, 1864-01-06
THE RESOURCES OF MICH.
HGAN.
Wonderful Riches Of the SawnnnsF
Valley.

Correspondence Of the N. T. Tribune
DETROIT, Dec. II, 1868.
have observed recently in the public joar-
nals references to the resources and natural
wealth Of the State Of Michigan.
Having recently traversel large portion
of the State, I nm able to say that, the half
hes not been told. Heretofore the Prairie
States have offered such Inducements for
easy cultivation that cmigrants have lastened
by .t The State Of tue Great Lakes'' to the
open pr1irie, and have neglected. the hidden
RESOURCES Of the State Of Michigan.
] an confident 1t is destined to be the
richest State in the Union. Look at It's pos!-
tion-on all sides but one surrounded by
nayigable waters: with good harbors, where
ysssf %en aei Fl s saen s nqa
not 700 miles from the city Of New York.
The water which surrounds It tenders the
climate mild and equable. The soil Is Of the
richest character, as its magnificent forests
show, being once the bed Of u great lake, rs
gcologists declare. Look now ut its resour-
or resource; such Us wheat, cotton, iron or
lumber; but Michigan Is full Of riches yet
nndcvcloped, and lying midway between the
East and the great West, capable Of. distrlbu-
ting with IN open hand to both.
The most valuable pine timber in this
days Of the Jesuit Missionaries in 1850, and
Alexander Mckenzie, its ''sirgin topper" has
been noted, till now Its copper mines are
yielding ali Immense revenue. NO liner 1roa
is found in this country thau is found in
Michigan In the upper Peninsula Coal mines
are opened and worked in yarious part, Of
the State. Immense beds ofgypsum or plas-
ter have been found In the Stnte. The geo.
logical report Of the State recently published
and the geological maps, show these beds Of
limestone as cropping out in high bluils on
the Saginaw Bay, at point which has long
been called "Piaster Point"
My attention was called 2 year ago by the
State Librarian at the capital Of the State to
i most beautiful specimen Of gypsum, or
almost pure alabaetcr, which he said had been
discovered In great quantities at Trawas Buy
or Saginaw Bay. Plaster or gypsum is fer
tilizer used nil over tho Western States, and
these quaries 80 casly worked are Of Immense
value; but within two years the most Won
derful discovery In this country has been
made in the valley Of the Saginaw River.
The geological survey Of the State shows that
Tie center of m Immense basin of salt, eS-
tending hundreds Of miles on each side. The
salt wells In the valley afford the strongest
that it often rises out Of the wells without
the aid Of pump. The brine of ORondago
comes from the same strata Of rocks, but Is
not 60 strong, and not found In such large
quantities. 4or the reason that it is found near
the edge Of this great salt basin. Millions Of
vent down the Saginaw River In q fine steam
boat saw on both sides of the river every
where the tall chimneys smoking, aud the
steam Of the salt blocks rising all throughout
the Wiley. Everywhere throughout the
valley the business thrift, the enterpEising
the manufactures Of barrels, Of salt, of lumber
remind one OF the busy life Of Eastern cities
and towns.
At East Saginaw found q popnlous city,
with streets graded, paved, and lighted with
gas, where ten years SINCE the deer were lit
emily running in the forests then growing
over the site Of the present city.
Here we found regular suit and lumber
exchange almost equal to the Corn Exchange
in New York. The hotels were filled with
salt and lumber merchant from Chicago and
from the East who buy and sell on commits
sion. One fact was very noticeable.
Fifteen years ago no one would take farm
in Michigan becnuse Of Tho immense forest of
timber Standing on it, aud which was IN i'm
pedfment to speedy cultivation. All settlers
pissed by SEQ or ], COO miles to the open prai-
ries. .
in demand in the West and In the East. The
best and most Of the pine in the country is in
Tlc wea1tI, above the soil is greater than
that below the surface. The first blow Of
the settlers ax brings hin money; he pre-
frs tile forest TO the pfllr1e. All tnc great
lumber houses of the country arc quietly
buying up the lands In Michigan, and It
would surprise the community to know the
extent to which the tar-seclug capitalists and
men Of acknowledged foresight and shrewd-
ness are making Investments In this State.
Within the past three month Erastus Cor
ming has purchased over 13o, COO acres Of land
in Michigan. The Fairbanks Of st. Johns.
bury. Join ". Brooks and John NJ Forbes,
Of fBoston,aand J. ". Pcekerrssiu Of New
York, and men of that class, have purchased
at recent sales more than 500, 600 acres Of land
In ttat State.
Such men never invest foolishly.
One company from the city of New York
hes within sir months invested $500, 600 on
the Saginaw River, and another from the
same city $50, 600.
GEN. MEADE's ACCOUNT OF Hrs LAST Re-
1REAr.-Rev. s. Il. Bail, Of Dover, N. H.,