651 



ago, and which bored the earth to only about half the proper distance, 

 gave quite satisfactory results ; results that argue strongly for the renewal 

 of efforts to fully test the matter. 



The times now are far more auspicious, and the means of marketing 

 the commodity and of readily supplying a large extent of territory will 

 soon be ample, and capital must seek investment in that which holds 

 out 60 stronof inducements of rich rewards. 



The last census returns gave the amount of lumber manufactured in 

 the county at 13,650,000 feet. Since then the increase has been rap- 

 id. The water-power of the Rouge and its tributaries has, alone, within 

 the past year turned out an amount almost equal to this, and it is within 

 the bounds of truth to say that not less than 20,000,000 feet of lumber 

 have been manufactured within the county for 1855, and this amount 

 does not include the amount of lath, picket, sash stuff and shingles 

 manufactured. Thus it will be seen that the lumber interests of our 

 county is no small means of wealth. It affords a good home market 

 for all our coarse products, at prices higher than are obtained in other 

 portions of the State more favored, perhaps, in other respects. Thus it 

 is very rarely our corn brings us less than five shillings a bushel, and oats 

 four shillings. The minimum price of marsh hay is $5 and 86 a ton. 

 Timothy and clover, $10 and ^12. Potatoes, usually three shillings. 

 Butter, except in midsummer, commands from nineteen to twenty- 

 five cents, and other things in proportion. 



A word on our crops for 1855 may not be out of place. Although 

 in the main we had an unusually wot season, yet, particularly at harvest 

 time, we did not suffer from the drenching rains that visited the southern 

 portion of our State, and regions elsewhere. Our harvest was rather 

 catching, but our wheat was secured in good condition. The crop was 

 seriously affected by the ravages of the Hessian fly both in the spring 

 and autumn previous. It is rather noticeable that in the timbered por- 

 tions of our county, the fly was scarcely felt, in some towns not at 

 all, while on opening lands it ravaged with more or less severity, not 

 showing much difference, so far as ray own observations extended, be- 

 tween light and heavy soils. The aggregate of the crop was full up 

 to, if not exceeding an average. In the timbered portions of the 

 eounty the crop was an unusually heavy one. Hay was much heaner 

 than usual. This was particularly the case with the second crop of 



