New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-06-14
michigan Growth and Prospects-De-
troit, &c.
.ditOTial CoTrespOodence.


DETROIT, June T. l517.
Detained here four days awaiting the appear
ance Of a steamboat for the Sault St Marie, have
yet been in such constant and anxious expectation
OF It's arrival that have found no time for tour
observation through the adjacent country, which
must now be postponed till my return from the re
gion of Lake Superior. Yet few intermediate
observations on Michigan may not be unwelcome
It's nearly eight years since last before sci
foot on this noble peninsula and in those years It's
population must have increased at least fifty per
cent. while its area Of land under cultivation and
the amount Of it's annual product have probably
more than doubled think the export Of it's great
staple, Wheat, leither in the berry or in four
from the last crop will more than quadruple that
from any crop prior TO 1899 Its annual production
of Corn and other grains Of Cattle and Sheep oil
Wool and the products of the Dairy. Of Ashes, &c.
is also very considerable; but Wheat is the great
staple Of Michigan, and will doubtless continue SO
unless the ravages Of the Hessian FL now report
ed as terrible, shall be perpetuated. trust some
preventive for that calamity will be discovered by
careful research afforded by the more obvious
bounty Of Providence.
The situation of this State is peculiar. Almost
surrounded by water, for speak with reference to
old Michigan--the peninsula bounded on three
sides by the Lakes Erie, st. Clair, Huron and
Michigan with the Straits connecting them and
having Indiana on the South)-the face OF the coun-
try is remarkably level and the soil mainly OF a
decided fertility The latter may be said to be
naturally divided into dry and wet prairie tim
bered openings, lupland.) and heavy proportion
of low, Cat wet land most OF which will be dry
enough when thoroughly cleared and cultivated
but which is as yet rather swampy--often decided
Iy So All around, on the three sides bordering on
the Lakes and Straits, there is belt OF fiat land
little elevated above the water level, and very
heavily timbered. Inside OF this, the land grsdu
ally rises and becomes gently rolling, being divided
into OAK openings having two or three dozen
small and middliug oak trees 10 the acre, with any
quantity Of oak bushes and roots and an indifferent
show Of wild grasses J timbered openings. ion
which the oak trees are much more and the bushes
ess numerous and open 'prairies, or vast natural
meadows, with heavy belts Of forest interseotns
and dividing them, usually on the courses OF the
streams. or on wet, marshy ground. The prairies'
especsllv all the largest and finest, are generally
sound In the Southern half Of the State and more
,h.n WA, than east OF a line drawn through ito
osotre These are pretty easily subdued and abun
dainty fertile the OAK lands brought to with
more labor but also yield largely both Wheat and
Corn. Aside from it's general depth and fertility
much Of the soil is strongly impregnated with
lime, which accounts for its Partially TO Wheat
- The low and uxuriously tmbered lands usually
with Elm. Cucumber Eastwood, &c have not TO any
great extent been cleared as yet being most stub
bora and least inviting but here also the soin the
main 10 strong. Yet even Detroit appears to be
closely hemmed in to landward by the primitive
forest which still covers probably hve sixths OF the
nearest hundred square miles How It happened
in spite Of this that Fuel rose here last December
on the sudden closing in OF Winter to eight or ter
dollars per cord, and the Poor were for few days
in danger of freezing in so new and wooden q
country. / have not heard explained.
On the west side Of the State, especially
around Saginaw Bay, there are extensive forests
OF choice Pine, and far in the North, las was IN
formed by the amented DR.. Houghton who had
traversed it as suveyor there is great abun'
dance Of desperately poor land-extensive sterile
swamps and marshes, oheckercd by barren knolls
and hillocks which have hard work to produce a
few berries But nobody thinks Of settling in that
bleak. forlorn region, aud the great portion OF the
soil north Of line drawn through the centre of
the State is good as nearly all south of that line
10. Very few States exceed this in Agricultural
capacity. either in the aggregate or acre to acre
The absence of Mountains OF anything like them
through the greater part ofthe State by no means
an unminged good. 1t is the cause Of pslpsbls
deficiency Of springs and running streams through
the better portion OF the State, and Of decided de-
ficiency of navigsbe waters within the State,
though IL is so molly provided with them external.
ly But this again is compensated to a great ex-
tent by the signal facilities everywhere presented
for the construction of Canals and Railroads espe
oislly the latter.
Thus tempted. the State undertook, about 1856.
the construction of Ares lines OF Railroad across the
Peninsula--the Central, stretching hence to Lake
Michigan near the mouth Of the St Joseph, the
Southern. from the Msumee near Toledo due
westward and the Northern. On the two former
a very considerable beginning had been made
when the State fell into pecuniary endorsements,
an part owing 10 the magnitude Of her undertaking.
somewhat to a change in the times aud in part 10
the proaigacy and incompetency Of her rulers. The
Southern Road was arrested the Central was
fesbly and haltngy prosecuted, fed by the sale Of
State lands and the issue Of Treasury warrants
which sold at runous depreciation; and Of the
Revenue accruisg on the completed portion of the
Road or Roads. nearly all was absorbed by the
warns OF officers and hangers on engaged In run
sng the trains, &C.
Such was the condition Of these works when,
more than year since. the State decided to offer
the Central Road just it stood for sale for 81
DOC. 900 OF her acknowledged debt, then worth IN
he market something less than si,ooo,ooo. The
,sfer was accepted by club Of Bostonians. the |
,ayment made the Road transferred, and instantly |
,laced under very different management Their
'eipts Of the completed portion rapidly increased,
While expenses were curtaed, and the work on |
he unfinished portion vigorously stimulated, pay
aent therefor being made promptly and in cash
Already the Road is in operation to Kalamazoo
aore than half way the State, and it is to be
ntirely completed at srthest within the next year
Llresdy the finished portion pays liberal and rap
lly Increasing profit ON It's cost to the Company,
hose stock is at a high premium, and can rarely
G bought at all. Already preparations are being