USA > Michigan > History of Michigan, civil and topographical, in a compendious form; with a view of the surrounding lakes > Part 26
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The County of St. Clair lies in its eastern line upon the River St. Clair and Lake Huron. The face of this county is level, although the eastern and southern parts are generally undulating, heavily timbered and fertile. The northern and western parts of the county are of a comparatively light and sandy soil, interspersed with swamps, lowlands, and groves of tamerack. Large tracts of pine timber abound here, some- times intermingled with spruce and white cedar. Some of the most extensive saw-mills in the territory are found here ; and a large a quantity of boards are exported from this county. It is watered by Black, Belle, and Pine Rivers ; and the manufactured timber can be exported by water from this county to numerous points upon the lakes. Palmer, a thriv-
285
THE COUNTIES OF MICHIGAN.
ing village, founded by an enterprising gentleman of that name, is the county-seat. It stands upon the banks of the River St. Clair, and is fast increasing in population. The towns in this county are, China, containing a population of 603; Clay, 394; Clyde, 339 ; Columbus, 85 ; Cottrelville, 520; Ira, 202; Lexington, 205 ; Port-Huron, 824 ; St. Clair, 501; and the aggregate amount is 3673.
The County of Lenawee abounds, in its northern part, with oak openings, burr-oak plains, and prairies ; and its southern part is heavily timbered land. The county-seat is Tecumseh, a beautiful village, situated upon a rolling country upon the north branch of the River Raisin, which, with its tributaries, waters the eastern section. The towns are, Blissfield, contain- ing a population of 559; Cambridge, 523; Dover, 680; Fairfield, 203; Franklin, 989 ; Hudson, Lenawee, 1151 ; Logan, 1962; Mason, 1,111 ; Medina, 420; Ogden, 198; Palmyra, 898 ; Raisin, 1076 ; Rollin, 508 ; Rome, S26 ; Se- neca, 431 ; Tecumseh, 2464; Woodstock, 541. Total, 14,540.
The County of Hillsdale consists, in the northern part, of oak-openings of a good quality ; but the southern is heavily timbered with sugar-maple, white-wood, beech, and black- walnut. The St. Joseph's of Lake Michigan, the St. Joseph's of Maumee, and the Grand River, all head in this county, and variegate it in a beautiful manner. Indeed, the whole county is well supplied with water. The principal towns are, Adams, with a population of 279; Allen, 353; La Fayette, 685 ; Florida, 156 ; Litchfield, 314; Moscow, 496 ; Pittsford, 550; Reading, 277 ; Scipio, 469 ; Somerset, 441 ; Wheatland, 729. Total, 4729.
The County of Branch. The southern part of this county is heavily wooded with black-walnut, white-wood, and lynn. The north-eastern part of this county contains a number of ancient forts. It abounds also with oak-openings, occasion- ally broken by prairies. The towns are, Batavia, containing a population of 357 ; Bronson, 635 ; Coldwater, 960 ; Eliza- beth, 177 ; Gerard, 448; Gilead, 184; Ovid, 209; Quincy, 569 ; Sherwood, 217; Union, 260. Total, 4016.
-
286
HISTORY OF MICHIGAN.
The County of St. Joseph is of remarkable fertility, and beautiful in the face of its scenery. The face of the country is rolling in a moderate degree, consisting of oak-openings, burr-oak plains, and prairies ; the principal of which are Sturges, Nottawa Sepee, and White Pigeon. The climate is mild, and the land is watered by the purest streams. The ordinary mode of cultivating these prairies is to plough up the soil and drop in the corn, which is covered by the next furrow. From thirty to fifty bushels of corn are thus produced by the acre. The St. Joseph, with its transparent and rapid current, floats through this county along banks of heavy forests, burr-oak groves, and fertile prairies; furnishing abundant water-power. Hog Creek, Pigeon, Portage, and Crooked Rivers are its branches ; and afford great hydraulic power, which is much improved. The towns are, Bucks, with a population of 782; Colon, 368; Constantine, 842; Florence, 440; Flowerfield, 406 ; Leonidas, 374 ; Mottville, 497; Nottawa, 713; Sherman, 1043; White Pigeon, 872. Total, 6337.
The County of Cass is somewhat similar to that of St. Jo- seph, yet more level, and bearing a growth of oak, ash, elm, ma- ple, cherry, hickory, black and white walnut; besides other kinds. The country is free from undergrowth, and one may ride through a greater part of the county with a coach and six ; although a wide belt of heavily timbered land runs along the banks of the Dowagiake River. This county abounds with several beautiful prairies. Among these the principal are Four-mile, Beardsley's, Townsend's, McKenny's, La Grange, Pokagon and Young's ; and numerous others of more limited extent. Lakes of the purest water are scattered over this county ; and the streams, which are transparent and rapid, run over beds of limestone or glittering sands, and, as well as the lakes, abound with fish. The county-seat is Cassopolis. Edwardsburgh, situated upon a beautiful and sloping tract, commandsa view of Beardsley's Prairie, of four miles in extent, and the calm sur- face of a crystal sheet of water called " Pleasant Lake." In this lake you can see the bottom, where the water is fifteen feet deep. 'The towns are, Calvin, with a population of 201;
287
THE COUNTIES OF MICHIGAN.
Howard, 366; Jefferson, 395 ; La Grange, 699 ; Mason, 224 ; Ontwa, 1012; Penn, 693; Pohagon, 506; Porter, 442 ; Silver Creek, 108; Volinia, 427 ; Wayne, 223. Total, 5296.
The County of Calhoun is well watered by the Kalama- zoo and St. Joseph Rivers, and their branches. The first of these rivers is navigable for boats from Lake Michigan to its forks near the county-line of Jackson, and affords a great quantity of water-power. The county of Calhoun abounds with the richest tracts of burr-oak groves, springing from a mellow soil, while the south-west furnishes a portion of pine timber. The county-seat is Marshall, a city which exhibits a moral, intelligent, and enterprising population. A church has recently been erected here, which would rival in taste the finest forms of eastern architecture ; and manufacturing establishments have been erected upon the clear waters of the Kalamazoo, whose gentle current flows only to administer delight, and spread its bounties to the wants of man. The towns are, Albion, with a population of 773; Athens, 288; Burlington, 178 ; Convis, 170 ; Eckford, 530 ; Homer, 1019 ; Marengo, 737; Marshall, 1801 ; Milton, 1632; Sheridan, 353; Tehonsha, 278. Total, 7960.
The County of Jackson, in the western part is undulating, and bears a growth of burr-oaks and white-oak openings, in- termingled with prairies, well-watered by limpid springs ; while the northern-eastern part is heavily timbered, and bro- ken by marshes and small lakes. The soil, however, is fer- tile, and particularly adapted to meadow. The Grand River flows through this county, and is navigable in small boats and canoes to Lake Michigan. The county-seat is Jacksonburgh, a handsome village, situated in a rolling coun- try, and containing several thriving manufacturing establish- ments. The towns are, Concord, East Portage, Grass Lake, Hanover, Jackson, Leoni, Liberty, Napoleon, Parma, Rives, Sandstone, Spring Arbor, and West Portage ; the whole con- taining a population of 8702.
The County of Berrien is comprised, in a great measure, of heavily timbered land, watered by small creeks; and also
288
HISTORY OF MICHIGAN.
of barrens, a light although not unproductive soil, covered with a stunted growth of white and black oak. The soil is a loose and black sand of great richness, bearing a growth of oak, poplar, ash, lynn, beech, hickory, elm, and maple. The western bounds of this county are washed by Lake Michigan ; and the St. Joseph River with its branches, Dowagiake and Pawpaw Rivers, here flow into that lake at St. Joseph, a thriving village, which has been founded at the junction of the River St. Joseph and Lake Michigan. The county-seat is Berrien. Niles is also a handsome village, which is situated above the junction of the Dowagiake and the St. Joseph. The towns are, Bainbridge, containing a population of 99; Berrien, 496 ; Bertrand, 1262; Buchanan, 172 ; New Buffa- lo, 199; Niles, 1497; Oronoko, 248; Royalton, 175; St. Joseph, 596; Weesaw, 116. Total, 4863.
The County of Van Buren contains a great proportion of heavily timbered land, and is watered by the Pawpaw River and the south branch of the Black River. It is watered by numerous lakes, and broken by a number of prairies. The towns are, Antwerp, containing a population of 232 ; Clinch, 108; Covington, 183; Decatur, 224; La Fayette, 248; Lawrence, 202 ; South Haven, 65. Total, 1262.
The County of Kalamazoo is generally undulating or rolling, comprised of burr-oak openings intermingled with rich dry prairies and heavily timbered land. The soil is generally either a black sand or a rich loam, and in the south-eastern corner there is a large tract wooded with sugar- maple. This county also has a number of prairies, the prin- cipal of which are Gull Prairie and Prairie Ronde. Gull Prairie is near a beautiful and clear lake of the same name, ahout four miles long, and abounding with fish. Near this prairie there is a creek, which affords uncommon hydraulic advantages. Prairie Ronde is in the south-western part of the county, is four miles wide, surrounded with woodland ; and contains near its centre, a grove of timber, consisting of maple, black-walnut, and hickory, of about a mile in diameter. The Kalamazoo winds its grateful stream through the north- eastern part of this county. The county-seat is Bronson, a
289
THE COUNTIES OF MICHIGAN.
small but handsome village, situated upon that river. The towns are Brady, containing a population of 1292 ; Comstock, 1383; Cooper, 386; Kalamazoo, 1373; Pavilion, 548; Prairie Ronde, 665 ; Richland, 720. Total, 6367.
The County of Washtenaw, in the face of the scenery, is gently rolling, and the soil is composed of a black sand, loam, or elay. Alternated by prairies, oak openings, and tracts of gloomy forest, it spreads out a scene of the greatest variety to the traveller. The red and the black oak, the beech, the wal- nut, white wood, the bass, elm, butternut, and maple, consti- tute its forest trees, together with other kinds that grow in this region. The county is watered by the River Huron of Lake Erie, which runs through its centre, and is navigable for boats and rafts to the lake ; the head waters of the Shiawassee run through the north. The rivers Raisin and Saline water the southern part of the county. Ann Arbor is the county-seat, a village surrounding a green plain, containing many handsome stores, dwelling-houses, and manufacturing establishments. This place is established as the site of the University of Michi- gan. Ypsilanti is another thriving village, which is situated upon the River Huron ; it contains several mills. Dexter is another pleasant village on the same stream, containing seve- ral manufacturing establishments. This place was founded by the enterprise of Samuel Dexter, the son of the distinguished lawyer of Boston. The towns in this county are Ann Arbor, containing a population of 2944 ; Augusta, 559 ; Bridgewater, 923; Dexter, 596; Freedom, 795; Lima, S95 ; Lodi, 1063; Lyndon, 361; Manchester, 805 ; Northfield, 793 ; Pitt, 1208 ; Salem, 1354 ; Saline, 1130; Scio, 1442; Sharon, 782; Su- perior, 1378; Sylvan, 480; York, 1196; Ypsilanti, 2280 ; Webster, 832. Total, 21,817.
The County of Oakland, in the south-eastern part, consists of timbered land, wooded with black and white walnut, white, red, and black oak, with some plains interpersed with marsh- es. Oak openings and timbered land constitute the township of Bloomfield. Pontiac consists of oak openings, and Oak- Jand is timbered, and possesses a rich soil. The north part has plains and prairies of a good quality. 37 The county is
290
HISTORY OF MICHIGAN.
studded with the clearest lakes. The Clinton, the Huron, and the Rouge, interlocking in the different parts, extend their branches throughout its different parts, and fertilize its timber- ed forests and sloping plains. Pontiac and Oakland are water- ed by the Clinton River, Point, and Stony Creek, possessing great hydraulic advantages. This county possesses a great amount of water power considering its level surface. The towns are, Addison, which contains a population of 343 ; Avon, 1289 ; Bloomfield, 1485 ; Brandon, 263; Commerce, 747 ; Farmington, 1724; Groveland, 664; Highland, 440 ; Independence, 668; Lyon, 1051; Milford, 667 ; Novi, 1335 ; Oakland, 803 ; Orion, 593 ; Oxford, 384; Pontiac, 1700; Rose, 202; Royal Oak, 825 ; Southfield, 956 ; Spring- field, 403 ; Troy, 1439; Waterford, 828; West Bloomfield, 1004 ; White Lake, 363. Total, 20,176.
The County of Livingston is heavily timbered, and some- what broken by lakes. It comprises the town of Byron, con- taining a population of 317 ; Deerfield, 369; Genoa, 361 ; Green Oak, 1435 ; Hamburg, 490 ; Hartland, 404 ; Howell, 442; Marion, 202; Putnam, 367; Unadilla, 642; Total, 5029.
The County of Ingham is also heavily timbered, and but sparsely populated. It is watered by the Grand River. The towns are, Aurelius, Ingham, and Stockbridge, containing a population of 822.
The County of Eaton is also heavily timbered, and is wa- tered by the Thorn Apple and the Grand River. It contains the towns of Bellevue, which has a population of 438; Ea- ton, 330; Vermontville, 145. Total, 913.
The County of Barry is studded with numerous lakes, and is watered by the Thorn Apple, and has a popula- tion of 512, all in the town of Barry.
The County of Allegan is a beautiful tract of land, studd- ed with lakes and prairies, and watered by the Kalamazoo River. The principal town is Allegan, on that stream, which contains several manufacturing establishments. The towns are, Allegan, containing a population of 621; Newark, 190; Otsego, 341 ; and Plainfield, 317. Total, 1469.
291
TIIE COUNTIES OF MICHIGAN.
The County of La Peer is watered by the Flint River. It contains the towns of Atlas, Bristol, Hadley, La Peer, Lo- mond, and Beckfield ; which comprise an aggregate popula- tion of 2,602.
The County of Genessee is watered by the Flint River. Its towns are, Argentine, with a population of 434; Flint, 1288 ; Grand Blanc, 691 ; Mundy, 234; Vienna, 107. To- tal, 2754.
The County of Shiawassee exhibits a rolling soil, cover- ed with oak openings and heavy groves of timber. The middle and south-eastern part are watered by the Shiawassee, a beautiful and meandering stream, which is navigable a great distance ; and the north-eastern part is fertilized by Swartz's Creek, the Flint, and Mistegayock rivers; and the south- west part by the head branches of the Grand and Looking- Glass rivers. This county contains the towns of Burns, Owasso, Shiawassee, and Vernon ; the aggregate population of which is 1184.
The County of Clinton is watered by the Maple and Looking-Glass Rivers, and contains the townships of Dewitt and Watertown. The aggregate population is 529.
The County of Ionia is comprised of heavily timbered land, broken by prairies and oak openings. The Grand Ri- ver flows through its whole length. The principal towns are, Ionia, with a population of 511 ; and Maple, 517 ; and the aggregate population of the county is 1028.
The County of Kent is watered by the Grand River and the Thorn Apple. A considerable portion of the soil is timber- ed land, sometimes broken by burr-oak plains, white oak open- ings, and prairies. The principal settlement is at the Grand Rapids, which is situated on a Rapids of a mile long. Here is a considerable village, with large saw-mills, surrounded by beautiful burr-oak groves and prairies. Gypsum abounds in large quantity upon Gypsum Creek ; and several salt springs are near this place. From the Grand Rapids to Granville, the country abounds in oak openings and extensive tracts of burr-oak groves. Granville is a place of considerable im- portance, and has several large saw mills. The towns are,
292
HISTORY OF MICHIGAN.
Kent, containing a population of 1660 ; and Byron, 362. To- tal, 2022.
The County of Saginaw is eminently favorable for agri- culture. It is watered by the Saginaw, a river navigable for sloops twenty miles to the village which bears the same name. The town of Saginaw has a population of 920; and the ag- gregate population is 920.
The County of Mackinaw is situated upon the northern section of the peninsula of Michigan, and is not favorable to agriculture. Holmes, in this county, contains a population of 664. Total population, 664.
The County of Chippewa is but little settled. The town of St. Marie contains the main part of the population. The aggregate population is 366.
From the spirit of speculation which has heretofore pre- vailed throughout the State, too little attention has been paid to agriculture. It is perceived, however, that the mere ex- change of titles to property and paper promises, has tended but little to develope the substantial resources of the soil ; and that here, as well as elsewhere, labor is the only true source of wealth. Accordingly it will be found that the en- ergies of the population, which have been diverted from tliat branch of industry to the purchase and sale of " paper cities," will be hereafter be employed in production. The subjoined Table, although probably not entirely accurate, has been re- turned to the office of the Secretary of State, and is the best census which we have for that year.
PRODUCTION OF MICHIGAN IN 1837.
Counties.
Grist Mills.
Saw Mills.
Card ma-
Cloth dressing
Distilleries.
Merchants.
wheat.
Bushels of
Bushels of rye.
corn.
Bushels of
Bushels of oats
Bushels of buck wheat.
Pounds of flax.
hemp.
Pounds of
Neat stock.
Horses.
Sheep.
Hogs.
Allegan
1
17
17
Barry
2
Berrien
5
26
1
3
58
26,101 27,612
40
60,941 34,236
28,849 44,145
1,153
995 591
2,950 . 2,761
927
5,728
Branch
4
10
20
1
32
105,012
66
52,476
69,993
3,419
14
6,094
1,209
882
6,784
Cass
5
19
1
2
19
54,173
640
90,338
80,389
1,515
100
3,455
1,207|
2,677
6,943
Chippewa
59
30
11
Clinton
2
3
3,305
1,715
3,955
22
415
25
39
179
Eaton
I
5
2
3,815
2,655
2,481
95
560
53
4
347
Hillsdale
1
15
14
42,661
160
28,524
32,640
3,322
512
2,971
403
325
4,049
Ingham
2
3
5
4,287
60
3,335
5,055
67
693
80
34
672
Jackson
5
21
17
162,599
10
63,191
93,058
3,012
2,702 865
400 14,493
971
889
16,465
Kalamazoo
3
21
2
34
103,787
1,060
80,964
197,807
2,059
5,920
1,449
1,221
8,469
Kent
2
15
10
2,620
6,534
20,787
899
234
680
La Peer
3
11
8
14,976
30
1,877
6,000
340
560
110
130
Lenawee
14
13
2
1
1
63
131,508
3,024
126,725
181,935
6,281
9,619
10,310 4,375|
421
2,505 369
16,527
Livingston
3
11|
9
40,335|
10
19,483
19,332|
2,478
100
530
30
17
406
Genessee
1
13
16
、
2,593
1,811
1,720
474
2,908
10
518
1,089 176
3,885
Calhoun
4
ITS PRODUCTION.
1
293
4,118
chines.
shops.
11
190
3
760 1,762
Ionia
1,157
294
PRODUCTION OF MICHIGAN IN 1837.
Countios.
Grist Mills.
Saw Mills.
chines.
Card ina- 5
Cloth dressing
Distilleries.
Merchants.
wheat.
Bushels of
Bushels of rye.
corn.
Bushels of
Bushels of oats
Bushels of buck wheat.
Pounds of flax.
hemp.
Pounds of
Neat stock.
Horses.
Sheep.
Hogs.
Mackinac
1
9
Macomb
6
25
2
1
20
85,028| 27,256
14,036 1,019
40,240/ 42,741
50,212 11,731 2,891
Oakland
17
40
8
6
3
38
Ottawa
3
10
Saginaw
1
5
5
2,288
4,650
1,220
360
643
150
29 547
Shiawassee
1
4
2
2,96 1
40
1,640
2,313
314
405
941
96
81
1,222
St. Clair
4
30
22
6,316
825
4,462
9,380
931
150
1,689
394
218
1,333
St. Joseph
8
13
2
27
Van Buren
Washtenaw
11
36
3
2
2
55
164,663
734
122,989
203,874 11,480
2,423
15,732
1,726
5,412
16,640
Wayne
5
27
5
1
244
Total production|
114
433
23
12
16
795 1,014,896 21,944| 791,427 1,116,910 64,022| 43,826. 524 89,610| 14,059 22,684| 109,096*
* For this census I am indebted to the Secretary of State, who permitted me toinspect the papers in his office. It is believed that the crop of wheat during the year 1838 will yield a surplus of more than one million of bushels for exportation.
HISTORY OF MICHIGAN.
72 1,555 1,220
5,365
25 8,286
Monroe
7
25
1
1
42
1,221
5,751
22
61,232 13,061 19,493
122 6,899 5,734
shops.
CHAPTER XVI.
The Population of Michigan-The particular character of the population -- Amount of Population in 1837-Character of the Indians -- Their number.
IT has been remarked that emigration to the west, from the different sections of the east, has generally been confined within their several parallels of latitude. By consequence, the mass of the population of Michigan is comprised of emi- grants from New England and New-York. New Jersey and Pennsylvania have each, it is true, contributed their quota ; and the merry plains of England, Ireland, and the German forests, have sent a portion of their population to this as well as the other States. The local character of the State, consti- tuted of these different elements, is now, therefore, not alto- gether formed. It is undergoing the process of amalgamation. The sober, careful, and straight-forward perseverance of the New England States is so mixed with the more daring enter- prise of New-York, as to give vast impulse to the character of the people, and momentum to the projects which necessa- rily belong to the rapid progress of a new country. One fact, however, is obvious,-the population of Michigan cx- hibits uncommon practical intelligence as well as enterprise. Removing from the eastern States, where the avennes of wealth and distinction are occupied, to a wider field, where they can vest their enterprise, it is clear that the energy which has led them to emigrate will induce a great degree of activity in a country where every thing is to be done, and comparatively few to do any thing. The people of the State, now amount- ing to more than one hundred and seventy-five thousand, collected in the cities along the frontier, and scattered through
296
HISTORY OF MICHIGAN.
the wilderness, in their log-houses, or along the banks of the streams in the new villages which are just springing up, or in the cottages of the habitans or old French peasantry, as merchants, manufacturers, farmers, mechanics, and profession- al men, employed in building villages, clearing woods, drain- ing marshes, establishing cities, and building roads, is com- pounded of New England, New-York, and foreign elements. The original white colonists are altogether comprised in the Canadian French peasantry, who were sent over when the country was under French jurisdiction, and they are, for the most part, engaged in agriculture.
The emigrants to Michigan find uncommon means and motives to exertion in this country. Forests are to be clear- ed, fields are to be cultivated, roads are to be made, streams are to be explored, deepened, and navigated ; cities to be built ; rail-roads and canals to be constructed ; and frames of civil policy to be organized. They are called upon, as founders of the country, to co-operate in effecting these works. The fact that there is no argument like necessity to stimulate a mau to great achievements, is felt in that energy of mind which has brought so many emigrants of this character into the State. They have found the field at the east occupied by men who have grown old in talent and influence ; and their own ambi- tion and indigence perhaps have inclined them to seek out fresher sources of aggrandizement in the broad and growing region of a new country. In such a state of things all class- es find ample scope for the exercise of their industry. $
It is manifest that no man would venture upon the hard- ships of a wilderness unless he was backed by considerable resolution and perseverance. The consequence is, that the State of Michigan is rapidly filling up with an active class of people from the east, who have left the Atlantic frontier to im- prove their fortunes, or perhaps from that restless and migrato- ry character which belongs to this country. Men of opulence stay at home. The men who are, from necessity as well as education, habituated to shoulder the burdens of life, are the emigrants to a country where these burdens are to be endur- ed. Wealth and honor, therefore, are the grand motives of
297
POPULATION.
emigration. Speculation and politics are the reigning spi- rits of the times, and they pervade all classes of the popula- tion. This results from the actual position of the State. It abounds with vast undeveloped resources ; and the tide of emigration, which is ever rushing into the State, is bearing upon its bosom new sources of wealth. Every farmer, who comes into the country with his family and household goods collected under the canvass covered wagon, drawn by the oxen which are to plough his soil; every artizan who is to build a house, a boat, or a mill ; and every settler who erects a log-house on the land or clears an acre for cultivation, tends to advance the solid value of property. Land, there- fore, is the staple article of exchange, whether it is denomi- nated farms or village lots. The habitudes of thought con- nected with the constantly advancing value of real property ; the custom of " dickering," makes almost every individual a speculator. One cannot, therefore, fail to be surprised at the accurate financial knowledge which seems to be disseminat- ed through all classes of society. Every body seems to know what every thing is worth, and what it will sell for. The consequences of the policy of the Bank of the United States are discussed in almost as enlightened a manner in the soli- tary log-cabin upon the shores of Lake Michigan as in the New-York Merchants' Exchange. There is a spirit in the progress of the country which doubtless results from its prox- imity to New-York, the facilities of communication, and the great amount of travel through all its parts by strangers from the different sections of the United States. Magnificent pro- jects are conceived, and even executed here, by men whose exertions, had they remained in the older States, would have been limited to the few paternal acres which their forefathers ploughed before them from immemorial ages.
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