The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-01-20
SECOND PRIZE. $50 IN GOLD.
By John &. Wright, In The HarboI
Springs Republican.

by JOhm 4. NrtRht, The hnrDOr
Springs Republican.
When people are sweltering under
the tropical sun OF the southern skies.
they talk OF Michigan.
When the l7-year locust makes his
debut. devastating crops and presag-
ing ruin. the stricken farmer deplores
his fate and signs for home in
Michigan.
When the seven furies arise as IL
were, from the storm-swept wastes OF
the western plains. lifting the humble
shacks and depositing them in neigh
boring states, the homeless turn with
a living faith and look UP a site In
Michigan.
When old Neptune comes out or the
sea, shaking his hoary locks and blow
| ing a tidal wave across the main, the
survivors fee from the oceans wrath
and enquire the way TO Michigan.
When dismal drouth dries up the
lana and the burrows crack like parUh-
ing lips, the hungry hordcs do not
despair. for famines fear tne name OF
When earthquakes and volcanoes
shake the earth 10 its foundation, en-
gulfing cities ard destroying towns
those who escape bemoan their fate
and praise the tranquil state Of Michi-
gan.
I When people suffer In some plague
ridden land where malignant microbes
dance triumphantly about. the patients
toss upon their feverish beds and long
for health like We have here in Michi-
gan.
Whenever Inndslides billiards. yell
| low perils avalanches. water-spouts,
foundations. seismtc disturbances. cpl
denies OF the elements combine 10
wreck the lives and homes or the in
habitants aud any escape 10 enquire
Where um / at?' they always find
they are not In Michigan .~
Because nothing of that kind ever
happens on these peninsulas
Happy liz the man who can call Mich
| igan his home: thrice happy is he who
brings others here TO enjoy the bless
| ings OF this wonderful state.
This is not a boom for the railroads
nor real estate agency; our sole am
btion Is the greatest good TO the
greatest number. Ii is not necessary
TO paint lurid advertisements nor dis
tribute fake hand-bills: the facts alone
are sufficient 10 prove Michigan's SUI
premacy in nearly every line over all
the eluoradoes Of the land
IT Is customary TO appear 10 the
farmer. and this we do with the utmost
regard for the many diversified inter
ests OF the commonwealth; for where
we have prosperous farmers there also
Will be found nourshihg cities, thrlv-
ing industries and great centers OF
commerce.
We shall not seek to build ourselves
Up by tearing others down, but when
the people of Colorado ask YOU To come
TO their state because they claim 10
have raised l95, nnn 900 pounds of sugar
beets last year. tell them that Michigan
raised z62, 600. 900 pounds.
When the citizens OF the Dakotas
ask you to move to those states be
cause their average hay crop for the
year 1910 was $500 per acre. tell them
that In Michigan II was $l76S.
When the people or Idaho ask YOU
TO immigrate to that commonwealth
because Of its potato raising lands,
tell them that last year Michigan's
potato crop was more than 3b,OOO,OO0
bushels--a figure exceeded only BY the
state of New York.
When the people of California ask
you to move on" TO that colorado in
order to raise corn, tell them that In
1910 Michigan's yield was 6S,040.000
bu.--greater than that Of Minnesota,
Oregon Washington, Idaho. Colorado
or Nevada.
When the people OF Washington ask
you TO cast your lot in that far coun-
them that last year Michigan raised
one of the largest apple crops known
in the history of the world and took
the first prize at the Chicago land
breezes OF Michigan together with the
fitness of the soil produce fruit supe-
rior in quality TO that grown In any
other part of the inhabitable globe.
w men the people OF oregon CHll your
attention to their virgin forests. tell
them that Michigan has the greatest
amount OF hardwood timber OF any
state or OF any nation in the world.
When the people OF the northwest
speak OF the density of population Of
the east, tell them that Michigan has
but IS people 10 the square mile: SUI
fcient room for thirty million more in
habitants, and land area capable or
supporting nearly one-half OF the pres
ent population OF the entire country.
When the people OF the west boast of
their superior farming advantages. tell
them that Michigan is much nearer TO
the markets OF the world with unsur-
passed shipping facilities by both rail
and water
When they contend that insect life
Is largely destroyed by western birds.
tell them that nowhere can such
valuable and extensive bird migration
be found az in the country adjacent 10
the Great Lakes thus eliminating al,
destructive work OF bugs. beetles,
grasshoppers and kindred pests.
When the states bordering upon the
Pacific ocean ask your. citizenship be,
cause OF their extensive coasts, tell
them Michigan has more shoreline
than any other state in the Union.
When they ask you to immigrate to
inland territory. tell them that the
great fresh water seas are imperative
to the well-beine OF a people and the
maximum production OF the soil
When they ask you to go elsewhere
in search of mineral wealth. tell them
that Michigan leads the nations OF the
earth IN the production OF salt. iron
and copper.
when they say 10 you that the ply
Biographical conditions OF the west are
conducive TO the best results, tell them
that the American Indians, after hav-
7. ing inspected the western continent
established their largest villages on the
shores OF lake Michigan.
When they ask you to go to foreign
lands in search OF pleasure and con-
tentment, tell them that over 200,
prosperous citizens OF the large cities
OF America come 20 Michigan every
summer to enjoy It's beautiful scenery,
! lovely landscapes and ideal climate
When they ask YOU 10 leave the
! state TO avoid the winter season. tell
them that the cold weather OF Michi-
/ gan in winter IL vastly superior TO the
| rairy-seasen- oEothef- states - that II
Iannihilates the germ carrying flies and
malaria spreading mosquitoes destroys
| low organic life. and furnishes the
! necessary ice crop for the summer
months. that the abundant snowfall OF
the northern part OF the state protects
vegetation. and furnishes means OF
/ carrying on the great lumber indus
1 try for which Michigan mas become re-
! nowned throughout the civilized world
Finally. when any people cf any land
come TO you like the spies OF Israel.
! saving: "a cluster OF grapes we wear
between us upon q staff. the land flow
/ eth with milk and honey. tell them
Z .Itss aump in Michigan. this great