Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1834-01-16
MICHIGAN TERRITORY.
4 PICTURE OF OUR NORTHWESTERN
TFRRITnDX

PICTURE OF OUR NORTHWESTERN
TERRITORY
The Territory of Michigan, which
nvery soon 10 become one Of the States,
possesses the greatest natural advanta.
gea OF any portion Of our country. The
soil 10, for the most part, very rich. and
easily subdued ; the timbered land and
the timber, first rate; and every part of
the Territory well watered, without be.
Ing subject to freshets, which are so de-
structiVe in Ohio, New York, Vermont.
and most Of the Southern States. The
climate IS similar TO that of New Eng
land, and is healthy and pleasant
There are great number of small
lakes, from one to SIX miles in length,
abounding with fish, and frequented by
various species of water fowl; the 70.
rests are we'll filed With deer and other
game, and the rivers furnish the hunt
srS and fishermen ample rewards for
their tolls, IN furs, &c. A farmer from
IN east can dispose Of his farm, when il
Is nearl y exhausted by his labor, Tor go
or so dollars an acre, and NJ a triflino
expense locate on far better land, we'll
~atered and surrounded by extensive
meadows, where he can raise thou
sand head of cattle, without purchasing
grass or hay. except the labor Of cut.
ting and stacking, and this may be a.
ynlded by tending them through the
winter on feed furnished by the rushe Is
near Grand river, which Is preferable
to hay. This has been done by two
hired men 10 FIVE hundred head, at
moderate wages, who lived in shanties
erected for the purpose. where they
found plenty Of game and fish, which,
with the milk from the cows aud the
stores they carried out, were amply
sufficient TO live comfortably through
the sea7on. These cattle, from one to
two years old. can be purchased in H..
linols and Indiana at three dollars a
head, and in one year will gain 100 Der
cent. in flesh, and more than this in
value, because they are 10 great de.
mand IN every settlement throughout
the Territory.
These lands, consisting Of prairie.
burr oak opening, and what is termed
thick timbered land, all capable Of
raising wheat, corn, and various other
kinds Of grain. from 20 TO 40 bushels
TO an acre, are in the market At govero-
ment price. 81 2j per acre--from 40
to 22O acres 10 one purchase; 80 that
With fifty dollars worth Of land, a good
prairie plough, add four or Ave yoks
of cattle, a man may turn the sod over
the corn dropt by the boy, who passes
through tue iurrOw, and 60 nothing bot
fence u 10, I'LL harvest time, when he
will obtain from City to SIXTY bushels
per acre. 10 SOW wheat, il is Gully ne
cesssfy to harrow il after plouRhing,
which can be done in the fali OF the
year. A second sropO ) bushels per
acre has been raised from the seed scat
tered az harvesting, without any iruu
bic except rsaping the next season. -
There 10 an abundance Of @ili sites in
almost every township, where cav
mills and grist mills ean be put up a
. small expense, and pay for them
selves in ab0ut two years, where there
10 any considerable sstilsmsnL Many
instances can be cited Of men coming
here poor, and With many difficulties TO
contend With IN the outset, leaving
farms which ould hardly support their