DEVELOPMENT OF MICHIGAN WASTE LANDS 435 



in the State and in consultation^ and if feasible in 

 cooperation, with the proper federal agencies." ^ 



As compared with such highly developed agricul- 

 tural states as Iowa and Illinois, Michigan possesses 

 very large tracts of lands not yielding any products 

 of economic importance. Such lands have been esti- 

 mated to amount to ten million acres. To derive 

 some sort of output of economic value from these 

 unproductive areas is in part the purpose of three 

 development bureaus that have been established, two 

 in the southern peninsula and one in the northern. 



The Northeastern Michigan Development Bureau 

 was incorporated as an association "not for pecuniary 

 profit," January 31, 1910, and comprised within its 

 interest the counties of Alpena, Alcona, Arenac, Bay, 

 Cheboygan, Crawford, Clare, Gladwin, Iosco, Mont- 

 morency, Midland, Ogemaw, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque 

 Isle, Eoscommon, and Saginaw. The secretary's of- 

 fice is at Bay City. The Western Michigan Develop- 

 ment Bureau operates in a group of twenty counties 

 in the western and northwestern section of the Lower 

 Peninsula, as far south as Ottawa and Kent counties, 

 and as far north as Emmet County, while extension 

 to the Indiana line in 1921 was planned. Its Articles 

 of Association, as amended May 1, 1912, set forth 

 that the bureau is organized for the purpose of "the 

 encouragement and advancement of agriculture, 

 manufactures and the mechanic arts" in its territory. 

 The secretary's office is at Grand Eapids. All the 

 territory within the Upper Peninsula falls within 



^Ibid., 2, 



