
 MICHIGAN 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 In the compilation of this book from such data as has been collected, it has been 
 the aim and purpose to give a general idea of the resources of Michigan and to suggest 
 the advantages which it possesses and the opportunities which it offers to the home 
 seeker. While it is hoped that this publication, which is the first of its kind to be 
 compiled by the state, will l)e the cause of inducing many who read it to visit the 
 state and Examine for themselves the advantages it offers, it is also hoped that it will 
 perform even a greater mission, namely, the stimulating of Michigan’s own people 
 to a deeper sense of appreciation of their home state. It would seem, then, that the 
 first result to be hoped for is the establishment of faith among Michigan’s own people, 
 causing them to look over Michigan and Michigan’s opportunities before seeking 
 other climes for investments. 
 
 It is not to be expected that every man who settles in a new country will achieve 
 a conspicuous success, but that the chances for success are greater in Michigan than 
 in many more widely advertised territories is maintained and is susceptible of proof. 
 
 The last word, however, to the prospective settler, whether he be from within 
 or from without the state, is a warning against buying advertised lands in Michigan, 
 or anywhere for that matter, without having first made the fullest investigation of 
 the property; the character of the soil; the proximity to markets; and the chances to 
 make a success upon the land by the persons of average ability. 
 
 The Commission is deeply appreciative of the courtesies extended by the several 
 state departments, officers, organizations and individuals who have so kindly furnished 
 data and illustrations for this compilation, and while space will not permit personal 
 mention, it is hoped that each will consider himself personally thanked for his assistance. 
 
 Appended hereto is a list of the names and addresses of the Secretaries of the 
 several development bureaus of the state, which are semi-official organizations, and 
 also a list of the commercial clubs and industrial organizations in the various counties 
 of the state, which are doing very effective publicity work. Reliable information 
 as to the opportunities offered in their county or section of the state will be gladly 
 furnished to anyone who will call upon or correspond with them. 
 
 The Michigan Agricultural College, at East Lansing, maintains an experiment 
 station, where valuable information may be obtained free of charge upon many of 
 the questions that confront the general farmer, stock raiser, dairyman, or the fruit 
 grower. Special bulletins are issued concerning methods and culture of most any 
 agricultural or horticultural crops, and may be had by addressing the Secretary of 
 Michigan Agricultural College, East Lansing. 
 
 Attention is also called to the valuable information that may be obtained by 
 addressing the State Geologist, Lansing, relating to the character of the soil of any 
 portion of the state. 
 
M I ('- II I (', A N 
 
 179 
 
 'I'lio hnniijj;rati()n (IcpartiiUMit, is, in a mcasun', <'i clcariiij^ house of general infor- 
 luatioii for tlie otilirc' state. Its services are placed at the disposal of anyone who 
 wishes information coneerninjj; Michigan, and all iiuinirics nj)on the .subject will he 
 ^jladly answered. .Address Comini.ssioner of Imini^^M'ation, Lansinj^, Michigan. 
 
ERRATA. 
 
 Page 64. R. S. Shaw. 
 
 Page 135. Hillsdale County bounded on the South by Ohio. 
 
('.ICNICKAL INI)I<:X. 
 
 Ariva^i' jUM' I'ann, Avi'ra^,H' 6H 
 
 Aj^riouUuiv 64 
 
 A};ric'ult viral C'oIU'go, Mic'lii^^aii 45 
 
 A^^rivnilt viral lands 65 
 
 Ak'vvna C'ovinly, (ii'ni'ral (loscripliDn of 112 
 
 Ali^vT ('ovinty, (uMivTal dv'sori])tion of 114 
 
 Alk'f^an C'ovmly, (u'noral vk'scription of 114 
 
 AliH'ua C'ovinly, ('itMVv'ral doscription of 114 
 
 Antrim C'ovmly, ('ii'iit'ral (k'scription of 115 
 
 Area, Loi'ation and Popvilalion 15 
 
 Arenac Connty, C'lcneral description of 116 
 
 Baraj;a Connty, Cicneral dcscrijvtion of 117 
 
 Harry Connty, Cencral description of 118 
 
 Hay Connty, General description of 116 
 
 Henzie Connty, General description of 118 
 
 Herrien Connty, Cieneral description of 119 
 
 Hranch County, General description of 120 
 
 Calhoun County, General description of 121 
 
 Cass County, General deseri])tion of 122 
 
 Charlevoix County, General description of 124 
 
 Cheboyjtan County, General deseription of 124 
 
 Chippewa County, General description of 124 
 
 Churches of all denominations 41 
 
 Clare County, General deseription of 125 
 
 Climatic conditions. The Michigan 51 
 
 Temperature 54 
 
 Frost 57 
 
 Precipitation 57 
 
 Snow 59 
 
 Drought 59 
 
 Sunshine 59 
 
 Winds 59 
 
 Conclusion 60 
 
 Climatic data 61 
 
 Upper Peninsula 61 
 
 Northern Section 61 
 
 Central Section 62 
 
 Southern Section 62 
 
 Clinton County, General description of 126 
 
 College of Mines, Alichigan 45 
 
 Conclusion 178 
 
 Conservation, Michigan idea of 21 
 
 Counties of the State, The 112 
 
 Crawford County, General description of 127 
 
 Crop production. Agricultural 75-82 
 
 Com, Oats, Wheat, Rye, Barley 76 
 
 Other grains and seeds 76 
 
 Hay, forage, soiling and root crops 79 
 
 Sugar beets 82 
 
 Sundry crops 82 
 
 Delta County, General description of 127 
 
182 
 
 I N D E X 
 
 Page 
 
 Development Bureaus, Name and address of Secretaries 175 
 
 Dickinson County, General description of 128 
 
 Early Development, Conditions unfavorable to 66 
 
 Eaton County, General description of 129 
 
 Education in Michigan 33 
 
 Emmet County, General description of 130 
 
 h'anns. Number of 68 
 
 hMirns and Farm j^roperty, Michigan 67 
 
 Foreword 5 
 
 Frontispiece 1 
 
 Fruits 91-93 
 
 Apples 91 
 
 Peaches 91 
 
 Cherries 93 
 
 Pears 93 
 
 Plums 93 
 
 Small fruits 94 
 
 General physiography 43 
 
 General physiography, soils and mineral resources of Michigan 43-50 
 
 Genesee County, General description of 131 
 
 Gladwin County, General description of 132 
 
 Gogebic County, General description of 132 
 
 Grand Traverse County, General description of 133 
 
 Gratiot County, General description of 134 
 
 Great Lakes, The 19 
 
 Great Lakes Fisheries, The 20 
 
 Highways, Michigan’s Rural 40-42 
 
 Hillsdale County, General description of 135 
 
 History of State’s early development. Brief 7 
 
 Horticulture in Michigan 91 
 
 Fruits 91-93 
 
 Small Fruits 94 
 
 Cucumbers 95 
 
 Celery 95 
 
 Onion Crop 96 
 
 Potatoes, etc 96 
 
 Horticultural production 97 
 
 Houghton County, General description of 136 
 
 Huron County, General description of 137 
 
 Industries, A few other important manufacturing 108-111 
 
 Industries in which Michigan ranked first, second and third (census 1909) . 106 
 
 Ingham County, General description of 137 
 
 Ionia County, General description of 138 
 
 Iosco County, General description of 139 
 
 Iron County, General description of 140 
 
 Isabella County, General description of 140 
 
 Jackson County, General description of 141 
 
 Kalamazoo County, General description of 142 
 
 Kalkaska County, General description of 143 
 
 Kent County, General description of 143 
 
 Keweenaw County, General description of 144 
 
1 N I ) IC X 
 
 IH.< 
 
 LaUi' ('ouiilv, (u'ni'ral lU'Sc'ription of 
 
 Lako'^ ami nvor sysltMiis 
 
 Land i\()t in farms, Status of •. 
 
 Lapi'i'P ('ouuty, ('n'lU'ral di'scription of 
 
 Livlauau t'ounfy, ('nMU'ral dosoription of 
 
 Li'uawtv ('ouuty, ('ii'iuM'al di'scription of 
 
 List of ('ivio. Industrial and ('omnu'ivial Organizations, Loj^ctlicr willi name and addntss of 
 
 vSiTivt aril's of nai'li 
 
 Livini^ston ('onnty, ('n'lU'ral doscriplion of 
 
 lave stock on Michis^an farms 
 
 1 lorsos 
 
 lU'of and 1 )airy Cattle 
 
 Swine 
 
 vShoo]) 
 
 Poultry and Bees 
 
 Location, area and population 
 
 Ltice County, Ceneral description of 
 
 Pape 
 1 15 
 10 
 00 
 1 15 
 1 16 
 1 16 
 
 17.5 
 
 147 
 82 87 
 
 8.5 
 
 8.5 
 
 8.5 
 
 8.5 
 
 86 
 
 15 
 
 148 
 
 IMaekinae Couiit}’, Gencnil description of 146 
 
 Macomb County, Cieneral description of 146 
 
 Manistee County, General description of 150 
 
 Manufacturing industries, Michigan 66 
 
 Mamifactures, Importance and growth of 66 
 
 Manufactures (census 1606) Five Leading 102-106 
 
 Automobiles 10.5 
 
 Lumber and timber products 103 
 
 Foundry and Machine shop products 104 
 
 Food and kindred products 104 
 
 Furniture and Refrigerators 105 
 
 Markets, Splendid 27 
 
 Marquette County, General description of 151 
 
 Mason County, General description of 152 
 
 Mecosta County, General description of 153 
 
 Menominee County, General description of 153 
 
 Michigan (brief history of the State’s early development) 7 
 
 Michigan again 15 
 
 Michigan in competition with the world 17 
 
 Michigan agriculture, its present status and wonderftd possibilities 64 
 
 Michigan unique agriculturally 66 
 
 Michigan farm mortgages not burdensome 71 
 
 Michigan not a State of rented farms 75 
 
 Michigan opportunities better than Western 86 
 
 Michigan’s horticultural rating 67 
 
 Midland County, General description of 154 
 
 Mineral Resources 46-50 
 
 Gravel, clay and marl 47 
 
 Coal 47 
 
 Salt, gypsum, oil and gas 48 
 
 Copper 48 
 
 Iron 50 
 
 Other mineral products 50 
 
 Missaukee County, General description of 155 
 
 Monroe County, General description of 155 
 
 Montcalm County, General description of 156 
 
 Montmorency County, General description of 157 
 
 Muskegon County, General description of 157 
 
 Newaygo County, General description of 
 Normal College, State 
 
 158 
 
 37 
 
184 
 
 INDEX 
 
 Page 
 
 Normal School, Central Michigan 37 
 
 Nonnal vSchool, Northern State 38 
 
 Normal School, Western vState 38 
 
 Oakland County, General (lescri])tion of 159 
 
 Oceana County, General description of 160 
 
 Ogemaw County, Gcnci'al description of 160 
 
 Ontonagon County, General dcscri])tion of 161 
 
 Osceola County, General description of 161 
 
 Oscoda County, General description of 162 
 
 Otsego County, General description of 163 
 
 Ottawa County, General description of 163 
 
 Population, Location and Area 15 
 
 Presejue Isle County, General description of 164 
 
 Race ])rol)lem, Michigan has no 32 
 
 Railways, Steam and Electric 30 
 
 Resorts, Attractive summer 24 
 
 Resources of Michigan, The general physiography, soils and mineral 43-50 
 
 Rivers 21 
 
 Roscommon County, General description of 165 
 
 Rural mail service 30 
 
 Rural Organizations 87 
 
 Rural schools. The 34 
 
 Saginaw County, General description of 165 
 
 Sanilac County, General description of 166 
 
 Schoolcraft County, General description of 167 
 
 School system 33-39 
 
 Shiawassee County, General description of 167 
 
 vSmall Fruits 94 
 
 Strawberries 94 
 
 Gooseberries 94 
 
 Currants 95 
 
 Red Raspberries and other small fruits 95 
 
 Soils 45 
 
 Social conditions. Desirable 30 
 
 Special infonnation obtainable 96 
 
 St. Clair County, General description of 168 
 
 Stimulus to agriculture general 89 
 
 St. Joseph County, General description of 169 
 
 Title page 3 
 
 “The Query” and “The Answer” 18 
 
 Transportation facilities, Excellent Rail and Water 28 
 
 Transportation, Water 29 
 
 Tuscola County, General description of 170 
 
 University of Adichigan, The 34 
 
 Upper Peninsula, The 70 
 
 Van Buren County, General description of 170 
 
 Washtenaw County, General description of G1 
 
 Water Power Era in Michigan, The dawning of a great 21 
 
 Wayne County, General description of 172 
 
 Wexford County, General description of 173 
 
LIBRARy 
 OF THE 
 
 UNIVEftSITy OF JLLINOiS 
 
 
UBRARy 
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 university Of ILLINOIS 
 
UNIVERSITY OF ILUNOIS-URBANA 
 
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