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 35
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General Military Disbursing Agency-Offices at Detroit and Chicago. OFFICERS .- One Major of the U. S. Army, - Assistants, one Clerk.
1. Sub-Agency of Saginaw, at Lower Saginaw.
OFFICERS .- One Sub-Agent, one Interpreter, one Overseer of the farming establishment, one Blacksmith, one Assistant Black- smith ; Farmers, occasional.
2. Agency of Michillimacinac, Lake Huron.
OFFICERS .- One Agent, one Interpreter, one Blacksmith, one Assistant Blacksmith, one Gunsmith, one Keeper of Dormitory, one Physician.
3. Sub-Agency of Sault Ste. Marie, St. Mary's Strait.
OFFICERS .- One Sub-Agent, one Interpreter, one Blacksmith, one Assistant Blacksmith, one Physician.
4. Reserve of Monestee, Lake Michigan.
One Farmer, one Assistant Farmer, one Carpenter, one Black- smith, one Assistant Blacksmith.
5. Reserve of Round Island, Lake Huron. One Farmer, one Assistant Farmer, one Carpenter.
6. Grand River. One Physician, occasional.
INDIAN TRADING POSTS AND VILLAGES. On Lake Superior.
Taquimenon (or Tonquamenon) River, Grand Island, Ance Kewy weenon, Ontonagon River, Montreal River.
On Lake Huron.
Cheboiegon, Thunder Bay, River au Sable, River au Gres, Saginaw Bay.
On Lake Michigan.
Little Traverse Bay, Grand Traverse Bay, Monestee River, Pierre Marquette River, White River, Maskegon River, Grand River.
Saginaw.
River Saginaw, Tittabawassee River, Shiawassee River, Flint River, Cass River.
407
APPENDIX.
STATE OFFICERS.
Salary.
Governor-His Excellency, STEVENS T. MASON,
$2,000
Lieutenant Governor-Honorable Edward Mundy,
Chief Justice Supreme Court-Hon. Wmn. A. Fletcher, 1,600
S Hon. George Morell, 1,500
Associate Justices --- Hon. E. Ransom, 1,500
Chancellor-Hon. E. Farnsworth, 1,500
Superintendent Public Instruction-John D. Pierce, Esq. 1,500 Secretary of State-Randolph Manning, Esq. 1,000
Treasurer-Henry Howard, Esq.
800
Attorney General-Peter Morey, 500
Auditor General-Robert Abbott, Esq.
1,000
Thomas Fitzgerald, Esq. 1,250
Bank Commissioners- Alpheus Felch, Esq. 1,250
Kintzing Pritchette, Esq. 1,250
Private Secretary to Governor-Calvin C. Jackson, Esq.
500
Adjutant General-Col. John E. Schwartz,
125
Quartermaster General-Col. Sheldon McKnight, Acting Commissioner State Penitentiary-Benjamin Porter, Jr .- compensation, $2 50 per day.
125
COMMISSIONERS INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT.
Lansing B. Mizner, of Wayne ;
Levi S. Humphrey, of Monroe ;
James B. Hunt, of Oakland ; William A. Burt, of Macomb ;
Edwin H. Lothrop, of Kalamazoo;
Hiram Alden, of Branch ;
Rix Robinson, of Kent county.
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY.
(Ex officio, )
His Excellency, Stevens T. Mason, Hon. Wm. A. Fletcher, Hon. Lieut. Gov. E. Mundy, Hon. George Morell, Hon. E. Ransom.
Hon. E. Farnsworth,
(Appointed,)
John J. Adam, Isaac E. Crary, Samuel W. Denton,
John Norvell, Lucius Lyon, Gurdon C. Leach,
Ross Wilkins, Jonathan Kearsley, George Whittemore,
Seba Murphy, Henry R.Schoolcraft, Zinza Pitcher.
Secretary-Charles W. Whipple.
Treasurer-Charles C. Trowbridge. Librarian-Henry Colelazer.
408
APPENDIX.
STATE GEOLOGICAL CORPS.
DOUGLASS HOUGHTON, M. D., Geologist, in charge Geological and Mineralogical Departments, and General Superintendent of Survey.
Columbus C. Douglass, sub-assistant do.
Bela Hubbard, do. do.
Abraham Sager, M. D., Zoologist, in charge of Zoological Department.
William P. Smith, sub-assistant do. do .- in charge of Me- chanical Zoology.
Dr. -- Wright, Botanist, in charge of Botanical Depart- ment.
Dr. -- Bull, sub-assistant do. do.
S. W. Higgins, Draftsman, in charge of Topographical De- partment.
409
APPENDIX.
TRAVELLERS' AND EMIGRANTS' DIRECTORY :
Exhibiting the principal Routes from New York, the East- ern States, and Canadas, to Michigan, including Rail- road, Canal, Stage, and Steamboat Routes-Distances- Expenses, et cetera.
The Erie canal and the lakes furnish the principal channel of emigration to Michigan, though a considerable portion is diverted at particular seasons by the land route through Canada, and on the southern shore of Lake Erie.
The following Table exhibits the routes and distances from Albany to different parts of the State of New York.
TABLE OF ROADS.
From Albany to Buffalo and Lewiston.
Schenectady
miles|
15|Seneca Falls
3|181
Amsterdam
15
30 Waterloo
4 185
Caughnewaga
10
40
Geneva
7 192
Palatine Bridge
12
52
Canandaigua
16|208
Little Falls
21
73
East Bloomfield
9 217
Herkimer
7
80
West Bloomfield
5 222
Utica
16
96
Lima
4 226
Manchester
9 105
Avon, East Village
5 231
Vernon
8 113 Avon Post Office
2 233
Oneida
5 118 Caledonia
8 241
Lenox
7
125 Le Roy
6 247
Sullivan
5 130 Batavia
11 258
Manlius
6 136
East Pembroke
6 264
Jamesville
5
141|Pembroke
8|270
Onondaga Hill
7 148
Clarence
8.278
Marcellus
8
156
Williamsville
8 288
Skeneateles
6 162 Buffalo
10|298
Auburn
7 169| Niagara Falls
21 319
Cayuga Bridge
9|178 |Lewiston
7|326
NOTE. Roads and distances from every part of the State of New York and New England, to the city of New York or Albany, are so well known, that it is considered unnecessary to give them in this place.
35
410
APPENDIX.
From Albany to Rochester, via Cherry Valley.
Guilderland
miles| 14|Syracuse
7|127
State Bridge
12 26 Elbridge
J5 142
Cherry Valley
26
52
Weedsport
6 148
Little Lakes
10
62
Montezuma
9
157
Bridgewater
20
82
Lyons
17 174
Madison
14
96 Palmyra
14|188
Cazenovia
12 108| Pittsford
15|203
Manlius
12 120 Rochester
8|211
Rochester to Buffalo.
Batavia
| 36 | Buffalo
40 | 76
DISTANCES ON THE ERIE CANAL,
To and from Albany, Utica, Rochester, and Buffalo.
Names of Places.
Albany.
Utica .
Rochester
Buffalo .
Names of Places
Albany.
Utica .
Rochester
Buffalo . .
Albany .
0 110 270 363
Nine Mile Creek
179. 69
91 181
Troy .
7 103 263 356
Canton
185
75
85,173
Junction .
9 101 261 354
Jordan
191|
81
79 172
Schenectady
30
80 240 333
Weed's Port
197
87 73 166
Amsterdam .
46
64 224 317
Port Byron.
200
90
70 163
Schoharie Creek
53
57 217 310
Montezuma
206
96
64 157
Caughnawaga
57
53 213 306
Clyde.
217 107
53 146
Spraker's Basin
66
44 204 297
Lyons
226 116
44 137
Canajoharie
69
41,201 294
Newark .
233 123
37 130
Bowman's Creek
72
38 198 291
Palmyra
241 131
29 122
Little Falls .
88
22|182 275
Fullom's Basin
254 144
16 109
Herkimer
95
15 175 268
Pittsford .
260 150
10
103
Frankfort
100
10 170 263
Rochester
270 160
0
93
Utica .
110
0 160 253
Ogden
282 172
12
81
Whitesborough
114
4 156 249
Adam's Basin
285 175
15
78
Oriskany
117
7|153 246
Brockport
290 180
20
73
Rome.
125
15 145 238
Holley
295 185
25
68
Smith's
132
22 138 231
Albion
305 195
35
58
Loomis'
138
28 132 225
Portville .
309 199
39
54
Oneida Creek
141
31 129 222
Oak Orchard
314 204
44
49
Canastota
146
36 124 217
Medina .
315 205
45
48
New Boston
150
40 120 213
Middleport .
321 211
51
42
Chittenango
154
44 116 209
Lockport
333 223
63
30
Manlius .
162
52 108 201
Pendleton
340 230
70
23
Orville
165
55 105 198
Tonawanta.
352 242
82
11
Syracuse.
171
61
99 192
Black Rock .
360 250
90
3
Liverpool
173
63
97,190
Buffalo
363 253
93
0
.
·
.
.
.
There is a Stage Route from Newburgh and Catskill on the Hudson, passing through Ithaca, Bath, Canisteo, Angelica, Elli- cottville, and Maysville, to Portland Harbor, on Lake Erie.
411
APPENDIX.
Stage Route from New York to Buffalo.
From New York to Newburgh miles 64
Newburgh to Montgomery
12
Montgomery to Bloomingburg 12
Bloomingburg to Rome
3
66 Rome to Monticello
13
Monticello to Cocheton
20
Cocheton to Mt. Pleasant
23
66 Mt. Pleasant to Trunkhannock
7
Trunkhannock to Moutrose
20
66 Montrose to N. Y. State line
23
N. Y. State line to Owego
8
Owego to Ithaca
29
Ithaca to Geneva
45
Geneva to Buffalo
106
Total from New York to Buffalo
385
The distance, by another route, from New York to Utica, is 216 miles. The distance from New York to Albany is per- formed by steamboats, and from Albany to Utica by rail-road cars. Passengers from Utica to Buffalo, can take their choice of stages, or packet-boats to Lockport. From Lockport to Buffalo, there is a rail-road, by way of Niagara Falls. During the season of 1839, the rail-road from Utica to Auburn will be in operation.
The Route and Distances from Montreal to Buffalo, are as follows.
From Montreal to Lachine, (Stage)
miles 9
Lachine to Cascades,
(Steamboat) 24
Cascades to Coteau,
(Stage) 16
Coteau to Cornwall, (Steamboat) 41
Cornwall to Prescott, (Stage)
50
Prescott to Brockville,
(Steamboat)
12
Brockville to Kingston,
60
Kingston to Toronto,
180
Toronto to Burlington Bay,
45
Burlington Bay to Niagara,
48
Niagara Falls to Buffalo, (by land) 21
Total from Montreal to Buffalo, 506
This trip is performed in three days.
412
APPENDIX.
Stage Route from Buffalo ( on the American side ) to Detroit
From Buffalo to Hamburg miles 14
Hamburg to Cataraugs
17
Cataragus to Fredonia 14
Fredonia to Westfield
15
Westfield to Erie
30
66 Erie to Fairview
9
Fairview to Elk Creek
7
Elk Creek to Cincinnati
10
Cincinnati to Ashtabula
14
Ashtabula to Unionville
14
Unionville to Painesville
14
Painesville to Chagrin
10
Chagrin to Euclid
10
Euclid to Cleveland
10
Cleveland to Sandusky
Sandusky to Perrysburgh
32
Perrysburgh to Toledo
10
Toledo to Monroe
20
Monroe to Detroit
40
Whole distance from Buffalo to Detroit, 374
Fare from Buffalo to Detroit, in the winter season, usually, $25.00. From Sandusky to Detroit, $7.50.
The following is an Exhibit of the Stage and Steamboat Routes and Fare through Canada, from different points, to Detroit.
From Prescott (opposite Ogdensburg) to Kingston 72 miles.
Kingston to Belville 60
66 Belville to Coburg 46
Coburg to Toronto 75
Toronto to Hamilton (at the head of Lake On- tario) 50
Total 303
Stage fare from Prescott to Hamilton, $17.
413
APPENDIX.
The Canada Route from Buffalo to Detroit, is as follows.
Miles. [
Fare.
From Buffalo to Lewiston (opposite Queenston)
28
$2.50
Hamilton to Brantford
25
1.25
60 Brantford to London
60
3.00
66 London to Chatham
78
4.25
Chatham to Sandwich (opposite Detroit)
52
1 2.00
293 $13.00
Distance from Buffalo to Detroit, by the Canada route, 293 miles. Fare from Queenston to Detroit, $13. The Niagara at Lewiston, and the Detroit, at the city of Detroit, are both crossed by ferry boats, which are in constant readiness for pas- sengers.
The following is a Table of Distances upon Lakes Erie, Huron, and Michigan.
Miles
From Buffalo
Miles
From Buffalo to Dunkirk,
45
To Dunkirk,
45
Portland to Erie,
30
" Erie,
91
66 Coneaut to Ashtabula,
14
" Ashtabula,
135
66
Ashtabula to Grand river,
30
" Grand river,
165
Grand river to Cleveland,
30
" Cleveland,
195
Cleveland to Black river,
30
" Black river,
225
Black river to Huron,
20
Huron,
245
66
Huron to Sandusky,
10
" Sandusky,
255
Sandusky to Detroit,
75
Detroit,
330
66
Detroit to Fort Gratiot,
72
" Fort Gratiot,
402
Fort Gratiot to Mackinac,
250
" Mackinac,
625
Mackinac to Green Bay,
193
Green Bay,
845
Green Bay to Cheboiegon,
240
Cheboiegon,
1,085
Cheboiegon to Milwalkie,
40
" Milwalkie,
1,125
Milwalkie to Root river,
25
" Root river,
1,150
66 Root river to Chicago,
65
" Chicago,
1,215
Return route to Detroit by way of St. Joseph and ; Distance on the return route from Grand river.
From Chicago to Michigan city, 40
Michigan city to New Buffalo, 13
66 New Buffalo to St. Joseph, 25
St. Joseph to Kalamazoo, . 45
" Kalamazoo,
123
Kalamazoo to Grand Haven, 30
" Grand Haven,
153
Grand Haven to Mackinac, 215
" Mackinac,
368
Mackinac to Fort Gratiot, 250
Fort Gratiot to Detroit, 72
Chicago
To Michigan city, 40
" New Buffalo, 53
" St. Joseph, 78
" Fort Gratiot, 618
" Detroit, 690
35*
16
" Portland,
61
Erie to Coneaut,
30
" Coneaut,
121
¥
Dunkirk to Portland,
Queenston to Hamilton (head Burlington Bay)50
414
APPENDIX.
Different individuals, although of long experience upon the lakes, are found to estimate distances variously ; but the above table is believed to be the most correct of any hitherto published.
Emigrants and visiters enter Michigan at Detroit, Monroe, or by way of the rail-road from Toledo to Adrian. The former is perhaps the preferable route, in most cases. Detroit is on the main steamboat route to the upper lakes. From this to Ann Arbour, the distance is performed by rail-road. The emigrant finds this much the cheapest and most expeditious route, and as the rail-road becomes extended, will become the principal travel- ling route through the State. To those passing through the southern tier of counties, the rail-road route from Monroe will shortly be preferable.
From Detroit to different points, by stage.
Distance from Detroit to Marshall, 115 miles, stage fare, $ 7 50
to St. Joseph, 200 ¥ 66 13 50
66
to Chicago, 300 66 21 00
The Grand Erie canal and Lake Erie form the great avenue for emigration. Albany may be considered as the common start- ing point for emigrants, it being about 150 miles from New York, 250 from Montreal, and 175 from Boston. It is approach- ed from the south by steamboats and sloops, through the Hud- son river, and by five or six grand routes by land, which lead to it from Vermont, Boston, Hartford, New Haven, &c. Those who remove from the northern parts of New England and New York, will find the route through Canada the shortest and cheap- est. Emigrants passing through the province are not subject to pay duties on any of their moveable property, provided it be in- troduced in good faith, for transportation merely .*
On Lake Ontario there are upwards of 20 steamboats in ope- ration, which touch at Ogdensburg, Sackett's Harbor, Oswego, Genesee river, Lewiston, besides various ports on the Canada side. Sloops and schooners also run from these various ports through the Welland canal into Lake Erie, and thence to all the other ports of the great lakes. Emigrants going to Michigan will often find it for their advantage to take this route, with their families, in preference to any other.
* The following is the substance of an act passed at the session (1837) of the Provincial Parliament. It provides that no duties shall be levied on articles of personal baggage imported by any person coming into the 'Province, or passing through the same, from the United States of Amer- ica, such articles being bona fide imported for domestic use of the person importing the same, or tools used in the trade of the importer. Nothing in the act to extend to tea and wine, spirits, sugar, or other articles of goods, wares, and merchandise, not made up or prepared for domestic purposes. No collector to receive fees for articles not subject to duty, &c.
415
APPENDIX.
Charges for passage on Steamboats, on this Lake.
From Ogdensburg to Lewiston,
$8 00
Sackett's Harbor or Oswego to Lewiston, 6 00
Genesee river to Lewiston, 3 00
These charges are for the cabin ; the deck passage on these boats is about one third the above prices.
On the Erie canal, there are about 3,000 boats, of various descriptions, in operation. Boats leave Albany for Buffalo al- most every hour, affording facilities to emigrants to convey their families and property at a small expense. Between a packet and line boat, there is but little choice, except that the former moves four miles, and the latter three, per hour. The price of passage in a packet, including meals, is four cents per mile, or $14 52, for a passage from Albany to Buffalo: on a line boat, one and a half cents a mile for passage, or two and a half cents a mile, including meals, making for a passage the whole route in the former case, $5 44; in the latter, including meals, $9 07.
Families are frequently taken for much less than this, in pro- portion. Terms for freight are various, depending upon the season of navigation and amount of business to be done, &c. It may be stated as a maximum for light goods from Albany to Buffalo, 75 cents ; heavy, $1 00, and furniture 75 cents per cwt. though these prices are greatly reduced, especially near mid- summer. Special contracts for transportation can often be made on very moderate terms.
There are more than 50 steamboats, and upwards of 200 sloops and schooners upon Lake Erie; and during the year 1836, it was estimated that nearly 200,000 persons passed its waters, to the west. Steamboats fitted expressly for the accommodation of cabin and deck passengers, many of them from 400 to 700 tons burthen, leave Buffalo morning and evening, and stop at all the places mentioned before in the table of distances on the lakes. The price of cabin passage from Buffalo to Cleveland, is $6; to Mackinac, or Sault St. Mary, $12; to Chicago, Green Bay, and St. Joseph, $20. The price of cabin passage from Buffalo to Detroit, is $8; deck, $3, and so in the same proportion to all the intermediate ports between Buffalo and Chicago. Sloops and schooners make a much longer passage, but the price of pas- sage and freight is much less.
Freight from Buffalo to Detroit, as maximum prices, by steam- boats in the spring, is for heavy goods, 38 cents per cwt. Do. do.
light do. 50 do. do.
Furniture, four shillings, or 50 cents for a barrel's bulk.
In lake vessels, from Buffalo to Detroit, light goods 28 cents per cwt. ; heavy, 40 ; furniture, 50 cents barrel bulk.
From Buffalo to Chicago, merchandise, heavy, 75 cents ; light, $1; furniture, $1 50, for a barrel bulk.
416
APPENDIX.
These are the maximum prices, which are variable, and sub- ject at times to be reduced. The price of freight for household furniture, and other property, such as emigrants generally choose to take with them, say from New York or Albany to the central part of Michigan, will average from $1 50 to $2, per hundred. Farmers who remove to Michigan from New England or New York, will find it most economical to carry with them as many of their light tools and implements, as possible; also household furniture, most articles of clothing, and fine articles of cabinet ware ; for these are dearer in the west than in the east, and if such are sold in the east by the emigrant, they are generally sold at a great sacrifice.
TO EMIGRANTS.
In closing this work, it may not be unacceptable to add a word upon the expediency of emigrating to the West, and the choice of a suitable location. As a general rule, persons in any State, enjoying a competency, or possessing the means of improving their condition to a reasonable extent, better remain than attempt a change of their condition for one of more promising success. But, notwithstanding, persons of even ordinary enterprise and limited means, often attain to affluence in the west, while, in the east, enterprise and moderate capital combined are in a course of years but comparatively little productive. Very few who have emigrated westward have been known to return, or seriously exhibit dissatisfaction with their adopted home. From these facts alone, the inference is obviously in favor of western emigration.
If there are any who have regretted the change, it is from cau- ses, arising either from casualty, their own improvidence, or an injudicious selection of a location. It is true, individuals may be found who are disaffected. But these are to be found in every country and in every community. Disaffection is an innate dis- order-a natural deformity of the mind of some persons. These are easily persuaded to emigrate because they cannot be content- cd. They begin to search for the philosopher's stone in a west- ern paradise. They commence a westward progression with- out a fixed point of settlement or termination of travel. They will pass through the most delightful regions of nature without the thought of locating short of the " far west." At last they reach the occident of emigration, the western frontier, and finally conclude to make a settlement. Such persons will rarely make a satisfactory choice. Every breeze of rumor chants the praises of other locations. They change and change till persuaded they
417
APPENDIX.
have gone too far. Their own folly begets disgust, and, if they retire, they return impoverished, casting imprecations upon the country.
Every one proposing to emigrate would do well first to have a definite conception in his own mind what his wants are ; for if he has an indistinct idea of what he wishes to attain, he may find himself pursuing an ignis fatuus, and at last rue his undertaking. If he wishes to make a western location merely to better his condition, as an agriculturist, a manufacturer, or in the pursuits of commerce, he will not, if rightly informed, pass beyond Michigan. It is beginning to be very well understood, that good policy in emigrating, or in making judicious locations, is measured less by western longitude than by other more rea- sonable considerations. If, however, there are any who cannot be convinced by the experience of others, they must satisfy them- selves by their own experience.
To mechanics of almost every description, we will observe, that they may remove with the satisfaction of knowing that they will not be in want of constant employ or good wages. This re- mark is almost needless, as by a moment's reflection, any one would be satisfied with the fact without the suggestion. As to common laborers, they are, and will continue to be wanted for years. The canals and rail-roads constructing by the State and by chartered companies already employ many laborers, and the demand continues to be greater from the increased amount of public expenditure. There are two professions that are amply supplied ; these are the legal and medical. This is so univer- sally the case, that it is not unfrequent to find many who have commenced their professions with high hopes, and relinquish- ed them for other business more lucrative. Teachers well qualified for the instruction of youth are much wanted.
It has been found in some cases most judicious to make loca- tions for settlement with more deliberation than is commonly practiced by emigrants. There are to be found among our wealthy farmers, those who came to Michigan in ordinary cir- cumstances, who, by their own industry, have earned sufficient to purchase their farms at government price, and, by thus delaying one or two years after their arrival, have been able to select, in the meantime, better locations, than they otherwise would by purchasing at first sight.
For the agriculturist, no lands are more desirable than the fer- tile openings, prairies, and plains of Michigan. Many emi- grants from the east having viewed the country and witnessed their unrivalled fertility, have made purchases at from $2 to $5 per acre, through the fear that they might be unable to find other lands equally good ; while perhaps lands of equal value were at the same time selling at the land office at $1,25 per acre. To give the reader some idea of the estimation in which Michigan lands are held by our farmers, we make an extract from one-se- lected from many communications to the author on this subject.
418
APPENDIX.
It is from a gentleman well known to the public, and one of our most substantial and respectable farmers. Although it is a de- scription of a particular section, it will serve as a sample of the entire interior of the State.
"In answer to your enquiries, relative to that portion of the State of Michigan where I reside, I would remark, that I have been a resident of Jackson county for about four years ; the west part of said county where I reside, and with which I am best acquainted, I consider second to no section of country in our own or any other of the States of the Union, for general farming purposes. The land is generally a rich, sandy loam, freely interspersed with small pebbles of lime-stone, gently un- dulating, and sufficiently elevated to admit of the healthful drainage, of its liberally interspersed, small streams of water, that afford a sufficient supply of hydraulic power for all farming, mechanical, and manufacturing purposes. About two thirds of the land is covered with a sparse growth of bur oak, white and red oak, and hickory trees. The bur oak and hickory plains are very beautiful, generally free from underbrush, resem- bling orchards, and covered, in the summer months, with a suc- cession of the most beautiful wild flowers. Farmers unacquaint- ed with the character of our country, can have no idea of the great difference in the expense of effecting a settlement, and im- provements on our plains, or on heavily timbered lands ; as an evidence of which, I would state the fact, that within the short time that I have been a Michigan farmer, I have improved, and put under the plough five hundred acres of land, three hundred of which are now to wheat. These improvements have been effected with comparatively limited means-every first crop pay- ing the entire expense of each improvement. I have found the expense of taking off the timber, fencing, ploughing, harrowing, and seeding the land, on free plains, to be about eight dollars an acre ; and then the farmer has the great advantage of having his land clear, or nearly so, of stumps, a great obstacle to the farmer on timbered lands. From my own experience and observation, I am satisfied that it is better for a first settler to pay ten dollars an acre for plains, when he can accommodate his farm (as may generally be done) with a sufficient quantity of timber, than to pay one dollar where the land is all covered with a heavy growth of timber. Our farmers have been decidedly more suc- cessful in growing different crops of grain on the plains, than upon the timbered lands. Wheat, oats, corn, barley, and pota- toes, and the English grasses, have a most prolific growth. * * * * *
In conclusion, I would observe, that the above remarks are char- acteristic of, and strongly applicable to the entire interior of our State, which constitutes a district of country most favorable to the general agriculturist, and as a wheat country, probably the very first in America."
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