The Detroit times., 1912-05-16


acre. yet our Michigan farmers have
been grudging the work OF one man
10 so acres. We are shown the won
derful apples. the plums. the cherries.
and the peaches that are raised In
mitted that the best Favored fruits I'm
the world are raised In good old
neglected Michigan. We are told OF
the big orchards, their great crops and
their Immense profits, but fgures do
ed 10 produce those crops, nor are we
told how little IL left the owner In net
profit We hear very little OF the man
In Michigan who sold single crop
from his young apple orchard for the
sum OF forty-five thousand dollars.
They tell us OF the great potato crops
of other states, yet Michigan stands at
the top In the production of that tuber
when quantity and quality are consid-
cred. Recently a Michigan paper told
it's readers that a man In the state OF
Colorado raised four hundred bushels
OF potatoes upon one acre OF land, but
the editor neglected TO inform his
readers that one OF his own subscrib-
ers who lived within six miles OF his
office had raised hve thousand nve
hundred bushels OF potatoes upon ten
said OF a poor settler In northern
Michigan who raised thirty-two hun
dred bushels OF most excellent potatoes
upon less than 10 acres OF land that
had cost him but i've dollars an acre
large wheat fields OF the great north
west and their great yields. but never
word do we hear or the farmer VINO
is raising forty-five bushels OF wheat
upon land that costs but fifteen dollars
an acre No one mentions the fact
that both winter and spring wheat are
being raised In northern Michigan
Columns that could be used In describ-
ing the natural adaptabillty OF our soil
20 he n
used 10 tell OF extensive and, for all
we know, Improbable agricultural OPP
erations In the great far away. The
big corn crops OF the west are pub
said about the fact that fair pro-
portion OF the crop as estimated was
raised in Michigan.
No state In tho Union produces so
large a proportion OF wheat as Is con-
sumed by It's own population. The
farms OF Michigan are not only pro-
ductive. but they are well situated.
Railroads, markets, schools, and large
cities are close at hand. The family
that moves to our low-priced land Is
not compelled TO leave hope behind.
In case OF a necessary visit to the old
home, the trip can be made In short
time and for small sum OF money,
Settlers upon the cheap lands or north
ern Michigan do not lead the lonesome
life nor suffer the hardships that 20
with pioneer life in the great north
west. but our own papers say little
about these things. Better land can
be bought in good old Michigan for
less money than In the far west II is
matter OF reproach that valuable
and fertile lands in northern Michigan
have been ignored or have been men
toned II at all. with dsparaging
comments. The longing for the far of
has been encouraged while apprecia-
tion OF the many blessings and advan-
tages OF our own state have been dis
couraged. The people and the press OF
our own state stand before the bar
charged with the crime OF driving our
own children away from their native
state. 1t is more than the part OF an
accessory for a resident OF Michigan
or an editor OF a Michigan paper to
expand upon the advantages OF an
other state without mentioning some
OF the good features OF his own state.
The spaces for syndicate stun are
filled with the yelled advertising or
land sharks. and our best cit
liens are being coaxed away from the
nearby lands OF certainty, to the far
distant lands OF disappointment.
There IS hardly an acre OF Michigan
soil that can not be made to produce
some kind OF crop,
Although our Michigan real estate
dealers have been Indifferent advertis-
ers. II must be admitted that most OF
their dealings have been characterized
by honesty. Land that our dealers are
Offering az ten dollars an acre, would,
II In the hands OF western boomers, be
selling at twice ten times that sum. II
is to the credit OF these men that when