Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-01-19
BY LAND AND WATER,
A Study Of the Industrial Conditions OF
the Central West.

The Evolution of the Michigan wilder
ness---InCidents OF Its History on the
way to STANDARDIZATION an IncipI-
snt Rebellion Was NIpped In the bud
---PhysIcaI Features OF the COuntry---
All Aboard for West superior.
Especial correspondence of The Phoenix.l
An exhibition of the laws of gravitation,
illustrated by a weary locomotive trying to
ascend the side of very vigorous mountain,
was forcibly impressed on some 40 passen-
gers, including your Especial, on my re-
turn trip to Nestoria. l did not realize the
very steep grade of the roadbed when
came to Keweenaw, but found, on return
ing, the process was slow, tedious and dis
couraging. The distance from Keweenaw
to Duluth is 27S miles. had an early start,
and after reaching the main line the route
became interesting as the train attained suffi-
Gent speed to prevent one from lapsing into
dullness. AS | was soon TO leave this won
derfully endowed country, my thoughts re-
verified to the circumstances connected with
its early settlement and development; how
it became part of the great state of Mich
igAn, and what were the secret forces that
severed the peninsula from the undevelop-
ed territory of Wisconsin.
When the New England contingent emf
grated to the wilderness of Michigan 1t not
only carried intelligence, courage, ambi-
ton, frugality and perseverance into the
struggle for success, but, inherent in its
nature and education, there was a stratum
of sel6shness and pugnacity which lay 80
near the surface of a subdued exterior that
slight antagonists we're liable to bring
these latter qualities prominently in evil
dence. The people of New England well
know that the boundaries of no one of the
six states were decided without an exhibit
ton of these same propensities that have
attributed to the New England immigrants
in Michigan.
The reader will recall the sparsely set
tied condition of the struggling territory
of Michigan when peace was declared in
1915. A territorial organization was form
ed in 1920, and few years later these
doughty pioneers began to nourish the
thought that they had not received all the
land they were entitled to- As their terri
tory was comp letely surrounded by water
except on the southern border, they quick
| turned their thoughts in that direction
Then came the quarrel with the state Of
| Ohio concerning the possession of Lucai
county, which includes the city of Toledo
Armed men were sent to the scen'
of contention, and had not the UniteC
| st ties forces interposed a lasting enmi
tya and disgrace would have been the result
&c n. Lewis Cass, the territorial governor
of Michigan for several years, was pro
NOTED to the position of secretary of wal
at Washington in 1880, and Immediately
after the plans for invading Ohio were per
fected and agreed TO by the territorial leg
islAture. | know Of no authentic record o
the counsel for the Michigan forces, but
am impressed that it was their former gov
ernor, Lewis Cass, as he was a New Hamp
shire immigrant and probably in sympathy
with the movement.
Congress decided that the boundary be
tween Ohio and Michigan should not b,
changed; but voted TO add TO the 40, 00I
square miles then included in the TERRITORY
OF Michigan a liberal slice of the lane
south of Lake Superior. Here is wher,
the influence Of Gen. Cass is plainly seen
as when governor of the territory of Mich
igan he had made a thorough exploration
of the upper peninsula and had examined
the great mass copper boulders of Onton
agon and was personally conversant will
the value of the land of the upper PENN
sula. Some one conversant with this fac
must have influenced the line of demarca
ton being carried so far west as to includ
neoi al Ine lneFal lahus III bne auuition
be given to Michigan as a sop to soothe he
wounded, valiant pride.
But the Michiganites were not satisfied
They protested, petitioned, threatened, an
proposed to defy the government at Wash
ington. In 1886 Michigan was admitte
into the American union of states and rap
idly rose to prominence as you have see
by the letters relating to her industries il
J The Phoenix of late date,
These typical New England sons did nc
live to become recoDciled with the unpar
alleled wealth of their environment, bu
went to their graves with their faces turne
= toward the south and could not be made {