48 THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY, ' 



EXTRACT FROM LETTER PUBLISHED IN ROSCOMMON HERALD, FEB. 13, 1908. 



"^ It is true that the Michigan Central Park Company purchased largely 

 from the State the forfeited lands. They accepted the price and condi- 

 tions and carried out their obligations in every case. Today we will 

 buy all of the land of the same kind and pay $5.00 to $10.00 per acre. * 

 * * It is true that the Michigan Central Park Company are selling 

 these lands very cheap to settle the country, and in so doing make a 

 profit. * « * There has been more land sold in Roscommon and 

 Crawford counties in the past seven years to active farmers than in all 

 of the rest of the State together. About 40,000 people bought lands and 

 lots around Higgins Lake. * * * We do not think there is an acre 

 of State land for sale in Roscommon or Crawford counties today. If 

 there is, the Michigan Central Park Co. would be willing to pay $5.00 

 to $10.00 for the same, and more if they are worth it. * * * 



Michigan Central Park Co. 



To All who it may Concern. 



I sell the same kind of lands these farms are made of for $10.00 per 

 acre; terms i?4 down and the balance in equal annual payments with 

 interest at 6 per cent, per annum; 10 per cent, discount for cash. 



We have a glorious climate, the best water on earth and easy cleared 

 land which produces as much money per acre as any in the United 

 States or Canada. Come and be one of us. 



Wm. F. Johnston, 

 Roscommon, Mich. 



EXTRACT FROM LETTER PUBLISHED IN ROSCOMMON HERALD, FEB. 13, 1908, BY 

 W. F. JOHNSTON, OF ROSCOMMON, SECY OF ROSCOMMON BUSI- 

 NESS MEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



We, in northern Michigan, were not afraid to have the appraisal at 

 five dollfirs, we knew it was worth it and would sell for it. In fact, the 

 greatest handicap to our settlement and development and one of the 

 hardest obstacles we, had to overcome was the fact that the State itself 

 put such a low value on its lands, and that paid servants of the State 

 were continually putting themselves out to tell and advertise what 

 a poor piece of property it had on its hands. The property seems to 

 have sold readily enough, once it "got in the hands of private owners. 

 In this article I am not defending the business methods of any Chicago 

 syndicate if they are wrong. It may be true that a certain number of 

 clerks, stenographers, etc., have made investments in property which will 

 never be profitable in their hands. Those things occur even in Grand 

 Rapids and Chicago, but again I say it is not the fault of the property. 

 The same clerks, stenographers, etc., would have less chance of making 

 a success of farming were they to purchase land in Kent countv than in 

 Roscommon or Crawford counties, and still it would not be the fault 

 of the land. There are other companies and individuals who have bought 

 State lands and are selling it, not to clerks and stenographers, but to 

 good, solid, substantial farmers from Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, who 

 are coming in and settling our counties. 



