The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-01-20
.PRIZE-WINNING EDITORIALS IN
TIMES BENJAMIN. MICHIGAN CONTEST
THIRD PRIZE, s25 IN GOLD.
by Harry .CoIemsa An The Pontiac
Prean- Gazette -.I


by Harry .CoIemsss Am The Pontiac
Press-Gazette.
No greater delusion exists than the
old saying that Bigger fish are caught
across the stream Many young men
row all day under the burning. sun. 10
cast their hooks. only 10 return long
distance at night without catch.
Friends. who have been content to nsh
nearer home. await them on their re-
turn with an abundance of reward.
OPPORTUNITY DwELLs IN NO FA-
voRITE HAUNT: he WHO SEEKS
OFTEN FINDS TT LOCATED NEAR
EST THE FAMILIAR PATHWAYS
To the men OF Michigan the siren to-
day sings the beauties OF the Great
Northwest the land where acreage, se-
oording 10 promise. awaits acquirement
at small figures. They are told OF the
wonderful mineral deposits I'm Old
Mexico. the immigr tion agent nils the
mail with enticing pictures OF unset
tied acres In Manitoba. tho Dakotss
and far on Saskatchewan.
But OF hundreds who wander away.
inspired by alluring words, few ara
prospered and but few remain. -,
The local newspaper records their
going like this
William Smith was given a fare
well by his friends yesterday upon
the eve OF his departure for Okla
homa. where he goes TO take up
land and locate
Within a month, In tho personal COL
unn of the same paper one reads
William smith who went 10 Ok
lahoma some time ago. has returns
ed and VIII assume the manage. ;
ment OF his fathers farm. He re-
ports all tho better grades of land
taken and that few choice acres
await the uewcomer.se.ss t1s 81
Michigan presents practically every
opportunity 70 he found In this or other
countries Its mineral deposits are
rich. its soil fertile and It's forests
abundant Men have grown prosper.
Gus here in large and small ways,
those who have worked and perse-
vered finding the land abundant In pro-
ductlve possibility, while the favored
location has given ready sale, both east
and west, for the products OF Industry.
LOCAL HISTORY RECORDS THE
RAPID RISE OF YOUNG MEN WHO
HAVE ACQUIRED SMALL ACREAGE
AMI APPLIED THE SKILL AND
METHODS OF THE OLD WORLD.
Intensive farming today solves the
demand for more soil from which TO
feed an increasing population; and the
fact that Michigan with FIVE states OF
its size, can. by this method. produce
nearly enough foodstuffs TO supply a
country like France, gives guarantee
OF untold incomes.
YOU WHO CLAIM THAT OPPORTT-
NIFTY HAS SLIPPED AWAY, LOOK
ABOUT YOURSELF IN MICHIGAN!
There are 80 millions OF acreage in
this state from which only S3OO,O0O.OOO
is being realized. Intensive farming
and advanced methods or cultivation
can easily multiply this result five
times. Agriculture occupies the position
today that Industry did 10 years ago,
being undeveloped and lacking the d.
versifed principles of application that
have pushed Michigan's manufactured
products throughout the world.
Young men. here lies your opportu-
nifty and a far greater one than has
been achieved by your fathers
Sentimental and high sounding
phrases about beautiful meadows and
the sun kissed heights never placed
man in possession OF his own, but 10
those who seek for something tangible
upon which 10 build for the future, let
them take up land In Michigan.
Out OF the immense acreage here ~
millions still remain untitled and much
OF II Is to be had in the lower PENN
sula at 50 and IS an acre.
Only few far-siRhted individuals
have exploited the wealth that lies hid
den In the fertile soil OF this section
Swamp and overlooked lands are ike
wise devoid OF Improvement. but the
rlCnes Is there ana llttle can pe chsse
as waste. Forty acres or reclaimed
swamp are ample to support family.
In Louisiana drained lands are sell
ing as high as sf,0ee-pef- acre when
previously had been worth far less than
the uncultivated and undrained lands
OF Central and Northern Michigan.
There is scarcely an acre In the state
which, under proper methods OF drain ,
age and care, cannot be made to yield
a gross return OF $40.
Therefore, seek the cheap acreage.
apply your brains and the return Is
surer than from any other source
Nature yields in proportion 10 the Ell
fort that liz applied. Germany. with
less than the area OF Texas. produces
annually 1900. 100000 bushels or pota-
toes which is five times the annual
crop OF the United states. This Is ac-
complished by intensive cultivation
that. when eventually practiced here,
as II must be, will assure sufhcient
wealth from agriculture to make com
Portable 20 times the rural population
~ this state. The start has not yet
been made. Take up acreage. no mat
ter how cheap or unpromising; every
ounce OF soil has it's use and awaits the
application only OF SCIENTIFIC culture TO
yielG richly through general or spe-
cialized effort.
By new methods OF spraying. or
chards here are producing apples.
pears, and other fruit that DEFY the
world Cor flavor and quality. IT ~ the
knowing how that Is making men pros
porous In this newly-found culture ana
tation OF crops new here. but old TO
the man OF France. has only to be
learned TO triple the product derived
from the soil. Grape raising Is pos
rible upon every barren waste or the
state which rs now overlooked by farm