USA > Michigan > Gazetteer of the State of Michigan, in three parts with a succinct history of the State, from the earliest period to the present time with an appendix, containing the usual statistical tables, and a directory for emigrants, &c > Part 3
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The wet prairies are more commonly too level to admit 3
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26
GAZETTEER
SOIL .- MARSHES.
the proper drainage of the water. These, in their natural state, are generally too moist for grain growing, but they afford an abundance of wild grass which serves for either pasture or hay. With proper attention they become arable.
Prairies are supposed to be the beds of once existing lakes, or ponds of water, which has evaporated. Others attribute their origin to the same cause that produced the openings and plains-the ravages of the annual fires. It is the universal custom with the Indians, occasionally to set fire to the prairies and forests, for the purpose of burning the dead grass and combustible matter on the surface. The consequence is, a fresh growth of tender grass, which serves to decoy the deer, and enhance the value of their hunting grounds, as well as to destroy most of the timber.
There is yet another species of land, commonly denomi- nated swamp or marsh land, found in different parts of the State, and sometimes in considerable tracts. One descrip- tion of marsh is inundated with water during the winter, and wet season of the year, but in summer, it becomes meas- urably dry. Another is wet and swampy, even to mire, during the whole year. This is commonly covered with a few scattering trees, sometimes by groves of tamarack, and occasionally with an overspread of tall coarse grass. These marshes are caused mostly by beaver dams, which were made across some brook or rivulet, prior to the settle- ment of a civilized population. This is evident, as the dams are still to be seen. Experiments which have been made, prove, that by ditching through the dams, they can be easily drained. The abundance of other land has avert- ed the farmer's attention to drier soils, but when they have been ditched, they have been found to make excellent meadow, and produce good crops. It may be said, with propriety, that Michigan, (the unsurveyed part at least) pos- sesses no irreclaimable marshes, or barren plains or ridges of sand.
The lands of this State are generally equally well adapt- ed to grazing and tillage, and no obstacle presents to pre- vent its becoming a good dairy country.
The wild grasses grow with the greatest luxuriance on every kind of land. The blue joint is found predominant on the prairies, growing five and six feet high, and, by good judges, considered for cattle nearly equal to timothy. 'The
27
OF MICHIGAN.
SOIL .- TIMBER.
wire grass and red top grow on the openings and prairies, in abundance, the latter of which is excellent for cattle. The wild rye, which grows to the height of six and eight feet, is an excellent substitute for the other grasses. All these grasses are very nutricious, and cattle, turned upon the ranges in heat of summer, will fatten upon them. It is said that herds of cattle driven across the southern part of the peninsula, during that intense season, and left to range at night only, have been found much improved at the end of the journey.
Wild flowers grow very plentifully. The prairies, in par- ticular, are literally covered with many varieties, of every hue, pink, crimson, white, purple, violet, orange, &c.
With few local exceptions, the country is plentifully ir- rigated by pure, cool, salubrious drinking water, and where springs and rivulets are not found convenient, the best water is procured by sinking wells.
Timber, though sparse on the openings and plains, is sufficiently plenty, or easily obtained from the adjacent forests, to answer for farming and other economical pur- poses in a new settled country. As the State becomes more densely populated, it will be in greater demand. But to supply this demand, correspondent to the increased ne- cessities of the farmer, it is believed the young growth of timber, consequent to the final stoppage of the annual, des- olating fires, will be amply sufficient.
Some discrepancy occurs in the estimates of different in- dividuals, as to the amount of labor and expense of clear- ing and cultivating different kinds of land. It is thought, by some, that for the farmer without capital, the timbered land is the best ; but when capital is added, the openings and plains. The universal practice is to cut down and burn, on the timbered, and to girdle the trees, on the plains and openings. When the timber is thus destroyed on the tim- bered land, it is ready to be sowed without any ploughing, and requires only a team and drag to finish the work. The price for clearing timbered land is from 10 to 12 dollars the acre .* The plains and openings require three or four yoke
* The difference in the expense, for the same object in 1638 and 1838, Is not inconsiderable. There are on record, in Hartford, Conn. bills of labor for clearing a home lot, which show that the price of clearing
28
GAZETTEER
PRODUCTIONS.
of oxen to break the sward, considerable labor to harrow in the seed and transport the fencing timber from a dis- tance. The poor man, with his axe and single team, can therefore accomplish more on the timbered, than on the open land.
PRODUCTIONS.
Every production of the earth is properly classed under one or other of the grand divisions of natural history-the animal, the vegetable, or the mineral kingdom. It cannot be expected or required, that much should be said on this subject, neither will the attempt be made. Results in ei- ther of these great divisions of nature, or their sub-divis- ions, can be attained only by prolonged and extensive re- search. Michigan is a new State. Her existence is still inchoate-the offspring of yesterday, though the promising youth of future scientific annals. The genius of civiliza- tion has but just begun to dispel the mists of savage life, or the power of science to imprint her footsteps upon the re- maining vestiges of Indian haunts. The range is laid open, a wide, extensive, and untried field, for every department of natural science. For the full development of her natural resources, the State, with a spirit as enlightened and liberal, as honorable to herself and the cause of science, has made provisions for its exploration. By the first act, passed in 1837, $29,000 were appropriated for the object-$3,000 the first year, $6,000 the second, $8,000 the third, and $12,000 the fourth year. The act of 1838 is still more liberal, in the increase of appropriations. In place of the previous appropriation, the annual sum of $12,000 for
land for the plough was then fifty pounds sterling, per acre. (Vide Webster's Hist.) This seems almost incredible when the then enhan- ced value of moncy is taken into the account. But it should be remem- bered that the process of clearing land in thosedays, by cutting and dig- ging up the roots of trees, with much other equally unnecessary labor, was tedious and dilatory in the extreme. Our New England ancestors would probably not have been easily convinced of the feasibility and su- periority of our Western system of husbandry, for a new country.
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OF MICHIGAN.
PRODUCTIONS .- ANIMALS.
three years, is applied to defray the expense of a geological survey of the State.
According to this act, four departments are constituted ; first, the geological and mineralogical ; second, the zoolo- gical ; third, the botanical ; and fourth, the topographical. The geological corps consists of a State geologist and three chief assistants, viz : a zoologist, botanist, and to- pographer, each of which has the conduct of his appropri- ate department under the general supervision of the State geologist. To complete the corps, the geologist is entitled to one minor assistant, the zoologist two, and the botanist one.
- It becomes the duty of each, accurately to examine all parts of the State, and collect specimens in each depart- ment, one for the State, and if possible, sixteen more simi- lar specimens for the University and its branches. Under the act of '37, the State geologist* was appointed, and the preliminary steps to a thorough exploration commenced. Under the present act, the geological corps has been com- pleted, and the survey is progressing with increased vigor. From the known high reputation of the geologist, and the respectable character of the scientific corps under his su- perintendency, a full and successful development of the natural resources of the State may be expected in the pro- gress of their labors.
In view of this prospective result, but a passing notice will be taken of the various subjects properly coming with- in the purview of this article, under the classification indi- cated at its commencement ; and, indeed, this becomes measurably necessary from the dearth of information, and the want of the proper scientific lists, which is attributed to the slight attention hitherto directed to the subject.
ANIMALS.
In the northern parts of the State, wild animals and game of every description, are found in abundance. In the surveyed or rather settled portion, game is plenty, but the increase of settlements is evidently producing a sensible diminution.
* Dr. Douglass Houghton.
3*
30
GAZETTEER'
ANIMALS.
Of the existence of an extinct species of animals, known only by their fossil remains, as the Mammoth of the genus Mastodon, found in other western States, there has been but one evidence presented to the public. This occurred in the month of August, 1837, near the Pawpaw river, 13 miles north of St. Joseph, in Van Buren county, as the work- men of the Waterford Company were employed in digging a mill race. The parts of a skeleton of this animal were found imbedded in the earth twelve feet below the surface. Portions of the back bone were collected that measured twenty-seven feet. Two of the teeth which were in a pet- rified state, were saved, one of which weighed three pounds and ten ounces. One of the tusks measured seven feet long by eighteen inches in circumference. Much of the skele- ton, on exposure to the atmosphere, crumbled to powder. It is not improbable that this race once inhabited this State.
The buffalo or bison, formerly ranged the peninsula in immense herds, but it has long since fled the territory, and taken refuge beyond the Mississippi. The White Bear has been said to exist in some parts of this State, but if it exist at present, it must be in the secluded regions of the Upper Peninsula, as all personal enquiries for this animal have elicited no information of his present existence.
Of the numerous wild animals, inhabiting the forests and plains of this State, the following, and their varieties, are the principal and most abundant : the wolverine, black or brown bear, wolf, elk, deer, moose, lynx, wild-cat, panther, fox, martin, raccoon, porcupine, opossum, weasel, skunk, polecat, gopher, squirrel, marmot or woodchuck, rabbit, hare, &c. The smaller lakes and rivers and their vicinity, are found to be inhabited by the beaver, otter, muskrat, mink, &c. which supply the hunter and trapper in large numbers.
The wolverine or carcajou, the ursus luscus of the sys- tems, is an animal of much notoriety in this State. He is said to be of the white bear species, but unlike it, of a black color and of a shy, voracious and mischievous dispo- sition.
The black bear is another variety, numerous in some parts of the State. Animals of this class appear to possess a gregarious disposition, at periods, and, like the squirrel,
31
OF MICHIGAN.
ANIMALS.
an inclination to migrate from one to another section of country. They collect once in about three years, on the northern shores of Lakes Huron and Superior, and the country south of Hudson's Bay, and push their course south-westerly across the strait of St. Mary, in herds of thousands. We have never learned that they return from the opposite direction.
There are three kinds of wolves, the canis lupus, or gray wolf ; the canis latrans, or prairie wolf; and the canis ly- caon, or large black wolf, all of which, in the opinion of our farmers and first settlers, are too plenty for conven- ience. The little prairie wolf is the most mischievous of all. Animals of the latter class are quite numerous on the prairies, where they live in burrows in the earth.
Elk and moose are numerous in every unsettled part of the State. Two kinds of deer are found, the red and rein- deer, or Cariboo. The former, with one exception, are found in great numbers in every portion of the State. It is not a little remarkable, that in the Upper Peninsula, east of a line 120 miles west of St. Mary's, rein deer are found in considerable numbers, but the red deer and moose have never been seen in a single instance. On the other hand, the country west of this line abounds with the two latter species of animals, but not with the rein deer. Each seems to possess a territory inviolable to the intercourse of the other. The flesh, and especially the tongue of the rein deer, is considered a great delicacy.
The lynx is shy, retired, and not often seen, and is found in the Upper Peninsula only. The wild-cat and panther are understood to be inhabitants of the northern, more than the sonthern regions of the State.
The different varieties of the fox found in other sections of country, are found here in great numbers. There is an- other kind, called the arctic fox, found only in the Upper Peninsula. It has the flowing tail and shape, resembling the common fox, but in color, it is a perfect snow white, ex- cept the extreme point of the nose, and a few hairs within the ear, which are black. It is covered with hair and a downy fur, so beautifully white, as, at a short distance, to be mistaken for snow itself.
The martin is found in great numbers only in the unset- tled parts of the State.
.
32
GAZETTEER
ANIMALS.
The gopher is a singular animal. He is about the size, and in some measure, favors the common striped squirrel. The inferior parts of the body are yellow, and the superior parts, striped longitudinally, with a stripe of black or red- dish brown, and alternately, a stripe of qualified white. There are ten black, five on each side, and nine white stripes, one slightly delineated on the top of the back, and four on each side of it. Through the centre of each of the four black stripes, there is set, at regular intervals, a row of fourteen round white spots, the size of a pea, which give it quite a maculated appearance. He burrows in the ground, and subsists on roots and nuts. He digs subterranean passages somewhat similar to the mole, and throws up small hillocks or mole hills of earth. To facili- tate this operation, he is provided with a duplicature of the cheek, which serves as an inward sack, which is filled with earth with the paws, and disburthened on the surface of the earth.
Of the squirrel, there are every species known in any of the western States, as the black, gray, fox, red and striped, or ground squirrel, commonly known at the east by the ap- pellation of chip-muck. The three first mentioned are very plentiful in favorable seasons, while in others they are scarce. It is observed, that in those years when they ap- pear most numerous, they are itinerating. They migrate in those seasons, from north-east to south-west, overcoming every obstacle, even swimming the widest rivers. It is said, that when squirrels are abundant, it is owing to a plen- tiful supply of "mast" or nuts, but this happens, some- times, when there is a scarcity. Their periodical increase and migration seems not to be satisfactorily accounted for. There is still another species of squirrel, found in the Up- per Peninsula, called the thirteen striped squirrel, sciurus tredeceum.
Rabbits are abundant in every part of the country. The hare seems mostly to inhabit the northern regions. The numbers of this latter species, in some parts of the Upper Peninsula, are truly astonishing. In winter they are snow white, but in spring, they shed their covering, and put on a vesture, suitable in color, to the surround- ing forest. They shed their summer coat, as the snow
33
OF MICHIGAN.
ANIMALS.
falls. It is said that when the snow unseasonably thaws, their whiteness exposes them an easy prey to the hunter.
Of the other quadrupeds before mentioned, whether car- nivorous or graminiverous, they are too numerous and well known to need any farther notice.
The domestic quadrupeds and other animals, generally, partake of the kinds of the adjoining States, but more particularly of Ohio and Upper Canada, from which, most of them have been driven, though many have been taken from New York and New England. They are generally of an inferior quality, as is the case in all the Western States .* Emigrants have other more urgent cares to call their attention, than the rearing of fine horses or fine oxen. The first object is to erect a cabin, prepare and improve their land for a crop; in short, to live: and they procure the first domestic animals coming in their way. Utility, and not beauty, is the prevalent desideratum here.
Horses are much used, but not as universally as in the States south. The French or Indian pony has long been the favorite ancient domestic of those classes of population, and he is still used to a considerable extent in the older parts of the State. Mules are still more rare, but are adopted as beasts of burden by some. Oxen are in greater demand for agricultural labor. Nothing short of their strength and firmness will answer to prepare the stiff, rigid soils of this State for farming. Neat cattle and swine are of the same breeds raised in Ohio, both of which, though far superior to the Tennessee and Kentucky breeds, are yet susceptible of great improvement. Michigan is naturally an excellent grazing country, and there are no natural ob- stacles to its becoming a good dairy and stock growing country. But little attention has been given to wool grow- ing, and there are but comparatively few sheep in the State. It is thought that this animal will thrive well here, though not equally to what it does in a mountainous region.
* As allusion has been made to other Western States, it is but justice to Ohio, to say, that within three or four years past, Agricultural Socie- ties have been formed, and, at a great expense, valuable breeds of do- mestic animals have been imported from Europe into the State, and exer- tions are making to propagate them in the valleys of the Miami and Scioto,
34
GAZETTEER
ANIMALS .- FOWLS.
But under all the difficulties of a newly settled State, there is a spirit of enterprise and ambition in our popula- tion, that will not brook the present ordinary state of agri- cultural improvement and depreciated breeds of domestic animals. During the past year, a State Agricultural Socie- ty has been organized, and branches to the parent have been formed in many of the counties. Their attention will be directed to the dissemination of such information as is immediately beneficial to the farmer, and to the introduc- tion and propagation of a superior breed of horses, sheep, swine, and neat cattle. This is highly desirable, and must and will be done.
Fowls." The wild fowls are mostly migratory, and, in kind, are, with some exceptions, the same that are found in the same latitude, eastward. Among the forest and field birds, are noticed the robin, blackbird of different varieties, thrush, lark, bluebird, sparrow of various kinds, wren, woodpecker of all the varieties, jay, cuckoo, &c. &c.
Of the forest birds, which serve for game to the sports- man, are found in the greatest abundance, the partridge (pheasant of the south), quail, woodcock, grouse or prairie hen, wild turkey; pigeon, snipe, &c. The white partridge is found in the Upper Peninsula.
Aquatic fowls are very numerous. The most noted are the wild goose, brant, duck, crane, bustard, swan, loon, plover, gull, &c.
Of the carnivorous birds, the eagle, the buzzard, and other species of vulture, the crow or raven, the heron, and other varieties of the falcon, the owl, &c. together with others of the same character, are common to this State, or to some parts of it. The great white owl is an inhabitant only of the Upper Peninsula.
Most of the forest birds of plumage and song, are like- wise birds of passage, who visit this region in spring, to
* In a report upon the Ornithology of the State, made to the Legisla- ture, it is estimated that the State will yield 350 or 400 species, or 700 or 800 individuals by counting duplicates to embrace the sexes. "Making allowance for those that molt twice a year, it is supposed that a full col- lection of Michigan birds will contain, at the lowest calculation, one thousand specimens."
35
OF MICHIGAN.
ANIMALS .- BEES.
propagate their species, and, in autumn, depart for the warmer climate of the Southern States, to pass the winter. This is the class of musical songsters, whose lively warbling cheers our fields and forests with melody, and heighten, the charms of rural life. * The equal distribution and variega- tion of lake and forest, plain and opening, seem admirably adapted to invite the preference of those birds, and to ac- count for their great numbers. 1150370.
The rocky shores of Lake Superior, are so uncongenial to the growth of vegetation, especially of the wild rice, that it is not so favorite a resort for water fowl as the other lakes; all the other larger lakes, and particularly the rivers and interior lakes, are plentifully supplied. Wild geese are said not to be seen either in the Strait of St. Mary or Lake Superior. But they are found in great numbers in and around the small lakes, where they remain during the summer. The beautiful white swan is often seen, and is well known. But ducks, of every variety, size, and plumage, are found in myriads, upon these small lakes; in fact, they often literally cover them. It is believed, no part of the Union can boast of an equal abun- dance of water fowl.
Here is a fine field for sportsmen. All these aquatic fowls resort hither for procreation, and, on the closing of the lakes, depart for a milder climate. 'T'he ducks return pre- cisely at the opening of the straits, but in late seasons their seeming impatience is sometimes manifested, by a too pre- cipitous reappearance. They are first seen in the western part of Lake Erie and Detroit Strait. Here they hover about for weeks, waiting for the opening of the rivers and interior lakes. The immense numbers, seen during this period, are astonishing. They are noticed in flocks mostly on the wing, passing up the strait. From estimates made at Detroit, it has been supposed that not less than 100,000, in the short space of an hour, have been observed to pass over one field of view.
Some of the small lakes are not closed by ice, and are mostly covered with ducks, geese, &c. that prefer remain- ing during the winter.
Bees. Wild bees are found plentifully in the surveyed part of the peninsula, and it is supposed, that they inhabit
36
GAZETTEER
VEGETABLES .- FRUITS.
other portions of the State. The hunting and gathering of their honey is made a profitable employment at the pro- per season, by those experienced in the business.
VEGETABLES.
Of the principal forest trees, notice has before been tak- en. The most valuable for timber, are the oak, hickory, black walnut, maple, beech, ash, &c. which often grow to a great size. Wild nuts are found, at the proper seasons, in abundance, as the black walnut, hickory nut, hazelnut, butternut. The chestnut tree is scarce, and hence its nut. It may be remarked, not only for Michigan, but for the Western States generally, that the hickory nut is, in quality, far inferior to that of New England.
There is commonly found a variety of fruit indigenous to the soil and climate of the peninsula,-wild cherries of va- rious kinds, both crab and thorn apples, several varieties of the wild or meadow plum, &c. all in abundance. The pawpaw is scarce, found, it is believed, only in the south- western part of the State.
Wild shrub and vine fruits, it is probable, exceed, in abundance, any other country. Cranberries are so plentiful in the marshes as often to exclude every thing else. Wild grapes of several varieties, currants, gooseberries of two kinds, whortleberries, billberries, mayberries, hawthorn- berries, blueberries, high and low blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, mandrakes or May apples, grow spontane- ously, and are found in great profusion. Every kind of wild fruit which is, and some kinds that are not found in the same latitude eastward, are not only lavished in supe- rior abundance, but sometimes in superior quality.
Agricultural and horticultural productions grow with the same luxuriance. The greater portion of the settlement of the State, is too recent for much experimental knowledge, of its congeniality to the cultivated fruits. But, judging
NOTE. Of the subjects in Ichthyology, no accurate list has been obtained. Some few facts collected concerning the fish of the lakes, are presented under the head of Rivers and Lakes.
37
OF MICHIGAN.
VEGETABLES.
from the wild fruits, and the domestic productions of the older settled parts of the State, there is no doubt that it will become noted as a fruit country. The valleys of the Strait of St. Clair, and especially of Detroit, are interspersed with orchards of various kinds of fruit. Formerly, there was greater attention paid to its growth and quality, and its superior excellence used to be celebrated. The Detroit cider was, not long since, noted, and constituted an article of export. But for some cause, of late, that attention has relapsed, and, although some good fruit is seen in market, there is too much of the natural kind, and that of an infe- rior quality. Where the proper care is used, every kind of fruit is produced on this strait, as apples, pears, peaches, quinces, the various kinds of plums and cherries, &c. The soil of the interior, however, is thought to be more con- genial to these fruits, than the argilaceous intervals of the Straits. But it is believed that the pear tree has a more exuberant growth, and produces more abundantly on this strait, than in any other section of country. This tree often attains a circumference of from five to eight feet, and a height of fifty and sixty feet. At a distance, it more re- sembles a forest, than a fruit tree.
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