Smyrna times., 1886-02-10
For the Smyrna Times.
Miohigan's Enviable Prosperity.
SHE CARRIES OFF THE PRIZE AGAIN
IN THE PRODUCTION FROM HER
FORESTS FOR 1885.
Billions of Boards.


Over three billions feet of pine lum-
ber and over two billions shingles, was
the product of her $50 establishments
employing 81 1856 men, paying a total
of STOPS, 1868 in wages. The capital
invested was SAC, 100000 and the value
of the product $55, ,449,928.
1t was no idle task that produced
such magnificent figures; no condo
lence to the spirit of the sluggard
could bring such results. And at this
writing the logging camps are busy
with successful tOilers, away off from
the haunts of men, Drawing the rigOrs
of climate that would paralyzea Della
warean until his teeth chartered, look
ing at column of mercury standing
from 2O0 to 3O' below zero.
Snow: they look upon it with delight
and the remark is heard passing around
they hope it will last two months as it
makes business better. To your read
ers that seems an erroneous conclusion
to reach, but out in Michigan they are
fully prepared to do more business
with snow on the ground for hauling
and logging than by any other means.
Their property in sleighing vehicles is
nearly as valuable as wheeled carriages.
They habitually brace up so much
against the cold climate that they han
die the team and the lOg-chain without
gloves all day long in the logging
camps. The same is true in towns and
villages. Man and beast toll Just the
same all day in the falling snow as
though it was too trifing to take notice
OF. Binding snOWstOrms do not occur
in timbered like prairie State, and
great advantage arises in keeping the
thOrOughfare open all the better for the
following day by keeping the ball roll
ing.
Their energies seem so great that
they enjoy toll as a pastime and seem
as unhappy out of employment as
much as a Southerner would to have
work.
Michigan has never enjoyed a Kan
sas or Dakota boom, for numerous
reasons. She came into existence at
the beginning of the century, when
things went slow" A few score of
families was a good Springs accession
OF emigrants, coming overland to Buff
falo, n. Y, and perchance Drawing the
perils of the deep on treacheFous Erie's
wave, to reach Detroit, then but little
more than a French outpost and trad
ers' camp. But Detroit from the be-
ginning has been controlled by men of
genius having broad views and enter.
prising minds, they put her abreast of
Pittsburg for native mechanical pro-
ductions, launching what now would
look like a cOmical production of a
steamboat as early as 1911. Since
then she has ever kept to the front in
producing all steam appliances, Her
shops are always busy manufacturing
whatever is made of wood, iron or
brass and rather leader in electrical
productions and fine line of house
hold furniture. In late years the rail
way has carried the emigrant to the
more accessible and inviting lands of
the prairie States, but in the long run
the timbered State beats.
All things work together for good
we say, when we see Illinois, Iowa,
Kansas and Nebraska looking this
way for lumber for every purpose, and
men of Michigan have grown to be mil
liOnaires out of the numbering interest
and now from the main trunk lines of
| IallroauS numerous spurs and branches
/ have been constructed into bodies OF
/ timber inaccessible by the usual cOur-
ses of logging and hauling on the snow
to the waterway to be RATED to the
/ hungry saw mill.
Michigan made a good showing in
every department last year.
The State has been out aT debt for a
number of years, So that if every source
of frevenue into the treasury was cut off
for one year, she has more than enough
to meet every demand promptly.
Her school system took the premium
at the Centennial in '76, and she may
be said to enjoy great prosperity il
Judged by this, hep metropolis, whose
city editor has just summed up the
value of the products of Detroit for
1885 at $64, gil 900; for buildings and
improvements S., ,559,7l6.
The banking summary Is a wonder