512 SAGINAW LUMBER DISTRICT. 



means have been iwged, but without result.^ The extraordinary develop- 

 ment of the lumber trade of Michigan within the last twenty years 

 gives great importance to this question, and we have endeavored to 

 obtain as full and reliable information upon the subject as could be 

 obtained. The laws for encouragement of tree-planting in this State 

 are given on page 208 of this report. 



Lumber Region of Michigan. 



The pine region of Michigan has no distinct boundaries, being gen- 

 erally more or less mixed with deciduous kinds of timber.^ It is mostly 

 included between the Detroit and Milwaukee Railroad on the south and 

 a line crossing the State from Alpina to Great Traverse Bay on the north. 

 The southern and northern parts of the State were timbered chiefly 

 with hard woods, and in the southern part were i)rairies of moderate 

 extent and considerable tracts of " openings," or thinly timbered tracts, 

 probably brought to this condition by annual running fires. 



Saginaw Lumber District. 



The Saginaw River is formed by the union of the Cass from the east, 

 the Flint and Shiawassee from the south, and the Tittabawassee from 

 the northwest, and from the confluence of these tributaries is about 25 

 miles in length.^ Excepting an obstruction at Carrollton Bar, the Sag- 

 inaw is navigable by vessels and steamers to Saginaw City, about 18 

 miles from the Bay, and at this point and below are located the lumber 

 and salt manufactories, that have within the last 20 years given much 

 prominence to this district. 



iJu a letter addressed by Gov. Johu A. Buglcy to the citizens of Michigan, dated 

 Febrnary 22, lr76, bis Excellency strongly recommended tree-planting as a commemo- 

 ration of the centennial year, and suggested the 15th day of April as proper for this 

 occaKJon. Although this measure was more particularly designed as a patriotic com- 

 memoration of a great eve- t in our national history, the language of the address im- 

 plied a full appreciation of the great public importance of tree-planting by every owner 

 of laud and au earnest desire for its general practice. 



2 The Catalogue of Products of Michigan in the Centennial Exhibition contains the 

 record of many trees of exceptionally large size. In a lot of pine containiug 85 logs, 

 the amount scaled was 107,455 feet, or au average of 1,264 feet, and the largest 2,025 

 feet. Several scaled 1,700 feet and over, and 200 logs averaged 900 feet each. They 

 were mostly "cork-pine," a variety of the Pinus strobus, growing with hard timber ou 

 dry but rich soil, and with a very soft, nice wood. 



A black walnut is mentioned as sold for $1,000, and another at |1,200. The owner 

 of a " blister" walnut refused au offer of $2,000. Among these products at the exhi- 

 bition was a specimen of natural grafting that attracted much attention. It consisted 

 of two beech trees that grew iu Oakland County, united by a branch at twenty-five 

 feet above the ground. 



3 Cass B'tver is about 125 miles long, and drains the counties of Saginaw, Genesee, 

 Tuscola, Huron, and Sanilac. 



Flint River, 103 miles ; drains the counties of Oakland, Lapeer, Genesee, and Saginaw. 



Sliinivassee River, 95 miles ; drains the counties of Livingston, Genesee, Shiawassee, 

 and Saginaw. 



Bad River, 54 miles ; drains the counties of Gratiot aiul Sasinaw. 



Tittabawassee River, 117 miles; drains the counties of Midland, Gladwin, Ogemaw, 

 Roscommon, Saginaw, and Clare. 



Chippeiva River, 90 milen; drains the counties of Isabella, Mecosta, Osceola, Clare, 

 and Midland. 



Pine River, 120 miles; drains the counties of Midland, Gratiot, Montcalm, Isabella, 

 and Mecosta. 



Salt River, 50 miles ; drains the counties of Midland and Isabella. 



Tobacco Rivir, 37 miles ; drains the counties of Clare, Gladwin, Midland, and Isabella. 



Cedar River, 48 miles ; drains the counties of Gladwin and Clare. 



Total 864 miles available for floating and draining au area of about 3,500,000 acres. 



