Class. 
 Book. 
 
 COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT 
 
/ 
 
 niGHIGAN: 
 
 ITS 
 
 £k 
 
 Geography, History, RnsoaROES 
 
 AND 
 
 GiviL Government. 
 
MICHIGAN: 
 
 GEOGRAPHY, HISTORY. 
 RESOURCES 
 
 GIl/IL GOUERMMENT. 
 
 By F'. M.r'KENDHLL. 
 
 GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. 
 EATON. LYON & ALLEN PRINTING CO. 
 

 Copyright. 1890, 
 By F. M. KENDALL. 
 
PREFAGE. 
 
 For many years the course in Geography in the Public 
 Schools in Grand Rapids has been supplemented, in the 
 Eighth Grade, by a special study of our own state ; and a 
 pamphlet prepared by the Commissioner of Immigration in 
 1881, entitled, " Michigan and Its Resources," was used for 
 this purpose. 
 
 After the distribution of the third edition, in 1884, the 
 State ceased to publish the pamphlet, and, in time, it became 
 necessary to provide a substitute for it or abandon the special 
 study of Michigan. 
 
 Accordingly, the Eighth Grade teachers assisted in the 
 hasty compilation of a pamphlet which was used with a good 
 degree of success. 
 
 This has now been entirely re-written and much new 
 material has been added. 
 
 In the preparation of this pamphlet an attempt has been 
 made to present, in small compass, facts and information that 
 will lead children to an intelligent comprehension of the re- 
 sources and institutions of their own State ; and it is believed 
 to contain material not to be found elsewhere in any one 
 publication. 
 
 The chapter on Civil Government is compiled, by per- 
 mission, from "Cocker's Civil Government of Michigan." 
 
 Free use has also been made of the following : "Michigan 
 and Its Resources," Cox's "Primer of Michigan History," 
 Tackabury's Atlas of Michigan, Ford's "Michigan Geography" 
 as published in " The School Moderator," and Cooley's 
 " Michigan." 
 
 F. M. Kendall. 
 Superintendent's office, 
 
 Grand Rapids, Mich., August 31, 1889. 
 
eOWTENTS. 
 
 Part I. — Geography. 
 
 SECTION. PAGE. 
 
 I. — Position and Size i 
 
 II. — Surface and Drainage 2 
 
 III. — Rivers 7 
 
 IV.— Lakes 8 
 
 V. — Coast Line 10 
 
 VI. — Islands 10 
 
 VII.— Climate , 11 
 
 VIIL— Cities 14 
 
 Part II. — Industries and Resources. 
 
 SECTION. PAGE. 
 
 I. — Agriculture 20 
 
 II. — Lumbering 21 
 
 III. — Mining 22 
 
 IV. — Manufacturing 28 
 
 V. — Fisheries 28 
 
 VI. — Animals 29 
 
 VII. — Commerce 30 
 
 Part III. — Education and the State Institutions. 
 
 SECTION. PACK. 
 
 I. —The Public School System 35 
 
 II. — Educational Institutions 37 
 
 III. — Charitable Institutions 40 
 
 IV. — Reformatory Institutions ...... .^ 42 
 
 V. — Penal Institutions 42 
 
 Part IV. — Civil Government. 
 
 SECTION. PAGE. 
 
 I. — State Government 44 
 
 II. — Counties and Townships 52 
 
 in. — Cities and. Villages • 56 
 
 IV. — Elections and Taxes 59 
 
 Part V. — History, Page 62. 
 
PARTP I— GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 SECTION l-POSITION AND SIZE". 
 
 The State of Michigan is situated somewhat east of the 
 geographical centre of North America, and about one-third 
 of the distance from the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans. It 
 is in the northern tier of States, only five of which reach a 
 higher latitude*. 
 
 The mainlands of the State lie between the parallels of 
 41*^ 42', and 47^ 29 ' north latitude, and between the meridians 
 of 82*^ 24/ and 90^ 32 ' west longitude. New York and the New 
 England States on the Atlantic coast, and Washington and 
 Oregon on the Pacific coast, lie approximately between the 
 same parallels. In Europe, northern Spain, southern France, 
 Switzerland, Italy and Austria are also in the same latitude. 
 
 Michigan is enclosed on all sides, excepting the south 
 and northwest, by the Great Lakes and their connecting rivers. 
 Lake Superior forms its northern boundary, Lakes Huron, St. 
 Clair and Erie, with the connecting rivers, (including the 
 St. Mary's river) its eastern boundary, and Lake Michigan the 
 greater part of its western boundary. On the south it is 
 bounded by the States of Ohio and Indiana, and on the north- 
 west by the rivers Montreal, Brule and Menominee, and the 
 State of Wisconsin. 
 
 The area of the State is 58,915 square miles, of which 
 1,485 square miles is water surface. Michigan is 9,745 square 
 miles larger than the State of New York, 13,700 larger than 
 Pennsylvania, 17,855 larger than Ohio, 22,565 larger than 
 Indiana, and 2,265 larger than Illinois. It is almost as large 
 - as the six New England States taken together; and it is larger 
 than England and Wales combined. 
 
 * Isle Chapeau or Gull Islet (Lat. 48° 13') off the northeastern extremity of Isle 
 Royale, is^7 miles further north than the northernmost part of Maine, and it is only about 
 9 miles from the international boundary line in Lake Superior, which at this point is in lat. 
 48" 20'. 
 
2 GEOGRAPHY OF MICHIGAN, 
 
 The State consists of two irregular peninsulas known as 
 the Lower Peninsula and the Upper Peninsula. They are 
 separated from each other by Lakes Michigan and Huron, 
 which are connected by the Straits of Mackinac. The ex- 
 treme length of the Upper Peninsula is 318 miles, and its 
 extreme breadth is 164 miles. The Lower Peninsula is 277 
 miles long, and 197 miles wide in its widest part. The Upper 
 Peninsula contains nearly two-fifths of the entire area of the 
 State. 
 
 SECTION ll-SURFACE AND DRAINAGE. 
 
 The two peninsulas are strongly contrasted in surface, soil 
 and climate. The northern is rugged, with numerous rocky 
 exposures; while the southern consists of plains, plateaus, 
 gentle undulations and moderate hills, scarcely any of which 
 are too steep for tillage. The former is, for the most part, a 
 mineral region, the latter an agricultural region. The climate 
 are also as distinct as their location and topography. 
 
 The surface of the Lower Peninsula rises gently from the 
 surrounding lakes toward the interior, where it reaches an 
 elevation of 400 to 600 feet. In the northern part of the 
 peninsula, however, the central plateau reaches a height of 
 about 800 feet, and a few points are as high as 1,100 feet 
 above the lakes. 
 
 A characteristic feature of the Lake Michigan shore is 
 the series of sand hills blown up by the prevailing westerly 
 winds. These attain elevations up to 100 and 200 feet. At 
 Grand Haven, the highest reaches an altitude of 215 feet. 
 These sands are continually shifting before the wind, and they 
 are accordingly, making constant encroachments upon areas 
 occupied and improved by man. Back of these sandhills the 
 surface is generally depressed, and frequently occupied by a 
 marsh or lake. 
 
 "Viewing the Peninsula as a whole, we discover, first of 
 all, a remarkable depression stretching obliquely across 
 from the head of Saginaw Bay, up the valley of the Saginaw 
 and Bad rivers, and down the Maple and Grand rivers, to 
 
GEOGRAPHY OF MICHIGAN. 3 
 
 Lake Michigan. This depression attains, nowhere, an eleva- 
 tion greater than 72 feet above Lake Michigan. This eleva- 
 tion is in the interval of three miles, separating the waters 
 flowing in opposite directions. This spot was chosen in 1837 
 as the location for a canal, connecting Saginaw Bay with 
 Lake Michigan. It is obvious, that when the lakes stood at 
 their ancient elevations, their waters communicated freely 
 across this depression, and divided the peninsula into two 
 portions, of which the northern was an island."* This de- 
 pression has deen designated the " Grand Saginaw Valley." 
 
 Entering upon a more detailed description of the surface, 
 it is convenient to divide the Lower Peninsula into three 
 sections, to be known as the Southern, Central and Northern 
 sections, respectively. 
 
 The Southern section, embracing four tiers of counties, 
 comprises the oldest and most developed part of the State. 
 Formerly it was densely covered with hardwood forests ; but 
 these have been in large measure cleared away, and a rich 
 agricultural region has taken their places. 
 
 From the map it will be seen that this section is mainly 
 drained into Lake Michigan. The main water shed extends 
 through Hillsdale, Jackson, Ingham, Livingston, and Shia- 
 wassee counties. Its general elevation above Lake Michigan 
 is 400 to 600 feet. The highest plateau south of the " Grand 
 Saginaw" valley is in Hillsdale county, where an elevation of 
 613 feet above the level of Lake Michigan is reached. In 
 the extreme northeastern part of the county " are two peaks 
 which, perhaps, constitute the real culminations of the Hills- 
 dale summit. Here, within an area of two miles by three, we 
 may view the head waters of the St. Joseph, Kalamazoo, 
 Grand and Raisin rivers ; and an area of four miles square 
 would include, with these, the highest tributaries of the 
 Maumee."* The first three rivers, which are among the 
 largest in the State, flow westward into Lake Michigan, and 
 the other two flow eastward into Lake Erie. 
 
 *Winchell. 
 
4 GEOGRAPHY OF MICHIGAN. 
 
 The Central section embraces the next three tiers of 
 counties, and comprises what was formerly known as the 
 principal pine lumbering region of the State. The water-shed 
 lies about midway between Lakes Huron and Michigan, and 
 traverses Gratiot, Montcalm, Mecosta and Clare counties. 
 Its altitude is about 300 feet above the lakes. 
 
 The great valleys of the Saginaw and the Muskegon 
 rivers are in this section. The Saginaw, with its tributaries, 
 drains the eastern slope. The Muskegon, the largest river in 
 this section, flows west from the water-shed into Lake Mich- 
 igan. The central portion of the Huron peninsula, which lies 
 east and southeast of Saginaw Bay, is a plateau some 400 feet 
 in height. It was at one time heavily timbered, but it is 
 now given up mostly to agriculture. It has a water-shed ot 
 its own, extending in a southwesterly direction, to meet the 
 main axis of the Lower Peninsula. Several small streams 
 flow both ways into Saginaw Bay and Lake Huron. 
 
 The northern section comprises the remaining counties 
 of the Lower Peninsula. It is the least settled portion, hav- 
 ing been last opened to settlement. The soil is generally well 
 adapted to agriculture, and in the western portion, about 
 Traverse Bay, it seems to be specially adapted to the raising 
 of fruits. In the region bordering on the lakes, and on the 
 large streams which empty into them, pine lumbering opera- 
 tions are extensively carried on. There is also a large 
 amount of valuable hard wood found in this section. 
 
 The water- shed extends northward through Roscommon, 
 Crawford, Otsego and Cheboygan counties. In Otsego county 
 is found the highest land in the Lower Peninsula. The gen- 
 eral elevation of- the whole central portion of this section is 
 600 to 800 feet, but in Otsego county it attains a height ot 
 1,100 feet above Lake Michigan. The chief rivers which 
 drain this section are the Au Sable on the east, and the Man- 
 istee on the west. Other smaller streams flow eastward, 
 northward and westward from this summit. 
 
GEOGRAPHY OF MICHIGAN. 5 
 
 The Upper Peninsula may, in like manner, be divided 
 into three sections, the Eastern, Middle and Western. 
 
 The Eastern section embraces the country east of a line 
 drawn from Marquette Bay to Green Bay. It possesses a 
 fertile soil, an equable climate, and although not yet devel- 
 oped, it is known to be capable of agricultural development of 
 a high order. "An elevated range of limestone hills extends 
 across the entire southern border from Point Detour to Little 
 Bay de Noquet. These hills rise to a height of 200 to 300 
 feet above the lakes, on the shores of which they sometimes 
 appear as bold bluffs cut into weird and romantic forms by 
 the action of the elements. The bluffs of Mackinac Island 
 are 140 feet high, and the central plateau is 300 feet high. 
 Along the north shore of this peninsula is a similar range of 
 hills, in some localities even more lofty and bold than those 
 on the south shore. These extend from Point Iroquois west- 
 ward, following the direction of the shore line, and sometimes 
 rise to an altitude of 600 feet above the lake, from which they 
 appear as lofty headlands, or perpendicular escarpments, as 
 at Grand Sable and Pictured Rocks. The streams which break 
 through this range are interrupted by falls, some of them 40 to 
 100 feet in height. The scenery is very attractive." * Just 
 east of Grand Island are the famous Pictured Rocks, a line of 
 water-worn and frequently precipitous bluffs of variously col- 
 ored sandstone extending about twelve miles along the shore 
 of the lake. They are rarely more than So to 100 feet high, 
 but the hills rising back from their tops reach 150 to 200 feet. 
 The rocks are worn into grotesque forms, some of which re- 
 semble ruined castles, temples, arches, etc. 
 
 Inland the surface of the country is quite level, and for 
 the most part heavily wooded with hard wood forests. 
 Throughout the whole interior of the Peninsula the streams 
 are sluggish, and the regions to the east of Point Iroquois, and 
 the upper waters of the Tequamenon, are largely occupied by 
 marshes abounding in peat and bog iron ore. 
 
 * Winchell. 
 
6 GEOGRAPHV OF MICHIGAN. 
 
 East of Lake Manistique, the drainage is chiefly into Lake 
 Superior, St. Mary's river and Lake Huron. The Tequa- 
 menon is the largest river. 
 
 The principal portion of the drainage to the west of this 
 lake is into Lake Michigan, the water-shed running east and 
 west by a zig-zag line, within six to ten miles of Lake Superior. 
 The principal streams are the Whitefish and Manistique 
 rivers. 
 
 The middle section extends from the eastern section to a 
 line drawn from the head of Keweenaw Bay to the head of 
 Montreal river. 
 
 The water-shed extends westward to within ten miles of 
 Keweenaw Bay, where it bends and runs in a southwesterly 
 direction to the boundary of the State. Its greatest altitude 
 above Lake Michigan is 1,250 feet. Lake Michigamme lies 
 at an altitude of 966 feet. 
 
 Along the water-shed the country is wild and mountainous; 
 but the central portion of the section is an elevated plain, 
 well watered and containing immense tracts of valuable pine 
 land. 
 
 The principal rivers of this section are the Escanaba^ 
 Menominee and Michigamme, all ot which flow southeasterly 
 from the main water-shed. 
 
 The western section includes what is known as the Min- 
 eral Range, and is famous for its copper mines. The water-shed 
 is rugged and mountainous, and extends from Keweenaw Point 
 westward parallel with the coast, to the Ontonagon river. 
 West of the river, the Porcupine Range extends in a south- 
 westerly direction to the State line; its altitude is 1,000 ta 
 1,400 feet above the lake. Keweenaw Point is a rocky prom- 
 ontory extending far into Lake Superior. Mt. Houghton^ 
 near the head of the point, is 884 feet above the lake. 
 
 In the Mineral P,.ange are the famous deposits of copper. 
 A similar range is found running in a nearly parallel direction 
 in Isle Royale, where like deposits have also been found. 
 
GEOGRAPHY OF MICHIGAN. 7 
 
 SECTION MI-RIVERS. 
 
 Owing to its peculiar location with reference to the Great 
 Lakes, Michigan possesses no large navigable rivers; although 
 its numerous streams are of inestimable value to the lumber- 
 ing interests of the state in floating the logs from the forests 
 to the mills. The Detroit, St. Clair, and St. Mary's rivers, 
 which form part of the eastern boundary of the state, are 
 really straits connecting great fresh water seas. They are 
 navigable for the largest lake vessels and their commercial 
 importance to the state can hardly be overestimated. 
 
 The Detroit River, sometimes called "the Dardanelles of 
 the New World," is 28 males long and from one to three miles 
 wide. This noble and beautiful river gives to Detroit the best 
 harbor on the Great Lakes and furnishes the city with one of 
 the finest water supplies in the world. 
 
 The St. Clair River, connecting Lakes St. Clair and 
 Huron, is also 28 miles long and about one and a quarter 
 broad. 
 
 The St. Mary's River, which forms the eastern boundary 
 of the Upper Peninsula, is 63 miles long and varies in width, 
 often expanding into lakes. Near the head of the river is the 
 government ship canal around the rapids of St. Mary's. 
 
 The interior rivers of the Lower Peninsula have a general 
 east and west direction from the main water-shed. 
 
 The elevated plateau in Hillsdale county, already men- 
 tioned, is the source of the four largest rivers in the southern 
 part of the state, viz: the Grand, the Kalamazoo and the St. 
 Joseph, flowing westward into Lake Michigan, and the Raisin 
 flowing eastward into Lake Erie. 
 
 The Grand river is the longest in the state (270 miles). 
 It is navigable for small steamers from the mouth to Grand 
 Rapids, 40 miles. At this point the fall in the river bed pro- 
 duces the rapids, whence the name of the city. 
 
 The Kalamazoo river is about 200 miles long, and the St. 
 Joseph 250 miles long. Both are navigable for short distan- 
 
Q GEOGRAPAV OF MICHIGAN. 
 
 ces from their mouths and they turnish valuable water power. 
 The Raisin and the Huron are the largest rivers flowing 
 into Lake Erie from Michigan. They drain a beautiful section 
 of the state and afford excellent water power. 
 
 In the central portion of the peninsula are the Muskegon 
 and the Saginaw rivers. The Muskegon rises in Higgins and 
 Houghton lakes, which lie 589 feet above Lake Michigan, and 
 after flowing 180 miles through valuable timber lands it emp- 
 ties into Lake Michigan. It is valuable chiefly for logging 
 purposes, but in some localities it furnishes excellent water 
 power. The Saginaw, formed by the union of the Cass, the 
 Flint and the Shiawassee from the east and south, and the 
 Tittibawassee and its tributaries from the north, is only 22 
 miles long, but it is navigable by lake steamers its entire 
 length, and is therefore one of the most important rivers in 
 the state. 
 
 In the northern part of the peninsula the Manistee and 
 Au Sable rivers rise on opposite sides of the main water-shed 
 at its highest point in Otsego county; the former flows west- 
 ward into Lake Michigan, and the latter eastward into Lake 
 Huron. Both are important in their relation to the lumber 
 interests of the territory which they drain. 
 
 The Thunder Bay and Cheboygan rivers flow into Lake 
 Huron from the extreme north end of the peninsula, the latter 
 being the* outlet of several large lakes. 
 
 The Upper Peninsula is drained by numerous small 
 streams most of which have a general southerly direction. 
 The most important are the following : 
 
 The Menominee, forming the principal natural boundary 
 between Michigan and Wisconsin, empties into Green Bay. 
 
 The Escanaba and Manistique are the principal streams 
 in the central and eastern part of the peninsula, and the On- 
 tonagon and Sturgeon are the largest in the western portion. 
 
 SECTION IV-LAKES. 
 
 The " Great Lakes " of North America are remarkable, 
 not only on account of their size, being the largest bodies of 
 
GEOGRAPHY OF MICHIGAN. 
 
 fresh water in the world, but because ot their location. They 
 are situated on an elevated plateau and not, as might be sup- 
 posed, in a great depression receiving the drainage of a large 
 territory. The streams which flow into them are small and 
 few in numbers. 
 
 All but one of these inland seas wash the shores of Mich- 
 igan. Lake Superior, the largest, is 460 miles long and its 
 greatest width is 160 miles. It is 599 feet above the sea 
 level and 988 feet deep. Its area is 32,000 square miles. 
 Lake Michigan, 360 miles long and 108 miles wide, and Lake 
 Huron, 270 miles long and 160 miles wide, have the same 
 elevation above the sea, viz : 5S1 feet. Lake Erie, only the 
 west end of which touches the State, is 250 miles long, 80 
 miles wide and 565 feet above the level of the sea. Lake St. 
 Clair, lying between Lakes Huron and Erie, has an area of 
 407 square miles.* 
 
 *THE GREAT LAKES. 
 
 i LENGTH. 
 1 MILES. 
 
 WIDTH. 
 iMlLES. 
 
 DEPTH. 
 KEET. 
 
 COAST LINE 
 
 IN MICH. 
 
 MILES. 
 
 ELEVATION 
 
 ABOVE SEA. 
 
 FEET. 
 
 AREA. 
 
 SQ. MILES. 
 
 Superior . 
 Michigan . 
 Huron . . . 
 hue 
 
 1 intario . . 
 
 460 
 360 
 270 
 250 
 180 
 
 160 
 
 108 
 
 160 
 
 80 
 
 65 
 
 988 
 900 
 300 
 200 
 500 
 
 637 
 424 
 
 39 
 
 599-2 
 5806 
 580.6 
 
 565 
 262 
 
 32,000 
 
 20,000 
 
 20,000 
 
 6,000 
 
 6,000 
 
 1 1.520 
 
 .... 1 ... 
 
 1,624 
 
 
 84,000 
 
 The smaller inland lakes of Michigan number over 5,000, 
 In ihe Lower Peninsula the most important are Burt, Mullet 
 Cheboygan, Pine, Bear, Torch Light, Elk Carp, Glen, Crys- 
 tal. Hubbard, Higgins, Houghton and Muskegon lakes. With 
 the exception of the one last named these are all in the upper 
 third of the peninsula. 
 
 The largest lakes in the Upper Peninsula are Gogebic, 
 Portage, Michigamme, Manistique, Hay and Mud lakes The 
 last two form part of waters connecting Lakes Superior and 
 Huron. 
 
lO GEOGRAPHY OF MICHIGAN. 
 
 SECTION V-COAST LINE 
 
 Michigan has a coast line of 1,620 miles and "along the 
 whole of this distance vessels of 2, coo tons may pass without 
 losing sight of land." Compared with many of the States 
 having a long sea coast, and with the countries of Europe, 
 there are few bays, although many excellent harbors are 
 found in the inland lakes which lie near the shore, and in the 
 mouths of the large rivers, as at Holland, Grand Haven, 
 Muskegon, Charlevoix, Cheboygan and elsewhere. At Sand 
 Beach, in Huron county, the United States Government has 
 provided, at a cost of nearly one million dollars, a safe and 
 commodious harbor by constructing a stone breakwater, 8,000 
 feet long and inclosing 460 acres of water. This convenient 
 refuge, together with the life-saving station, maintained by the 
 Government, has proved a great benefit to lake commerce. 
 
 There are numerous peninsulas in the State of which 
 Keweenaw is the most important on account of its great cop- 
 per mines. [Name and locate the principal bays and penin- 
 sulas.] 
 
 SECTION VI-ISLANDS. 
 
 Included within the boundaries of the state are 179 islands 
 and many islets, varying in size from one acre upwards, and 
 having a total area of about 632 square miles. 
 
 Isle Royale, in Lake Superior, is the largest of these 
 islands. It is 45 miles long and its greatest breadth is nine 
 miles. Its area is 252 square miles. It lies about fifty miles 
 from the south shore of Lake Superior and fifteen to twenty 
 miles from the north shore. It has an exceedingly rugged 
 shore and upon it are numerous rocky hills, some of them 
 reaching an altitude of 700 feet above the lake. It contains 
 rich deposits of mineral, particularly copper, and its surface 
 is nearly covered with a dense forest. In 1875 it was organ- 
 ized as a county, though it is now said to be uninhabited. 
 
 In St. Mary's river are Sugar Island, fifteen by six and 
 one-half miles, and Neebish Island, seven and a half by four 
 
GEOGRAPHY OF MICHIGAN. II 
 
 miles in size. Drummond Island, at the head of Lake Huron, 
 is twenty miles long by thirteen wide. All these islands are 
 inhabited by whites and Indians. 
 
 Off the south shore of the upper peninsula in Lake 
 Huron is an archipelago of one hundred or more islands 
 called the Cheneaux (popularly known as "The Snows"). 
 Most of its members are mere islets, but Marquette island is 
 four miles long by three and a half wide. 
 
 Mackinac Island, in the straits of the same name, con- 
 tains 2,221 acres, of which 821 acres have been devoted by 
 the General Government to a National Park, and 103 acres 
 are occupied by the old fort. "A small garrison is maintained 
 here, and this, with the scenery, the varied character of its 
 structure, reaching upon the loftiest part of its plateau to 300 
 fett in height, its natural curiosities, and its historic celebrity, 
 combine to attract to the island great numbers of visitors and 
 summer residents." 
 
 Bois Blanc Island, at the entrance of Lake Huron to the 
 Straits of Mackinac, is ten and a quarter miles long by six in 
 width. It is becoming a favorite summer resort. 
 
 The islands which lie west and southwest of the Straits of 
 Mackinac, in Lake Michigan, consisting of the Beaver, Fox, 
 and Manitou groups, constitute a county (Manitou county) 
 by themselves. As a county it is about 80 miles long by 30 
 miles wide, but its land surface comprises only 180 square 
 miles. The entire county had 1,334 inhabitants in 1880, and 
 1,198 in 1884. 
 
 SECTION VII-CLIMATE. 
 
 It is claimed that the climate of Michigan, both in 
 summer and winter, is better adapted to the interests of agri- 
 culture and horticulture, and probably also to the comfort and 
 health of its citizens, than the climate of any other northwes- 
 tern state. 
 
 The mean annual temperature for the state as determined 
 by the Michigan Weather Service from thirteen years' obser- 
 
12 ■ GEOGRAPHY OF MICHIGAN. 
 
 vations, is 46.1'^ F., or about the same as that of Berlin. 
 During the summer months the mean temperature for the 
 state is 68.5^, or nearly the same as that of Vienna. During 
 the winter months the mean is about the same as that of 
 Stockholm, 23.8°. 
 
 In the Upper Peninsula the winters are somewhat colder 
 and the summers are from four to six weeks shorter than in 
 the Lower Peninsula. 
 
 The Great Lakes by which the State is surrounded exert 
 a marked influence upon the climate. The severe winds are 
 commonly from the west and northwest, but in sweeping 
 across the open waters of Lake Michigan they are so far 
 softened as to make the climate much milder than that found 
 in the same latitude on the western side of the lake. The 
 winter mean of Chicago, for example is 24.5'^ F., while that of 
 New Buffalo is 28^. Milwaukee has a winter mean of 22° F., 
 while that of Grand Haven is 26^. When intense cold pre- 
 vails in other states of the Northwest, it is comparatively com- 
 fortable in many parts of Michigan. It cannot be doubted 
 that the broad, deep water of Lake Michigan serves as a 
 reservoir of heat received in summer, and perceptibly warms, 
 not only the shore counties, but somewhat the whole Lower 
 Peninsula. 
 
 This peculiarity of Michigan climate is especially favor- 
 able to the growth of fruits. Peaches are grown success- 
 fully along the Lake Michigan shore, and even figs thrive in 
 the open air in latitude 42.5" 
 
 The average annual rain-fall for the State during 13 years' 
 observation before 1889 was 35.8 inches This is quite evenly 
 distributed throughout the year, although more than half of it 
 falls in the months from .May to October. 
 
 It is also quite equally distributed throughout the State. 
 The Upper Peninsula, which receives the least amount, has 
 an average annual fall of 34.81 inches. 
 
 The heaviest average annual rain-fall is in Berrien county 
 
GEOGRAPHY OF MICHIGAN. 
 
 13 
 
 (43.44 inches), and the lowest is in Marquette county (31.63 
 inches). 
 
 Cyclones, blizzards, and other sudden and destructive 
 meteorological disturbances are almost unknown in the State; 
 and extreme drouths, or an excess or a deficiency in the 
 temperature, never occur in all sections ot the State in the 
 same month. 
 
 In the record of the number of clear, fair or cloudy days 
 as taken from the reports of the signal service the following 
 stations are selected to show the average conditions as they 
 exist in the State: Alpena has an average of 85 clear days, 
 144 fair days, and 136 cloudy days; Detroit, 87 clear, 148 
 fair, and 130 cloudy days; Escanaba, 81 clear, 155 fair, and 
 130 cloudy; Grand Haven, 92 clear, 136 fair, and 137 cloudy; 
 Port Huron, 76 clear, 157 fair, and 132 cloudy; Marquette, 82 
 clear, 146 fair, and 137 cloudy days. Chicago, 111.,, has an 
 average of 108 clear, 149 fair, and 109 cloudy days. 
 
 TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION NORMALS, DEDUCED FROM THIRTEEN 
 YEARS OBRERVATIONS, 1876-1888; FOR EACH SECTION AND FOR STATE, 
 (seasons and ANNUAL.) 
 
 
 
 
 UPPER 
 
 NORTHERN 
 
 CENTRAL 
 
 SOUTHERN 
 
 
 
 
 
 PENINSULA. 
 
 SECTION. 
 
 SECTION. 
 
 SECTION. 
 
 STATE, 
 
 
 V, • 
 
 2* 
 
 
 V , ■ 
 
 5 S.C 
 
 6, ■ 
 
 .•a u5 
 
 ■z "O 
 
 3 „ 
 
 • -0 u) 
 
 ^ A 
 
 5 C.C 
 
 
 
 
 2 V 
 
 
 rt Ji 
 
 « UI " 
 
 rt ^ 
 
 rt y, aj 
 
 rt V 
 
 a ,f, i> 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 S-ff 
 
 ■H.-S's 
 
 
 ;H.|| 
 
 
 'Mi 
 
 
 %%1 
 
 
 •a^-2 
 
 
 
 
 eo 
 
 2JS 
 
 eo 
 
 2I-S 
 
 eo 
 
 l^^ 
 
 go 
 
 1'='^ 
 
 eo 
 
 'U% 
 
 
 
 
 H 
 
 Cu 
 
 H 
 
 a, 
 
 H 
 
 d, 
 
 H 
 
 0, 
 
 H 
 
 i, 
 
 
 ( March, 
 
 ) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Spring 
 
 ] April, 
 ( May, 
 
 
 36.1 
 
 2 26 
 
 38.3 
 
 2.52 
 
 43-2 
 
 2.63 
 
 45-8 
 
 2-95 
 
 43-2 
 
 2.81 
 
 
 \ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 June, 
 
 ) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Summer 
 
 ■ July, 
 
 634 
 
 369 
 
 66.0 
 
 332 
 
 68.9 
 
 3-29 
 
 70.5 
 
 351 
 
 68.5 
 
 347 
 
 
 August 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ( Sept., 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 Autumn 
 
 ] Oct., 
 
 44-5 
 
 3-51 
 
 46.6 
 
 3-38 
 
 49.2 
 
 3.18 
 
 50,2 
 
 304 
 
 48.9 
 
 3 15 
 
 
 (Nov., 
 
 ) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 r Dec, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Winter 
 
 - Jan , 
 
 [ 
 
 18.0 
 
 2.14 
 
 20.7 
 
 2.92 
 
 24.7 
 
 2.39 
 
 25-3 
 
 2.64 
 
 23.8 
 
 2-53 
 
 
 (Feb., 
 
 ) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Annual. 
 
 
 
 40.5 
 
 ^4.81 A2.n 
 
 36.43 
 
 46.5 
 
 34.47 
 
 48.0 
 
 36.40 
 
 46 I 
 
 3585 
 
 
 o*t" 
 
 ^ y 
 
14 GEOGRAPHY OF MICHIGAN. 
 
 SECTION VMI-CITIES. 
 
 At the date of the census of 1864 there were in Michigan 
 19 incorporated cities, having a total population of 130,158. 
 In 1884 the number of incorporated cities had increased to 
 49, with a population of 509,277. In 1884 the population of 
 the State was 1,853,658. It will thus be seen that more than 
 one-fourth of the entire population of the State was, at that 
 time, in the cities. 
 
 A special study of the cities and large towns of the State 
 may be made by consulting gazetteers, the State directory, and 
 such local publications as may be had. A few only of the 
 largest cities are here described. Their population, accord- 
 ing to the census of 1884, is as follows: 
 
 Detroit 132,956 
 
 Grand Rapids 41,898 
 
 Bay City 29,412 
 
 East Saginaw 29,085 
 
 Jackson 19,100 
 
 Muskegon 17,825 
 
 Kalamazoo '^3>9°9 
 
 Saginaw 13,760 
 
 Port Huron 10,388 
 
 Battle Creek...... 10,051 
 
 Lansing 9,774 
 
 Adrian 9>3^9 
 
 Flint 9>oi7 
 
 Ann Arbor 75912 
 
 LANSING, the Capital of the State, is near the centre of 
 the southern half of the Lower Peninsula. It is situated on 
 high ground on both sides of the Grand river, in the midst of 
 a fertile territory. The city has many fine public buildings 
 and private residences, and is rapidly increasing in trade, 
 wealth and population. The capitol, constructed of iron and 
 stone, at a cost of one and a half million of dollars, is one of 
 the finest buildings of its kind in the United States. 
 
 The chief manufactures are steam engines, agricultural 
 implements, wagons, sash, doors, blinds, and barrels. Four 
 railways centre here, thus affording good commercial facilities. 
 The Agricultural College, the Reform School for Boys, the 
 Institution for the Blind, and the State Library are located 
 here. 
 
 DETROIT, the metropolis of Michigan, is situated on the 
 Detroit river, 18 miles from Lake Erie, and 7 miles from 
 
GEOGRAPHY OF MICHIGAN. 15 
 
 Lake St. Clair. The river, forming the boundary line be- 
 tween the United States and Canada, is about half a mile 
 wide at this point, and of great depth, thus forming the most 
 perfect harbor on the great lakes. 
 
 With the annexed suburbs of Hamtramck and Spring- 
 Avells, Detroit stretches along the river front a distance of 
 more than 6 miles, and extends back into the country nearly 
 3 miles, thus covering an area of about 20 square miles, the 
 greater part of which is occupied by business blocks, public 
 works and buildings and elegant and costly private residences. 
 The river front is a line of mills, dry-docks, ship yards, 
 foundries, grain- elevators, railway-depots, and warehouses of 
 all descriptions. 
 
 The city is well laid out, the general plan being for the 
 streets to follow the river and intersect at right angles ; but 
 there are five avenues which converge on the Campus Mar- 
 tius as a centre, thus forming a large open square, around 
 which are grouped many fine public buildings. A boulevard, 
 partly finished, is designed to form a crescent on the north 
 side of the city, with its termini resting, on the river above 
 and below. Its length will be about nine miles, with a 
 uniform width of 150 feet. It will connect with Belle Isle 
 Park, which embraces the whole of Belle Isle. Extensive 
 improvements on the island are being carried on, and when 
 completed, thi^ park will be one of the most attractive places 
 of public resort to be found in the country. A bridge from 
 the American side is in course of construction, the length of 
 which will be 2,017 feet. Its cost will be about $300,000. 
 
 The manufacturing interests of Detroit are various and 
 important. Railroad cars, stoves and pharmaceutical sup- 
 plies are extensively produced. Other important industries 
 are carried on in its ship-yards, saw-mills, flour-mills, brick- 
 yards, tanneries, copper-smelting works, etc. 
 
 Nine railroads centre in the city, and steamers connect 
 it with all the lake ports. It is a port of entry and a large 
 foreign commerce is carried on with Canada : the exports in 
 
1 6 GEOGRAPHY OF MICHIGAN. 
 
 1886 amounted to $4,283,310. In that year 346,718 loaded 
 cars crossed the river, and over 5,000 vessels entered at this 
 port. A government building, to cost §1,000,000 is soon to 
 be erected. 
 
 GRAND RAPIDS, the second city in Michigan in popula- 
 tion, wealth, and business importance, lies on both sides ot 
 Grand River, at the head of navigation, 32 miles by rail from 
 Lake Michigan. The river at this point has a fall of 17 feet, 
 affording an excellent water-power, which is used for manu- 
 facturing and milling purposes. The city is in the midst of a 
 fine agricultural and horticultural region, and at the centre of 
 the famous " Fruit Belt" of the State ; it is, therefore, an im- 
 portant distributing point for these products. It is also a 
 port of entry for foreign goods. 
 
 But it is chiefly as a manufacturing centre that Grand 
 Rapids is known. Its manufacturing establishments, nearly 
 400 in number, produce goods which are sold in nearly every 
 market in the world, and its furniture factories are the most 
 extensive in the United States. Wooden ware, pianos, car- 
 pet-sweepers, wagoffs, carriages, agricultural and mill ma- 
 chinery, leather, flour, brushes, barrels, boots and shoes, 
 coffins and burial cases, are also manufactured in large quan- 
 tities. From the extensive gypsum-quarries near the city, 
 large quantities of land plaster and plaster of Paris are oro- 
 duced. 
 
 The State Soldier's Home is situated one mile north of 
 the city, on the river bank, and the Masonic Home of the 
 State is one mile east, near Reed's Lake, a favorite summer 
 resort. Seven railroads enter the city, and furnish the best 
 commercial facilities. 
 
 SAGINAW is on the Saginaw river, about 17 miles from its 
 mouth. The river is navigable to this point for the largest 
 lake vessels. This, with the facilities afforded by the rail- 
 roads, give ample transportation for the large quantities of 
 lumber, salt, and other products manufactured here. The 
 city contains extensive saw, shingle and planing mills, sash 
 
GEOGRAPHY OF MICHIGAN. 1 7 
 
 and door factories, barrel and salt works, and has foundries, 
 machine, boiler and car-repair shops. 
 
 BAY CITY is situated on the Saginaw river, 4 miles from 
 Saginaw Bay. It is largely engaged in the manufacture of 
 lumber and salt, and in fisheries. As a ship-building point it 
 is among the first on the Great Lakes, and it is also an im- 
 portant shipping port for immense quantities of lumber and 
 other forest products. Important railroad connections add 
 to the commercial advantages afforded by its location near 
 the lake. 
 
 JACKSON is an important railroad centre and manufac- 
 turing town, in the south-central part of the state. It is in 
 the midst of a fine farming region, and in its vicinity are found 
 bituminous coal, limestone, fire-clay, and sandstone. Its 
 manufactures comprise milling machinery, fire-brick, sewer- 
 pipes, chemicals, wagons, agricultural implements, sash, doors 
 and blinds, paper, flour, corsets and underwear. 
 
 The State Prison of the Lower Peninsula is located here, 
 (see page 45) also large repair shops of the Michigan Central 
 Railroad. This point is also a distributing centre for the 
 state of the great reaper and mowing machine manufactories 
 of the United States. 
 
 MUSKEGON is the largest and most important city on the 
 east shore of Lake Michigan, and the greatest lumber manu- 
 facturing point in the world. The Muskegon river here 
 empties into Muskegon lake, making one of the satest and 
 most convenient harbors on the Great Lakes. Lines of 
 steamers give the city daily communication with Milwaukee 
 and Chicago, and furnish, with its railroads, excellent com- 
 mercial facilities. In addition to the enormous amount of 
 lumber, shingles, etc., manufactured here, furniture, railroad 
 cars, boxes, and a large variety of wooden-ware are produced. 
 
 KALAMAZOO is situated on thei]river of the same name, 40 
 miles from Lake Michigan. The river affords ample power 
 for the many industries of the place, and its railroad facilities 
 are excellent. It is noted for the beauty of its broad and 
 
l8 GEOGRAPHY OF MICHIGAN, 
 
 finely shaded streets, its many and beautiful churches, and its 
 handsome residences. Kalamazoo College, Michigan Female 
 Seminary, and one of the three State asylums for the insane 
 are situated here. 
 
 The city has become famous for the quantity and excell- 
 ence of the celery it raises. The crop is shipped throughout 
 the United States and its value amounts to hundreds of thous- 
 ands of dollars annually. A large amount of manufacturing 
 is also done. The largest carriage spring works in the 
 country are located here, and fanning-mills and wind-mills 
 are manufactured in large numbers. 
 
 PORT HURON is a port of entry, for here the Grand 
 Trunk Railway of Canada enters the state, sending off branches 
 to Detroit and Chicago. The city is situated at the foot of 
 Lake Huron, and the head of the St. Clair river. Lumbering, 
 and the fisheries are among its more important industries. 
 The manufacturing interests comprise extensive fibre works, 
 machine-shops, ship-yards, saw-mills and agricultural imple- 
 ment works. Oil and natural gas have been found here in 
 paying quantities. 
 
 BATTLE CREEK is situated at the confluence of the Kala- 
 mazoo and Battle Creek rivers, both of which furnish val- 
 uable water power. This is an important manufacturing 
 centre, and produces extensively printing presses, threshing 
 machines, portable engines, all kinds of wood-working ma- 
 chinery, flour, school fnrniture, sash, doors and blinds, 
 boilers, leather, carriages and wagons, and all kinds of knit 
 goods. The extensive repair shops of the Chicago and Grand 
 Trunk Railway are located here. This city is also the head- 
 quarters of the Seventh-Day Adventist's denomination, which 
 has here a college, sanitarium, hospital, and a publishing 
 house, which issues a number of books, periodicals, etc., 
 published in seven different languages, and circulating in all 
 parts of the world. The tabernacle of this denomination has 
 the largest auditorium of any religious edifice in the State. 
 
GEOGRAPHY OF MICHIGAN. 1 9 
 
 ADRIAN, on the Raisin river, is in the midst of a fine 
 farming country, and is an important shipping point for 
 grain, dairy products, fruit, etc. Its manufactures comprise 
 wheel-barrows, carriages, pumps, furniture, etc. Adrian Col- 
 lege, a denominational school, is located here, and also the 
 Industrial Home for girls. 
 
 FLINT, is located in the centre of Genesee county, on 
 both banks of the Flint river. The site upon which the city 
 stands was formerly known as the Grand Traverse of Flint 
 river, and was a favorite camping and trading- ground of the 
 Chippewa Indians. The streets are broad, well laid out, and 
 liberally supplied with shade and ornamental trees. A large 
 business is done by three mills in the line of sash, doors and 
 blinds. There are several flouring mills foundries, machine 
 shops, grain elevators, carriage and furniture manufactories, 
 and a large woolen mill. Charcoal is also extensively pro- 
 duced. The Deaf and Dumb School is pleasantly located 
 here. 
 
 ANN ARBOR, is beautifully situated on high ground on 
 both sides of the Huron river, in the south-eastern part of the 
 State. It is the county-seat of Washtenaw county, one of the 
 most fertile agricultural counties in the country. It is the 
 seat of the State University, which, with its nearly two thous- 
 and students, is the largest state institution of the kind in the 
 Union. The large campus. University Hall, law and medical 
 buildings, observatory, hospitals, laboratories, museums, lib- 
 rary, and art gallery, form the chief attractions of the place. 
 
PART II. 
 
 INDUSXRIKS AND RKSOURCBS. 
 
 "Although agriculture is the chief producing interest of 
 the State, and engages the attention of the largest share of its 
 people, fertile farms and prolific orchards have not alone 
 contributed to its prosperity. While a few states excel it in the 
 volume of their crops, and in the aggregate of their industrial 
 statistics, none can surpass it in the magnitude and diversity 
 of its resources." Noted for its wheat, its wool, and its fruit, 
 it is also first in the United States in its production of lumber, 
 salt, copper and iron ore, and in the extent of its fresh water 
 fisheries. The geographical position of the State with refer- 
 ence to the Great Lakes, affects not only its climate, as al- 
 ready shown, but furnishes peculiar commercial advantages. 
 SECTION l-AGRICULTURE. 
 
 Owing to its favorable climate, its varied and fertile soil, 
 and its accessibility and nearness to the great markets of the 
 world, Michigan is particularly adapted to agricultural pur- 
 suits; and it is estimated that at least half of its population is 
 employed in this industry. It is said that in the whole of 
 Michigan one can certainly find the exact character of soil 
 he seeks, for every shade of variation seems to be represented. 
 There are, indeed, limited -areas covered with a light, rather 
 sterile, sandy drift soil, and in other places a heavy but quite 
 fertile clay soil occurs; but, in most instances, the drift soil is 
 composed of a mixture of clay with sand and gravel, which 
 combine all the properties requisite for the production of a 
 rich vegetation. 
 
 The principal cereals produced are wheat, corn, oats and 
 barley; but the great crop of Michigan is wheat. Its export 
 brings more money into the State than all its other surplus 
 
INDUSTRIES AND RESOURCES. 21 
 
 crops. The average yield per acre of this product is greater 
 than that of any other state in the Union. 
 
 In its production of wool, the State ranked fourth in the 
 Union in the census of 1880, and experienced dealers state 
 that about three-quarters of the wool produced here rates as 
 fine Spanish, and the remainder is of mixed grades. Sheep 
 raising is a profitable pursuit, and horses, cattle and hogs are 
 also extensively raised. 
 
 On account of its favorable climatic conditions, the State 
 is peculiarly adapted to a wide range of fruits. Lake Michigan 
 maintains a very even temperature throughout the year; and 
 this, with the fact that most of the winds are westerly, ex- 
 plains the peculiar success in horticulture. This lake influence 
 is not felt so largely in the interior as along the shore; but, in 
 a large measure, the whole southern peninsula is modified in 
 extremes of weather by this great equalizer. The fact that the 
 western shore from St. Joseph northward to Grand Traverse 
 is especially favored with immunity from frost, has given rise 
 to the term, "Michigan Fruit Belt." In this strip of territory 
 200 miles in length, peaches are more successfully grown than 
 in other portions of the state, although, in late years, large 
 quantities have been shipped from several interior counties. 
 The yield, in a good season, is about 500,000 bushels; and 
 nearly 5,000,000 bushels of apples have been produced in one 
 season. 
 
 Pears, plums, cherries, grapes, and various other small fruits 
 are produced in great abundance and variety. Immense 
 quantities of fruit are shipped daily from the ports along Lake 
 Michigan, from St. Joseph to Traverse City, furnishing the 
 great distributing market of Chicago with fresh fruit each 
 morning during the entire fruit season. Special fruit trains 
 are also run into Chicago during the season of shipment. 
 SECTION ll-LUMBERING 
 
 The forest products are second only in importance to the 
 fruits of the soil, and for many years lumbering has been the 
 chief manufacturing interest of the State. The extent and 
 value of the lumber product of Michigan has not been equalled 
 
22 GEOGRAPHY OF MICHIGAN. 
 
 by that of any other state, and it is probable that for some 
 years to come it will maintain its precedence in this respect. 
 
 The pine forests originally covered extensive areas in the 
 northern two-thirds of the Lower Peninsula, besides large 
 tracts in the Upper Peninsula; while the hard woods mainly oc- 
 cupied the southern third of the State. Of the 25,000,000 
 acres embraced in the Lower Peninsula, considerably more 
 than one-half might properly have been classed as a pine 
 region; for the product was found growing upon all the 
 streams. Although several varieties of pine are found in the 
 State, the white pine, so highly prized in commerce, predom- 
 inates. 
 
 Much of the valuable timber has been cut and shipped to 
 the different markets of the world. In 1886, the product ot 
 pine alone was 3,984,117,175 feet, and its estimated value was 
 more than $60,000,000. 
 
 It is only one or two decades since active operations 
 were commenced towards utilizing the unparalleled stores of 
 choice hard woods found in the State, and the value of these 
 products must continue to increase with every year. In time, 
 the hard wood product will equal in yearly value the present 
 pine lumber product. 
 
 The principal centres of lumber manufacturing are the 
 Saginaw, Grand River and Muskegon valleys, the streams of 
 which serve to carry the logs to the mills. Of late years, 
 logging railroads have been built into the forests, thus enab- 
 ling the mill to obtain a constant supply, and largely chang- 
 ing the character of the lumber industry. 
 
 SECTION lll-MINIIMG 
 
 Another important industry of the State, is mining, in 
 which a large proportion of the population of the Upper Pen- 
 insula is engaged. As early as 1640, the French Jesuits who 
 visited this country, discovered the rich mineral resources of 
 the Upper Peninsula, and reported the fact to the head of 
 their order in Paris. 
 
 COPPER. — The most important mineral products of the 
 State are iron and copper. The richest copper mines ever 
 
INDUSTRIES AND RESOURCES. 23 
 
 discovered are situated in the Mineral Range running into 
 Keweenaw Point. These yield more than two-thirds of the 
 entire product of the United States in the form of pure cop- 
 per, which has only to be separated from the rock in which it 
 is found to be ready for the market. It is mined by means of 
 deep shafts and connecting galleries, and when brought to the 
 surface it is separated from the rock by being first mashed 
 under the ponderous hammers of the stamp mills, and then 
 subjected to the fires of the smelting furnace. 
 
 Its quality is unequalled, and it commands a ready sale, and 
 the highest price in the markets of the world. In many in- 
 stances masses weighing hundreds of tons of pure native 
 copper have been taken out. The celebrated mass of 
 native copper which is now in the Patent Office at Washing- 
 ton, was discovered by Gen. Cass when he visited the country 
 in 1822. It had been detached from its native hill, 
 and had been transported several miles to the bank of the 
 Ontonagon river, with the evident intention of taking it 
 down that stream to the lake. By what race of men this mass 
 was removed from its native bed, and carried to where Gen. 
 Cass discovered it, will probably never be known; but there 
 are traces of "ancient miners" throughout the whole mineral 
 range of Lake Superior. 
 
 The Upper Peninsula contains 65 copper mines, 25 of 
 which yielded in 1S66, 80,858,752 pounds of copper, worth 
 over ^12,000,000. The largest mine, that at Calumet, has 
 built up an industry which employs 2,000 men, and its total 
 product of refined copper in 1882 was 50,770,719 pounds, or 
 one-sixth of the estimated annual production of copper in the 
 world. The copper is smelted at Portage Lake, Detroit, 
 Cleveland and Pittsburgh. There are now between 25 and 30 
 mines in operation, employing about 7,000 men. 
 
 IRON. — The existence of iron ore in the Upper Peninsula 
 was known to the Indians and white traders at an early day, 
 but until 1845 it was not thought to be present in sufficient 
 quantities to be of any practical importance. In 1880, Michi- 
 
24 GEOGRAPAY OF MICHIGAN. 
 
 gan ranked as the second State in the Union in the quantity 
 of iron ore produced, while in the value of its annual product 
 it ranked first. 
 
 The mines are located in three separate districts in the 
 Upper Peninsula. 
 
 1. The Marquette t)iSTRiCT includes the most thor- 
 oughly developed mines, and embraces the counties of Mar- 
 quette and Baraga. Its chief mines are located west of Mar- 
 quette in a range of hills, six miles wide by loo miles in 
 length, and extending to Keweenaw Bay. These are from 400 
 to 600 feet high, and they are nothing more nor less than 
 solid masses of iron, partially covered by layers of earth and 
 rock. This region contains the flourishing cities of Marquette, 
 Negaunee and Ishpeming, the centers ot much business acti- 
 vity and communities of enterprising and intelligent people, 
 well provided with hotels, schools and churches. 
 
 2. The Menominee District is located in the northern 
 and western towns of Menominee county. Active mining 
 operations were not carried on here until 1877; but in 1882 
 there were 15 producing mines, which yielded over 1,000,000 
 tons of ore. 
 
 3. The Gogebic District is located between the lake 
 of that name, and the Montreal River. In 1883 it was an un- 
 developed region, but since that time it has passed through 
 the experience of a veritable western mining district. The 
 Gogebic mining craze has had no parallel in the previous his- 
 tory of the Lake Superior region, but while the wonderful 
 boom has collapsed, there has been much substantial pro- 
 gress. The villages of Bessemer, Ironwood and Hurley are 
 as large and as well provided with the conveniences essential 
 for business and personal comfort as are towns of equal popu- 
 lation, after many more years of existence. There were, in 
 i888, 10 or 12 mines producing ore in paying quantities. 
 
 About 60 iron mines were working in 1887, and more 
 than 6,000 men were employed in them. The yield for that 
 year was nearly 4,000,000 tons of ore. 
 
 The Michigan ores are of extraordinary richness. The 
 
INDUSTRIES AND RESOURCES. 25 
 
 greater part of the ore is shipped in its natural condition and 
 reduced into iron by the furnaces of other States. 
 
 SALT. — Long before the settlement of Michigan by white 
 men, the Indians supplied themselves with salt from the saline 
 springs of the Saginaw valley; but it was not until i860 that 
 brine was obtained in paying quantities. From that time the 
 development of this industry was so rapid that in five years 
 its product equaled that of the Onondaga Salt Springs, near 
 Syracuse, N. Y., in the forty-second year of the existence of 
 their works. 
 
 The chief center of the salt manufacture is in the Saginaw 
 valley, where three-fourths of the yield of the entire State is 
 produced. The fortunate location of the wells upon the 
 shores of navigable waters has given this industry the advan- 
 tage of cheap transportation and easy access to markets. 
 
 Still more important is the economy with which the salt 
 blocks are worked. In connection with saw-mills their 
 operation involves a large saving of expense. Power is fur- 
 nished by the same boilers, and the evaporation of the brine 
 is forced during the day by the exhaust steam from the en- 
 gines, and during the night by live steam generated in the 
 boilers by burning refuse slabs and sawdust. The barrels are 
 made from staves cut from rejected lumber and slabs. 
 
 The brine is of superior strength, and careful inspection 
 by State authority, through a series of years, has, as a rule, 
 kept the salt of unsurpassed chemical purity. 
 
 The salt is obtained by evaporation, as stated above. 
 The average depth of the wells is about 900 feet ; but there 
 are productive wells from 1,000 to 2,000 feet in depth. 
 
 The salt producing area is about See square miles in 
 extent, and it is safe to presume that the supply is inex- 
 haustible. 
 
 In 1 88 7, there were 285 wells pumped, and the amount 
 of salt produced, as reported by the State Salt Inspector, was 
 3,944,309 barrels. The average price per barrel was 68 cents, 
 making the total value of the product $2,682,130.12. 
 
26 GEOGRAPHY OF MICHIGAN. 
 
 GYPSUIVl. — Immense deposits of a very superior quality 
 of gypsum have been found at Grand Rapids and also near 
 Alabaster, Iosco county, on the shores of Lake Huron. 
 
 The beds at Grand Rapids were discovered about 40 
 years ago ; but it was not until 1856 that any considerable 
 amount of plaster was produced. 
 
 Here the deposit, which is about 13 feet in thickness, 
 crops out at the surface, and it extends over an area of 10 to 
 12 square miles. 
 
 The rock is easily quarried, and when taken from the 
 mine it is usually piled in large blocks and allowed to remain 
 several months exposed to the atmosphere, in order that the 
 moisture which it contains may be in a measure evaporated. 
 
 When taken to the mill, the large lumps are broken with 
 heavy hammers and the commodity is then passed through 
 two heavy run of stone which crush it to powder. This is 
 used as a land fertilizer or converted into plaster of Paris 
 ("stucco"). 
 
 In 1887, there were 28,794 tons of land plaster and 
 170,145 barrels of stucco produced. 
 
 COAL. — It is estimated by geologists that one-fifth of the 
 lower peninsula of Michigan is underlaid by coal-bearing de- 
 posits ; but it has not yet been found in large quantities, and 
 it is not sufficiently exposed to make exploration easy or cheap. 
 The deposits are thin, exceeding nowhere 3 to 4 feet in thick- 
 ness, generally much less. The mines are so low and wet 
 that men do not like to work in them. 
 
 In its natural state, the coal is too highly bituminous, or 
 not pure enough, to make its use possible for smelting, black- 
 smithing, or the manufacture of gas ; but it is said to be ex- 
 cellent in making steam, and is liked for locomotive boilers. 
 
 Jackson and Corunna are the only mining points of any 
 importance, although a new mine has been opened at Grand 
 Ledge, which may prove to be profitable. The entire product 
 of coal in the State for 1887 was 36,544 tons. 
 
INDUSTRIES AND RESOURCES. 27 
 
 STONE, SLATE AND EARTHS.— Michigan is rich in ^-^/z^- 
 stones and Limestones of commercial importance. Building 
 stone of excellent quality has been found at many points in 
 the State, and quarries have been opened in Calhoun, Eaton, 
 Ingham, Ionia, Jackson, Marquette and Monroe counties. 
 The Marquette brown stone is of particularly fine texture, 
 and capable of receiving a high finish ; its supply is prac- 
 tically inexhaustible. 
 
 The Grindstones of the Huron county quarries have no 
 superior in the northwest, and grindstones of good quality 
 are found elsewhere in the State. 
 
 The Slates of the Huron Bay District, in Baraga county, 
 are of excellent quality. These quarries can be developed to 
 an unlimited extent. 
 
 The iron district produces a Quarts Rock which is sup- 
 planting the foreign quartz, long imported for the lining of 
 Bessemer steel converters, and similar purposes. 
 
 Clays and Sands of commercial value are found in abun- 
 dance in various parts of the state. 
 
 Brick and Tile yards are numerous, and successful pot- 
 teries are in operation at different points. 
 
 At Raisinville, Monroe county, is found a superior quality 
 of Glass Sand, s'uitable for use in the manufacture of the finer 
 grades of glass. Lifne Kilns are common throughout the 
 State. Valuable Marbles are amoung its rocks, and vast 
 quantities of Peat exist, and must ultimately become valu- 
 able for fuel. 
 
 GOLD AND SILVER. — Gold bearing quartz has been found 
 at various points in the Upper Peninsula, and a number of 
 gold mining companies have been lately organized. The 
 Ropes mine took out about $100,000 in 1889, and $11,000 in 
 the month of February, 1890, where only $3.18 worth of gold 
 to each ton of rock was found. Some quartz obtained on the 
 land of the Michigan Gold Mine was estimated to assay not 
 less than $50,000 to the ton. 
 
 Native silver has been found in small quantities, but its 
 
28 GEOGRAPHY OF MICHIGAN. 
 
 systematic mining has never been attended in this State with 
 profitable results. 
 
 SECTION IV-MANUFACTURING. 
 
 The manufacturing interests of Michigan are numerous 
 and extensive, as might be expected from a State so rich in 
 natural resources. The leading products are agricultural im- 
 plements , railroad cars, furniture, stoves, wooden-ware, wag- 
 ons and carriages, paper, barrels, chemicals and matches. The 
 annual product of its flouring mills, foundries, furnaces and 
 rolling mills, tanneries, shingle and saw mills, planing mills, 
 sash, door and blind factories, brick and tile works, breweries, 
 boot and shoe factories, and clothing establishments, must in 
 each case be estimated by millions. 
 
 The State census for 1884 showed 136 different varieties 
 of articles, manufactured by 8,302 establishments. 
 
 SECTION V-FISHERIES. 
 
 Owing to the vast extent of lake coast, Michigan has the 
 most productive fresh-water fisheries in the United States. 
 The business is carried on at all the important towns on the 
 shores of the great lakes. The number of fisheries in the 
 State in 1884, was 316; capital invested, $702,365; average 
 number of hands employed, 1,338. The use "of steam and 
 sail vessels, together with the improved apparatus for taking 
 fish, has greatly developed fishing as a commercial industry, 
 so that large numbers of men are employed, and a large 
 amount of capital is invested. 
 
 Whitefish is the most important fish commercially; other 
 varieties are lake ttout, sturgeon, bass, pickerel, herring, 
 perch, eels and pike. Brook trout, grayling and black bass 
 are the principal game fish. 
 
 The supervision of the fishing interests of the State is 
 entrusted to a Board of Fish Commissioners, and the laws tor 
 the protection and preservation offish and fisheries are rigidly 
 enforced. The State maintains three hatcheries for the artifi- 
 cial propagation and cultivation oi fish, and extensive deposits 
 
INDUSTRIES AXD RESOURCES. 29 
 
 of eggs and small fish are made yearly in the great lakes and 
 inland waters, with a view to replenishing the supply of food 
 fishes. > 
 
 Up to 1S81, the commissioners had planted in the lakes 
 and rivers about 80,000,000 young whitefish, 1,000,000 
 silver eels, 1,000,000 lake trout, besides smaller numbers of 
 shad, grayling, pike and bass. Excellent results have followed 
 this work, especially in the multiplication of white fish, sal- 
 mon and eels. 
 
 During the winter season, large quantities, preserved TDy 
 freezing, are taken to eastern markets, where they are readily 
 sold at a high price. 
 
 SECTION VI-WILD ANIMALS. 
 
 The domestic animals in Michigan do not differ from 
 those found in other states. 
 
 Among the wild animals found by the early pioneers 
 were the elk, the moose, caribou, deer, bear, wolf, lynx, 
 panther, catamount, wildcat, fox, raccoon, rabbit, mink, 
 beaver, porcupine, badger, besides other small fur-bearing 
 animals not mentioned here. 
 
 Of these the elk, moose, panther, catamount and beaver 
 have probably become extinct, although a few individuals 
 may yet remain in the dense woods of the Upper Peninsula.* 
 
 The wolverene (or wolverine), the animal which has 
 given the State its nickname, is now extremely rare, if not ut- 
 terly extinct. 
 
 The principal birds are the eagle, not yet extinct in the 
 wilder parts of the State; the turkey-buzzard, now very rare; 
 the wild turkey, woodcock, snipe, plover, duck, gull, pheasant, 
 partridge, quail, prairie-chicken, pigeon, raven, hawk, owl, 
 heron, crane, and other birds common to the Northern States. 
 
 The reptiles of the State are neither very numerous nor 
 venomous. The rattlesnake lingers in some localities, and 
 other serpents are found to some extent. 
 
 * "The last moose is believed to have been shot in 1869, on the Keweenaw Peninsula. 
 His flesh was sold in the Houghton markets at 50 cents a pound." — Ford. 
 
30 GEOGRAPHY' OF MICHIGAN. 
 
 SECTION VII COMMERCE. 
 
 The advantages possessed by the State in the means of 
 transportation are very great, and a large carrying trade has 
 been developed. Communication from lake ports is easy, 
 and the competition thus developed with the railroads insures 
 low freight rates to the Atlantic seaboard. 
 
 RAILROADS — Six important lines of railroad cross the 
 southern peninsula in a general east and west direction. 
 
 The Michigan Central extends from Buffalo to Chicago 
 through Detroit, Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor, Jackson, Battle Creek, 
 Kalamazoo and Niles. There are several important branches 
 of this road; the Saginaw and Mackinaw division extends 
 from Jackson to Mackinaw, through Lansing Saginaw, West 
 Bay City and Cheboygan. A five mile ferriage at the Straits 
 of Mackinaw connects it with the Duluth, South Shore and 
 Atlantic of the Upper peninsula. The Grand River Valley 
 division extends from Jackson to Grand Rapids, through 
 Charlotte and Hastings. 
 
 The Lake Shore and Michigan Southern extends 
 from Buffalo to Chicago, through Toledo, O., Adrian, Hills- 
 dale and Coldwater. This road also owns numerous branches, 
 one being from White Pigeon through Three Rivers, Kalama- 
 zoo and Allegan to Grand Rapids; another line runs from 
 Hillsdale through Albion and Eaton Rapids to Lansing. 
 
 The Detroit, Lansing and Northern extends from 
 Detroit to Howard City. Among the branches of this road 
 are the Grand Rapids, Lansing and Saginaw, and the Grand 
 Rapids, Lansing and Detroit. 
 
 The Chicago and Grand Trunk extends from Chicago- 
 to Port Huron, where it connects with the Canadian Grand 
 Trunk for Toronto, Montreal, Quebec, and Portland, Me. 
 
 The Flint and Pere Marquette extends from Luding- 
 ton to Monroe, through Baldwin, Reed City, Saginaw and 
 Flint. 
 
 The Detroit, Grand Haven and Milwaukee extends 
 from Detroit to Grand Haven, through Grand Rapids, and 
 connects by steamer with Milwaukee and Chicago. 
 
INDUSTRIES AND RESOURCES. 3 1 
 
 There are also a number of north and south roads, which 
 transport quantities of grain, coal and lumber. 
 
 The Grand Rapids and Indiana extends from Mack- 
 inaw to Richmond, Ind., through Petoskey, Cadillac, Reed 
 City, Big Rapids, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo and Fort Wayne. 
 Branches of this road run from Grand Rapids to Muskegon, 
 and from Traverse City and Harbor Point to the main line. 
 
 The Chicago and West Michigan passes through the 
 "fruit belt" of the western shore, from Pentwater to New 
 Buffalo. It has also a parellel line from Traverse City through 
 Baldwin, Newaygo and Grand Rapids, joining the other 
 division at Holland. 
 
 The Mackinaw division of the Michigan Central, the 
 Flint and Pere Marquette, and the Toledo, Ann Arbor and 
 North Michigan, are also important north and south roads. 
 Nearly all these Michigan railways have branches spreading 
 over the Lower Peninsula, interlacing to form a complete net- 
 work, so that the farming districts are well supplied, and 
 nearly all the cities and towns have two or more railroads 
 with their resulting competion. 
 
 In the Upper Peninsula the transportation facilities by 
 means of railroads have greatly increased during the last few 
 years. There are now two important lines running east and 
 west through the peninsula. These are The Duluth, South 
 Shore and Atlantic, extending from Sault Ste. Marie and 
 Pt. St. Ignace, through Marquette and Ishpeming to Hough- 
 ton; and The Minneapolis, Sault Ste. Marie and At- 
 lantic, extending from Minneapolis through the State of Wis 
 consin to Sault Ste. Marie; it passes through Escanaba and 
 Manistique. 
 
 The Chicago and Nothwestern connecting Ishpeming, 
 Marquette, Negaunee and Menominee with Milwaukee and 
 Chicago; and The Milwaukee and Northern, extending 
 from Chicago through Iron Mountain to Champion, traverse 
 the iron mining districts, and carry most of the ore to the 
 ake ports. 
 
32 
 
 GEOGRAPHY OF MICHIGAN. 
 
 The following table, compiled from Wood's Railway- 
 Guide, giving a list of the railroads of the State, with the 
 length and termini of each, is intended for reference: 
 
 RAILROADS 
 
 Au Sable & Northwestern 
 
 Cadillac & Northeastern 
 
 Chicago & Grand Trunk 
 
 Chicago, Kalamazoo & Saginaw 
 
 Chicago 8: Northwestern and branches. 
 Chicago & West Michigan 
 
 Northern Division 
 
 Newaygo Division 
 
 Big Rapids Division 
 
 Cincinnati, Jackson & Mackinaw 
 
 Cincinnati, Saginaw & Mackinaw , 
 
 Cincinnati, Wabash & Michigan 
 
 Detroit, Bay City & Alpena 
 
 Detroit, Grand Haven i^ Milwaukee. ... 
 Detroit, Lansing & Northern . . 
 
 Grand Rapids, Lansing & Detroit. . 
 
 Saginaw L)ivision and Branch 
 
 Stanton Division 
 
 Duluth, S. Shore & Atlantic & Branches 
 Flint & Pere Marquette and Branches... 
 
 Port Huron Division . . . . ; 
 
 Sand Beach Division. 
 
 Almnnt Division 
 
 Frankfort & Southeastern 
 
 Grand Rapids & Indiana and Branches.. 
 
 Muskegon Division 
 
 Traverse City Division 
 
 Grand Trunk, Detroit Division 
 
 Mich. Air Line Division 
 
 Lake Shore & Michigan Southern.. 
 
 Detroit Division 
 
 Jackson Division 
 
 Fort Wayne Division 
 
 Lansing Division.. 
 
 Grand Rapids Division 
 
 Yysilanti Division 
 
 Dundee Division.. 
 
 Fayette Division 
 
 Lowell it Hastings 
 
 Manistee & Northeastern. 
 
 Michigan Central 
 
 Canada Division 
 
 Air Luie Division 
 
 Bay City Division 
 
 Saginaw Division 
 
 Mackinaw Division 
 
 Grand Rapids Division 
 
 North Midland Division 
 
 Detroit & Toledo Divisio.n 
 
 South Haven Division . . ... 
 
 Milwaukee, Lake Shore & Western.. 
 
 Milwaukee & Northern 
 
 Mineral Range 
 
 Minn., St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie .... 
 
 Pontiac, 0.\ford & Northern 
 
 Saginaw, Tuscola & Huron 
 
 St. Joseph Valley 
 
 St. Louis. Stiirgis & Battle Creek 
 
 Toledo, .'\nn Arbor 6t North Michigan. . 
 
 Toledo, Saginaw & Muskegon 
 
 Toledo & South H.iven 
 
 Wabash 
 
 37 
 U 
 
 335 
 
 45 
 
 .544 
 
 L53 
 
 103 
 
 148 
 
 55 
 
 1.5(3 
 
 59 
 
 200 
 
 105 
 
 189 
 
 353 
 
 1.50 
 
 12(5 
 
 190 
 
 .501 
 
 373 
 
 91 
 
 70 
 
 34 
 
 25 
 
 483 
 
 40 
 
 26 
 
 59 
 
 10(i 
 
 540 
 
 73 
 
 4() 
 
 100 
 
 65 
 
 95 
 
 61 
 
 69 
 
 32 
 
 15 
 
 45 
 
 285 
 
 251 
 
 103 
 
 11)8 
 
 114 
 
 182 
 
 94 
 
 20 
 
 94 
 
 40 
 
 462 
 
 371 
 
 25 
 
 494 
 
 KiO 
 
 67 
 
 U 
 
 70 
 
 274 
 
 116 
 
 37 
 
 477 
 
 CONNECTING 
 
 Potts and Au Sable. 
 Cadillac and Lake City. 
 Chicago and Port Huron. 
 Kalamazoo and Woodbury. 
 Chicago and Ishpeming. 
 Chicago and Grand Rapids. 
 Allegan .and Pentwater. 
 Grand Rapids and Traverse City. 
 Muskegon and Big Rapids. 
 Allegan ai.d Toledo. 
 Durand and Oa-atka Beach. 
 Benton Harbor and-lndianapohs. 
 Detroit and Alpena. 
 Detroit and Grand Haven. 
 Detroit and Mackinaw. 
 Detroit and Grand Rapids. 
 Saginaw and Grand Rapids. 
 Ionia and Big Rapids. [and Duluth. 
 
 Pt.St.lgnace, Houghton, Sault Ste. Marie 
 Monroe, Ludington, Manistee et al. 
 Port Huron and East Saginaw. 
 Port Huron and Sand Beach. 
 Port Huron and Almont. 
 Copemish and Frankfort. 
 Mackinaw and Richmond, Indiana. 
 Grand Rapids and Muskegon. 
 Traverse City and Walton. 
 Detroit and Ft. Gratiot. 
 Jackson and Leno.v, 
 Chicago and Buffalo. 
 Adrian and Iletroit. 
 Adrian and Jackson. 
 Fort Wayne and Jackson. 
 Lansing and Hillsdale. 
 Grand Rapids and White Pigeon. 
 Vpsilanti and Hillsdale. 
 Adrian and Detroit. 
 Adrian and Fayette. 
 Lowell and Freeport. 
 Manistee and Interlocken. 
 Detroit and Chicago. 
 Detroit anid Buffalo. 
 Jackson and Niles. 
 Bay City and Detroit. 
 Bay City and Jackson. 
 Bay City and Mackinaw. 
 Grand Rapids and Jackson. 
 Ray City and Midland. 
 Detroit and Toledo. 
 Kalamazoo and South Haven. 
 Milwaukf-e and Duluth. 
 Milwaukee, Ontonagon and Menominee. 
 Houghton, Red Jacket and Lake Linden. 
 Minneapnlis and Sault Ste. Marie. 
 Pontiac and Caseville. 
 East Saginaw and Bad Axe. 
 Berrien Springs and Buchanan. 
 Battle Creek and Goshen. 
 Toledo and Copemish. 
 Owosso .and Muskegon. 
 Lawton and South Haven. 
 Detroit and St. Louis, Mo. 
 
INDUSTRIES AND RESOURCES. 33 
 
 There are several logging railroads in the Lower Penin- 
 sula, constructed for the business of their owners, a few of 
 which have been opened to the public. 
 
 In December, 1889, there were 6,759.55 niiles of railroads 
 in Michigan. 
 
 CANALS. — ^There are no interior canals in the Lower 
 Peninsula. "In Macomb county there is a short work of this 
 kind, which is now used only for its water power, and is all 
 that represents a project of the early days of the State for 
 connecting the Clinton and Kalamazoo rivers and thus unit- 
 ing the waters of Lakes Michigan and St. Clair." 
 
 The Upper Peninsula has an important ship canal across 
 Keweenaw Point, connecting Portage Lake and Lake Superior, 
 thus enabling vessels to avoid a detour of 120 miles around 
 the peninsula. It was built by a private corporation which 
 still owns and controls it, collecting tolls at a low rate for its 
 use. 
 
 Two first- class ship canals, situated on waters which 
 form part of the State's boundary line, facilitate the naviga- 
 tion of the great lakes. They are located at the head of the 
 St. Mary's river in the Upper Peninsula and at the mouth of 
 the St. Clair river in Lake St. Clair. Both are the property 
 of the general government, and their use is not subject to 
 to. tolls or charges of any kind. 
 
 The St. Mary's canal and lock was completed by the 
 State in 1855. The greater part of it was cut through the 
 solid rock around the rapids which have, within the space of 
 three-quarters of a mile, a fall of 22 feet. It was 100 feet 
 wide at the surface and was one mile in length. The lock 
 was 370 feet long, 70 feet wide and had a lift of 12 feet. In 
 1 88 1, a new lock was built by the United States Government 
 and the canal was otherwise greatly enlarged and improved. 
 
 Lake Superior has thus been opened to the navigators of 
 the lower lakes, and vessels of a capacity of over 2,000 tons 
 and drawing sixteen feet of water, can now sail from Duluth 
 
34 GEOGRAPHY OF MICHIGAN, 
 
 direct M Buffalo. The annual report of the superintendent of 
 this canal for iS88 shows that it was open 232 days in the 
 year and that 8,832 vessels having 6,932,203 freight tons 
 passed through. In addition to the lumber that passed 
 through the canal, 35,000,000 feet of logs were rafted over 
 the rapids. The cost of running the canal during the year 
 was $30,625.45. 
 
 The St. Clair canal was completed in 1871, at a cost of 
 $653,550. It was built by the Government for the relief of 
 navigators, whose vessels were frequently grounded on "The 
 Flats" of Lake St. Clair. It is 8,200 feet long, 200 feet wide 
 and 16 feet deep. "A light-house is maintained at each end, 
 and a large number of artificial islets have been made, for 
 sites of club-houses and summer resorts and residences." 
 
PART" III. 
 
 EDUCATION ^ND THE: SXATTK 
 
 iNSTrn^unriONS. 
 
 SECTION l-THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. 
 
 The educational system of Michigan is laid upon the 
 broad foundation of the common schools and it is crowned 
 and completed by the University. Between these are other 
 institutions, each of which has its appropriate place in the 
 system. 
 
 The public schools are classified as graded and ungraded, 
 the former are found in the cities and villages, and the latter 
 in the country districts where the population is scattered. 
 The graded schools are divided into primary, grammar and 
 high schools, each of these divisions retaining the scholar 
 ordinarily four years. At the end of the course the student 
 is ready for the University, to which, under certain restric- 
 tions, he is admitted on diploma from the high schools. 
 
 In 1889, the number of graded districts was 503, and the 
 number of ungraded districts, 6,642. All districts having less 
 than 30 children must maintain school at least three montlis 
 in the year; if there are more than thirty children, the school 
 must be open five months; if more than eight hundred child- 
 ren, nine months. A school census of all children between 5 
 and 20 years of age is taken annually in each district. In 
 1889, the number was 640,069, of whom 423.604 were en- 
 rolled in the schools. Attendance in the public, or in private 
 schools, for at least four months in each school year is com- 
 pulsory upon all children between the ages of 8 and 14 years. 
 
 The immediate administration of the schools is entrusted 
 to the districts themselves and to the school officers elected 
 
36 GEOGRAPHY OF MICHIGAN. 
 
 annually by the people; but the State exercises a general 
 supervision over the system through its Superintendent of 
 Public Instruction. 
 
 The revenue for the support of the schools is derived 
 from three principal sources, viz: 
 
 /. Tlie Primary School Fund. This is the interest of the 
 permanent fund in the hands of the State, arising from the 
 sale of primary school lands. It originated as follows- 
 When the public lands of the United States were sold to 
 private purchasers, the Government promised to set apart 
 one section of land in each township for educational pur- 
 poses.* The money derived from the sales of these sections 
 in Michigan was given to the State, for the use of the public 
 schools. This is called "the primary school fund." 
 
 Only the interest of this fund can be used, and this is 
 a[)portioned each year among the school districts, each dis- 
 trict receiving a sum proportioned to the number of school 
 children in the district. The total income is annually over 
 $600,000. (In 1889 it was $827,773.44). 
 
 2. The One-Mill Tax. On all the taxable property of the 
 State, there is levied an annual tax of one-mill on the dollar 
 for school purposes. It amounts on an average to about one 
 dollar per child. In 1S89 it was $672,465.09. 
 
 J. Direct School Tax. The Board of Education, or 
 School Trustees, make an estimate of the money necessary to 
 meet the expenses of the schools, and submit this estimate to 
 the people or their representatives. If this is approved, the 
 Supervisors assess the tax on the taxable property according 
 to valuation. The school tax is about one-third of the whole 
 amount of the direct taxes for all purposes. The sum raised 
 in this way in 1889 was $3,395 030.29. 
 
 School Libraries. Every township is required to main- 
 tain a township library, or a school library in each district. 
 
 * All the public lands of the United States are laid out in townships, each of which is 
 six miles square; and each township is subdivided into thirty-six sections, each containing 
 a square mile. 
 
EDUCATION AND THE STATE INSTITUTIONS. 37 
 
 All money received from fines for criminal cases, is applied to 
 the purchase of books, and a part of the one-mill tax may 
 also be appropriated for this purpose. 
 
 A total amount of more than $6,000,000 was thus raised 
 in 1889 for school purposes, more than one-half of which was 
 used to pay the salaries of over 16,000 teachers. 
 
 SECTION H-EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. 
 
 In addition to the Public Schools, already described, the 
 State maintains four higher institutions of learning, each in 
 its sphere designed to provide the means of securing the kind 
 and amount ot special training desired. 
 
 I. The University. It was established at Ann Arbor 
 in 1837, and hence has had an existence of 53 years. Within 
 that time its corps of three instructors has grown to 82, and 
 its list of students, which in its first catalogue contained but 
 53 names has reached a total of more than 2,000. 
 
 The governing body of the institution is a Board of Re- 
 gents, elected by popular vote for terms of eight years, as 
 provided in the constitution of the State. 
 
 The University has a permanent endowment fund derived 
 from the sale of lands dedicated to that purpose. It also re- 
 ceives for its support a twentieth of a mill tax on all the tax- 
 able property of the State, and an annual State appropriation. 
 Students who reside in the State pay an entrance fee of $10, 
 while for non-residents it is $25. The annual fees for inci- 
 dental expenses vary from $20 to $50. 
 
 The University comprises the following departments: 
 
 1. The Department of Literature, Science and the Arts. 
 
 2. The Department of Medicine and Surgery. 
 
 3. The Department of Law. 
 
 4. The School of Pharmacy. 
 
 5. The Homoeopathic Medical College. 
 
 6. The College of Dental Surgery. 
 
 Each of these departments has its faculty of instruction, 
 which is charged with its special management. The regular 
 
38 GEOGRAPHY OF MICHIGAN. 
 
 term in college covers four years; in the medical and dental 
 schools three years, and in the law school two years. For i6 
 years women have been admitted on equal terms with men. 
 
 The University possesses a fine astronomical observatory 
 containing a large telescope and other valuable apparatus; 
 also valuable libraries, containing, in the aggregate, nearly 
 75,000 volumes and pamphlets. The laboratories are fully 
 equipped, and the museums are supplied with numerous and 
 varied collections. Two valuable gifts have lately been made, 
 viz: The Lewis Art Gallery now in Coldwater, and the Rogers 
 collection of Arts. 
 
 In the hospitals, patients are received and treated with- 
 out charge, except for board and medicines, by the best of 
 specialists, who are numbered among the medical faculty. 
 This affords a good clinical school for the medical students. 
 
 2. The Norisial School, at Ypsilanti, is a training and 
 practice school designed to fit teachers for work in the com- 
 mon schools. Students of either sex who can pass an exam- 
 ination in the common English branches, and who will declare 
 in writing that they propose to devote themselves to the busi- 
 ness of teaching, are admitted. A tuition fee of ^10 per year 
 is required, and each member of the State Legislature is 
 entitled to appoint two students who are entered free of 
 charge. 
 
 3. The Agricultural College, at Lansing, was the 
 first State institution of the kind founded in the United States. 
 It was located in 1857 on a farm of 676 acres, three miles 
 from the capitol building. The leading object of this institu- 
 tion is to teach such branches as are related to agriculture. 
 
 The farm is well stocked and provided with fine build- 
 ings, barns, orchards, fruit and vegetable gardens, an aviary, 
 extensive lawns, and a large greenhouse. A large portion of 
 it is under systematic cultivation, and the students are re- 
 quired to work on the farm or garden three hours daily, for 
 which they are paid according to the work done. 
 
EDUCATION AND THE STATE INSTITUTIONS. 
 
 39 
 
 Tuition is free, and students who choose to apply them- 
 selves, can support themselves by the work 'done on the farm, 
 and obtain a thorough English education and training in all 
 the practical sciences. Among the practical subjects taught 
 are surveying, leveling and laying out of grounds, building, 
 stock breeding, mechanics as applied to implements, agricul- 
 tural chemistry, horticulture, etc. 
 
 4. The Mining School, located at Houghton, was 
 opened to students in September, 1886. 
 
 This school was organized to enable students to obtain a 
 full knowledge of the science, art, and practice of mining, and 
 the application of machinery thereto. 
 
 Provision has been made for obtaining a complete collec- 
 tion of the minerals of the Upoer Peninsula, and for col- 
 lecting and preserving information in regard to its mineral 
 resources. 
 
 Its location in the Upper Peninsula enables the student 
 to see, in actual operation, some of the most successful and 
 vast mining operations conducted anywhere, thus placing 
 him in an atmosphere in which all his surroundings and 
 associations are in conformity with his present and future 
 work. 
 
 Besides these institutions, there are other schools and 
 colleges supported by religious denominations, and by 
 private enterprise. Among these may be mentioned the fol- 
 lowing: 
 
 NAME OF INSTITUTION. 
 
 LOCATION. 
 
 DENOMINATION. 
 
 Adrian College 
 
 
 Methodist Protestant. 
 
 Albion College 
 
 Albion 
 
 Methodist Episcopal. 
 
 Alma College 
 
 Alma 
 
 
 Battle Creek College 
 
 Battle Creek 
 
 Hillsdale 
 
 
 Hillsdale College 
 
 Free Will Baptists. 
 
 Hope College 
 
 Holland 
 
 
 Kalamazoo College 
 
 Olivet College 
 
 Kalamazoo 
 
 Olivet.. 
 
 Baptist. 
 
 Mi;higan Female Seminary 
 
 Kalamazoo 
 
 Presbyterian. 
 
 
 Detroit 
 
 
 Michigan Military Academy 
 
 Orchard Lake 
 
 Non-sectarian, 
 
40 GEOGRAPHV OF MICHIGAN. 
 
 SECTION ni-CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS. 
 
 In addition to the educational institutions described in 
 Section II, there are others which have been established and 
 maintained by the State. These will now be described. The 
 first three may properly be called charitable-educational in- 
 stitutions. 
 
 1. The School for the Deaf, located at Flint, is the 
 oldest of the charitable institutions. It was opened in 1854 
 and was originally intended as a school for deaf mutes and for 
 the blind; the latter were received in the institution until the 
 opening of the School for the Blind, at Lansing, in 1879. 
 The deaf mutes are taught all the common English branches, 
 in the sign language. Instruction is also given in articulation, 
 and many of the pupils learn to talk intelligibly by watching 
 the position of the lips and vocal organs of the teachers and 
 by imitating them. The boys are taught farming, cabinet- 
 making, shoe-making and printing, and the girls, sewing, 
 knitting, printing and housework. 
 
 2. The School for the Blind, at Lansing, is similar 
 in its plan to that for deaf mutes. The instruction in read- 
 ing and writing is given by means pf raised and also by per- 
 forated letters. The latter system is much liked by the blind 
 students, as in this way they can read not only books prepared 
 for their use, but their own writing and that of their class 
 mates. 
 
 Basket-making, broom-making, piano tuning, and sewing, 
 knitting and bead-work are taught in the School for the 
 Blind. 
 
 No charge is made in either the School for the Blind or 
 for Deaf Mutes, to Michigan pupils, and indigent pupils are 
 provided with suitable clothing to the amount of ^^40. 00 per 
 year. 
 
 3. The State Public School, the first state institution 
 of the kind founded in the world, was located on a tarm near 
 Coldwater, in 1S74. It is intended for the support, instruction 
 and manual training of the dependent children of the State. 
 
EDUCATION AND THE STATE INSTITUTIONS. 4 1 
 
 Children from three to twelve years of age, who are free from 
 contagious diseases, are received, comfortably clothed, fed 
 and taught; and when they are old enough, they are trained to 
 work on the farm or in the dining-room, kitchen, bakery, 
 laundry or engine-room. 
 
 The children are divided into families, each occupying a 
 cottage, and being under the care of a lady cottage-manager. 
 Thus they have the surroundings and influences of a well- 
 /egulated home. A good school is maintained, which each 
 child is obliged to attend. 
 
 As soon as possible, suitable homes are found for the 
 children in private families. When this is done, a contract is 
 required that they will be properly treated as members of the 
 family, and educated. If this contract is violated, or the 
 children prove unmanageable, they are returned to the School. 
 Homes are found in a similar way for boys and girls from the 
 two Reform Schools, who are without suitable homes, and 
 who show evidence of reformation. 
 
 In this way, abandoned and neglected children, instead 
 of growing up in idleness and crime, are well cared for, and 
 placed in the way of becoming useful citizens. 
 
 4. The Soldier's Home is located at Grand Rapids, 
 and was founded in 1885, to furnish an asylum for all "honor- 
 ably discharged Union Soldiers and Sailors of the Civil War, 
 who would otherwise be dependent upon charity." It is, of 
 course, restricted to residents of the State. 
 
 5. The Asylums for the Insane are three in number, 
 located, respectively, at Kalamazoo, Pontiac and Traverse 
 City. The cost of maintaining indigent patients is charged 
 to the counties from which they are sent, for the first two 
 years, after which they become a charge of the State. 
 Patients who are able to pay are charged for care at a rate 
 determined by the trustees of the three asylums, jointly: 
 
 6. There is also an AsvluiM for Insane Criminals con- 
 nected with the House of Correction at Ionia. 
 
42 GEOGRAPHY OF MICHIGAN. 
 
 SECTION IV-REFORMATORY INSTITUTIONS. 
 
 1. The Reform School for Boys, at Lansing, is estab- 
 lished for the purpose of reclaiming children who have been 
 subject to evil influences, and have entered upon a life of vice 
 and crime. Boys between the ages of ten and sixteen who 
 have been convicted of offenses not punishable by law with 
 imprisonment for life, may be sent to this school, and kept 
 there until they are seventeen years of age. The Board of 
 Control has the power to liberate any inmate who has been 
 so far reformed as to justify his discharge, or to bind any in- 
 mate for a number of years to suitable persons. It may also 
 give boys leave of absence for a limited period or during 
 good behavior. 
 
 The aim of the school is to develop industrial and moral 
 habits; to educate and throw around young offenders the in- 
 fluences of home life; and to inculcate the habit of cheerful 
 and prompt obedience to lawful authority. 
 
 All are obliged to attend school about five hours each 
 day, and they are also employed during a portion of each 
 day in some of the following industrial occupations : Chair 
 caning, tailoring, baking, shoemaking, farming and printing. 
 
 2. The Industrial Home for Girls, at Adrian, has the 
 same general plan and aim as the Reform School. It is 
 designed for the reformation of wayward girls between the 
 ages of ten and seventeen ; and they may be retained until 
 they are twenty-one years of age, unless they earn an earlier 
 discharge by good behavior. 
 
 The girls are placed in cottages, the inmates of each cot- 
 tage forming a family and being in charge of a cottage-man- 
 a<^er. They are taught all kinds of domestic work, sewing, 
 gardening, and care of the grounds, besides having a half of 
 each day in the school room. During the last two years the 
 experiment of placing girls in approved families has been 
 tried with marked success. 
 
 SECTION V. -PENAL INSTITUTIONS. 
 
 Three penal institutions are supported by the State. The 
 House of Correction at Ionia, for prisoners convicted of 
 
EDUCATION AND THE STATE INSTITUTIONS. 43 
 
 minor offences ; the State Prison at Jackson ; and the 
 House of Correction and Branch of the State Prison at 
 Marquette, for the Upper Peninsula. The industries of these 
 institutions are managed under the contract system, the labor 
 being let to outside manufacturing establishments. 
 
 Persons convicted of crimes not punishable by imprison- 
 ment at Jackson or Ionia, are sent to the Detroit House of 
 Correction, a first-class penitentiary belonging to the city of 
 Detroit. Contracts are made by this institution for the keep- 
 ing of not only Michigan and United States prisoners, but of 
 those from newer states and territories without suitable 
 prisons. The term of confinement here varies from sixty days 
 to life sentences. The Detroit House of Correction is not a 
 State institution, but is under State inspection. _ It is the only 
 prison for women in the State. 
 
 ^ii> 
 
PART IV. 
 
 Civile QOVBRNMBNTT. 
 
 SECTION l-STATE GOVERNMENT. 
 
 Departments of Government. — The Government of the 
 State is divided into three departments : The executive, the 
 legislative and the judicial. The legislative department 
 makes the laws, the judicial interprets them, and the executive 
 carries them into effect. 
 
 the executive department. 
 
 At the general election which occurs every two years, in 
 November, certain executive offices are elected. They are 
 called State officers because their duties pertain to the whole 
 State. They are the following : 
 
 Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, Secretary of State, 
 Treasurer, Auditor General, Commissioner of the Land Office, 
 Attorney General, Superintendent of Public Instruction. 
 
 Governor. — The Governor is the chief executive officer 
 of the State. It is his duty to look after the general interests 
 of the State, and to see that the laws are faithfully executed. 
 He is required — 
 
 1. To give the legislature information of the condition 
 of the State, call their attention to any subjects upon which 
 legislation is needed, and recommend such measures as he 
 may deem expedient. 
 
 2. To convene the legislature when matters arise which 
 require their immediate attention. 
 
 3. To preserve peace and good order within the State, 
 and suppress riots and mobs. To this end he is commander- 
 in-chief of all the military forces of the State. 
 
 4. To fill vacancies in State offices, and to appoint cer- 
 tain State Boards. 
 
CIVIL GOVERNMENT. 45 
 
 The Governor has power to grant pardons, or to lessen 
 the severity of a sentence. 
 
 To be eligible to the office of Governor, a man must have 
 been a Citizen of the United States at least five years, and a 
 resident of the State for two years next before the election. 
 He must be not less than thirty years of age. 
 
 Lieutenant-Governor. — The Lieutenant Governor is 
 the President of the Senate. If a vacancy in the office of 
 Governor exists the Lieutenant Governor performs the duties 
 of the chief executive. His qualifications are the same as 
 those of Governor. 
 
 Secretary of State. — This officer preserves certain 
 books and papers belonging to the State, and the records of 
 the official acts and proceedings of the legislative and execu- 
 tive departments. He countersigns all commissions and pro- 
 clamations issued by the Governor, attends to the publication 
 and distribution of the laws of the State, receives reports from 
 corporations organized under the State law, and supervises 
 the census enumeration every ten years. 
 
 Treasurer. — The Treasurer receives and has charge of 
 all money belonging to the State. He is required to make an 
 annual report to the legislature of all money received and 
 paid out by him during the year and the balance remaining in 
 the treasury. 
 
 Auditor General. — The Auditor General is required to 
 examine the Treasurer's accounts monthly, and report to the 
 legislature. No money can be paid out of the treasury except 
 on the warrant of the Auditor General, and all receipts for 
 money paid to the Treasurer must be countersigned by him. 
 He superintends the collection of money due to the State, and 
 apportions the State tax among the counties; he issues war- 
 rants to the State Treasurer for all claims paid by the State. 
 
 Commissioner of the Land Office.-— This officer has 
 charge of all lands belonging to the State, or in which the 
 
46 GEOGRAPHY OF MICHIGAN. 
 
 State has an interest, and he is authorized to sell or dispose 
 of them in such manner as may be prescribed by law. 
 
 The Attorney General. — The Attorney General is 
 required to give his opinion upon all questions of law sub- 
 mitted to him by any State officer or by the legislature. He 
 must also give advice to Prosecuting Attorneys, in all matters 
 pertaining to the duties ot their office, when so requested by 
 them. He must prosecute and defend all actions in the Su- 
 preme Court, in which the State is interested, and appear for 
 the people of the State in all suits, when requested by the 
 Governor or by the Legislature. 
 
 Superintendent of Public Instruction. — This officer 
 has general supervision of the public schools, and State edu- 
 cational institutions; collects the school statistics of the State; 
 apportions the primary school interest fund to the counties; 
 organizes teachers' institutes and appoints instructors for 
 them; receives reports from superintendents of schools and 
 from all State and chartered educational institutions, makes 
 reports to the Gorvernor, and compiles and publishes the 
 School laAvs; visits all State educational institutions and 
 meets with the governing boards of such at least once in each 
 year; appoints visitors to the State University, aijd all char- 
 tered educational institutions, and prepares all questions used 
 in the examination of teachers throughout the State. 
 
 Boards and Commissioners. — Certain boards and com- 
 missioners are selected to assist the Governor in the perior- 
 mance of his duties. They have the general supervision and 
 control of various State institutions, and they perform duties 
 which concern the welfare of the whole state. These boards 
 and commissioners are appointed by the Governor, or are 
 elected by the people, or they are State officers, who, by vir- 
 tue of their office, serve on certain boards. 
 
 The following are some of the more important State 
 Boards: Board of Auditors, Board of Canvassers, Board of 
 Equalization, Board of Geological Survey, Board of Health, 
 
CIVIL GOVERNMENT. 47 
 
 Board of Corrections and Charities, Board of Pharmacy, 
 Board of Regents, State Board of Agriculture and State Board 
 of Education. 
 
 THE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT. 
 
 The Legislature. — The State Legislature is composed 
 of two houses: 
 
 1. The Senate. 
 
 2. The House of Representatives. 
 
 The Senate consists of thirty-two members and the House 
 of Representatives of one hundred. The Legislature enacts 
 laws, devises means for raising money to meet the public 
 expenses of the State, and perform such other duties as the 
 Constitution and laws of the State require. The members of 
 the Legislature are elected at the same time that State and 
 County officers are, and for a term of two years. 
 
 The State is divided into thirty-two senatorial districts, 
 and each district elects one Senator. The representatives are 
 elected by the people, one in each of the one hundred repre- 
 sentative districts in the State. 
 
 The Legislature meets every two years, at Lansing, on 
 the first Wednesday in January following the election of mem- 
 bers. The room in which the Senate meets is called the 
 Senate Chamber, and the one in which the Representatives 
 meet is called Representative Hall. Each Senator and Rep- 
 resentative takes an oath to suppont the Constitution of the 
 United States, and of Michigan, and to faithfully discharge 
 the duties of his office to the best of his ability. 
 
 Presiding Officers. The presiding officer of the Senate 
 is the Lieutenant-Governor; he is called the President of the 
 Senate. The House of Representatives chooses one of its 
 members to preside over it; he is called the Speaker. These 
 officers preserve order and see that the business before their 
 respective houses is properly attended to. 
 
 Message. — When the two houses are ready for business 
 the Governor presents to them his message. This is a written 
 statement of the condition of State affairs, with recommenda- 
 tions for such action as he deems necessarv or desirable. 
 
48 GEOGRAPHY OF MICHIGAN. 
 
 Standing Committees. — In each house, soon after its 
 organization, about forty-two committees are appointed by 
 the presiding officers. "Standing committee" is another 
 name for permanent committee. In these committees a great 
 part of the business of the Legislature is transacted. When a 
 subject is presented to either house, it is first referred to some 
 standing committee, aud after it has been properly considered, 
 it is reported back to the house in one of three ways: 
 
 1. Without recommendation. 
 
 2. With amendments. 
 
 3. With the recommendation that it be passed. 
 
 How a L.aw is Made. — Subjects may be presented to the 
 Legislature in three ways: 
 
 1. By the Governor. 
 
 2. By petitions from the people. 
 
 3. By bills presented by members of the Legislature. 
 
 A bill is a draft of a proposed law. When a bill is pre- 
 sented to one of the houses, it is first referred to some com- 
 mittee, who examines and returns it either without recom- 
 mendation, or with amendments, or with the recommendation 
 that it be passed. After the bill is reported back to the house 
 by the committee, it must be read three times by the clerk to 
 the house before the final vote. After a bill has passed one 
 house it is sent to the other and voted upon. If it passes that 
 house it is sent to the Governor to receive his signature, and 
 if he signs it the bill becomes a law. if he does not approve 
 of the bill, he refuses to sign it, and returns it with his objec- 
 tions to the house in which it originated. This action of the 
 Governor is called a veto. Notwithstanding the veto, if two- 
 thirds of the members of each house shall afterwards vote for 
 the bill, it becomes a law without his consent. If the Gover- 
 nor should not return the bill within ten days, not including 
 Sundays, it becomes a law without his signature. 
 
 United States Senators. — Besides making laws, the 
 legislature elects United States Senators. Each State is 
 entitled to two Senators in Congress, who hold their office six 
 
CIVIL GOVERNMENT. 49 
 
 years. The present Senators from Michigan are Senators 
 McMillan of Detroit, and Stockbridge of Kalamazoo. 
 
 THE JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT. 
 
 The Judicial department explains and applies the laws, 
 and administers justice according to the laws. This depart- 
 ment consists of the various courts which rise in importance 
 and power by regular steps from the lowest to the highest. 
 
 Courts. — The Judicial power is vested in the following 
 courts : 
 
 A Supreme Court. Circuit Courts, Probate Courts, Muni- 
 cipal Courts, Justices' Courts. 
 
 Supreme Court. —The Supreme Court is the highest 
 judicial court in the State. Its chief duty is to decide whether 
 the cases appealed have been properly tried or not. The 
 Supreme Court consists of one Chief Justice and four Associ- 
 ate Judges, who are elected for a term of ten years, one being 
 elected every two years. The Judge whose term of office 
 first expires, or, in other words, who has served as Judge eight 
 years, becomes Chief Justice. This Court meets at Lansing, 
 and four terms are held annually. 
 
 Circuit Courts. — The State is divided into twenty-eight 
 districts, or judicial circuits, in each of which a Circuit Judge 
 is elected for a term of six years. A judicial circuit embraces 
 usually two or more counties, but in thickly populated districts 
 may contain but one. These Courts have jurisdiction in 
 grave offenses, and are usually held four times a year in each 
 county. If either party in a suit be dissatisfied with a decision 
 ot the Circuit Court, the case may be appealed to the next 
 higher Court, which is the Supreme Court. 
 
 Probate Court. — There is a Probate Court in each 
 county, presided over by a Probate Judge. This Court has 
 charge of matters relating to the estates of deceased persons ; 
 it has power to decide whether a document supposed to be a 
 deceased person's will is legal or not, to appoint guardians for 
 
50 GEOGRAPHY OF MICHIGAN. 
 
 minors and to exercise general control over their estates. It 
 may also appoint persons to settle the estate ol any one who 
 dies without making a will. Cases may be appealed from this 
 Court to the Circuit Court. The Probate Judge is elected for 
 a term of four years. 
 
 Municipal Courts. — In large cities like Detroit and 
 Grand Rapids, where there is too much business for the ordi- 
 nary Courts, other Courts are established by special act of the 
 Legislature. These are called Municipal Courts. The 
 Superior Court and the Police Court are of this kind ; the 
 Superior Court being of the same grade as the Circuit Court, 
 and the Police Court as the Justice Court, although Police 
 Courts have no jurisdiction in civil cases. 
 
 Justice Courts. — The lowest Courts are the Justice 
 Courts, held in every township and city by Justices of the 
 Peace. These have jurisdiction over cases of comparatively 
 small importance. After a case has been tried in a Justice 
 Court, it may be appealed to- the next higher Court for a new 
 trial. This is done when one of the parties in a suit is dissat- 
 isfied with the decision of a Justice Court. Justices of the 
 Peace are elected for a term of four years. Usually four are 
 elected in each township and city. 
 
 Juries. — A body of men selected according to law, to 
 inquire into and try any matter of fact and to declare the truth 
 of it, is a jury. There are two kinds of juries : 
 
 1. Grand Juries. 
 
 2. Petit Juries. 
 
 Grand Jury. — This is a jury of not less than sixteen, and 
 generally not more than twenty-three well-informed men, 
 who are summoned to decide whether there is sufficient evi- 
 dence against a person accused of a crime to warrant his 
 prosecution. At least twelve of them must decide that there 
 is sufficient ground for a trial;* and they present a written 
 accusation, called an indictment, to the court. The accused 
 is then held for trial. 
 
CIVIL GOVERNMENT. 5 I 
 
 Another method of procedure, and the one most common 
 in this St^te, is for the complaint to be made before a Justice 
 of the Peace, who holds an examination of the accused, and if 
 probably guilty he is bound over to the Circuit Court for trial. 
 
 Petit Jurv. — This is a jury which hears testimony for 
 and against the accused, (if it be a criminal case) and decides 
 whether he is guilty or innocent of the crime charged. It 
 must unanimously agree as to the guilt of a person before 
 sentence can be passed upon him. After an accused person 
 has been acquitted he can not be tried again on the same 
 charge. 
 
 In a Justice court a petit Jury consists of six persons ; in 
 a higher court, of twelve persons. Petit Juries sit in civil as 
 well as in criminal ckses. 
 
 Notaries Public. — These are appointed by the Governor 
 and confirmed by the Senate. Their term of office is four 
 years. They are authorized to administer oaths, to take sworn 
 statements in writing, called affidavits, and to perform various 
 other duties connected with legal and commercial papers. 
 
 .REVIEW outline. 
 DEPARTMENTS. 
 
 I. Executive. 2. Legislative. 3. Judicial. 
 I. executive department. 
 I. Object, to enforce the laws. 
 II. The Governor of the State, the chief officer. 
 
 1. Qualifications for Governor and Lieutenant-Governor. 
 
 2. When and how chosen. 
 
 3. Term of office. 
 
 4. Salary. 
 
 5. Powers and duties. 
 III. Other executive officers. 
 
 1. Term of office of each. 
 
 2. Salary of each. 
 
 3. Powers and duties of each. 
 
 2. legislative department. 
 I. Object, to make the laws. 
 II. Senate. 
 
52 
 
 GEOGRAPHY OF MICHIGAN. 
 
 IV 
 
 Number of members. 
 When and how chosen. 
 Term of office. 
 Duties. 
 III. House of Representatives. 
 Number of members. 
 When and how chosen. 
 Term of office. 
 Duties. 
 The Legislature. 
 Sessions. 
 
 Powers and duties. 
 Salaries of members. 
 Bills passed, how? 
 
 3. JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT. 
 
 I. Object, to interpret and apply the laws. 
 II. Courts. 
 
 r. Judges — how chosen — term of office of each. 
 2. Jurisdiction of each court. 
 
 III. Juries. 
 
 1. Grand Jury — composition and duties of 
 
 2. Petit jury — composition and duties of. 
 
 3. Drawing of jurors. 
 
 IV. Notaries Public — duties of. 
 
 SECTION tl-COUNTIES AND TOWNSHIPS. 
 COUNTIES. 
 
 It would not be possible for the different State depart- 
 ments to attend to the public business, and the special wants 
 of every part of the State. The State is accordingly divided 
 into counties, and officers are appoined in each county to at- 
 tend to its more immediate interests.* 
 
 County Seat. — In every county, some town is selected 
 where the business of the county is transacted. This is called 
 the county seat. Here there is a court house, a jail, county 
 offices and other public buildings. 
 
 *There are eiahty-four counties in tlie St.ite. fifteen iif which are in or near the Upper 
 Peninsula. 
 
CIVIL GOVERNMENT. 53 
 
 County Officers. — At the general election, when State 
 officers are elected, the following county officers are also 
 elected : Sheriff, Clerk, Treasurer, Register of Deeds, Prose- 
 cuting Attorney, Surveyor, Coroners, Circuit Court Commis- 
 sioners, Probate Judge. These officers, with the exception of 
 Probate Judge, are elected for two years. 
 
 The Sheriff. — The sheriff is the principal executive 
 officer of the county. He is required to preserve peace and 
 good order within the county ; to attend all sessions of the 
 Circuit Court, and preserve order in the court room, and 
 execute all writs and orders of the court, and to take charge 
 of the county jail. The sheriff appoints an under-sheriff and 
 deputies to assist him in the performance of his duties. 
 
 Clerk. — -The County Clerk is the clerk of the Board of 
 Supervisors, and is also clerk of the Circuit Court when it is 
 held within the county. He is required to keep a journal of 
 the proceedings of the Circuit Court, and preserve all books 
 and papers belonging to the office. He issues marriage 
 licenses, and keeps a record of the births, deaths and mar- 
 riages within the county, besides performing various other 
 duties. 
 
 Treasurer. — The County Treasurer receives and has 
 charge of all the money belonging to the county. He receives 
 from the Township Treasurers the State tax, and pays it over 
 to the State Treasurer. He also conducts the annual sale of 
 lands on which the taxes have not been pai^. 
 
 Register of Deeds. — It is the duty of the Register of 
 Deeds to, keep a register of all deeds, mortgages and other 
 papers relating to real property and which are required by law 
 to be recorded. In this way it can be readily ascertained 
 when property is mortgaged, and to what extent, and whether 
 the legal title is good or 'not. All transfers of property and 
 legal instruments are in this way preserved, and can easily be 
 referred to at any time, by interested parties. 
 
 Prosecuting Attorney. — The Prosecuting Attorney is 
 the legal officer of the county. It is his duty to prosecute all 
 
54 GEOGRAPHY OF MICHIGAN. 
 
 persons who have been guilty of any crime within the county^ 
 give legal advice to county ofificers in matters relating to their 
 duties when so requested, and prosecute and defend all suits 
 in the county in which the county is interested. 
 
 Surveyor. — The Surveyor makes such surveys in the 
 county as are required. He determines the location and 
 boundaries of lands, and keeps a record of all surveys made. 
 All surveys are required to be made in accordance with cer • 
 tain principles established by law, so that there may be a uni- 
 form system in the several counties of the State. 
 
 Coroners. — Two Coroners are elected in each county to 
 investigate the causes of all sudden and suspicious deaths 
 within the county. Coroners are sometimes required to per- 
 form the duties of a sheriff. This is when the sheriff is an in- 
 terested party in a suit. 
 
 Circuit Court Commissioners. — In each county of the 
 State there is a Circuit Court Commissioner, and in some of 
 the more prosperous counties there are two. They are auth- 
 orized to perform many of the duties that a Circuit Judge 
 would be obliged to perform, if it were not for their assistance. 
 
 Probate Judge. — See Judicial Department. 
 
 Board of Supervisors. — In each county there is a 
 Board of Supervisors, consisting of one from each township 
 and one from each ward of a city. The Board of Supervis- 
 ors is a legislative body. The Supervisors have the general 
 care and supervision of the county buildings; provide for the 
 raising of money to meet the current expenses of the county; 
 fix the salaries of certain county ofificers; apportion -the State 
 and county tax among the several townships; equalize the 
 taxes among the townships of the county; examine and settle 
 all claims against the county; divide the county into represen- 
 tative districts, and form new townships and alter the boun- 
 daries of others. Supervisors are elected for one year. 
 
 Superintendents of the Poor. — In every county three 
 Superintendents of the Poor are elected by the Board of 
 Supervisors. They have the care of the poor of the county. 
 
CIVIL GOVERNMENT. 55 
 
 the general management of the county poor-house, and are 
 also inspectors of the jails. 
 
 RECAPITULATION. 
 COUNTY OFFICERS. 
 
 r Sheriff. 
 Clerk. 
 Treasurer. 
 Executive -> Register of Deeds. 
 
 Prosecuting Attorney. 
 Surveyor. 
 Coroners. 
 ^ Superintendents of the Poor. 
 ( Circuit Judge. 
 Judicial s Circuit Court Commissioners. 
 ( Probate Judge. 
 Legislative — Board of Supervisors. 
 
 TOWNSHIPS. 
 
 Each county is divided into townships. The township is 
 the smallest division of our political system. (A ward in a 
 city corresponds to a township in the county.) 
 
 Meetings. — The annual meeting of each .township is 
 held on the first Monday in April, at which time officers are 
 elected, money is appropriated to meet the expenses of the 
 township, and matters of interest connected with the township 
 are discussed. Special meetings may be called by the Town- 
 ship Board. 
 
 Officers. — The following township officers are elected 
 annually, excepting the Justices of the Peace, who are elected 
 for four years, and School Inspector and Drain Commissioner, 
 who are elected for two years; Supervisor, Clerk, Treasurer, 
 School Inspector, Highway Commissioner, Drain Commis- 
 sioner, Justices of the Peace, Constables. 
 
 [Learn the powers and duties of each of the above.] 
 Township officers do not receive a salary, but are paid 
 for each day necessarily devoted by them to the service of 
 the township. 
 
56 GEOGRAPHY OF MICHIGAN. 
 
 SECTION lll-CITIES AND VILLAGES. 
 
 CITIES. 
 
 A city is a corporate town, governed by a Mayor and a 
 Board of Aldermen, called a Common Council. A city is 
 said to be incorporated when certain powers are conferred 
 upon it by the Legislature. The instrument by which it is in- 
 corporated is called a charter. A charter is really the consti- 
 tution of the city, as it defines the duties and powers of the 
 city officers and of the Common Council. 
 
 Officers. — In all cities, two classes of officers are 
 elected: 
 
 1. City Officers. 
 
 2. Ward Officers. 
 
 The City Officers are: Mayor, Clerk, Treasurer, Comp- 
 troler, Marshal, Director of the Poor. 
 
 Mayor. — The Mayor is the chief executive officer of the 
 city. He stands in about the same relation to the city that 
 the Governor does to the State. It is his duty to look after 
 the general interests of the city, and see that the laws of the 
 city, and the ordinances and regulations of the council are 
 enforced. He is the presiding officer of the council, and he 
 is required from time to time to give information to them 
 concerning the affairs of the city, and to recommend such 
 measures as he may think best. In order to keep peace and 
 good order within the city, he may exercise the powers con- 
 ferred upon a sheriff, and summon to his assistance all able- 
 bodied men in the city. 
 
 Clerk. — The Clerk is required to "keep a record of the 
 proceedings of the Common Council, preserve all books, 
 papers and records of the city, and countersign and register 
 all city licenses. He also keeps a record of chattel mortgages, 
 and is the custodi.^n of all bonds. He also keeps the seal 
 of the city. 
 
 Treasurer. — The Treasurer receives and has charge of 
 all money belonging the city, and keeps an account of all 
 receipts and expenditures. 
 
CIVIL GOVERNMENT. 57 
 
 Comptroller. — The Comptroller is the general account- 
 ant of the city; he examines all claims against the city and 
 reports them to the Common Council for payment, and keeps 
 an account of all money received and paid out by the 
 Treasurer. 
 
 Mar-shal.- The Marshal has the general care of the 
 highways, streets and sidewalks. He is also authorized to 
 abate nuisances. 
 
 Director of Poor. — The Director of Poor must look 
 after the poor of the city and provide assistance when 
 necessary. 
 
 Ward Officers. — The city is divided into smaller 
 divisions, called Wards. In each ward the following officers 
 are elected: Supervisor, Constable, Collector, two Aldermen. 
 
 The Supervisor in each ward makes a list of all persons 
 liable to be taxed, with a correct valuation of their property. 
 The Collector in each ward collects these taxes. 
 
 Constables are required to obey all lawful orders of the 
 Mayor, Aldermen and Justices of the Peace. 
 
 Two Aldermen are elected in each ward. The Aldermen 
 are members of the Common Council. 
 
 Common Council. — The Mayor and Aldermen consti- 
 tute the Common Council. This is the legislative body of 
 the city, and has the power to pass such ordinances and regu- 
 lations as the interests of the city seem to demand. 
 
 Other Officers. — Certain officers are appointed by the 
 Common Council; these are — 
 
 1. City Attorney, who is the legal adviser of the Com- 
 mon Council and city officers. 
 
 2. City Surveyor, who makes all official surveys within 
 the city limits. 
 
 3. City Physician, who is the medical attendant of the 
 poor of the city. 
 
58 GEOGRAPHY OF MICHIGAN. 
 
 4. Highway Commissioners, who repair damages to 
 streets, etc., and also see that the streets are kept clean. 
 
 Boards. — In large cities where there is too much busi- 
 ness for the ordinary city officers, boards are selected who 
 attend to special duties. 
 
 Board of Equalization and Review. — Its members 
 are elected by the people. They see that the taxes are prop- 
 erly assessed; they also make assessment rolls for street im- 
 provements. 
 
 Board of Police and Fire Commissioners. — Members 
 are appointed by the Mayor and common council. They 
 have the general supervision of the police and fire depart- 
 ments. 
 
 Board of Public Works. — Members are appointed by 
 the Mayor. They have charge of the public improvements 
 of the city, as the building of bridges, improvements of 
 water works, grading of streets, etc. 
 
 Board of Health. — Members are appointed. They 
 look after the sanitary condition of the city. 
 
 Board of Education. — Its members are elected by the 
 people. They have the general supervision of the public 
 schools. 
 
 villages. 
 
 A village may be said to occupy a place midway between 
 a city and a township. The powers conferred upon a village 
 are not as extensive as those conferred upon a city, while, on 
 the other hand, a village exercises greater powers than are 
 exercised by a township. Villages are smaller than cities and 
 are not divided into wards. They are governed by a Presi- 
 dent and six trustees. The officers elected in a village are : 
 President, Clerk, Treasurer, Street Commissioners, Assessor, 
 Constable, and Trustees. 
 
 [Give the powers and duties of each.] 
 
 As cities and villages are incorporated by a special act of 
 
CIVIL GOVERN.MENT. 59 
 
 the Legislature, they will necessarily vary somewhat in the 
 number of their officers, their powers, and the mode of select- 
 ing them. In some cities certain officers are elected who in 
 other cities are appointed by the Common Council. A copy 
 of the city or village charter should be obtained and compar- 
 isons made with the foregoing statements. 
 
 RECAPITULATION. 
 CITY OFFICERS. 
 
 Mayor. 
 Clerk. 
 Treasurer. 
 Comptroller. 
 Executive-! Marshal. 
 
 Street Commissioner. 
 Attorney. 
 Surveyor. 
 L Director of Poor. 
 ( Justices of the Peace. 
 Judicial./ Police Court Judge. 
 
 ( Superior Court Judge. 
 Legislative — Common Council. 
 ( Supervisor. 
 Ward Officers ■< Constable. 
 ( Aldermen. 
 
 SECTION IV-ELECTIONS AND TAXES. 
 
 ELECTIONS. 
 
 Elections are held at specified times for the purpose of 
 choosing State, district, county, township, city and village 
 officers. Severe penalties are enacted for the punishment of 
 bribery, tampering with ballots, or ballot-boxes, illegal voting, 
 selling and giving away liquor on election day, and all other 
 means that have for their object the prevention of a full and 
 free expression of the popular will. 
 
 The law provides for three regular elections — 
 
 1. A general election in November. 
 
 2. An April election. 
 
 3. A March election. 
 
6o GEOGRAPHY OF MICHIGAN. 
 
 Fall Election. — Once in two years, on the Tuesday fol- 
 lowing the first Monday in November, a general election is 
 held throughout the State, at which the people choose by 
 ballot their Governor, Lieutenant-Governor and other State 
 officers, members of the Legislature, Representatives in Con- 
 gress, and all county officers. The President and Vice-Presi- 
 dent are also chosen at this time every four years. 
 
 April Election. — On the first Monday in April, in each 
 organized township, village or city, the people elect their city 
 and township officers. Judges of the Supreme and Circuit 
 Courts, and Regents of the State University are elected at the 
 April election. 
 
 March Election, — On the second Monday in March of 
 each year occurs the election of village officers. 
 
 Suffrage. — Persons who have the right to vote are called 
 electors. To be entitled to vote, a person must be twenty-one 
 years of age, and have resided in the State three months, and 
 in the township or ward where he offers his vote, the ten days 
 next preceding the election. 
 
 Persons born in other countries are called aliens, and 
 before they can vote, they must either become citizens, or 
 declare their intentions to become citizens. They may vote 
 after living in the State two and one-half years, having de- 
 clared their intention to become citizens six months previous 
 to the election. 
 
 Paupers, insane persons, and idiots are not allowed to 
 vote, since they are not capable of acting for themselves. 
 Criminals cannot vote during their imprisonment. 
 
 Boards. — Certain Boards are designated by law to super- 
 intend the registration of voters, and to receive and canvass- 
 the votes cast for the various officers. These are — 
 Boards of Registration. 
 Inspectors of Election. 
 County Canvassers. 
 
 4. District Canvassers. 
 
 5. State Canvassers. 
 [What are the duties of each ?] 
 
CIVIL GOVERNMENT. 6 1 
 
 Registration. — Every voter is required by law to have 
 his name properly registered in the election district in which 
 he resides, before he is permitted to vote. Previous to an 
 election, the proper officers meet to record the names of all 
 qualified voters who present themselves for registration. 
 
 TAXES. 
 
 Money is necessary to pay the ordinary expenses of 
 municipal, township, county and state governments, and the 
 salaries of officers ; to erect public buildings, establish and 
 repair roads, build bridges and school houses, support schools, 
 etc. For this purpose taxes are levied in such a way that each 
 one pays in proportion to the value of his property. 
 
 How Taxes are Levied. — An estimate is made by the 
 proper officers of the amount of money required. They then 
 sum up the estimates made by the assessors of the value of 
 the property liable to be taxed. From these data they ascer- 
 tain the percentage of tax that must be collected from each 
 person. 
 
 Property Exempt from Taxation. — Certain property is 
 not subject to taxation. This includes United States property; 
 state, county, township, city and village* property; certain 
 property of individuals; churches and school houses, and the 
 property of all benevolent, charitable and scientific institu- 
 tions. 
 
 Time of Collection. — The time fixed for the collection 
 of taxes begins in the month ot December of each year. At 
 that time it is the duty of every person owning taxable prop- 
 erty to go to the proper officer and pay the tax. It is not the 
 duty of the officer to demand it. 
 
 If a person refuses or neglects to pay his taxes, as much 
 of his property is sold as is necessary to pay them. 
 
 If taxes are not paid before the first of January, four per 
 cent, is added for collection dues. 
 
PART v.— HISTORY. 
 
 Michigan derives its name from the two Chippewa words, 
 Mitchaw, great, and Lagiegan, lake, which signify, the country 
 of the great lakes. This is a very appropriate name, since 
 Michigan is almost surrounded by lakes, and contains more 
 than 5,000 smaller interior ones. 
 
 The aborigines of Michigan were Indians, of whom most 
 in the southern peninsula were Ottawas and Potawatamies, 
 and in the northern peninsula were Chippewas and Menom- 
 inees. It is an interesting fact to us, that every spring after 
 the hunt, large numbers of Indians from all over the State 
 met in the valley of the Owashtanong, which is now Grand 
 River, and held their annual feast or pow-pow. 
 
 MICHIGAN UNDER FRENCH RULE, 161O-1760. 
 
 Michigan was visited as early as 1610 by French mission- 
 aries and fur traders of Canada, though no settlements were 
 made at that time.^ 
 
 First Settlements. — In 1641, the first bark canoe laden 
 with French Jesuits, paddled through the Ottawa River to the 
 Falls of Ste. Marie. The first permanent white settlement in 
 Michigan, of which there exists any authentic account, was 
 made in 1668, by Father Marquette, the brave missionary and 
 explorer, who founded a mission at Sault-de-Ste-Marie for the 
 purpose of converting the Indians. 
 
 In 167 1, Father Marquette founded the mission of St. 
 Ignatius or St. Ignace, on the north side of the Straits of 
 Michilimackinac, and soon after Fort Mackinac was estab- 
 lished on the south side of the Straits. 
 
 In 1679, LaSalle, a famous explorer, sailed through the 
 great lakes in the Griffin, the first vessel that ever passed 
 through them; and established Fort St. Joseph at the mouth of 
 the St. Joseph river. 
 
HISTORY. 63 
 
 Detroit, the most important of all the early settlements, 
 was founded in 1701, by a French priest named La Motte 
 Cadillac. The actual settlement of Michigan, for the purpose 
 of colonization and civil government, dates from this time. 
 
 Forts were established by the French traders for the pur- 
 pose of exchanging goods with the Indians for furs. The 
 French missionaries established missions or churches near 
 the trading posts, where they preached to the Indians. All 
 the forts and missions were rude buildings of logs, in most 
 cases surrounded by a stockade. The inhabitants were sol- 
 diers, workingmen and priests, sent out by the French to 
 build up the trading posts. 
 
 The labors of the French missionaries in these wild 
 regions added much to the knowledge of the geography of the 
 country, and their religious teachings, no doubt, did much to 
 soften'the savage nature of the Indians. Father Marquette 
 was one of the most noted of these early missionaries. After 
 establishing the settlement in Michigan, he explored the 
 Mississippi River to the mouth of the Arkansas. He returned 
 by the way of the Illinois River, where he stopped to preach 
 to the Indians. They wished him to remain with them, but 
 his strength was failing and he hurried towards home. He 
 died at the mouth of the Pere Marquette River and was buried 
 on its banks by his Indian guides. Two years later his body 
 was removed to Point St. Ignace by a party of his Indian 
 converts. 
 
 French and Indian War, 1754-1760. — During the whole 
 period of French control, extending from the first settlement 
 of the country down to the year 1760, the northwest territory 
 was a vast ranging ground for the numerous tribes of Indians 
 that roamed over it in savage independence. It was the 
 theater for most of the important military operations of the 
 French soldiers at the west, and for the Jesuit missionaries 
 who strove to gain the influence of the red men in behalf of 
 their government as well as their church by converting them 
 to the Catholic faith. 
 
64 GEOGRAPHY OF MICHIGAN. 
 
 Both the French and British in many places laid claim 
 to the same territory, and quarrels arose which finally resulted 
 in the French and Indian War. so-called because the French 
 and Indians fought together against the British. The British 
 were victorious, and, in 1760, the French were obliged to give 
 up to them all their trading posts along the lakes (Ste. Marie, 
 Mackinac and St. Joseph). 
 
 The territory had belonged to France for 150 years, and 
 had been the sites of missions for 90 years. During all these 
 years the colonists had been loyal to France. The Indians 
 had profited by the skill of their neighbors and could in times 
 ot peace raise sufficient food, and their other needs were sup- 
 plied through the barter of furs. A hundred years had done 
 less to settle and improve the country than is now often 
 accomplished by some little colony in Dakota during a single 
 year. It was the end of French rule, and it had proved fatal 
 to all real progress. 
 
 MICHIGAN UNDER BRITISH RULE, 1760-1796. 
 
 The British had possession of Michigan from 1760 until 
 1796, although by the treaty at the close of the War of the 
 Revolution (17S3) it had been ceded to the United States 
 The change of possession intensified the hostility of the sav- 
 age. The British were haughty and overbearing, and showed 
 plainly that they felt no friendship for the Indians. 
 
 The French traders had kept their eager desire for wealth 
 within bounds, so as to retain the good will of the Indians; 
 and some of the new traders were disposed to deal fairly. 
 But others of the British, to use the words ot Parkman, the 
 historian, ''were ruffians of the coarsest stamp, who vied with 
 each other in rapacity, violence and profligacy. They 
 cheated, plundered and cursed the Indians, and outraged their 
 families, offering, when compared with the French traders who 
 were under better regulation, a most unfavorable example of 
 the character of their nation." 
 
 The result can readily be forseen: The Indians had been 
 
HISTORY. 65 
 
 the natural ally of the French, and both were ready to do any- 
 thing to restore French dominion. 
 
 In 1763, with Pontiac for a leader, the Indians formed a 
 plan to drive all the British from the country. 
 
 PoNTiAC's War, 1763. — Pontiac was one of the most 
 noted Indians in the history of Michigan. He was remarkable 
 for his shrewdness and bravery, and for his influence over his 
 tribe. He was an effecti\'e speaker, and a bold and crafty 
 warrior, and was well fitted in every way to be the leader in 
 the uprising against the English. 
 
 He was an Ottawa chief and formerly an ally of the 
 French. His home was about eight miles above Detroit. 
 Possessed of savage strength and energy, greatly esteemed by 
 both French and English, and having greater influence than 
 any other individual among the lake tribes, this daring chief 
 prepared to dispute the British claims to the territory of the 
 lakes. 
 
 Pontiac's plan was to attack all the British posts west of 
 the Alleghany mountains at about the same time. The 
 Indians were to massacre all the soldiers at the garrisons, and 
 thus, at a single stroke, they hoped to rid themselves of the 
 people whom they hated. The plan included a line of trading 
 posts scattered from Niagara to Chicago, twelve in all, three 
 of which (St. Joseph, Michilimackinac and Detroit) were in 
 Michigan. Pontiac appointed different chiefs to lead the 
 attacks on the several posts, reserving the attack on Detroit 
 for himself. 
 
 Detroit, May 7, 1763. Pontiac's first attack on Detroit 
 was a failure, because the plan of the attack had been 
 betrayed to the commander of the fort by an Indian girl- 
 The Indians entered the fort as though to make a friendly 
 visit and were, to all appearances, unarmed, having con- 
 cealed their weapons under their blankets. It had been 
 a;-ranged that Pontiac should make a speech to Major Glad- 
 wyn, and in the midst of it give a signal to his warriors who 
 
66 GEOGRAPHY OF MICHIGAN. 
 
 were to strike down all the officers of the fort, and then the 
 massacre was to be continued by the bands of savages who 
 were waiting outside the fort. When the Indians entered the 
 fort they found the soldiers armed and on their guard, so 
 Pontiac made a very brief speech, expressing great friendli- 
 ness toward the English and then he and his followers with- 
 drew. 
 
 Two days later the Indians began a siege of Detroit 
 which lasted from early May until October. Towards the 
 end of October the provisions in the fort became nearly ex- 
 hausted, but a scarcity arose among the Indians at about the 
 same time and they were obliged to raise the siege and go on 
 their annual hunt. 
 
 St. Joseph, May 25, 1763 — Fort St. Joseph was held 
 by fifteen men. In May a band of Potawatamies gained 
 admission to the fort, through pretended friendship, afld 
 massacred all except the commander and three men. 
 
 MiCHiLiiMACKiNAc, JuNE 2, 1 763. — Mackinac was taken 
 by strategem. The Indians began a game of balk outside the 
 fort, and when the soldiers had become interested in watch- 
 ing the game, the ball was thrown inside the stockade appar- 
 ently by mistake. The players rushed after it and once inside, 
 were furnished with weapons by squaws, who had strolled fnto 
 the fort with the tomahawks hidden under their blankets. 
 More than half the soldiers of the garrison were massacred 
 and the rest taken prisoners. 
 
 During the six months that followed the- attacks on the 
 forts, hundreds of families were murdered or driven from 
 their homes. At the end of that time more British troops 
 arrived and put an end to the war. Pontiac fled to Illinois 
 where he was assassinated by an Indian who, it is said, had 
 been bribed by a British trader to commit the deed for a 
 barrel of whisky. 
 
 On account of the Indian troubles the condition of Mich- 
 igan did not improve tor a long time. There were no roads 
 
HISTORY. 67 ' 
 
 except along the river below Detroit, and little was known of 
 the interior except to the fur traders and the Indians. 
 
 The Revolutionary War, 1775-1783. — The Revolu- 
 tionary war broke out in 1775, but Michigan, on account of 
 her remote position, took no part in it. No battles were 
 fought within her boundaries, although there was some 
 trouble on the frontier. The war lasted for eight years, and 
 at the end of that time the independence of the United States 
 was acknowledged by England. The British, however, held 
 many of the forts until 1796, when Michigan was given over 
 to the United States, and included in what is known as the 
 Northwest Territory. 
 
 MICHIGAN UNDER AMERICAN RULE, 1796-1813. 
 
 The territory northwest of the Ohio river was claimed by 
 several of the eastern states, on the ground that it was includ- 
 ed within the limits indicated by their charters from the 
 English Crown. These states patriotically surrendered their 
 claims to the territory, to aid in the payment of the national 
 debt. 
 
 In 1787 a government was organized for this region, which 
 received the name Northwest Territory. It embraced the 
 present states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and 
 Michigan. 
 
 The settlement of Michigan up to this time had advanced 
 but slowly, and it was long after this district came into the 
 possession of the United States, before its character was 
 materially changed. No roads had as yet been constructed 
 through the interior, nor were there any settlements except 
 on the frontier. The habits of the people were military, and 
 but little attention was paid to agriculture, except by the 
 French peasantry. 
 
 In 1800 the Northwest Territory was divided into two 
 territories, the one retaining the name Northwest Territory, 
 the other receiving the name of Indiana Territory. The 
 former embraced the eastern half and the latter the western 
 
68 GEOGRAPHY OF MICHIGAN. 
 
 half of Michigan, the dividing line, north and south, passing 
 near Mackinac. At this time Detroit contained about three 
 hundred houses. The only cultivated lands were contained 
 in a strip three miles wide, bordering on the Detroit river and 
 the lakes, except a few hundred acres about Mackinac. More 
 than three-fourths of the population were French, and Catho- 
 lics in religion. Two-thirds were males. 
 
 In 1S03, Ohio was admitted to the Union, and all of 
 Michigan became a part of Indiana Territory, and so contin- 
 ued until 1805, when it was organized as a separate territory, 
 with Detroit as the seat of government. 
 
 President Jefferson appointed General Wm. Hull Gov- 
 ernor of the Territory, and he reached Detroit July i, 1805. 
 He was an officer of the Revolution, but at the age of fifty-two 
 was entirely unfitted for the duties required on the western 
 frontier. 
 
 Just before the arrival of Governor Hull, the little town 
 of Detroit had been entirely consumed by fire. The people 
 were encamped in the fields with scanty food and little shelter, 
 but they were not discouraged by the misfortune which had 
 befallen them, and at once began to rebuild the city. In 
 rebuilding, the city was laid out on the handsome and exten- 
 sive plan which has since been carried out. 
 
 War of 181 2. — After Pontiac's war there was no serious 
 trouble with the Indians for nearly fifty years, or until the year 
 181 1. In the latter part of that year the tribes again united 
 with Tecumseh, a Shawnee chief, for their leader. The 
 Indians had been roused to war by British agents, who wished 
 to have their help in the war which was threatened between 
 England and the United States. Tecumseh's plan was similar 
 to Pontiac's: to simultaneously attack the forts and to unite 
 the tribes from New York to the Mississippi. When the 
 Americans learned that Tecumseh was planning to attack 
 their forts, they collected troops in Ohio and put them under 
 the command of General Hull. They started to march to 
 
HISTORY. 69 
 
 Detroit, and while on their way received news from Washing- 
 ton that war had been declared between England and the 
 
 United States. This was the war of 181 2. 
 
 The Americans deciding to invade Canada, General Hull 
 crossed the Detroit River and began making preparations to 
 attack some of the Canadian forts. In the midst ot his 
 preparations, he learned that the British and Indians were 
 planning an attack upon his forces, and he hastily retreated to 
 Detroit. 
 
 Surrender of Detroit, 181 2. — Detroit was attacked by 
 the British and Indians under Generals Brock and Tecumseh. 
 As the British marched to attack the fort, the Americans 
 expected every instant the order to fire, but General Hull 
 seemed to loose all presence of mind. While his men, it is 
 said, wept at the disgrace, he raised the white flag and sur- 
 rendered to the British. This was a surrender not of Detroit 
 alone, but of the whole of Michigan. 
 
 General Hull was accused of treason, cowardice and 
 criminal neglect of duty. He was acquitted of the first charge, 
 but convicted of the second and third, and sentenced to be 
 shot. He was pardoned, however, by the President of the 
 United States, in consideraiion of his services during the 
 Revolutionary War. 
 
 The recovery of Detroit was effected by the brave Com- 
 modore Perry, and Tecumseh was slain not long after in the 
 Battle of the Thames. 
 
 Tecumseh possessed a noble figure and was distinguished 
 by moral traits above his race. He acquired unbounded influ- 
 ence, and placed himself far above all others as a champion 
 of Indian rights. During the last years of his life he was 
 almost constantly at the head of warlike bands, and he sank 
 at last on the field of glory with tomahawk in hand and the 
 cry of battle on his lips. With the death of Tecumseh, the 
 confederacy dissolved and peace was concluded with the var- 
 ious tribes. 
 
 The island of Mackinac remained in possession of the 
 
70 GEOGRAPHY OF MICHIGAN. 
 
 British until the treaty of peace was signed at Ghent, in 
 1815. 
 
 . MICHIGAN TERRITORY UNDER GOVERNOR CASS, 1813-183I. 
 
 On the surrender of Detroit, Colonel Lewis Cass, with 
 his regiment, had been left in charge of the post. In 1813 
 he was appointed Governor, and Michigan Territory now 
 began a new existence, and advanced greatly in prosperity. 
 
 Governor Cass was a native of New Hampshire, and at 
 the age of seventeen he had settled at Marietta, Ohio. After 
 receiving a liberal education he had become a lawyer, had 
 been a member of the Legislature, and Marshal of the State 
 of Ohio. He had served with courage and success through 
 the war. Above all, from habits and training, he was familiar 
 with the needs of the people. No man in the Northwest was 
 better qualified to deal with the Indian. Under him, the 
 Government acquired, by various treaties, all lands south of 
 Grand river to the headwaters of Thunder Bay river, as well 
 as such as were required to make the posts at Mackinac and 
 elsewhere safe for the future. 
 
 The British had offered few inducements for immigra- 
 tion, and thus far the beautiful oak openings along the Kala- 
 mazoo, the fertile tracts along the Grand river, the prairies 
 of the St. Joseph and the slopes along the banks of Lake 
 Michigan were traversed only by the wild beast and tb*- 
 savage. 
 
 With the introduction of steam navigation upon the 
 inland seas, a new era commenced. This was in 181 8, 
 when "Walk-in-the-Water" made its appearance at Detroit, 
 and passed up to Mackinac the next year. The savages 
 were made to believe that it was drawn by a team of trained 
 sturgeons. 
 
 The population of Michigan at this time (1820) was 
 8,896. The settlers extended themselves along the banks of 
 the rivers Raisin, Huron and St. Clair, and cleared the forests 
 from the spots where now stand the towns of Ann Arbor, 
 Ypsilanti, Pontiac, Jackson and Tecumseh. 
 
HISTORY. 71 
 
 The first printing press was brought to the territory in 
 1809, and a little paper called the "Michigan Essay and 
 Impartial Observer" started, but it had a brief existence. In 
 181 7 the "Detroit Gazette" was begun, followed soon after by 
 ■other journals at Ann Arbor, Monroe and Pontiac. 
 
 "The great event of the period, however, and that which 
 had most to do with giving sudden impetus to the growth of 
 Michigan, and bringing to it the population that shortly had 
 planted settlements and reared churches and school houses 
 all through its central and southern parts, was the opening in 
 1825 of the Erie Canal. It was not long after this before 
 steamers were abundant on the lakes; no less than seven on 
 Lake Erie in 1826, and four years thereafter a daily line was 
 running between Detroit and Buffalo."* 
 
 In 1830 the population had risen to 31,639, and the ter- 
 ritory was self-supporting. 
 
 In 1 83 1 Governor Cass was called to the cabinet of 
 Presit'ent Jackson, and resigned the position of Governor 
 which he had so ably filled for eighteen years. 
 
 The people began to talk of the coming State. The 
 stream of immigration continued to pour in, the major part 
 coming from New England, New York and Ohio, and in 1832 
 the State had more than 60,000, the number required to 
 entitle a territory to admission as a state; but other matters 
 demanded attention, and it was not until after the census 
 of 1834, which showed a population of 87,278, that Con- 
 gress was memorialized to set off the western territory from 
 Michigan. 
 
 In April, 1835, a state convention agreed upon a consti- 
 tution and the people approved of it in October. 
 
 TOLEDO WAR, 1835-1837. 
 
 This action excited a boundary controversy with Ohio 
 which threatened serious consequences. The dispute is 
 
 ♦Cooley. 
 
72 GEOGRAPHY OF MICHIGAN. 
 
 called the Toledo War, because the strip of land in question* 
 took in part of the Maumee River and Bay where the city of 
 Toledo now stands. So much excitement prevailed that both 
 parties sent a military force to the disputed frontier and sev- 
 eral shots were exchanged, but there was no bloodshed. 
 
 Congress decided in favor of Ohio, and gave to Michigan 
 what is now the Upper Peninsula, whose wealth at that time 
 was unknown. 
 
 Michigan was admitted in 1837, and Stevens T. Mason 
 was elected the first Governor. The existing laws were 
 reframed, new laws were enacted and a plan of public instruc- 
 tion was adopted for the diffusion of education among the 
 people. 
 
 In 1847, the seat of government was changed from Detroit 
 to Lansing. 
 
 MICHIGAN IN THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 The action of Michigan during the late civil war was 
 highly creditable to her patriotism. She sent to the field 
 90,747 able-bodied men, or more than one-ninth of her popu- 
 lation. During the four years of the war, 357 commissioned 
 officers and 14,466 enlisted men fell in defence of their 
 country. 
 
 From the beginning to the close of the war, Michigan 
 troops bore the reputation of being among the bravest and 
 best disciplined in the army ; and there were very few of the 
 more important engagements where Michigan troops were not 
 present, and where her regiments were not conspicuous for the 
 efficient aid they rendered. 
 
 The State, counties, towns and cities paid during the war 
 for bounties, for premiums, for recruits, for relief of soldiers, 
 families and other war purposes, ;^i6,548,992, besides liberal 
 appropriations by the State and numerous gifts by the citizens 
 for 'disabled, wounded and destitute soldiers. And since the 
 
 * The disputed territory was about five miles in widtli at the west and eight miles at 
 the east end. 
 
HISTORY. 73 
 
 war, the State has shown its gratitude to the soldiers by erect- 
 ing, for those who need it, a Soldiers Home, where destitute 
 survivors may be cared for. 
 
 RANK OF MICHIGAN AMONG THE STATES, 1880. 
 
 The following table gives the rank of Michigan among 
 the States according to the census of i8So: 
 
 RANK 
 
 Area in square miles, 58,915 n 
 
 Area of land surface, 5 7,430 11 
 
 Area of water surface, 1,485 12 
 
 Population, 1,636,937. (In IS84, 1,853,658) 9 
 
 Density of population, 26.5 per square mile 17 
 
 Native born population, 1,248,429 16 
 
 Foreign born population, 388,508 7 
 
 Indian population, 7,240 3 
 
 Males of voting age (21 and over), 467,687 8 
 
 Teachers in schools, 8,608 8 
 
 Pupils attending schools, 362,459 8 
 
 Value of school property, $8,982, 344 8 
 
 Outlay for school purposes, $3, 112,468 8 
 
 Persons over 10 years unable to read, 47,112 7 
 
 Number of families, 336,973 8 
 
 Average number in a family, 4.86 30 
 
 Persons to a square mile, 28.5 21 
 
 Number of pounds of butter made, 38,82 1,890 6 
 
 Number of pounds of wool, 1 1,858,497 3 
 
 Number of bushels of wheat, 35,532,543 4 
 
 Number of bushels of corn, 32,461,452 12 
 
 Number of bushels of oats, 18, 190,793 9 
 
 Number of bushels of barley, 1,204,316 9 
 
 Number of bushels of rye, 294,918 15 
 
 Number of bushels of buckwheat, 413,062 4 
 
 Number of bushels of potatoes, 10,924,1 1 1 4 
 
 Number of pounds or hops, 266,010 4 
 
 Number of sheep, 2,189,389 4 
 
 Number of horses, 378,778 10 
 
74 GEOGRAPHY OF MICHIGAN. 
 
 c 
 
 ^/^ 
 
 Value ot copper mined, $7,979,232 i 
 
 Value of iron ore mined, $6,034,648 i 
 
 Value of salt, $2,271,913 i 
 
 Value of lumber, $52,449,928 i 
 
 Annual mortality 7