The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-05-09
Houehton Department


/ geologist at recent meeting i'm Mar
quette showed land map indicating
( the conditions relative TO soils in IN,
upper peninsula as compared Will
other sections Of the state and Mr.
Allen stated that upper Michigan hR
a much larger proportion OF tillahl,
land than the lower peninsula. Test!
of the soil of swamp lands made las
! year showed excellent hay crops with
out bit of fertilization This lanC
! has been considered worthless but eX-
Iperts say that they are -he very hes
lands. The state geoloSist would mo-
I be apt 20 give us a soil map showing
our upper peninsula better them tho
lower peninsula unless it is true"
Upper Michigan, stated Mr.. Green
contributes $4,000 a year 10 tho state
for the development of agriculture and
received back only $500 a year for
the maintenance of the experiment
tai station at Chatham. which 'mstitu-
ton. he claimed. did not have funds
to spare for the purchase of 81 type
writer for Prof. Geismar.
Mr. Green called attention TO the
great amount of Advertising literature
issued by the railroads calling atten-
tion 10 farm land throughout the north
west but not line referring to the
upper peninsula. This was simply be-
cause IL had not been sous ;ht When
asked about the matter an official eX-
pressed surprise at the id ca of their
being any farm lands here, saying he
thought there was nothing but cop
per in upper Michigan.
The copper country fa5r has shown
what may be grown here in the way of
vegetables. THE display each fan is
unequaled for quality al any fair l
have ever seem" said Mr.. Green. This
county is a whole lot better than Fond
du Lac as a whole Reports show that
i'm the last ten years the earliest frost
i'm the fall and the latest in the spring
has showed the advantage on the side
OF the copper country. The lowest
temperature in Houghton county has
been p below and at Fond du Lac "A
below. The maple trees in front of the
Douglas house were declared TO have
more leaves at the present time than
those of Chicago.
Comparisons Of every description of
the advantages Of the upper peninsula
with those of other sections were adj
vanced by Mr.. Green. He quoted a
government report which stated that a
thirty-mile strip around the upper
peninsula will he eventually the best
uit section OF the United States. The
strawberry industry of Ontonagon
county was referred to and the splen-
did success Of c. /. Cook of Menominee
in raising onions and other vegetables
was cited. Alfalfa growing was de-
clared tJ be feasible and profitable on
upper Michigan lands and potatoes
are grown i'm abundance and with lit
tie trouble. The finest apples, magni-
ficent caul1owers, green peas and
other products have been grown with
success and profit
THE great trouble has been that
there have not been farmers enough"
said Mr.. Green, land complaint has
been made Of the freight rates. Raise
the stuff. and the railroads viii give
rates suitable to conditions il you
raise enough"
Colonization OF Ia rye tracts was
touched upon by the speaker who re-
ierrcd to the Catholic colonization bu-
reau which is seeking to bring farm
ers here from Holland and Belgium
and had asked the bureau if it could
find ten thousand acres which could
be available for the purpore of settle
ment by these colonists.
Then getting down to finances for
the pu5hcity campaign Mr.. Green
stated that there are $4,000 people in
the upper peninsula and from these
the necessary $4,000 should be raised
WITHOUT trouble. He thought that the
population could Zoe increased to -
100000 in "A few years through proper
advertising
Other Addresses.
Hon. o. w. Robinson former lieu
tenant governor of Michigan. was next
called upon for remarks and he relat-
ed his experiences i'm relation to farm
ing and spoke OF the Swedish colony
at Skanee. the paradise settlement of
French Canadian farmers and the
Laird township farmers from Penn
5ylvania settled around Aston. lie
showed that farming would afford
work and industry in the copper coun-
try when production In the mines is
slack and would be an incentive to the
young men TO remain here instead of
going away TO seek work.
Horace j. Stevens said that the
farmers would make ten dollars to
each one made by the land companies
having farms FOR sale. j. \. Doelle.
superintendent OF Portage township
schools, advocated the establishment
OF schools where agriculture may he
taught, replacing tho numerous coun-
try district schools which is declared
are out of place in this day of spe-
ciallzation
J. d. Cooper and John Stone also
spoke briefly and the last to speak
was Robert II. Shields, who moved
that a rising vote be given. endorsing
the work of the Development bureau,