Feet. 



1872 315,000,000 



1873 376,0:50,0:37 



1874 ^49, 9:36, 412 



1875 315,6;te,418 



1876. 2(--2,r)97,-265 



1877 315,991,775 



Total (14 years) 3,416,066,021 



524 LUMBER RESOURCES OF MICHIGAN. 



and Saginaw Railroad touclies the extreme headwaters of this river in Ropconimon 

 County. The Muskegon of Lake Michigan, like the Saginaw of Lake Huron, is one of 

 the oldest and most extensive pine-producing districts of the State The Lower 

 Muskegon waters have been largely drained for many years of the timber upon their 

 waters ; bnt the extent of the river and its numerous tributaries aUbrd a iiold for con- 

 tinued large operations in the future. The stream has been cleared to its source, ia 

 Houghton Lake, and timber is now being taken from its banks. 



The Muskegon Booming Comimny was organized in February, 18G4, and 

 was cbartered by ths legislature in the following mouth. The capital 

 at first $40,000, 'had been increased in 1872 to $200,000. Their dividend 

 in 1877 is said to have been 20 per cent. The amount of logs delivered 

 annually by this boom is shown by the following table, in which the 

 quantities are given in feet : 



Feet. 



1864 96,045,814 



1865 108,r^05,700 



1866 157,468,300 



1867 288,502,200 



1868 213,692,600 



1869 267,789,900 



1870 198,802,600 



1871 250,000,000 



10. The Grand Biver District.— Th^n limited territory embraces some of the choicest of 

 the white pine of the State, which has within a few years appreciat<-d in value, prob- 

 ably much more rapidly than any other timber in the peninsula. Thi^ fact is easily 

 accounted for when it is known that the supply for the Grand River lumber trade is 

 limited to the pine of Montcalm County. 



THE UPPER PENINSULA. 



11. That region bordering Lake Michigan, extending from Little Bay de Noquette to 

 the river Saint Mary's, and taking the streams which flow into Lake Michigan. So 

 far as accessibility is concerned, thi-" region should be classed with the Lower Penin- 

 Bula, as it is tributary to Lake Michigan. There are here extensive and valnable tracts 

 of timber whi h have to some extent been opened. The Monestique is a large stream 

 with numerous tributaries, all of which are bordered by pine timber of various quali- 

 ties, with much of the higher grades. The Miladcia River, the Pine and the Carj), and 

 some points on the shore, are also outlets from the i)iue districts which are attracting 

 the attention of lumbermen. 



12. That district extending from Saint Mary's River to Grand Island, and bordering Lake 

 Superior. — The pine of this region is of excellent quality, and has attracted the atten- 

 tion of long-timber men. It is well watered by streams with good floating capacity 

 for logs, an(i is an important lumber district. 



13. The Menominee district, embracing also the waters of Little Bay de Noquette, the 

 Ford and Escambia and Whitetish Rivers. This region is of course tributary to Lake 

 Michigan, and its water facilities are nut surpassed iu the State. A very large body of 

 pioe is here found, which, more than any other locality, perhaps, is situated so as to 

 be controlled by the owners of the timber. The Menonnuee is a well-known lumber 

 stream, and yet its upper waters are beyond the reach of present lumber operations. 

 The timber may be preserved with little danger of outside interference. The territory 

 drained by this stream extends into both States, and a large territory in Wisconsin 

 will be lumbered into the Menominee, which is the boundary between the two States. 



14. The Lake Superior district, covering a large district on the south shore of that 

 lake, and embracing the Sturgeon Rivir, of Portage Lake, the Ontonagon, Pre^que 

 Isle, Black, and Montreal Rivers, the latter being the State boundary, and embracing 

 districts of timber iu both States. TLere is a considera^ble amount of valuable white 

 pine in all this territory, which is tributary to Lake Superior, with the present natural 

 market at Duluth. 



A further account of the lumber and timber resources of this State 

 will be given under the general article entitled "Lumber interests or the 

 Northwest." 



Census statistics of Michigan. 



A census is taken in this State once in ten years. The following tables 

 give the results of three of these official returns, so far as they embrace 



