THE DESTINY OF NORTHEEN MICHIGAN. 5& 



the space may be reclaimed for agricultural purposes, without material injury 

 to the pine timber. 



THE DAIRY INTEREST. 



Another interest which this country is capable of fostering and rendering 

 of great value is that of the dairy, which has proved so successful in the Mo- 

 hawk Valley in New York. Our latitude is about the same as theirs, — our 

 winters are no more severe. Our soil is equally productive, large areas are 

 natural grass lands, particularly in the Saginaw Valley, and I have no doubt 

 the near future will witness the building up of large interests in tliis direction. 

 Butter and cheese comprise so much value in small compass as to make the 

 question of transportation comparatively an easy one, and with such a foreiga 

 demand as seems to be almost unlimited, no reason exists why this interest 

 should not become a prominent one. 



The census of 1870 shows a production of butter in the entire State for one 

 year of 24,300,139 pounds, while of cheese there were but 644,914 pounds, there 

 being but thirty cheese factories in the State. The future will change all thisj 

 while we shall not produce less butter we shall have more cheese. To shovr 

 the progress cheese factories and cheese manufacturers have been making in 

 the United States, let me state the fact that, for the year from July 1st to June 

 30th, 1859-60, there was exported from all ports in the United States to all 

 foreign countries 15,515,799 pounds of cheese ; for the year 1869-70, 57,296,3::i3 

 pounds, and for the eleven months of the year 1873-74, 75,838,443 pounds. 

 With a natural capacity unsurpassed in that regard, Michigan cannot long re- 

 main behind in this manufacture, and I shall be greatly surprised if the census 

 reports of 1880 do not show a largely increased production from the dairy. 



SOME ADVANTAGES OF THE STATE. 



It was long ago asserted, and I am not aware that the truth of the assertion 

 has ever been questioned, that the wealth of a State consists in its agriculture, 

 manufactures and commerce. Considered with reference to either of these, 

 there is no State possessing advantages superior to our own. 



Aside from our long lake coast line and from our navigable rivers, the con- 

 struction of railroads has added largely to our commercial facilities. In 1854 

 Michigan had 444 miles of railroad; in 1864, 898 miles; in 1874, 3,253 miles. 



While that portion which I am speaking of as Northern Michigan had ten 

 years since not to exceed fifteen miles, it now has 590 miles of railroad. We 

 have every reason to believe, then, that the development of Northern Michigan 

 in each of the three sources of wealth — agriculture, manufactures and com- 

 merce — will be increased in the future in a largely increased ratio over the 

 past; in fact, this portion of the State is just ready to begin the work of im- 

 provement in earnest, and we may safely look for results accordingly. The 

 older States every year send more and more of their hardy young men into 

 this undeveloped country to seek their fortunes. They can find no better 

 place. We welcome them to the labors and the profits of the work. There is 

 enough to do. All that is required is intelligent labor to work out this latent 

 wealth into productive capital. The western prairies, where the extremes of 

 temperature, the fierce wintry blasts, unbroken by timber belts, and the recent 

 terrible grasshopper scourge have proved so disastrous, are not considered so 

 desirable as formerly. The result will be that Northern Michigan will be vis- 

 ited, its capabilities inquired into, and, being known and understood, we wish 

 no further assurance. 



