The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1845-09-02
Gbe DatIp 5pp.
WORCESTER:
TUESDAY, SEP TEMBER 2, 1915.
Correspondence Of the Spy.
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, t.,
AUGUST Goth. 1915

erallon some of the public lands dt the present prices
before they are all taken by foreigners that New England
institutions and New England manners and customs NAV
take the lead in the New States. The sons of the Pill
grim fathers have certainly the best right to the lands
tits their brh-righ, and yet we see foreigners pressing
in and securing the best spots and foreign capital being
employed TO buy up the most desirable locations and
hold them for advance of price, that the next gen.
Grafton will not be able to procure land except at exor
btam prices and they will not have the money 10 pay
and must consequently, be the tenants of the land
holders.
send you, accompanying this, circular, which had
printed and distributed in various town in Massachusetts
several years ago. had then seen the lands which
recommended-I have now personally visited large
tracts Of land in the State of Michigan and can recon-
mend il from personal observation.
| send YOU also hand-b giving you descrjption of
Grand River Valley This county is particularly
adapted to the people of Massachusetts, being nterspers
ed with bill and dale, and well watered with clear
streams sPringing from pure fountains On many of
these streams at the distance of only three or four miles
apart are waterfalls of sufficient power to carry saw
Mills and in many instances grist-miIIs also.
This neighbohood is settled with hardy frugal and
industrious people, mostly from Western New York and
the New England States. One of The farmers met
with came from York State near Cayuga Lake. he told
that his father from Massachusetts into York
State when he only II months old and settled in the
midst OF the woods-ha his first rccollections were of
trees and forests and he grew up he had hard work
and plenty Of t-he is now az years of age and has
been in this country four yearse purchased 100 acres
of land for less than dollar an acre. partly oak-open
ings and partly meadow and-he has his farm now un
der good cuvationraised large crop of wheat last
year hesays he likes the country better III n the place
he LETT and would not exchange farms he thinks this
land fully equal TO the lands in the State of New York
which are selling at fifty 10 hundred dollars per acre
have just met with Canadian who came in here
last fall-hs father was from Albany-he was born in
Canada and in the States until he was twenty
years old-he first TO visit without any idea
of settling but he was much pleased with the country
that he determined TO here and last fall he came
here with his brother and selected each quarter section
Of tmbered land in the town of Walker - miles north
Of this place, being State land they bought State scrip
at 40 per dollar and entered the land at 5 per
acreso their farms them hui 80 cents per acre or
eighty dollars each He describes the land as the ric
est he has ever seen-covered with large growth of
maple and black walnut.
visited one farm on the banks of Grand River-tbe
told me that he had been on it nne years that lie
into this country when there were no inhabitants
settled down in the woods and built him a log cabin
He appears be about 60 years of age, and has two
sons from % to 80 and some other chidren--be has
now splendid farm under good cultivation, with good
house directly in view of the river and as walked IN
10 the gate and sauled the old gentleman, said "you
have delightful situation here he replied. after ex
-. 81
before left the place he took through his garden
"there," said he sis spot where raised urnips last
year, measured the quantity produced and then meas
ured The ground and found the produce TO be equal 10
eleven hundred bushels the acre. and he added q" have
never MANFRED this land"
AT another farmers which passed, stopped to water
my horse about midday the beginning of August the
weather seasonaby warm said, you have delight
full stream of water running near your -yard'-
Yes. he replied, @" would moi take fifty dollars for III
he went into the house and brought glass tumbler.
and invited me to drink from tive walked little dis.
lance, chs" said he dis the head of The stream and
dipped my glass mo pure spring as clear as crystal
and of GOODNESS Of about fifty deg f-he told me it
OF tho temperature summer and winter and
added "it freezes" file had twenty head of cat
tie, and such large cattle have rarely seen-hey re-
minded me Of those ! saw in Duchess county, New
York
What particularly attracts my attention in this part
the country the school housesI passed one in the
woods built Of logs hafa mile from any house. en-
CURED why il was built there, and was told was the
centre the district, and, in each district containing
certain number Of families, the inhabitants were Obliged
to build school house. This bright feature in the New
England system spreading fast and far through the
western SIates-he children read the same spelling book
and The menread the newspapers and the whole body
OF the people listen to the Bible weekly expounded
by their selected teachers in the English language,
throughout this vastand still progressing country.
This school system bids fair to make Michigan one of
the brightest stars in the Union, and no doubt the next
generation will see in Congress native born talent. that
will vie with those ofhe older states As was return.
ing from my ride re-passed this same school house and
at little distance ahead overlook the school bows and
healthier looking boys have SEEM and thew seem
ed TO be in the perfect enjoyment Of rural felicity.
Any farmer who wishes to enter land for himself or his
SON. or his daughter, has only to write to John Ball ESQ
Grand Rapids, Michigan, who was the state agen, for
selecting the lands and whohas been over the whole Of
them am told by the people ofis lage ,ha, he is
trustworthy and may be confdei in Michigan stale