USA > Michigan > Macomb County > History of Macomb County, Michigan > Part 53
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In South Memphis.
367. . John C. Keeler.
In North Romeo
921. . Alexander H. Shelp.
In Richmond.
$50. . John C. Kveler.
Chesterfield.
2,352. . Charles Connor.
Shelby.
1.650. . William S. Andrus.
In New Baltimore.
1,024. . Charles Connor.
In Disco
100. . William S. Andrus.
Clinton ..
2,002. . August H. CanfieldI.
In North: Utica.
316. . William S. Andrus.
John E. Foster.
Sterling.
2.088 . Richard II. Sliter.
Mount Clemens
3.051 - Robert Irvine.
In South Utica.
177. . Richard H. Sliter.
Erin.
2.695. . Gustave Schuchard.
Harrison.
740. . Fredrick (. Forton.
Lenox. .
2,516. . Ed. L. Raymond.
In New Haven
600. . Ed. L. Raymond.
Macomb.
2.046. . Alfred Stewart.
Total. 31,603
The following is the report of the cereal products of Macomb County for 1877-78:
TOWNSHIPS.
Acres Wheat raised in 1877
Bushels Wheat in 1877.
Acies on Ground in 1878.
Acres Corn.
Acres Oats.
Acres Barley
Bruce
3491
81990
390
1444
1453
342
Washington
2816
65166
3099
1560
1304
113
Armada
1559
35023
2056
1439
2536
20.5
Richmond.
1411
28958
1789
987
2310
996
Ray.
1783
36328
2290
1443
1625
108
Lenox.
1538
32018
2155
964
1898
194
Macomb
1839
43659
2386
1467
1638
. .
Shelby
1776
29606
2389
1829
1434
13
Sterling
855
17492
1323
1349
1354
91
Clinton. .
1435
30135
1503
1378
1382
97
Chesterfield.
1683
39250
2162
1280
1726
337
Harrison
143
9612
668
556
639
109
Erin
1025
24772
1338
1031
2054
53
Warren
1228
1516
1982
( Arthur N. Grovier.
Warren. . ..
2.401 .. G. B. Walker.
In Beebe's Corners.
106 .. G. B. Walker.
Washington 2.052. . Jonathan Stone.
In South Romeo
705. . Jonathan Stone.
FARM STATISTICS.
The following statistical information is taken from the report of the Secretary of State, dealing with the farms and farm products of Michigan for the year ISSO. relating to this county:
Horses, 8,829; milch cows. 9,549; other cattle. 8,527: hogs. 11.761; sheep. 104,871: acres devoted to apple orchards, 5,21; to peach orchards, 1,131 ; acres under clover, 4,274; under barley, 2, 178; peas, 1.215; potatoes, 2,547: hay, 29,792; wheat. 34.30S; corn. I.S. - 010: oats, 21,035; number of acres of improved land. 158.746; of unimproved, 83,629; total number of acres. 242.375; number of farms. 3.083; average number of acres per farm 78.62.
468
HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.
The taxes, as apportioned for 1880-81, are set forth in the following table:
TOWNSHIPS.
State Tax.
County Tas
Town Tax.
Armada.
$1272 51
$2039 65
500 00
Bruce.
1871 25
3158 75
12032 52
Clinton.
1013 30
1623 50
2200 00
Chesterficht.
1035 84
1660 60
600 00
Erin.
1306 32
2093 07
llarrison.
326 83
523 45
215 00
Lenox.
1126 00
1805 00
565 00
Macomb
1069 65
1714 75
776 68
Rav ..
991 76
1588 40
1150 00
Richmond
1351 40
2166 00
675 00
Shelby.
1148 54
1841 10
500 00
Sterling.
1069 65
1714 75
600 00
Warren.
1238 10
1984 50
450 00
Washington
1971 25
3158 75
300 00
Mount Clemens, First Ward.
450 80
722 00
3501 85
Mount Clemens, Second Ward.
481 22
770 73
3738 20
Mount Clemens, Third Ward.
271 60
432 00
2109 95
Total.
$18096 02
$29000 00
$30114 20
The total tax levy in this county for the years 1881-82 is $81, 105.51, which sum is divided as follows: State tax. $21, 161.76; county tax, $35,650; town tax. $26.293.75.
EQUALIZED VALUATION
1842 TO 1881.
TOWNS.
1842.
1×49.
1851.
1855.
1459.
1869.
1875.
1881
Richmond.
$45.519
$46,048 § 47,161 8231.763 $256.559 $374,820 $430.000 $1203,000
Harrison.
23,928
25,132
22.389
115,530
91,297
97.684
98,000
288.090
Erin. .
31,987
34.426
40,664
230.429
236,972
340,000 385,000
1121,000
Washington
76, 127
97,973
116,914
730,816
678,771
697.790
730,000
1738,000
Chesterfield.
33.950
46,990
60.666
382,859
398,379
423,090
440,000
914,000
Armada
59,617:
63, 766
67,508
385, 125
403,486
416,090
440,000
1122,000
Bruce.
63,861;
88,931
94,238
653,333
694,925
712,550
790,000
1788,000
Clinton.
53,263
106,391
113,586
573,771
580,173
668,160
735,000
894.000
Shelby.
$2.553
88.655
87.643
527.435
446,165
465,200
470,000
1014,000
Sterling
45,190
48,687
49,880
272.341
232, 227
340,348
340,000
973,000
Warren.
42,812
31,237
35.032
231.170
204,285
294,900
340,000
1014,000
Lenox
49,169
40.338
43.225
921,692
212,090
315,000
335,000
993,000
Macomb
49.899
50,287
53.987
266.510
276.721
336,000
350,000
953,000
Ray
59.856
64,604
63.353
369.784
362.741
386.430
380,000
894,000
NOTE.
In addition to t e figures for 1881, the equalized valuation of the city of Mt. Clemens was $1,092,000.
The liquor tax in this county, as finally reported and collected. December, 1881. stands as follows:
City of Mount Clemens.
$2725 43
Memphis Village
175 00
L'tica Village ..
365 00
Warren Township
935 00
Richmond Village.
266 66
Erin Township.
980 00
New Baltimore Village.
578 75
Clinton Township
65 00
New Haven Village.
130 00
Lenox Township.
65 00
Romeo Village.
800 00
Armada Village
183 34
$8069 18
G
HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.
469
The population of the district, organized as Macomb, from 1810 to 1880, is estimated as follows:
Year.
Population.
Colored.
Year
Population
Colored.
1810
580
1850
15530
1820
898
1860
29843
63
1830
2413
1
1870
27616
118
1840
9816
1880
31603
. .
CHAPTER XXVI.
AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS' ASSOCIATIONS
A man may wander into remote parts of the earth as a traveler, where for the time being he will lose sight of farms, and where he will be obliged to deny himself the food and comforts they afford. He may consent to proseente a lucrative business in an inhos- pitable clime. or where farming is wholly neglected, and its products can only be obtained by long transportation at exorbitant prices, but he will not prolong his sojourn after he has satisfied his curiosity. or succeeded in his temporary purpose.
Permanent and successful agriculture pre-supposes the local existence of every con- dition essential to popular enjoyment and prosperity. Whatever else of value may distin- guish a place, there can be no substitute for this. Agriculture is necessary for the eco- nomical development and to the localization of the proceels ef every other resource. However rich anv locality may be in timber, salt water, or other substance convertible into marketable commodities, it cannot afford to iguore agriculture. It is true that. beyond the viciuage of a farmer. lumber may be minnfactured, mines disemboweled and salt pro- duced; put the money which is realized will take to itself wings. Such an undertaking will require the exportation to a foreign source of agricultural supplies, of the means nec- essary to procure them. The large sums paid for them. instead of going into the pockets of those who reside in the neighborhood of the consumer to be there expended in improve- ments. in supporting other branches of industry, and in sustaining an increased trade. go to the remote producers.
AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT.
A paper on the development of the agricultural interests of Macomb County was read before the Farmers' Institute, at Utica, by Judge James B. Eldredge. The subject, as treated, is replete in data and event. and therefore forms a valuable addition to this section of the work. 'Our county,' says the Judge.' ' is one of the oldest in the State, yet it is barely a half-century old. As to its agriculture. it was organized in 1818, and then comprised, in addition to its present territory, a part of Oakland. Lapeer and Sanilac and all of St. Clair. The probable first settler was a Frenchman, one of a body of emigrants, sent over by the French in 1756. to settle about the fort at Detroit to strengthen it. We learn from the . State papers ' that along the shores of Lake St. Clair in this county. were set-
470
HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.
tled here and there French families in 1796, and that in that year were found houses so old as to be untenantable from decay at various points --- one at Point Aux Crapeaux, near the present site of New Baltimore. This body of immigrants was, ou starting out. furnished with a full supply of grain, seeds and fruits to enable them to test the soil of the new land. Early, these Frenchmen located homes along the watery highway, cleared a few acres very few- erected log houses, tested seed and planted fruit trees; but it is well known that such were the enticements of the chase, that farming was not a material part of their labors. The gun and spear were oftener used than the plow or spade. The woods and waters more easily furnished food and raiment than the field. The early settlers had no market but their own mouths, no care but their own enjoyment. Agriculture did not thrive in those days. The canoe was the only vehicle, the stream and lake the only high- way. The labors of the day consisted in the sports of the chase. Food and raiment were gathered from the woods and waters. This state of affairs continued in the main until the year 1820. Prior to this time, nearly all the settled lands in the county were held either as squatters or as purchasers from the Indians, or as ' private claims.' Those set- tlers who could show a possession in themselves or grantors, back to 1796, were allowed by the United States to survey off not to exceed 640 acres, and to receive a patent there- for. Those private claims fronted on the river or lake, and were mainly held by descend- ants of the immigrants of 1796. Now and then one of another nation had taken title to these private claims, or had set down beside the Frenchmen, like the Conners and Tuckers, who were early on the Clinton River. It was not until about the year 1720 that there be- gan a flow of farmers into the county-men who came to clear and build, and plow, and cultivate - and it is from that year we may date the commencement of the development of the agricultural interests of our county.
The land outside of the private claims was surveyed into sections about the year 1817, and, as a matter of curiosity, we go to the records and note who were the first to take up lands thus surveyed into sections. Let us see who were the first locators outside of the private claims in each town and where they chose. This will enable us to form some idea of where the first settlements and farming began. It is doubtless true that the first lands taken up were not in all cases the first improved, but it was so mainly. Bear- ing in mind that along the lake shore and up the Clinton River a few miles was a string of hamlets, whose occupants were not farmers, but hunters and fishers, with little garden spots and a few fruit trees, we strike out into the wilderness of sections and see where farm- ing in the county began.
We table the first three locations in each township, by whom and when. Some of them were mere speculators, but, as I name them. many of you will recall them as pio- neers. I take the towns in order of time:
Clinton -Daniel Leroy, September 7, 1818, Section 14: D. G. Jones, February 18, 1822, Sections 3 and 10.
Erin-Christian Clemens, October 7, 1818. Section 14: Villiam Forsyth. May 11, 1820, Section 22.
471
HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.
Macomb -- G. and D. Greichir. August 12, 1820. Section 35: Alfred Ashley. June 26. 1821, Section 35; David B. Ford. May 22. 1822. Section 25.
Chesterfield-Robert Jean. August 28, 1820. Section 11: James C. Edgerly, June 24. 1823. Section 30; Antoine Rivard. September S, 1824. Section 21.
Washington - Asahel Bailey. July 3. 1821. Section 33: Gideon Gates, July 5. 1821, Section 27: George Wilson. September 1. 1821. Section 33.
Sterling Eleazer Scott. September 1, 1821. Section 3: James C. Underwood, Au- gust 12, 1823, Section 24: Andrew Leon, October 4. 1823. Section 24.
Shelby-James Hazard. November 20, 1521, Section 5; Ezra Burgess, May 13, 1822, Section 7: George Hanscom, June 8, 1822. Section 3.
Bruce-Daniel Hill, November 20, 1821, Section 35; A. Bailey, April 16, 1822, Sec- tion 35: Leander Trombly, September 4, 1822, Sections 29 and 20.
Armada-John Proctor, November 4, 1823. Section 31: Peter Daniels, June 23, 1824, Section 31; Chauncey Bailey, June 23, 1524, Section 30.
Ray -Benjamin N. Freeman. June 23. 1824, Section 5; Joseph Chubb. October 14. 1824, Section 22; Nathaniel Thompson. October 18. 1824, Sections 8 and 9.
Warren-Charles W. Groesbeck. June 24. 1830, Section 33: Charles Rivard. June 18, 1831, Section 35.
Lenox -- Phineas D. Pelton, June 4. 1831, Section 6; Joseph Comstock. Septem- ber 19. 1831. Section 33: Roswell Green. August 13, 1831. Section 33.
Richmond-John Hale. December 1, 1832. Section 30: Edwin B. Rose, December 1. 1832. Section 30: Anson Pettibone, May 13. 1833. Section 19.
Let us picture to ourselves these settlers over so widely scattered locations. What a map we have! These men. I dare say, did not quarrel about line fences. Around these locations, in time. collected neighborhoods; forests were cut down. buildings erected, fields cleared, harvests grown. needed mills sprang into existence. markets and larger har- vests followed; churches and schoolhouses sprang up first among the buildings, to the great surprise of the French. who hal been in a line from Detroit to Lake Huron for a half-century and over. From the opening of these locations to 1840. the progress of this county was marked by many improvements in lands and buildings, and the growth of in- creased crops was rapid and surprising. In 1827, the county consisted of five townships, viz., Washington. Shelby, Ray. Clinton and Harrison. Improved lands in Harrison and Clinton were valued at $10 per acre, and in the other towns at $S per acre, and all wild lands at $2 per acre. The county tax of that year was $557.59.
In 1832, the first towns were valued. real and personal together, at $263.304; in 1833. at $314.672: in 1834. at $366,962; in 1835, at 8474.678; in 1838. $1.226.962. Quite evident here we can see the influence of being the eastern end' of the Clinton & Kalamazoo Canal. 'Wildcat' days jumped the value of the county from $474.670. in 1835. to $1,250.000, in 1837. I have been unable to find any reliable statisties prior to the United States census of 1840. I know that figures are dry, but in no other way can we so plainly place in view the growth of the past. as by a table showing the amount of
472
HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.
various agricultural products raised in the county at periods of ten years, from 1840 to the present time:
PRODUCTS.
1×40.
1850.
1863.
1870.
1879
Wheat, bushels
81,064
97.367
220,732
385,476
532,730
Oats, bushels. .
67,792
494,044
802,060
Corn, bushels.
71,528
232,988
311,277
103,500
Wool, pounds.
13,037
71,792
300,588
320,591
339.390
Horses.
1,482
2,667
6,363
7,961
9,329
Cattle
7,198
9,443
16,073
17,346
19,426
Sheep.
8,958
32.762
83,663
64,694
64,273
Acres improved.
57,876
106,077
153,601
158.746
Value, real and personal.
$5,864,072
$16,191.981
This table teaches us that since 1840 the crop of wheat has increased over 600 per cent, oats over 1.000 per cent, corn ever 1,000 per cent; the number of our horses over 600 per cent, cattle over 300 per cent and sheep over 800 per cent, whose fleece has in- creased in weight nearly 400 per cent. The county was equalized in 1832 at $263,805. and, in 1879, at $19, 191,981- an increase of wonderful magnitude, and mainly because of the development of its agricultural interests.
At the time of this assessment, the plan was adopte l of assessing at the cash value. Previous to this time, the rate had been at two-third cash value.
Statistics of the various business interests of the county at large show us that of mer- chants not to exceed 3 per cent make money and die wealthy. Of the professions, not 10 per cent more than merely live, and it is about the same with the various trades. Surely the young man who wishes to insure certain success financially, when he leaves the farm and goes to the city or village, leaves a business that is almost certain of financial increase. to engage in one where the percentage of success is exceedingly small. Recurring to the history of the past development, has not the farmer of this county cause to be proud of his achieve- ments and proud of his county? Yet, while thus we regard our part with pride, the query comes up, Have we reached our highest point of development? Is it necessary, or is it our duty, to stop or decrease the rate of progress and stand stilt? Is there anything in the idea that we have now exhausted the virgin strength of our soil. and henceforward must resort to artificial manures to keep up the yield of our crops, so expressive that farming here cannot keep pace with other departments of life? These and kindred ques- tions are important. We learn that in countries of much less fertility, countries cultivat- ed for hundreds of years, by the exercise of a judicious system of farming, agriculture is made to thrive and prosper.
It may be that we need to exercise more care, learning and skill, to continue on in the rapid pace of the past, but. whether we need to do so or not, ought to be unimportant. Doing so will add to our prosperity, elevate farming and ennoble us as individuals, and as a class farmers should need no other incentive. The question with us should not be. Is it necessary, but, Is it well to do so? Situated as our county is, climatically considered, it must be deemed favored land; while "blizzards." grasshoppers and long droughts in
G
7
473
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HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.
the West make farming uncertain, and floods and epidemics destroy whole communities in the Sonth, and the sterility of soil in the East makes farming almost impracticable, the farmer of Macomb County stands as upon holy land, where good crops form the rule, where there is freedom from epidemics and devastating storms, where nature has placed no such obstacle as absence of timber, want of water or unhealthy climate. Situated as we are, there is no need to stay the speed of our progress at all, and we hold it to be the duty of all to so combine thought and action that greater results may be reached."
THE MACOMB COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
The Macomb County Agricultural Society was organized in 1849, with Payne K. Leech as President; William Canfield, Secretary; A. W. Sterling, Treasurer. The officers then electedl we're continued in 1850 'Since that time the officers have been:
Presidents James B St. John, 1851: William Canfield, 1852 and 1853; Marshall Hadley, 1854: Tra H. Butterfield, 1855 and 1856.
Secretaries -- R. P. Eldredge. 1851; Dexter Mnssey, 1852 and 1863; J. H. Kaple, 1854: Charles F. Mallary, 1855 and 1856.
Treasurers -Norman Perry, 1851; P. K. Leech, 1852 -54; Charles Weston, 1856.
The first fair was held at Utica, in September. 1850. opposite the site of the Con- gregational Church. At this time, there were no fences, buildings, race-track, or, in fact, anything which now is considered necessary to contribute to the success of such a meeting. After the meeting of the society. a vote of thanks was passed to Ira H. Butterfield, Ira Phillips, P. K. Leech and other stock-raisers for their efforts to improve the stock of the county.
The three men just mentioned, together with John B. St. John and R. P. Eldredge. pledged themselves to meet the expenses of the society, but their liberal offer was not requisitioned.
The agricultural society was re-organized at Brooklyn March 10, 1857, for the object of promoting the interests of the agriculturists and horticulturists of Macomb County. The first officers of the re-organized society were: Ira H. Butterfield, President; Dexter Mussey, Vice President: Charles F. Mallary, Secretary; Charles W. Weston, Treasurer: Harlehigh Carter, Andrew Sutherland, Sr., Allen P. Bentley, James Flower, Truman R. Andrus. James Crawford, Carlos W. Brown. Dire tors. The charter members were Tri- man R. Andrus, Payne K. Leech, G. St. John, Loren Andrus, Elam Chapin. Oran Free man, Charles F. Mallary, H. Carter. I. H. Butterfieldl. D. W. Noves. Leonard Lee, James Flower and Calvin Davis.
The Presidents of the society since 1857 are named as follows: fra H. Butterfield, 1857; Harlehigh Carter, 1858; George W Phillips, 1859 and 1860; Loren Andrus, 1861: Harvey Mellen, 1862 and 1863: Charles C. Leech, 1864: Charles Andrews, 1865 and 1866: George W. Phillips, 1867 and 1868; Williard A. Wales, 1869; P. M. Bentley, 1872: Silas Colby; Erastus Day, 1875, and William W. Andrus, the present President.
The Secretaries of the society have been Charles F. Mallary, John Wright, Charles
474
HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.
W. Weston, C. W. Whitney, Daniel B. Briggs. Dwight N. Lowell. Henry W. Babcock and W. H. Acker.
THE UNION FARMERS' CLUB.
This organization sprang into being on the 27th day of October, A. D. 1870, at the call of a few intelligent agriculturists, who had in some way become impressed with the idea that an exchange of views and opinions, in regard to any occupation, is beneficial, and especially so in the occupation of farming. The charter members of this society, as well as those who have united later in its history, are men of energy and forethought, the bone and the sinew of the land. They are men whose hands are better acquainted perhaps with the neb of the scythe, hoe and plow than with the neb of the pen. Men who believe the earth was given to man as a bountiful mother, who gives freely and abundantly the support of her sons. Not a stingy and reluctant mistress who must be coaxed and driven into the giving of the scantiest subsistence, earned by sweat and toil and discouragement. They are men who regard practical results as better than brilliant theory, and who dignify the labor of the farm by participating in it. believing that
"He by plowing who would thrive. Himself must either hold or drive."
They are men, who, having labored faithfully and with persevering faith in the promise that the harvest should follow the seed time, so long as the world should stand, can afford to wait. Intelligent thoughts and energetic action have ever been fruitful of great results.
Upon the first organization, sixty members were enrolled, consisting of forty-six working members, seven honorary members and seven ladies. The residences of a portion of this membership have changed and others have dropped out for various reasons, one has been removed by death, and the ladies have left because we did not hold out to them suffi- cient inducement to remain. We are less in numbers than at the outset, but our practical working foree is larger than ever. Since the organization, the society has held forty meetings. We have been favored with six original addresses, and have considered upward of twenty topics on some of the branches of practical agriculture. In these debates, it has not been the purpose of the club to draw the lines of parliamentary usages too closely for fear it might cut off a certain freedom of expression so desirable in all social inter- Our debates have taken an extended range, sometimes bearing upon the subject in question, and sometimes bearing nowhere in particular. Whenever we have struck the flint. sparks of wit and eloquence have been seen to follow. We have received seeds from the department to the amount of about seven bushels, contained in upward of 500 packages. The department has been notified of the results of the tests to which the seeds have been put. Some of them have been of real valne, and many have been worthless in our climate and by our mole of cultivation. Prominent among the successful ones may be mentioned the "Schonen " oats and various varieties of Mangelwortzels.
course.
We have gathered a library of nearly 100 volumes, and have received from various
475
HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.
agricultural and horticultural societies and the department at Washington more than 300 volumes for the use of members.
Four plowing-matches have been held under the auspices of the society, at which commendable skill has been exhibited. At these matches $107 in cash have been won, and paid by the society, and other property, through its means, in the aggregate $120. But better than this, we have raised the standard of achievement in agriculture to a higher plane, by jogging the sensibility of our members, and setting them in a train of original thinking. Our influence has been felt in the community. Crooked furrows have grown straight, ends and corners have been brought to a neater finish, business has been rendered more systematic through our plan of statistics, which requires each member to know what he has accomplished upon his farm. This much for the past.
At present, we are in a prosperous condition, with a strong working membership and money in the treasury. We have gained in experience and influence, and stand high in reputation with the public. We are recognized and aided by agricultural and other kin- dred associations throughout the State and at the national capital. The duties of the fut- ure lie before us. Let progress and improvement be our motto. Profiting by the experience of the past, let us act wisely in the future.
George W. Phillips is the President; George W. Phillips, Jr., Secretary, and John H. Wilson, Treasurer.
THE GRANGE.
As we look at the order to-day, we find it has yielded nothing to the drones. It has disappointed those whose chief idea was that it would break down middle- men and be a money making institution. But it has, in numberless instances, more than fulfilled the expectations of its best friends. There are fewer gran- gers to-day, but they are better ones. There are thousands of farmers now in the order who have learned to speak in public, to preside at public meetings, and to think and to reason as they never did before. There are many who are readers and thinkers, and who are becoming leaders and educators through the influence of the order. A regular plan of work has been laid out and questions of farm management and home comfort are regu- larly discussed in their meetings. More agricultural papers are read, and, in many neigh- borhoods, libraries are established and lecture courses sustained by the order. We speak that of which we have personal knowledge, in affirming that in many neighborhoods the Grange has accomplished wonders. It has softened political asperities by bringing those of opposite parties together; it has cultivated the social nature, educated the young in music, and, to a large extent, in literature. Hundreds of Grange halls have been built and furnished, and, as the object of the order has been shown to be the education of the farmer, rather than war on other callings, the public have come to respect it.
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