STATE FAIR. 1874. 405 



all this slow progress, these facts have been fairly and firmly fixed. The last 

 fonr years have shown more actual business in the way of making farms, than 

 all the previous years from 1850 to 1870, and at the same ratio the value of 

 actual product of the valley, from all sources, by means of the addition from 

 this specialty, will be doubled within the next five years. 



"The soil throughout all that range of counties drained by Saginaw river 

 and its tributaries, is as a rule excellent for farming purposes, and among some 

 of the pine tracts, as is the case on the Cass, the Flint, the Tittabawassee, 

 Chippewa and other streams, is found some of the most productive lands in the 

 district. 



"As lauds are cleared and opened to the light and heat of the sun, they im- 

 prove every year, and in the broader clearings untimely frosts are so marked 

 an exception to the general rule, that there is no further fear of that dread 

 bug-bear. 



" The certainty of an eager market for all classes of products is an inducement 

 that encourages those already in the business to work all available territory, 

 and for farmers from abroad seeking a favorable point to commence business 

 in this line, to locate where no difficulties in the way of transportation or slack 

 demand are liable to prevent a regularly remunerative return with each recur- 

 ing year. 



"As showing the rate of progress for ten years, we give the following com- 

 parative statement in regard to Saginaw county: 



1860. 



Acres improved land _ 18,048 



Value of crops.- $165,380 



1870. 



Acres improved - 33,385 



Value of crops $690,382 



" The increase in acres of improved land, and in the value of crops since 

 1870, has been at least 100 per cent; and when we consider that the land rated 

 as improved in 1860 was in many instances only slashed, as the product shows, 

 the ratio is certainly sufficiently encouraging. The value of the dairy prod- 

 uct and increase in horses, cattle and other stock, is not given in this state- 

 ment. A fair estimate, therefore, of the entire prospective farm product of 

 Saginaw county for 1874, is not less than $2,000,000. We give further the 

 following statement in regard to the other valley counties, as shown by the 

 census of 1870, premising with the explanation that in 18G0 there were no 

 farm improvements to speak of in Alpena, Alcona, Iosco or Cheboygan, and 

 but few in other counties save Gratiot and Tuscola, whereof we have no data: 



Acres improved. Value product. 



Bay .- 7,645 $181,406 



Alpena 502 12,758 



Alcona-- 319 7,245 



Gratiot. 46,879 782,911 



Iosco 647 10,203 



Midland.- 5,252 123,205 



Cheboygan 1,423 37.714 



Tuscola 48,400 833,920 



Isabella 15,077 265,050 



