The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1914-06-27
COL. MOTT POINTS OUT GREAT
AGRICUl TURAL POSSIBILITIES
OF H0UGHTON AND KEWEENAW

I ins. Col g. w. Mott. general manager
OF the l. l.. Development association.
spoke as follows on the Past. Present
and Future OF Houghton and Kewee-
nav counties:
Houghton and Keweenaw counties
came into commercial view seventy
years ago. for the FIRST commercial cop
per was shipped about that time.
Many who have lived here and been
interested in these two counties have
largely devoted their energy and tai
ent TO the mining OF copper Their
commercial view point has been from a
thousand to six thousand feet under
the ground. and they have neglected TO
discover the real permanent value of
cu!tivating the agricultural land that
covers the copper ore.
When "A ton of copper is removed
from mine that mines value is re-
duced just that much, never to be re-
placed by man.
But with intelligent cultivation,
liberal supply of fertilizer and with
proper rotation OF crops agricultural
lands become of more value each year.
Take for instance, the agricultural
lands Of Belgium, Denmark and Ger
many. The farmers there are averag-
ing thirty mine bushels Of wheat per
acre. and that land has been worked
Tor hundreds Of years while the farm
ers Of the United States are only
averaging thirteen and half bushels
of wheat per acre on almost virgin
land.
So the surface Of the ground Of
| Houghton and keweenaw counties can
| be made more valuable each year by
| intelligent and efficient care.
In Analysing the value of a copper
mine in any locality it is plain to be
seen that very little of the profits re-
ceived over the cost of production go
into the up-building and Improvement
Of the home Of the ore
The money paid for the fixed charges
] Of production is scattered in many diff |
ferent hands, and not much of this |
money is used in making permanent
improvements, but if the dividends. |
which are mostly scattered in all parts |
Of the world among people who arc |
seeking, as "A rule. for further invest
ments. could be re-invcsted in the |
building Of the towns and cities |
where the ore is obtained, then your
mines would be Of greater local value. |
careful survey shows that the
managers of these mines have been
progressive men, men of heart who
nave shown a desire to better the
moral and physical conditions of the
men employed in the mines
No more progressive treatment has
ever been rendered than has been
given through the influence of the res
ident superintendent of the mines i'm
these two counties, for through their
leadership they have provided libra
ries, school houses, churches. gymna-
Sums, and far better houses than the
average laborer could provide for him
self.
Everything has been done to teach
this labor contentment and loyalty.
These conditions are shining ex-
ample OF fair play.
More has been done i'm this direction
than in any mining community | have
them i'm the United States.
This great industry is speciality.
The world has moved in the direc-
ton Of supporting specialties and spe-
cialists, but there are always certain
handicaps that enter into competition
with the comfort and prosperity of
persuing any one line of business ex-
clusively.
The prosperity of Houghton and Ke-
weenaw counties rests purely on this
one line of work, but this work can
only be made profitable Through the
success and prosperity Of those who
cultivate the agricultural lands.
We all have to depend upon the
farmers to furnish the crops, or the
money, in order TO make copper bring
a higher price and make the mining of
copper ore profitable.
The life and permanent prosperity of
any nation rests upon the success of
its agricultural advantages, which al
ways places it in position to feed and
clothe itself. for Andrew Jackson
while president, said. "A county that
can clothe and feed itself is an empire.
and country that can not. or does
not should not exist"
You have got to turn your energies ,
and your talent to the development of
the agricultural possibilities of those
two counties.
The Lord i'm his kindness has pro-
vided these two counties with good
soil, climate, water and other favorable
conditions, also transportation by wa
ter. and capital has invested her
money in providing splendid railroad ,
transportation.
You are within three hundred miles .
of eight million people and market {
is always where people reside who .
have money.
The middle western states with all ,
their commercial, agricultural and
manufacturing interests is certainly a
splendid market. ,
The far west and the middle west ,
farmers are taxed at the present time I
to supply the wants Of this market, !
and they do not have to depend upon
fnTgiun countries for fba Ia nf fHnir | 1