The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1912-05-25
ARE NOT ALIVE TO
THEIR OPPORTUNITIES
LAND PROMOTER PRAISES SOIL OF
UPPER PENINSULA
BETTER THAN IRRIGATED SOIL
Michigan Should Encourage It's Farmers
to Stay at Home and Develop the
State

Michigan leople are not alive to their
own agricultural opportunities.
This statement was made Friday by
Michael Mclaughlin, former Brook
lyn, y. II. real estate opertaor who
now is engaged in the development Of
iarm and stockraising lands in the
northern part OF tho state with head
quarters al Mackinao CITY.
According 10 Mr.. Mclaughlin
Michigan has within its borders mil.
lions OF acres OF land mucn better
adapted to agriculture than the irri.
gated soils ot Washington. Wyoming
Oregon and Montana, and which can
be purchased for about one tenth OF the
price asked for the western irrigated
article Much of this land is in the
upper peninsula ana was once covered
with timber Great slices of il can be
bought at 81 an acre. and 1t can be
cleared TOR from So TO Sl2 an acre. IL
will not require fertilization for
number Of years. and as soon az the
stumps are removed II can be pIoughed
and planted with vegetables that will
bring in big profits TO the investor.
Mr.. Mclaughlin was IN Detroit Fri
day TO arrange for the transfer of some
property in Cheboygan and Maokinac
counties which ne has recently acquir
ed. with small gang OF men have
cleared 80 acres OF old timber land IN
Cheboygan county during the last ten
days he said The cost of the work
was $3.50. and in another fortnight IN
have il all planted with potatoes Last
year.simiar land yielded 800 bushels Of
potatoes. or $500 10 the acre. The
property cost me s. an acre
II believe the state of Michigan
should encourage its farmers TO remain
AT home. It's congressman and senator's
have in the past voted big government
appropriations 30 lrrigate the land Of
western states Michigan people should
insist that their representatives in
and in the state legislature
should do something 10 encourage the
agricultural development OF their own
state. The irrigation OF western lands
has .aken progressive farmers from
their own state and led them 10 invest
IN property near the Pacific coast.
which is not one half az good as they
nave right here at home and costs them
ten times a. much. Recently made
trip through the western states.
found that keen disappointment was
the lot of many eastern men WHO were
attracted by the lurid advertisements
)f the irrigated lana exploiters Many
. man went west with few thousand
iullars, hoping % pick no farms at low
prices. When they got ont there they
ound most of the desirable land in the
iands of speculators and were compel
cd to pay from $40 to 500 an acre for
..
Ia Michigan good farming land,
which may be cheaply and easily clear.
ID, IL going begging az So ana $40 an
ere. In my opinion IL IS time for the
'eople Of the state to demand assis.
auce from their Legislators in the
natter Of home conservation. The
tates Of New York. Pennsylvania.
iichigan, Ohio, Indiana. Wisconsin
nd Minnesota, whicn are paying the
Ig end OF the government expenses.
II have ideal undevelopcd farm land
) great acreage. Notwithstanding
lis their representatives in congress
ote millions to irrigate land thousands
miles away and neglect their own
in the matter Of land dc.
slopment.
All the states have mentioned
ave the advantage Of low water trans
,rtation rates. II their farm lands
ere developed the cost Of living would
} cheapened accordingly. Farm pro-
icts would not have TO compete with
al of states where thero il only rail
" The national government should es-
bish bank similar 10 that of the
'ench government which puts money
TO agricultural districts where il Is
eded at low and uniform interest.
the national government does not do
II the state government should
'rners and agricultnrists shonld be
ven long mortgage terms and they
1nld not have 10 pay 10 per cent and
muses. for borrowed money which is
W demanded in Michigan. In Cen.
u Illinois and Ohio interets on farm
'rtgages IS only per cent In some
Contained on pago