Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1882-01-21
NORTHERN TRIBUNE.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 81. 1882.
Michigan as a Farming state.

missioner of immigration, we give the
in relation to Michigan as a
state: M
Notwithstanding the enormous wealth
of Michigan in other resources, it is in
in which at least half of its
active population are employed, that it
develops its greatest eminence. This
of which ample proof will be
given, has for its foundations natural
Of which tho state cannot be
and which ensure TO its pros
perity permanent and enduring char
acter.
l, The fertility and diversity of the
soil. A separate chapter on this subject,
prepared by an authority which Is recOg-
niZed in this state and elsewhere as en-
titled to the highest consideration, both
for scientific and practical knowledge
will be given in another issue.
III. The geographical position of Mich
igan, although unique in its characte-,
affecting both its climate and its mar
kets. Lake Superior, more than 400
miles long and the largest fresh water
sea in the world, washes its shores; Lake
Michigan, 345 miles in length, second in
size, and the largest lying wholly with
in the United State, forms the greater
portion of its western boundary; and
Lakes Huron, st. Clair and Erie, with
their connecting rivers, mark its limits
on the east. Excepting about 10 miles
of its southern extremity the entire
lower peninsula is surrounded by water;
and excepting a similar distance on its
southern and southwestern boundary the
same is true of its upper peninsula.
With this enormous expanse, varying in
depth from hundred to thousand feet
and defining coast line of more than
1000 miles-half the breadth of the
Atlantic-eternally operating upon the
soil and atmosphere of a territory, every
farm on which lies less than hundred
miles from its touch, and affOrding dur
ing large part of every year the
cheapest transportation known to COM
MERGE, the simplest imagination must
realize the existence of peculiar geo.
graphical conditions unknown elsewhere
in the agricultural states. The effect of
these conditions on the climate of the
state will be treated more at large in
future extracts.
iii. The accessibility and nearness to
the great markets of the world, taken
in connection with the comparatively
small capital needed to work upon, con-
stitute another and very important rea-
son for the proftableness of farming in
Michigan. Every hundred miles saved
in transportation to the seabOard adds
to the value of the staple agricultural
productions. No state or territory in
the union has so many cheap and fertile
lands within so easy reach of the leading
markets.
Nv. The wonderful diversity of natural
resources in Michigan, and the manu-
featuring interests to which they con-
tril ute, create constant and increas-
ing home market for the products of the
soil. Vast quantities of the yield of the
farm and garden 60 the mills, lumber
camps, furnaces and mines, and find
ready and profitable sale. There are
few neighbOrhOOds where some of these
markets are not found, and the wagons
of the farmers of the vicinity bringing
hay, oats, potatoes, butter, cheese, eggs,
poultry, fresh meat and fruit are always
welcomed and rewarded with good
prices.
COMPILATION OF AGRICULTURAL STATS
TICS.
The United States Department of Agri-
culture has organized a system of infOr-
nation which Is Of great value both to
the people of this country and to those
who may contemplate settling here. 1t
is based upon the reports of special cor
respondents, consisting, as the Depart
ment explains, of four in each settled
county, and numbering several thousand
in the aggregate, who are selected for
their familiarity with the local agricul-
tural interests of their respective cOun-
ties. These men become trained observers
of the sections they are appointed to in
spect, and make periodical reports which
are compiled at Washington, the results,
arranged and classified, being then made
public. The comparative statistics thus
collected and handled are not exposed to
the suspicion of prejudice or partiality,
and conclusions drawn from them must
command respect.
A table giving the average cash value
per acre of eight of the principal crops
of twelve farming states for five years
commencing with 1876 shows that Mich
igan exceeded any one state, her aver
age value per acre for five years being
$SS,42. Pennsylvania coming nearest to
her with an average value per acre of
$SO,12 while the average value of the
eleven other states was only $55,41.
Without the combination of a fertile
soil and convenient markets the preced-
ence awarded to Michigan could not have
been obtained. That general farming
was more profitable here than in the
other great states included in the COM
parison during the five years covered by
1t was due to nature and not to art.
PROFITS OF GRAIN GROWING IN THE WEST
AND NORTHWEST IN 1879.
The principal cereals whichsseek mar
kets out of the state are wheat, corn,
oats and barley. The same articles are
grown also in the other western and
northwestern states and territories in
IL. IT. Inr Ia 10, l..