Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1876-08-02
History Of Alpena County.
BY WILLIAM BoULTON.
CONCLUDED.

In subsequent letter, Mr.. Lew
is gave many particulars concern
ing the progress of farming in this
county, giving the location, amount
of improvements, etc, of numer-
Gus "Burnt Land" farmers. The
statistics would have been given if it
had been necessary, and many
pages more of farming items added
besides, describing the improve
ments of farmers, who have thirty
acres of land and upwards under
cultivation, but the facts are now
admitted by the most incredulous,
and farming has been proved sue
cessful pursuit beyond all doubt.
From Mr.. Lewis letter we reprint
the following, as it describes parts
of the county not previously men
toned in this pamphlet:
Sylvester & Flanders have, upon sec.
tions %, 90, and 80 of town 81 north O!
range 6 cast, 800 acres improved OF
which loo acres have been in crops for
three years. They have 60 acres in grass
GO acres in oats, ) acres in barley, 55
acres potatoes, and the balance in other
crops, all looking we'll The buildings,
substantially built, sided and painted,
consist of Il dwelling house 24X32 feet,
barn 60X74 feet, wood shed and Wagon
house 1896 feet. This is in what is
called the Greeley settlement, Wilson
township, where there are twenty other
farms averaging 30 acres Improvement
each, and all yielding good crops as far
as cultivated. Near this is the King
settlement, in town 81, north Of range
q east; and town 81, north of range z
cast. In the latter town the aggregate
of acres improved being not far from one
thousand. All through this region is eX-
ccllcnt waterin running streams, springs
and never-failing wells, sunk from 10 to
% feet. The towns both of burnt and
! timbered lands whereon farm improve
ments have been and are being most rap
idly made are town 81 north of range
east; 3l--5; 31-G and 31-7 towns 80
north of ranges 4, 3 and q east.
Brush Creek settlement is located in
31-4, 32-4, }l-5, and 39-5, is another
burnt land district; greater In extent
and is settling up faster even then the
district which we visited and shall short
~ mention more in detail a State road
is being made six miles TO connect with
the Alpena road. There are within the
borders of the settlement Brush lake con-
tanning 240 acres Long lake containing
two sections, and Clear lake one section
all supplied with clear, cold spring wa
ter and all abundantly with fish. There
are also many springs and brooks with
an ample supply Of water for wells not
in any case over 81 feet beneath the sur
face of the land. The land in all this re-
gion is rolling; timber standing chiefly
beech and maple, and the facilities for
drainage as soon rs the country Is clear
ed will be all that are required for first
class agricultural development.
The seasons are shorter then ours some
what, but not too short for the success
ful growing of wheat, barley oats, etc.
and all kinds of root crops, and corn may
be raised If pains is taken To get that
which natures early No delicate varie-
ties of fruit will withstand the tcmpcra-
ture, as many experimenters have found
to their cost, but the harder varieties of
apples do well, and small fruits, berries,
etc, flourish admirably. The clima te is
that of the lake region, the air clear,
fresh and bracing; and as snow falls
carly in the winter and remains on the
ground until late in the spring, the gen-
eral conditions are excellent for the pro-
duction of wheat, of which this is the
coming granary of Michigan.
There has been only one COM
plete census of farming taken, up
to the present time, and few of
the statistics can be found ON page
"a of this work. 1t is almost need
less to state that many valuable i'm
provements have been made since
the census was taken, and the time
is not far distant when the farmers
of Alpena county will raise all the
grain, hay and root crops needed
by our citizens and lumbermeu, be-
sides having large surplus to ship
to other ports.
The success of Alpena in the
future depends considerably upon
the development of farming in the
county, and the sooner all the lands
are settled the better it will be for
the city property holders. The
country back of Alpena city is rich,
fertile and extensive; it is destined |
to be the home of many thousands
of happy settlers, and the vast
amount of produce raised must
find its way to Alpcna city, as it is
the most convenient shipping point.
Experience has proved that AL
pena is first class wheat growing
country. There is very little dan
ger Of the wheat being winter kill
ed, as during. the winter the ground
is covered with a protecting sheet
of snow. We only know of one
winter in which this has not been
the rule. The yield of wheat fire.
amounts to forty bushels
per acre, and as a wheat growing
county, Alpena, according to the
State census of 1874, ranks fifth