New-York daily tribune., 1859-06-01
THE STATE or MICHIGIN.
To ne Editor II The ". y. Tribune.

To he Editor # The " y TJfbHr"
SIR: There is at present no State in the Union
which offers greater advantages to the emgrant tnan
Michigan. The rich soil and forests, the healthy
climate and the commerce on the shores OF
the lakes. are generally known; but not 50 the
measures of the late Legislature, by means OF which
considerable advantages and facilities are given to
the farming immigrants. The first measure includes
an ac. for system Of drainage and reclamation OF
swamp-ands by the construction of Stateroads with
proper bitches ard drains through the unsettled
counties where the State lands are chiefly situated.
These drains are admirably situated for drainage,
being nearly all considerably above the streams,
which traverse the country in every direction, and
furnish ample outlets for u complete system OF
drainage.
According to this act, the construction OF ten State
roads is ordered. The Governor some time ago APP
pointed the Commissioners for laying out and establish
inc these reads. and nearly all of them have been
commenced. BY this mode of cultivation, the coming
farmers may drain their lands very easily, and the
greatest obstruction with which the farming people
met in former periods is hereby abated.
Another legislative measure, which is based upon
the former is the so called Homestead law, giving 10
acres of swamp land outright to actual, landless set
tiers. II must be well understood that very large
portion of thtse lands is the richest land IN the state
that one portion of it is 80 high situsted that no
drainage is needed at all for it, and that the other, with
nroper drainage-which chiefly is to be done by the
State-rcads and railroads, viii be as productive a.
any in other States.
According the act Of free homestead OF ~ acres,
the Commissioner of the Land Office II required 10
give certificate of purchase to every setter OF occ
paut of the swamp lands belonging to this state IN the
proper lega subdvison ~ acres OF SAID and *hen-
ever il shall be made To appear 10 sald commissioner
II. Laa lN
acres the period of five continuous years aud that
be has also drained the For the privilege OF ell
tering upon said lands the applicant shall make a
statement under oath, tbst he Is not the owner 0t ~
acres of aad elsewhere in the United States where
upon he viii obtain from the Commissioner license
Ia enter upon and occupy aud dram said lands or te
purpose Il obtaining title thereto
Beside this act, another has been passed by the
Special Session of Legislature OF lSos when provides
for the pre.mption of swamp lands by actual settlers
so tat every one who l. already residing upon swamp
or other land can buy the adjoining tract up to the
amount of 100 acres for the price OF 81 - per acre.
out Of which - per to be paid within the fr
wear and tie other three-quaer- 10 per cent within
or before thc expiration OF the period ot ten years.
with ) per cent. interest thereon.
Witt these liberal legislative provisions there can
no longer remain doubt Of the growth, certain AMI
permanent prosperity of the State of Michigan 10 the
advantages of which SHALL briefly little more
allude. ,
bodies of water the west north and east Is heahy
and delightful.
A Glance ar the map Of the State, will be sufficient
To convince every intelligent reader of the great I'M
portance Of her commerce, which Is very much sus,
tanned bv the great number OF navlgable rvers anu
railroads in the interior. The immense lumber pro-
ducton and trade, now directly with Europe, -
increasing daily; the manufacturing OF slaves uIn-
ber shingles planks, &C., although even al present
considerable l. vet too small tO supply the demand, 80
that the value of the timber Will exceed by large
amount. TIE cost Of the soil.
Besides the swamp land, Of which the state owns
more than FIVE and half millions of acres, and OF
which will be given free homestead Of forty acres 10
every actual settler, there l. also large qusnty oil
other lands in market such Congress lands under
the ac, of graduation at the price of III cents up to
Al % per acre four millions ot railroad laads grated
by Coz press for their construction, all OF high value
and selling at g. 20 per acre. the number of railroads
created under this land grant act in connection with
the propos sed State Board furnish 10 all parts Of the
State eocd means Of communication; therefore the val
ne of the soil and timber will be increasing every day.
These Government lands Of Michigan, which were
withdrawn from market two three years ago for the
purpose Of pernttn the railroad companies To make
their selection from the grant of Congress have been
restored. There IS now great activity among those
who desrous to purchase; the restoration has
given new impulse TO immigrants in the northern part
of the State, and when il becomes generally known
that the Government lands embracing some Of the
most desirable in the State, again in the market,
there may be anticipated very decided increase to the
strength asd volume Of ,he tide northward.