Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1879-10-04

various shades and combinations of al
thnan The most common soil is a ricl
sandy loan mixed with limestone grayel
1t will be easy to work, and prove yer,
productive. A distinguishing feature o
this peninsula is that the water shed i
found at the northern side, giving /;
southern slope to almost all the lands
and as it becomes known that that re
giOn lies toward the sun and possesses
such warm, rich soil generally, agri
culturists will not be slow in occupying
and improving it. Many of the pin1
lands Of that region will prove to be tn,
best of farming lands. The generally
prevailing idea that where pine grows
the soil is always poor is entirely erOne
Gus. Where the growth of pine is inter
mixed with hard wood the soil is gener
ally good and capable of producing mOs1
satisfactory returns to the farmer. With
the opening up of this new railroad
there will certainly follow extensive
lumbering operations along its line and
on the streams near by, also by extensive
iron furnaces and charcoal burning; and
all these will supply home markets fOI
pioneer farmers / am convinced that
here is the place for young men, where
at prices within reach of all permanent
farm homes may be secured; and where
a thrifty population will soon become
producers i i 5rf. ....i.se sn-
| Q.-"YOu say the climate is healthful.
How is it better than that of the lower
peninsula in this respect?" as.-tif
| A.-"Ague, the great enemy with which
the settlers of southern Michigan had in
many places to contend for so long, and
/ uyhioh iC uof unnIao nfIu nrnH-o 1nnf ~,
some localities, is entirely unknown.
suffers in this way it is because he car
This is owing, have no doubt, to the
purity of the water. The springs there
are the finest ever saw. In some places
the water comes out of the ground in
streams as large as mans body, clear
and cool. The air is dry and bracing."
Q.-"DOes the climate possess any 9TH
er marked advantages over that of the
lower peninsula?" tH
A.-"The seasons are more regular,
and in this way possess great advan-
tages. Snow comes in November and re-
mains ON the ground till spring, when it
is little later in going away than here
1t comes early enough, and remains so
cOnstantlySthat there is no frost in the
ground to speak of. Potatoes can be
grown and left in the hill all winter un-
der the snow without injury, most un-
heard of thing here. Wheat grows all
winter under the snow. This is one of
the reasons of the remarkable success of
the cereals in northern ATTITUDES"
Q.-"Will not all this be changed when
the timber is cleared away?"
Al think not. The southern slope
of nearly all the land in the upper pen
insula through which the road will pass
up to within a very few miles of Lake
Superior insureS mildnesS of climate
which could be attained under no other
circumstances. l regard this fact as the
redeeming quality of the upper peninsu-
la, the fact which gives to its value for
agricultural purposes. You will see by
looking at a map of this region that all
the principal streams run to the south,
and have their source near the shore of
Lake Superior. This is especially notice
able in SchoOlcraft county, where the
Monastique river and its numerous
branches have their rise within six miles
of Lake Superior" a.. ...- u
Q.@"How did these Marquette and
Mackinac lands get the name of swamp
lands when they are so far from being
what the name implies, most of them?"
At is difficult to explain. History
has repeated itself. You will remember
that the commissioners sent by the
United States government to inspect the
lower peninsula, years ago, reported that
it was wilderness of swampS and ster-
lie sand barrens, uninhabited and unin-
habitable. The same. erroneous opinions
seem to have been entertained by those
who surveyed the northern peninsula. l
have found section after section marked
on the maps as low, wet and
swampy, which were in reality as
rolling and fine a country as the best
part Of Oakland county, and where no
swamp ever existed. Then it is fact
that in many places extensive windfalls
have occurred. These tend to block up
the channels of the streams and cause
them in the spring to overflow. The
beavers have damned up some of the
smaller streams also. The course Of the
beavers is constantly up stream, When
a beaver dam becomes, by reason OF age,
or from the choking up or deviation of
the channel, no longer suited to the ami
mails wants, they migrate further UP.
The clearing out of these streams will
cause them to be confined to their nat
ural channels and make many places
which are now rather wet the most pro-
ductive and desirable lands ~
Q.-"What do you consider that the
great product of northern Michigan
farms will be?"
A.-"When the millions Of feet of val
liable lumber have been cleared away to
make room for the farms, and when the
numerous openings which need no clear
ings shall have been occupied, the resi-
dents of the region will find that the
great product is wheat. This region is
the future wheat garden Of the state,
and think will far excel the southern
portions"
O.-"What has been the great barrier
to the occupation of these lands by set
tiers beforeP" .alt ..t
A.-"The want of proper means to
reach them. People do not go to see
them. There are only "a very few men
who realize the riches there are there.
PrOspectors and immigrants do not like to
90 by boat. 1t takes too long, and they
get tired. Settlers now only go through
the southern portions of the state, where
they see old improved farms, worth from
$50 to 800 per acre, where there is no
chance for them. Take them north by
rail and they come to. a Jumping off
place. There is no through route. But
get road built through, with openings
at both ends, and they cease to feel that
they are separated from civilization and
will go there. They will not go to DakO-
ia and Manitoba when they see just as
good lands near at hand. Certainly,
where there are such good lands, good
soils, good water, good titles, and such
healthy climate, there is no necessity for
land seekers looking further and faring
worse" -.
.jQ.-"What do You consider the relative
Importance of the Marquette and Macki-
nae, when considered in conjunction
with the other roads of the north and
west?" -.