Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1899-08-18
SHORT MICHIGAN HISTORY.

Canucks, on the west by the West
Michigan Railway, and the south is left
open for ingress and egress. Michigan
Is an Indian name and used to mean
''much water" but now it means "little
water and much whisky"
The first white settlement in Michi-
gan was made in the 18th century. The
| boom struck the 500 and was started
for the purpose of converting the inhab.
itants. 1t proved failure, however,
and many are unconverted to this day.
The 1rst actual settlement of Michigan
for the purpose of colonization and So
clal reform, was at Cadillac in 170l. The
only thing of state importance that it
possesses now is the State Democrat.
Michigan used to belong to France, but
King Louis XIV couldn't handle it, so
he turned it over to the British in 1860
When the Indians found out they had
been traded off, they were as mad as
flllpinos and decided to kill off all the
English. So they organized a national
league and played the first game of base
ball ever played in this country, the dia-
mond being just outside the British fort
at Mackinaw. Pontiac was the chief of
one nine and when he got chance he
knocked the ball over into the fort. The
soldiers all made a rush to catch it and
while they were fumbling the ball the
squaws jumped over the fence and tom
ahawked the English. This celebration
was in honor of King Georges birthday,
and has been immortalized by two
poems, 1.-The White Mans Burden"
and after the Ball" When the Eng
lish found out they couldn't handle
Michigan, they turned it over to the
United States, but they soon got sick of
1t and in 1896 it was turned over to Pin
gree.
In 1905 Michigan was organized as a
separate territory and Detroit was made
It's seat of government. In 1916, when
Indiana wanted to become a state,
Michigan had to give it 30 townships to
make it large enough to be admitted, as
minors were not allowed. Indiana also
wanted "a support and we gave her
Michigan City because it was no good.
Then, in 1886, congress said Michigan
could come in as separate state if she
would give another strip of land to Ohio,
but our people got tired of this charity
business and would not consent until
they had secured the upper peninsula as
a consideration. This proved a good
bargain and our new acquisition made
Michigan one of the wealthiest states in
the union, on account of the ore pro-
duction A few years later, however,
the DER production was so great that
many mines were shut down
AS soon as Michigan was admitted as
state every city it had wanted to have
the capitol. Grand Rapids, Flint, Cross
Village, Harbor Springs and Petoskey
were all after it, and to smooth down
matters the Legislature cleared away a
patch of pig weeds and Canada thistles
on Grand River and started the city of
Lansing. They kept it going in drive
ways, and as long as their salaries and
the state treasury holds out, it is a lively
place.
Michigan has produced some great
men. Among them might be mentioned
Lewis Cass, Zach Chandler, Sam Ste.
phenson, Kid Lavigne, Sky Olds,
Slussar and VIM. Alden Smith,
but by far the greatest and widest
known man is Ii. S. Pingree. He has
twice elected himself governor by safe |
maJorities; is the avowed enemy of !
trusts, combines and julius Caesar Bur-
rows, and says he is going to be presi-
dent Of the United States. He is an
Abraham Lincoln republican, an An
drew Jackson democrat and whale to
run.
In educational matters Michigan
stands pre- eminent. Each of its col
Ieges has grand and sonorous yell and
their foot ball players can cripple as
many players as any.
Michigan also excells in many other
things. 1t produces fine salt, celery po-
tatoes, sugar beets and cabbage heads.
No other state can put up so many post
office scraps; no other state has so much
timber, both in the woods and for federal |
Jobs. 1t has miles of lake coast, plenty |
Of game and an abundance of breweries. |
The red man no longer turks in its
forest and happiness and prosperity |
reigns supreme. Long may we sing, |
Michigan, My Michigan. THE Michi-
gan Lyre, Harbor Springs.