Bay County, Michigan - The whole text, 1883 (part 16 of 20)

"»Here then we have three counties starting on the race for improvement in 1860 with nearly the same population. In ten years Bay County leads Gratiot in population 4,000, and Tuscola 2,000. In 1874 Bay leads Gratiot 11,000, and Tuscola 8,000. And yet, although Bay County had much the larger population, agriculturally the other counties were very far in the advance. Let us turn to the principal crops raised and we shall see the same wide difference. In 1863 Bay County raised 1,000 bushels of wheat, Gratiot 19,000, Tuscola 36,000. In 1869 Bay 6,000, Gratiot 118,000, Tuscola 117,000. In 1873, Bay 11,000, Gratiot 134,- 000, Tuscola 146,000. In 1876, Bay 17,000, Gratiot 134,000, Tuscola 185,000. So much for the wheat crop, and now look at the

"Without perusing such facts any farther, enough I think has been set forth to show that Bay County is very far behind in the race. The result of the comparisons thus made calls for some sat- isfactory explanation as to the cause of so much difference. If tlie quality and jjrodnctiveness of the soils of these counties has been the cause of the rapid growth of our neighbors, it is but proper to state and admit the fact. If, however, such is not in fact the case, then justice to the people of this county demands that the true reason be set forth.

"While a jealousy may exist, possibly, between the citizens of adjoining counties as to which is the richer nnd better county for agricultural purposes, the State can have no interest in such a controversy, except in so far as it may desire that each county should appear in as favorable a light as the facts will warrant.

"I think the first great cause for the slow agricultural growth of Bay County, maybe fairly atfributed to our manufacturing establishments, which have served to draw around them a large population, thus increasing largely and rapidly the growth of our cities and villages. Many men with families, in coming into the country with the intention of becoming tillers of the soil, will accept employment which will give them direct and immediate returns, rather than take possession of a piece of wild land, and aw\ait the slower but increased reward that perseverance would surely bring. Present profits seem to cause the would-be settler to overlook the fact that the best and surest road to wealth and independence w^ould be found in the vegetable products of the soil. A glance at the growth of our cities and manufactures will satisfy any one, I think, that my view is correct.

"In 1860 Bay City had a population of 700. In 1863, 1,500. In 1870, 7,000. In 1874, 13,600. In 1877, at least 16,000. The population of West Bay City is estimated at 6,000 to 7,000. Here then is 22,000 of the population of the county, who take no direct interest in farm matters. They are not producers, but consumers of farm products. The numbers here given do not include the inhabitants of the villages in the county; these last may not be referred to as they are about balanced by the villages in the other counties named.

"The grow^th in Bay County has been rapid. Indeed, in 1873, but two counties in the State (Wayne and Kent), exceeded Bay in the annual value of manufactured products; with 107 manufacturing establishments in 1873, giving employment directly to nearly four thousand persons, with a capital invested therein of nearly five million dollars, the value of the products thereof amounting to over seven million dollars annually. Need we longer wonder that so much attention has been paid to our manufacturing interests at the expense and neglect of our agricultural resources? Gratiot has a capital of less than $200,000 invested in manufacturing business, the animal value of the products thereof being less than half a million dollars, and Tuscola is but little ahead of this. I might refer to other facts in this connection, but do not deem it necessary. *

"The second cause of our slow agricultural growth may fairly be attributed to the flat or level condition of the country. The northern portion of the county consists chiefly of rolling hard timbered lands. In the southern portion of the county the lands were level or flat, and the most of them heavily timbered. In process of timie considerable timber had fallen and very much obstructed any natural w^ater courses that otherwise would have existed and would have done nmcli to relieve the soil of its surface water. The result was that the Spring rains aided by the heavy body of snow that had fallen during the Winter remained on the land, rendering it wholly unfit, even if cleared, for cultivation. It is clearly apparent that individual efforts in attempting to clear, drain and cultivate such land would be very expensive, would accomplish little, and that

"Of course all the lands in the southern part of the county were not thus subject to overflow, and at an early day, state roads w^ere opened and graded, and the ditches on the lines thereof afforded an outlet for the surface water, and gave parties an opportunity of draining their lands sufficient for the ordinary purposes of cultivation; and it was contiguous to the streams and state roads that most of the first settlers located. Where they succeeded in draining the lands they found them exceedingly rich and productive, but the difficulties and expenses of drainage, especially if the distance to an outlet was great, were so far beyond the means of the ordinary pioneer, that rather than undertake such a task they w^ould resort to some employment in the city or seek lands where no drainage was considered necessary; high, rolling, beech and maple or hard timbered lands, which required but little if any drainage, and are ready for the seed as soon as the timber thereon can be removed are much more inviting than are heavily timbered lands, covered during a part of the year with water, even although the fact might be conceded that the latter, when properly drained, would far exceed in productiveness the lighter soils of the rolling lands. Very much of the land in Gratiot and Tuscola Counties were high and rolling, and all such were eagerly sought for, settled upon and improved. The eastern townships in Gratiot, bordering on Saginaw County, were low, and very much like the Saginaw Valley lands; and it is well known that the growth of their townships did not at all compare with others in that county ; and it is only within the last few years, since roads and ditches have been opened, that such townships have received any large influx of settlers. Of late years very great improvement has been made in Bay County, in the matter of drainage, under the ditch or drainage law. A number of ditches have been opened in nearly every township, and whenever such are opened, a marked improvement is noticeable. In 1876 nine thousand dollars w^as expended in the improvement of three State roads, one running easterly from Bay City, one westerly and one northerly. This was expended in opening a wide, deep ditch on one side of the road, the soil taken therefrom being thrown up and forming a road-bed, the roads having been improved thereby, and the ditches offering excellent outlets, are the means of draining a large extent of country on the line of these roads.

"The Jackson, Lansing & Saginaw^ railway, running through Bay County northw^esterly from Bay City, has opened up a way of reaching the high lands in the interior and northern portions of the county. In 1870 there were but nine organized townships in the county, all but one of which were in the southern portion. At the present the northern townships have all been organized, thus shoAving the progress lately made.

"There was still another reason for the slow progress in the claiming of lands by actual settlers. At an early day nearly all the salt w^as manufactured in pan or kettle-blocks, principally the latterand the fuel used for boiling the brine was cord-wood. This of course created quite a demand for cord- wood and made it so valuable that within a reasonable distance of the river not a single falloAV could be seen where the timber was chopped, logged and burned according to the usual method in new counties. The farmer during a portion of the year was cutting cord-wood, and during the remainder he was hauling it to the salt blocks ; and so diligently did he pursue this course that he would not even take time to pick up, seed or cultivate the land from which the wood had been taken. Theie has, however, been a revolution in the process of manufacturing salt. V^ats and steam pipes take the place of the kettle and pan, and the refuse from the mills supplies the fuel. Since then cord- wood is only needed to supply the city's wants. I have thus

As an illustration of what was possible to be accomplished at farming in Bay County, the editor of the Bay City Jaunial visited the farm of Nelson Merritt, in the township of Portsmouth, in 1868, and gave the result of his observations as follows:

**In the case of Mr. Merritt we have a very fair test of what can be done. Mr. Merritt in 1856, then young, healthful and single, came to Bay County and bought 320 acres, a half section, of wild timbered land, situated in Sections Ten and Eleven of Town Thirteen north, of Range Five, east. He spent the first three years in clearing and fencing 150 acres. At that time clearing could be contracted for at $15 per acre. For most of the land Mr. Merritt paid $5, for the remainder |10 per acre. It lies about two miles east of Saginaw River and of Portsmouth. The soil is a black alluvial admixed with sand. It is friable and very easily tilled. The first crop raised upon the new land was wheat. The first field sown with wheat was nineteen acres in size, from which 500 marketable bushels of wheat were raised, averaging twenty-six bushels of good wheat to the acre. The quality was fine and the flour made from it excellent. The third year a field of thirty acres was sown with oats and timothy. The yield of oats from this field was 1,300 bushels, or about forty-three bushels to the acre. The yield of timothy grass was from a ton and a half to two tons per acre. This has averaged the price of f20 per ton. The crops of buckwheat were very good. The corn that ripened in ninety days was rich and filled out well. As to potatoes, Mr. Merritt has gathered at the rate of 400 bushels to the acre. They were mealy and dry. This farm is enclosed with good rail fences, that now appear sound and as though they might last fifteen years longer. Good wells of water can be had upon it by digging to the depth of fourteen feet. During the dryest season these wells have given a constant supply. Cattle have been kept each year upon the farm that subsisted and kept in good order upon prairie hay and oat straw in Winter. As a general thing only one hired hand has been necessary to help run the farm. In haying time the force was increased to eight or ten hands. Mr. Merritt informs us as the result of his labors on this piece of land, he has made a living for himself and family; that he has paid expenses, and out of the avails erected upon the place improvements costing about $3,000. To sum, then, the result of this experiment, the original cost of the land was about $2,000. By the improvement of half of it the whole tract is now worth the average price of $60 per acre, or $19,200. Mr. M. has, therefore, laid the foundation of a good living, keeps out of debt, and has a property that is increasing in value. There was nothing in this land better than a great deal about it, and in this vicinity. In these facts, and they can be relied upon as such, there is great encouragement for others to come and do likewise. As fuel is in demand land can be cleared cheaper now than formerly, provided it is near market. "

In 1874 the population of th'e county was 24,832, and in 1880 it had increased to 38,181. Of the 13.349 increase during the six years, 5,844 belonged to the townships.

The state census of 1874 shows that there were in the ground in Bay County in the Spring of that year, 668 acres of wlieat against 513|^ acres harvested in 1873. The amount of the wheat crop in 1873 was 11,042 bushels, or a little over twenty-one and a-half bushels to the acre. Other farm crops, etc., for 1873, were as follows: Corn, 28,653 bushels; other grains, 23,775 bushels; potatoes, 61,422 bushels; hay, 5,816 tons; pork sent to market, 8,192 pounds; and of wool only 793 pounds. The dairy product

In 1876 the number of acres sown to wheat were 1,410; number of bushels harvested, 18,370. We find a statement, made by good authority, in 1876 as follows: "There are many fine farms along the lines of plank road running east and west from the river, but the settlement of the country, even in the immediate vicinity of the city, is not general. There are therefore valuable lands to be had at low prices, within almost walking distance of as good a market as the state affords. We mention the farm of Nathan Knight, in the township of Hampton, three or four miles from this city, as an example of what may be done by the intelligent agriculturist. Mr. Knight's crops are luxuriant in growth and yield, and never fail. The fine market farm of E. B. Denison, on the west side of the river, supplies this market with many of its early vegetables, as well as later crops. Along the line of plank road to Tuscola County, there may be seen as fine farming lands as can be found anywhere, sufiiciently rolling for all purposes, without being hilly or cut up by ravines.

Three plank roads run of! into the country from this city, giving easy access to market at all seasons. One of these roads strikes off in an easterly direction to Tuscola County, a fine agricultural region, already well developed. The second runs westward, crossing the river by a bridge and making off toward the county seat of Midland County, also a good agricultural section. The third follows, in the main, the course of the shore northward toward Kawkawlin, and when completed will tap an excellent farming country."

Bay County now ranks third among the counties of Michigan as a wheat producing district. The average number of bushels raised to the acre is 21.14. Washtenaw raises 22.26, and Lenawee 21.84.

In an address before the Farmers' Institute, held at Saginaw, W. L, Webber spoke of the agricultural resources of the Saginaw Valley as follows : "It has also been rumored that the Saginaw Valley was not fitted for agricultural purposes. It had obtained its reputation for pine lumber, and as people generally had found regions covered with pine to be comparatively worthless for agricultural purposes, it was assumed that the whole of Saginaw was filled with pine, and therefore the soil was unfitted for the farmer's use. The experience of the last twenty-five years has also exploded this erroneous notion. I doubt if there can be found in the state of Michigan six thousand square miles of territory in one body with a greater agricultural capacity than the six thousand square miles drained by the Saginaw and its tributaries. More than one half this territory for agricultural purposes is the very cream of Michigan, and there is comparatively but very little but what will make good farming land. Look at the reports of the cereal products of Michigan, and you will find that the average production per acre is fully equal to the average in any portion of the state. Wheat, corn, barley and rye are grown here in perfection.

Composition Of The Soil The Saginaw Marshes

The following review of the early condition of the Saginaw^ marshes, and the subsequent efforts to reclaim by Judge Albert Miller, is not only interesting as reminiscence, but valuable for the information which it contains. Judge Miller says :

"I can convey as correct an impression of the changes that have taken place in the condition of the Saginaw marshes during the last half century, and the efforts that have been made to utilize them, by relating facts and incidents which have come within my knowledge, as by any other method. My personal knowledge of the Saginaw country commenced in the Fall of 1831. Then the Saginaw River rolled betw^een w^ell defined banks, and the creeks and bayous were confined within much narrower limits than at the present time; and from observation and information derived from -Indians, and others who had previously known the country, I am satisfied that there had been a much lower stage of water in the Saginaw River and Bay during the half century next preceding the time above referred to than there has been since that time. At that date there stood on the bank of the river, below CarroUtofi, some very large apple trees that must have had fifty or sixty years' growth, that were destroyed by water more than forty years ago. In the first grove of timber on the prairie which the railroad passes north of East Saginaw, there stood a green, pine tree two feet in diameter, and much of the timber then growing in that grove w^as beech, maple, and white oak, all of which has long since disappeared. The grove of timber still further north, which is within the embankment I shall hereafter mention, was called Pme Island, on account of the predominance of pine timber. In the early years of my residence at Saginaw the Indians raised corn on Crow Island, and on a small island near the junction of the Shiawassee and Tittabawassee Rivers, and on other lands known to the present inhabitants as only low and worthless. In 1833, on the 29th day of March, Judge Jewett, late of Saginaw, and I, commenced to plow on Green Point, and with one plow we broke up thirty acres of prairie land, all of which we planted with corn that season. We had no reason to complain of the growth of our crop, but it being the only field in the country, it hardly sufficed to feed the millions of black birds that preyed upon it; sometimes darkening the sky in their flight to and from the field. After the corn was in the milk, we spent our time in the field with horns, belis and guns in the vain endeavor to protect our crop. In the Fall we gathered of the butts of the ears sufficient to fatten forty-seven hundred weight of pork.

The land above referred to w^as cultivated up to and including the year 1835, since which time a large portion of it has been unfit for cultivation on account of high water. It is impossible for me, by any description I can give, to convey to the minds of my readers an idea of the beautiful appearance that our prairies presented m the Summer of 1835. The Avhole expanse was covered with blue joint grass about four feet high, near the banks of the river, being decked^with pea blossom, morning glory, and other beautiful flowers, presenting to the eyes of those passing up and down the river, or riding on horseback over the firm prairie ground, an enchanting views which so captivated those from the East who visited our valley that Summer, that some of them made large purchases of the land which so delighted them.

It was in the month of June of that year that Dr. Daniel H. Fitzhiigh made his first visit to Saginaw, and his name, so frequently found on the tract books of the valley, will testify to the attractions it had for him. In the Summer of 1835, Albert H. Dorr, a member of the then wealthy firm of Tucker & Dorr, of New York City, came West with a view of investing in the government lands. On his arrival at Detroit, after looking at the map of Michigan, he determined to locate lands on the Saginaw River. The tract books at the land office showed him several vacant fractions of land on the immediate banks of the river which he purchased and then came to view his purchases, which he found not valuable, principally lying at the mouth of creeks and bayous. One tract, a fractional section of 200 acres at the mouth of the river, is now" wdiolly submerged, not a foot of land to be seen, owing to the change that has taken place since the government survey. But nothing daunted, Mr. Dorr purchased other tracts, among w4iich was the land lately improved by Thomas H. McGraw, through diking and pumping, and a tract of 800 acres in the vicinity of Crow Island, wdiich latter tract he determined to make immediate use of for a stock farm. At that time the price of cutting and putting up prairie hay was $1.50 per ton. Mr. Dorr left $150 -with parties at Saginaw to pay for putting up hay, and w^ent directly to Ohio to purchase a stock of cattle and horses. Parties at Saginaw, with whom Mr. Dorr came in contact, had little faith in his being able to carry out his plans for stocking his farm, and neglected to cause the hay to be put up. When he arrived in the month of November with a stock of 150 head of cattle and filfty horses, he found no provisions made for their Winter's food, and being a stranger in the country with so large an "elephant" on his hands, he became somewhat disheartened, greatly desiring to get the whole thing off his hands so he could return to New York. Cold weather had set in early that season, kilhng the wild grass, leaving very little for stock to subsist upon. After a day or tw^o spent at Saginaw City in the vain endeavor to make some disposition of his stock, Mr. Dorr came to my housa at Green Point, on Thanksgiving day, wishing me to take a lease of his farm and stock for ten years. This I consented to do, on conditions proposed by myself, one of which was that I should receive no stock on the lease till after the first of the succeeding May. On Mr. Dorr's departure for New York, the next day, he gave me |300 to provide food for the stock duriug the Winter, with which I purchased all the hay and grain that was then for sale in the Saginaw Valley, at that time to keep them for the time being, and made inquiry of the Indians about the location of the beds of rushes which I had heard existed in large quantities in the vicinity. I met Indian George, whose death in Tuscola County was chronicled in some of the state papers, who volunteered to pilot me to a point where I should find ample provisions for wintering my stock. He took me to the other side of the Quanicassee River, ten or twelve miles east of Bay City, where I found a large space covered wdth green rushes, and after satisfying myself that there was no lack of quantity, I returned and made preparations to transfer my cattle and horses to the rush beds as soon as the ice on the creeks and bayous would permit their crossing it. Early in December the ice had become so strong that I returned to start with my drove of cattle and horses, and the first day I drove them to a point known to all old settlers as the Lone Tree, which is a little south of where the McGraw Mill in South Bay City is located, where I found some hay stacks that had been put up by Joseph and Medor Trombley, one of which I caused to be fed to the cattle and horses, for which I afterward paid the owners, who were then living on the tract of land where -Portsmouth was afterward located.

The second night we reached the Bay, where we fed a couple of loads of hay that were drawn from Saginaw on the ice for that purpose, and the third night we reached the rush beds, where the stock feasted on green rushes. I had a small log house built for the convenience of the men whom I hired to take care of the stock. Their duties were to see them all every day so they should not get wild, and count them so they should not go astray. A part of the time I had George Whitfield there. He was an Indian who had been educated in one of the Eastern states. I usually kept two men at the camp, and visited them about once a week myself, driving on the ice by the way of Saginaw Eiver and Bay, and the Quanicassee Kiver to the point where the camp was located. Whenever I went I gave the cattle salt, distributing it in places that had been cut for the purpose on trunks of fallen trees, and when that was done would place myself in a position where I should not be run over by the cattle and would then call to them, when they would come from every direction, making a noise as they passed over their welltrodden snow paths like 'a locomotive engine rushing along with a train of cars. The cattle seemed delighted by the presence of man, and when their herders were with them manifested pleasure on being petted or handled by them. That was an unusually severe Winter, the snow falling deep; but after the cattle had been a month. on the rushes they looked as if they had been stallfed, except that they were as clean as deer, when stall-fed cattle could not be. The horses did very well on the rushes at first, and got fat ; but afterward so much green food seemed to disagree with them, and many of them died before Spring. In January, after the ice got strong on the Saginaw Eiver, I caused my house, which stood on the opposite side of the river from Green Point, to be placed on four strong ox sleds, one under each corner, and, with six yoke of oxen, hauled it on the ice to the stock farm I had leased from Dorr, and located at the south end of the island of timber. No furniture was taken from the house before removing it, and no preparation was made inside except to take the dishes from the pantry shelves and place them in baskets. Dinner for the men employed in removing the house was cooked on the stove in the house while we were passing along over the ice, and night coming on before we had our job completed, we fed our teams at some hay stacks on shore and got our supper and went to bed in the house on the ice. In the morning we placed the house on the spot intended for it without any accident, except in passing under a tree, a projecting limb knocked a few bricks from the top of the chimney. After placing my house in position, I built one near it of logs, to accommodate a force of men whom I employed to get out timber for fencing, preparatory to extensive farming operations for the next season. Iliad cut and hauled during that Winter sufficient rail timber to fence 200 acres of land, the principal part of which I intended to plough and cultivate the next season

All the land between Bay City and Saginaw, except the creeks and bayous, could have been cultivated. Benoit Trombley raised a fine crop of corn and potatoes that year between the grove of timber last referred to and the river, on the present site of the Oneida Salt and Lumber Company's improvements. A heavy body of snow fell during the Winter of 1835-6, but it commenced to thaw early.

so that in April I broke up some of the prairie preparatory to cropping, and gathered the stock with a view of having it inventoried on the lease. But as the warm weather continued, the water rose rapidly, floating away my fencing timber; and on the first of May, when my lease should have commenced, there was not an acre of land on the whole tract that was above water. I had previously driven the cattle and horses to the highland to provide for themselves. The water remained high during most of the Summer of 1836, and I wrote to Mr. Dorr, describing the situation and requesting to have the lease canceled, which he consented to, and authorized the stock to be delivered to other parties, to be sold for his benefit. I abandoned the place, and no attempt has since been made to cultivate it. The water rose to a higher stage in 1837 than it attained in 1836, and in 1838 it was higher than I have ever seen it before or since. The low lands were flooded during the whole Summer, destroying large tracts of timber, especially a variety of valuable ash timber that skirted the prairies. From 1838 the water gradually receded, till 1850 it was quite low again. In the Spring of 1852 it rose to almost the height it attained in 1838, but did not remain high so long. Before coming West I had heard of a regular periodical rise and fall of the waters in the great lakes. My experience has shown me that there is a great difference in the height of water at different periods, but the periods of the rise and fall are not at all regular.

Before mentioning the improvements made by Mr. Daglish and myself, I will give a brief sketch of the work done by Thomas H. McGraw. He was really the pioneer in improving the Saginaw marshes, by pumping the water from them, having been relieved of the expense of diking by reason of the main track of the F. & P. M. E. E., and a branch of the same running to McGraw & Co.'s mifl. This made an embankment on two sides of a triangle, which incloses a tract of about 350 acres of marsh land, which is bounded on the third side by high land and mill improvements. In 1877 an attempt was made to pump the water from the inside ditch of the branch railroad, but the work was abandoned on account of a leakage in the bank. It was ascertained that leakage occurred at a point where edgings had been put into the embankment. Mr. McGraw caused a trench to be cut across the edgings and filled with puddle clay, thus making the embankment secure, when he again commenced pumping in the latter part of July, 1878. He used a screw pump two feet in diameter and thirty feet long, which was worked with power from the engine in the planing mill, with which the water was drawn from the surface of the ground, 250 acres of which was covered about four inches deep, and settled in the ditch five or six feet below the surface of the river, in two weeks time. Afterward the ditch filled with water, and was emptied by three days' pumping. It is now thought that under any contingency the water can be drawn down by three days' pumping sufficiently low to leave the drain tile, that Mr. McGraw intends to put in, six inches above its surface. A ditch has been dug through the lowest part of the prairie, nine and one half feet broad at the surface, four feet deep, and 200 rods in length ; also 180 rods of smaller ditches. In making the ditches, the humus or vegetable matter was thrown to one side, and the marl or lower strata on the other. The last-named substance, after the ground was plowed, was hauled onto the land and dumped in cart loads, to be spread in the Spring for a fertilizer. Mr. McGraw plowed quite a large tract of this prairie land last Fall to be ready for a Spring crop. This improvement is prosecuted under the superintendence of Mr. McGraw's father-in-law, Mr. Uberhurst, who is a practical farmer and a graduate from the Agricultural College of Prussia. He formerly had charge of the stock-feeding department of the Prussian government farm, where six hundred cows were fed for the sole purpose of ascertaining by experiment what food for them could be grown and used to the greatest profit. Mr. McGraw has capital to carry out any plan of improvement he desires to make, and with such practical and scientific knowledge as is possessed by Mr. Uberhurst, to direct the outlay of capital, we may expect to see the model farm of the state on the Saginaw marshes, and to hear of results from practical operations that will greatly encourage those who intend improving marsh lands.

In 1860, upon ascertaining that the salt rock underlaid the whole of the Saginaw Valley, Mr. Daglish and I anticipated an extensive business in the manufacture of salt. The only methods then known for reducing the brine was solar evaporation and the old kettle blocks. Believing that the prairies would be extensively used for evaporating w^orks, and the navigable waters for transportation, we purchased a sufficient quantity of swamp land to secure two miles of the navigable portion of the Cheboyganing Creek, with a view of its future use for purposes above referred to; but time developed a cheaper process for making salt than even by solar evaporation, so the idea of using the land for that purpose was abandoned. We never doubted the practicability of improving the land by dyking and pumping, but the only data within our knowledge upon which to base an estimate of the expense of dyking, w^as the contract of the Bay City and East Saginaw Eailroad Company with Capt. Smith for grading their track across the low prairie. Capt Smith was to receive $100 per day for furnishing and running his dredge, and in prosecuting the work he averaged 100 lineal feet per day. At that rate the expense would preclude the possibility of a profit on the cost of the improvement, so the matter rested until 1877, w^hen, upon consulting with dredge owners, we ascertained that the work could be done at a price that would give a reasonable prospect for a benefit on the outlay in improving the land. After determining to prosecute the work, we secure i the services of Mr. Joseph I. Forcier, through whose practical knowledge of the work of dredging and untiring industry in prosecuting it, our operations have been greatly facilitated. By Mr. Forcier's advice we hired the dredge from the corporation of East Saginaw at the rate of $10 for each working day it should be in our possession. After fitting the dredge for work, Mr. Forcier hired his assistants and commenced work on the 11th day of May, 1878, and during the next ninety- six working days excavated a ditch thirty feet wide, averaging nearly six feet deep, three and a quarter miles long, throwing the earth outside, making an embankment of thirty feet wide at the base and JiYe feet high, which has proved effectual in keeping out the water. The depth of water on the land for about two-thirds the length of the line of ditch was from one to one and a half feet, under which, for the first foot and a half, was a layer of decayed vegetable matter of the color of black snuff; under that was one foot thick of a substance, largely intermixed with decaying shells, which partakes of the properties of the layers directly above and below it. The layer below, I suppose, was a fine quality of clay for brick-making, till I learned from Prof. E. C. Kedzie, after he had analyzed a sample of it, that it was marl, containing thirty- six parts of carbonate of lime and sixty-four parts of clay, or a matter that was insoluble in acid, and that it was valuable as a fertihzer of land ; and also that upon a test by burning like other lime, grinding and mixing with sand, it might prove valuable as a water lime. No actual test has yet been made of it for any purpose. The ditch and embankment of the south line of our improvement is over one mile in length, running from the creek directly east to the timbered land. In running our ditch back from the creek we found so great a rise in the land we were unable to fiioat our dredge, so we made a dam across the ditch and improvised a pump, by making of plank a box sixteen feet long and ten feet wide, leaving one end open and having a valve in the bottom of -the other end. This we balanced across our dam with a hoisting apparatus affixed to the valve end, by which with horse power, after fiUing the valve end of the box, we raised it, causing the water to flow out of the other end above the dam, which enabled us to keep the dredge afloat, and supply water as fast as the dredge displaced the earth. It was there that we had the first practical demonstration of the sufficiency of our bank to hold water.

We were obhged to throw the earth on each side of our ditch, and after filhng it fifteen inches higher than the water in the ditch below, or on the surrounding land, the water settled only one inch during the night, while operations were suspended. The earth at that point was as porous as at any other part of our embankment, so we were satisfied that the weight of the bank pressed so hard on the surface of the ground that there was no chance for the water to penetrate it. The land gradually rises from the creek to the timbered land from two to two and a half feet above the lower portion of the land, and except where the w^ater was so deep as to prevent the growth of vegetation, is covered with a heavy growth of rushes, reeds and flags, and as the land rises the character of the vegetation changes, first to sour grass, then to blue joint, and on portions near the timber there is a growth of buffalo grass and rosin weed. As you pass back from the creek the soil gradually becomes firmer, and the higher portions have the appearance on the surface of being hard clay; but dredging through it has demonstrated the fact that there are two feet of black clayey soil before coming to the harder substance. Tliere is no part of the tract with a sandy soil, except a portion of the grove of timber, containing fifteen or twenty acres, referred to as formerly having been known as "Pine Island." Our ditch and embankment surrounds on three sides 760 acres of land, about 600 aores of which is prairie and fit for the plow. On the southeast it connects with our partially cleared timbered farm of 160 acres. In constructing our embankment along the margin of the creek we passed a small bayou in which the water was about three feet deep, and the substance below the water was so soft that it was difficult to make a sufficient bank of it; after making an excavation eighteen feet deep and only raising the bank three feet high, we left it to be finislied by piling and cribbing for a distance of about seventy-five feet.

The substance taken from the bayou is similar to the middle strata of soil heretofore described, and I think will prove valuable as a fertihzer. After completing our embankment we procured a twelve-horse power steam engine, and two of Eumsey's rotary section pumps, one with a discharge pipe of six inches and the other four inches, the two calculated to discharge 4,000 gallons per minute. We commenced pumping about the 15th of September, and run our pumps night and day for six weeks in clearing the water from the surface of our land, and setthng it in the ditch, six feet below the surface of tne river. That tested the sufficiency of our bank to hold back the water; we found no leakage through any part of it. After pumping out the water, as above stated, we commenced a series of ditches through our land, all running to the main ditch. From the northwest to the southeast corner we made a ditch four* feet wide at the surface, two feet deep and one and a half feet wide at the bottom. This ditch runs nearly parallel with our northeast hne, into which all the water coming from the east will flow. From the main, or dredge ditch on the west, to the one above mentioned, at an interval of each forty rods, is a ditch of three feet wide at the surface and one and one-half feet deep, and one and onehalf foot wide at the bottom, making of small ditches six miles. Upon ditching on the lower portion of our land we found it porous and like a sponge filled with water, but after a few days of drainage through the small ditches, it settled and became so firm that a horse could be driven over it without difficulty, and with a small additonal outlay for small ditches, we think our drainage sufficient for all practical purposes. No doubt but under-drainage would be beneficial, and may be adopted hereafter, but there is less necessity for it here than there is for it on much of the uplands. It will be readily seen that the ditch and embankment made an effectual fence for all purposes, as far as they go. In addition to the above it will require three miles of fence on the east and northeast to enclose our 760 acre tract. We have one comfortable farm house on the land, which is the only building yet erected, except an engine house. And as I have been requested to give a detailed account of the character and cost of our improvements, I suppose for the reason that others who are inclined to undertake a like enterprise may profit by our experience, I will state that all our expenditure, including the cost of dredging and ditching, the cost of the engine and pump, and the pumping that has been done, also of the house and the estimated cost of a gate and sluice between the ditch and creek, and for completing our embankment, and enclosing the whole with a fence, amounts to a trifle over |7 per acre for the 760 acres enclosed and drained.

In setting our pumps we were obliged to raise the discharge pipes so high, in order to keep the belts out of water, that we used about double the power in emptying our ditch that was absolutely necessary. We expect to improve our pumping apparatus so as to clear our ditch the second time in half the time and at half the expense before required. We first intended to have made a ditch and embankment on the east line of our tract, to prevent the water from flowing on from the timbered land, but on examining our surroundings w^e find a heavy ditch passing on our north line, which prevents any flow of water from that direction, and in less than a mile on the east there is another heavy ditch being constructed, which will carry all the w^ater that would flow from that direction south of our embankment, so by pumping the water that falls on a little larger surface we save the expense of the ditch and bank, above referred to. In ordinary seasons, after the Spring rains are taken care of, there will be no pumping to do.

Now for our plans and expectations for the future. We think our plans carried out will provide eftectually for a thorough drainage, and we have no misgivings as to the quality and productiveness of the soil. After completing our small ditches, we discontinued our pumping, allowing our large ditch again to fill with water. As soon as warm weather commences we intend to start our pumps, and empty the ditches before the snow melts. The water flows freely through our small ditches, so we expect to keep it down and have our lands fit for cultivation as soon as the uplands are. With the drainage we have through the sm:ill ditches much of our higher land is fit for cultivation without any pumping. In the Spring we intend to commence plowing on that, and continue our operations as the land becomes dry enough, and put in such crops as shall indicate the greatest profit by production, or in subduing the turf for future cultivation. We do not expect large crops for the first or second year.

Our intentions are to stock down a large portion of it as soon as the soil is in fit condition, to such grasses as will be profitable for stock feeding. On some of the lowest part of our land, which is covered with a heavy growth of reeds and rushes, we shall try the experiment of burning, and harrowing in grass seed without plowing.

From what I have written of the past and present condition of the Saginaw marshes, it wiU be seen that they are of very little practical value without farther improvement. All the profit that has ever been derived from them is the cutting of a small amount of wild grass for hay, and that practice has been nearly discontinued as the uplands become cleared. I believe that every acre of ground between Bay City and Saginaw is capable of producing the largest crops that can be grown in this latitude. It is now half a century since the Saginaw country first became known to the whites, but the marshes between Bay City and Saginaw present a more pleasing view to the beholder than they did when the eye of the white man first glanced over the broad expanse. But I believe that whoever passes over our thoroughfares between the towns above mentioned, fifty years hence, will be presented with far different views. Instead of the unsightly appearance of reeds, rushes, wild grass, and pools of water, the traveler will behold large fields of waving grain and extensive meadows covered with nutritious grasses for stock feeding and herds of cattle resting in the shade of groves which dot the landscape, with occasionally a farm hoase to relieve the eye from the monotony of so much natural beauty."

Only a few years ago the department of agriculture in Bay County was practically unknown, and the value of Bay County lands for agricultural purposes was hardly recognized; but only a few experiments were needed to satisfy the most incredulous that the soil was of the most productive character, and all that was needed to give the county rank as an agricultural district, was development. These facts were appreciated and taken advantage of, and to-day Bay County possesses some of the finest and most productive farms in the state. Hundreds of men, who only five or ten years ago entered the wilderness which then surrounded us, with literally nothing but their hands and strong, firm wills, as capital, are to-day classed as independent farmers, having accomplished in a few years what has taken a life time in other sections to accomplish.

Statistics for 1878 show that the average yield of wheat in Bay County was twenty-four bushels per acre. But one wheat growing county in the state held a larger average and that but a fraction. Excellent crops of rye, barley, oats and corn are grown annually. One hundred bushels of corn to the acre is quite common. The low level lands cannot be excelled in the state for grasses. Indeed the entire Saginaw Valley is destined to be the grain, vegetable and dairy country of the state.

The season of 1879 was one of unusual drouth so that the growth of fruit and vegetables suffered materially. We copy from the official report of the Bay County Agricultural Society, for 1879, showing the quality of the grain grown during that year, and also from the vegetable department for 1879:

Buckwheat

At the present time the agricultural resources of Bay County are being rapidly developed. The new lands are being taken up by actual settlers, and the county is pursuing a liberal pohcy in the matter of public improvements, calculated to aid in the work of general development. The following very succinct statement has been prepared by a rehable authority :

"Bay County, as an agricultural county, stands preeminent. The land is level and was covered with a heavy growth of excellent forest timber, much of which still remains. Oak, elm, basswood, black and white ash, beech, maple and hickory constitute the principal timber trees. The soil is a deep, rich loam, with a clay subsoil, containing such quantities of limestone that it is difficult to obtain material suitable for brick. This naturally would be considered good wheat lands, and the w4ieat crop of our county during a series of years, fully demonstrates the superiority of our soil for such purposes. The average yield per acre over the entire county is excelled by only one or two counties in the state. Sixty bushels of wheat per acre has be^n grow^n, and, with our best and most intelhgent farmers, thirty to forty bushels per acre are obtained, and the quality is so fine that Bay County wheat carried off the first special premium offered by the Detroit Board of Trade at the state fair in 1879. The Spring it may be said is not quite so early as in the interior of the state, caused by the cool winds from the lakes. This, however, has its compensations, as fruit buds are retarded, and escape late frosts, while the lake winds in the Fall are warm and keep off early frosts, thus giving our corn and other crops ample time to mature. When the hot sun of Summer comes our corn crop makes a rapid and vigorous growth, and large crops are obtained. Roots and vegetables of all kinds on our rich, deep soils are unexcelled in size and quahty. It can also wdth entire truthfulness be said that this is a natural dairy soil; strip the timber off and then springs up, the first year thereafter, natural grasses, principally June grass or Blue grass, wiiich for pasture is unexcelled, and wiien Timothy is sown, two tons per acre of hay is considered the average crop.

"Apples are grown in abundance, and of the finest and choicest varieties. Pears, plums and peaches are also grown to a limited ' extent, but jof a very fine quality. Grapes of the hardier varieties do well, and small fruits, the raspberry, blackberry, strawberry, etc., are indigenous to the soil, springing up, wdierever a fire, or clearing in the forest or by the roadside affords them an opportunity."

Drainage

As already described, a large amount of land in Bay County has been in former years entirely covered by w^ater during a portion of the year. It has been known for years that if these various tracts of prairie and swamp land could be reheved of their surplus water, they would become valuable for agricultural purposes, the -soil being naturally rich and strong. Individual efforts at drainage have been made, hut since the new law relative to drain construction Avent into eff'ect, the business has been carried on in this county on a large scale, and with the most satisfactory results. The drain law^ placed the matter of drain improvement in such a shape that it could be handled systematically and successfully. The petition asking for a drain is prepared and handed to the drain commissioner, who has a survey made, estimates the cost of construction and supervision, and then makes an equalized assessment on the property benefitted. The people of the districts requiring drainage took hold of the enterprise with avidity, and thousands of acres have been transformed from soaking swamps into as rich and pro ductive fields as were ever furrowed by the plow. The w^ork in progress or recently completed in the county is as follows:

The Drouillard ditch in Kaw^kawdin, two and one-half miles long, and costing $1,200, has been completed, as has the Chip road ditch, two miles long, in the same towaiship. The latter cost $700. The George Young ditch, in Hampton, is a very important water course and makes a vast improvement to the large section that it drains. It is seven miles long, eighteen feet wdde at its mouth and ten at its head. It will cost $7,000, and already land lying adjacent to it has advanced $5 and $10 per acre. This ditch is worth a mine of money to Bay County, placing in tillable condition a territory hitherto worthless for farming purposes.

The German road ditch in Portsmouth and Merritt townships is a drain of no little importance. It is w^eU under way, the first mile of which is twenty-five feet wide, having been completed some time ago. The rest of the ditch is fourteen feet wide, and its total length four miles. It will cost $5,000. The Russell ditch in the same township is now being dug. It will be fourteen feet wdde, five miles long, and will cost $4,000.

The Merrill ditch has been finished up to Center Street, and is now complete. It cost $5,500. The Vanderbilt ditch in Portsmouth will cost $700. Its length will be one mile. The contract for digging the T. C. Phillips ditch in Monitor township, has been let. Its lengtli is two and one-half miles, and its cost is placed at $1,700.

Ditch. Length. Cost

The Qimnicassee and Cheboyganing dredge cut extending from Cheboyganing Creek, in Saginaw County, to the Quanicassee Creek, in Bay County, is one of the most extensive improvements of the kind in the state. The cut is about twenty-eight feet wide by five and one-half feet deep, and seven miles long. It cost about 115,000.

This work of drainage is being vigorously prosecuted, and at the present time there are petitions for at least fifty miles of ditches in addition to those alreadv mentioned.

Travel And Transportation

Proper facilities for travel and transportation are essential to the development of any region. The early settlers of Bay County were subjected to many hardships on account of a lack of those facilities. For many years the river and lake were the only great thoroughfares leading out oC this region. There w^ere blazed paths through woods and corduroy roads across malarious swamps. The latter was made by throwing a sufficient number of logs across a track to render travel dangerous and destructive where before it was tedious and unprogressive. The legislator took his pack of essentials upon his back or saddle and proceeded upon foot or horseback to the capitol of the state to assist in the enactment of just and wholesome laws for the commonwealth. And it is not discoverable that local statesmen were fewer in number or less willing to sacrifice themselves upon the alleged altar because of the hardships to be endured in transit.

Wagon Roads

After the organization of the county in 1857, it became evident to the leading men in Bay City that a public thoroughfare over which travel to and from the city could be effected was necessary to the prosperity of the place.

The first road of any kind over which a team could travel to and from the city, was the Tuscola plank road, which was begun in 1859 and partially finished in 1860. B. F. Partridge was employed to survey the route and engineer the building of the road. He made the survey in 1859, and was assisted by William McEwan, James Eraser, Alexander McEwan and Christian Heinsman. The latter was axman, and Mr. McEwan took down the notes of survey. The cost of the road was about $40,000. It opened up a rich section of country and has been of great advantage to both city and county. A company was formed to build it and the money advanced by James Eraser and Dr. D. JtL. Fitzhugh, individuals who subscribed furnishing those gentlemen security for the amounts of their subscription.

Among the other road improvements of the past, are the Bay City and Midland plank road, extending east through Monitor and Williams, the State road running north from West Bay City, the Bay City and Cass River state road, and Bay City and Junction road. By reference to the county map it will be seen that the townships are displaying commendable enterprise in improving their roads as fast as they are warranted in doing. The state road extending north was opened from Saginaw to Au Sable, and superseded the old county road from Salzburgh to Kawkawlin.

expending 1 100,000 in road improvements. With that in view the following resolutions were introduced by Mr. A. C. Maxwell, and made the special order of business for the next day. The resolutions were as follows :

Resolred, That the sum of $100,000 be borrowed on the faith and credit of Bay County for a period of fifteen years at a rate of interest not exceeding five per cent per annum, payable semi-annually, and that the bonds of the county be issued therefor in sums of $500 each; the moneys so to be raised to be applied in improving and macadamizing the state roads in said county as follows:

First - To improve and macadamize that part of the Cass River and Bay City state road between the east line of the corporate limits of Bay City and the county line.

Second - To improve and macadamize that part of the Port Huron, Bay City and Clinton state road between the west line of the corporate hmits of West Bay City and the west line of Section Twenty-three, in the township of Williams in said county.

Third - To improve and macadamize that part of the East SaginawifeAu Sable- state road between the west line of the corporate limits of West Bay City and crossing of the East and West section line between Sections Two and Eleven, in township Thirteen north, of Range Four east.

Fourth - To improve and macadamize that part of the East Saginaw and Au Sable state road lying between the north line of the city of West Bay City and the bridge over the Kawkawlin River on said road in Section One, in township Fourteen north, of Range Four east.

ProruJed, That no such loan shall be made and no such bonds shall be issued unless a majority of the electors of said county of Bay voting thereon shall vote therefor at the election hereinafter provided for.

llesolred, That a special election is hereby ordered to be held in all the townships, cities and w^ards in said county, on Monday, the 29th of May next, to vote on the question whether or not the said loan and the said improvements to the roads named shall be made; and that at such election the vote shall be by ballot; and those voting for the said loan shall have written or printed on their ballots the words, *'For the road loan," and those voting against the same shall have written or printed on their ballots the words, * 'Against the road loan;" which ballots shall be counted, canvassed, certified and returned to the county clerk, and shall be canvassed and determined by this Board at a future meeting thereof as provided by law.

The resolution was adopted with the following changes: - May 29th was changed to June 12th ; five per cent changed to four and a half per cent. At the special election the question was carried and the bonds sold. Work was begun, and in January, 1883, the records of the secretary of the stone road committee showed the following progress:

Five miles on Midland road let to B. W. Merrick, first two miles at $2,400 per mile; second three miles at $2,750 per mile, filling in at 20 cents per yard.

Have now on hand about 1,000 cords. Have contracted for 4,000 cords at $2.50 per cord, and made contract for freight and unloading at $4.35 per cord.

The amount of work done to date is as follows : - Kawkawlin road three-fourths mile ; Kochville road 240 rods; Cass Eiver road, 440 rods; Midland road, 275 rods.

Contractors have been paid as follows: - Padley & Kilduff, Kawkawlin road - On contract $2,065; on account stone hauling, $250. Credit by earth work, $308.30.

The Flint & Pere Marquette Railway Company was the first to start from the west and w^ork toward the east, with a view of connecting the then undeveloped region of the Saginaw Valley with the railway system of the country.

The Congress of the United States, by an act entitled, "An Act making a grant of alternate sections of public lands to the state of Michigan, to aid in the construction of certain railroads in said state, and for other purposes," approved June 3, 1856, granted land to the state of Michigan, to aid in the construction, among others, of a railroad from Pere Marquette to Flint.

The state of Michigan, by an act of the Legislature, entitled: "An Act disposing of certain grants of land made to the state of Michigan for railroad purposes, by an Act of Congress, approved June 3, 1856, approved February 15, 1857, conferred upon the Flint & Pere Marquette Railway Company so much of the lands granted by Congress as pertained to a railroad from Pere Marquette to Flint."

The Flint & Pere Marquette Railway Company was organized January 21, 1857. The provisions of the law donating lands to this company were accepted February 21, 1857. The mip of location of larid was filed in the office of the secretary of state, August 7, 1857, and in the General Land Office at Washington, August 18, 1857. The first grading was done in the Fall of 1858.

The first engine used on the road was called the "PoUywog," a small second-hand locomotive, bought at Schenectady, for $2,000. The same engine was afterward re-built and was recently in service on the road, under the name of "Pioneer."

increased by the growing importance of the lumber and salt industries. But there were no adequate facilities of transportation, and the want of better communication with the outside world was strongly felt. In 1863 it was determined to make move toward securing a railroad, and a company for that purpose was formed, of which James Fraser was president. Judge Birney was a leading spirit in the enterprise, and at the extra session of the Legislature of Michigan, in January, 1864, Governor Blair was induced to recommend legislation for the aid of railroads. An act was drafted by Judge Birney, and passed by the Legislature, authorizing Bay County to loan its credit to aid in the construction of a railroad. This was to be done by the county issuing bonds to the amount of $75,000, which were to be loaned to the first responsible company formed for the purpose of building a railroad on the east side of the Saginaw River, and between Bay City and East Saginaw. The act was carefully drawn and all of its provisions strongly guarded, so that no harm could result to the county from any possible reason. The citizens of Bay County subscribed $40,000, and with that capital, work was commenced and prosecuted, as the act passed prevented the issue of any bonds mi til half the distance of the road was graded. Mr. Fraser continued to act as president of the company until his removal to Connecticut, when he was succeeded by Judge Birney. By him a satisfactory negotiation of the bonds was eft'ected, and under the superintendence of A. S. Munger, the grading of the road progressed. When the grading was nearly complete. Dr. H. C. Potter and Samuel Farwell subscribed the remainder of the stock and agreed to furnish the funds to iron and stock the road. Work was begun in August, 1866, and the first train passed over the road Saturday, November 23, 1867. In the light of subsequent history the completion of this road was one of, if not the most, important event that has ever occurred in the history of Bay City. The company organized for the purpose of building the road was confronted with seemingly unconquerable obstacles. The low ground between Bay City and Saginaw frightened every one, even the engineers considering it impracticable to build a railroad across the swamp. The directors of the company held meetings to devise ways and means of proceeding but no one could be induced to take charge of the construction. At last Mr. A. S. Munger consented to undertake the responsibility, and the arrangement was very satisfactory to all concerned. Mr. Munger proceeded with an engineer to run lines and examine the ground. He discovered that there was a subsoil of dense clay. After spending many weeks experimenting, Mr. Munger decided to dredge a canal, and with the dirt excavated to make an embankment for the track. The subsoil when thrown upon the surface made a firm and safe road-bed. The work was prosecuted with great energy, and a train ran over the track November 23, 1867, between Eleventh Street in Bay City and East Saginaw. The road when completed, was a remarkable triumph of engineering skill and sound judgment. For this great success, fraught with so much of importance to Bay City, Mr. Munger must be awarded the credit. The people of Bay City were sensible of the great value of this road, and also appreciated the extent of their obligation to Mr. Munger. Wednesday, November 20th, a meeting of citizens was held at the Fraser House to arrange for a supper in celebration of the opening of the road. That same evening the city council appropriated $500 to aid in carrying out the arrangements for that occasion.

Saturday morning, November 23d, the first excursion train left East Saginaw for Bay City. Just before the train left that city, an elegant gold watch was presented to Mr. Munger as a testimonial of appreciation of the untiring energy and signal ability he had displayed in the accomx)lishment of a most difficult task. Hon. James Birney made an appropriate presentation speech, and Mr. Munger received the gift with a few remarks expressive of his gratitude*.

fourth Sunday of January of each year, at which time the officers and executive committee are to be elected, who shall hold their offices until their seccessors are elected. Heretofore the annual meetings have been held in June, but under the change then made no session was held last year, so that the present officers and executive committee have held their offices about a year and a half; and we regret to say that not a c?reat deal of practical work has been accomplished during that time; and this has been owing to various causes which it is not here ne3essary to enumerate.

There have been but five or six meetings of the executive committee held, owing to the difficulty of obtaining a quorum tc transact business. The present committee consists of ten members from the various churches, besides the president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer, only five of whom are necessary for a quorum. I am satisfied that the committee is too large to get practical and efficient w^ork.

Three years ago a careful canvass of the entire county, including the two cities, was made under the direction of the executive committee and much good was accompHshed. The time has arrived when the growing population requires another careful canvass, especially in the territory outside the two cities; and in order to dc this the society must have money and books. The report of tbt treasurer, which will be read to you will show the amount of money on hand, and the society has in the two depositories 868 bibles and testaments; in the depository at Bay City 324 bibles and 439 testaments, and in the depository at West Bay City forty-four bibles and sixty-one testaments.

Our agent who canvassed the county, found much need for bibles in these locaHties. Settlers are rapidly occupying the new portions of the county, and they often find it difficult to spare the money necessary to procure a bible or testament, and in such cases a judicious person, perhaps the pastor of the church or the congregation in the locaHty, should be authorized to make donation.

Instances might be given showing this need. One will be sufficient: - The pastor of a congregation in the township of Au Gres, one of the northerly towns, called in his pastoral visits, at the residence of one of the settlers, and after conversation with the family asked leave to pray with them. The husband looked at his wife - the wife at the husband, and at the husband's intimation the wife stated to the pastor that they had no bible in the house ; that they would be glad to have one but they did not know where to procure it; if one could be obtained they would be glad to get it and pay for it, but no bible could be had nearer than Bay City, a distance of over forty miles.

The officers for the year 1883 are as follows: - President, T. F. Shepard; vice-president, E. B. Denison; treasurer, A. Folsom; secretary, F. B. Clark; directors, W. I. Brotherton, First Baptist Church; C. W. Parish, Washington Street M. E. Church; F. A. Bancroft, Presbyterian Church; 0. A. Waterhouse, Congregational Church; C. H. Francis, Presbyterian Church, West Bay City; D. P. Clark, M. E. Church, West Bay City.

Political

Bay and Tuscola Counties compose the Thirtieth State Senatorial District. Present senator, Hon. J. H. Eichardson, Greenbacker, of Tuscola Countv.

The county is divided into two representative districts. All that portion of the county lying east of the Saginaw Eiver constitutes the First District, and all west of the river, the Second District. Hon. H. M. Wright, Democrat, of Bay City, is the member from the First, and Hon. Newcomb Clark of West Bay City, from the Second District.

By Bert. H. Gustin

Ship building is an industry on which Bay City and West Bay City pride themselves, and one that forms an important branch of business here during the long months of the Winter, when the season of navigation is hushed by the chilhng arctic blasts. Lying almost adjacent to splendidly timbered lands with material accessible at all times and at a moderate price, this location is very desirable for those intending the construction of lake craft.

The quality of the oak timber to be found here is famed throughout the country, and it is even sought in the foreign markets, large quantities being sent to England. The timber is very large, and the quality of the best. Tamarack, a very useful and desirable timber for certain purposes in ship building, is here to be had of sufficient size for upper-deck beams, etc. Pine sticks for masts and spars are cut in the neighboring woods and hauled direct into the yards, the same being true of the oak and other varieties used. It follows that the best obtainable material is to be had here at less cost than elsewhere. These facts have induced the estabhshment on the river of several extensive yards, from which have been launched some of the largest and finest vessels now afloat.

Some of the early operations in the line of this industry have already been given in connection with the history of the navigation of the Saginaw Eiver. The first vessels of any considerable size built in Bay County, were built by the firm of H. D. Braddock & Co., in 1857 and 1858. They were the "Essex" and "Bay City." Some small fish boats were built here as early as 1849.

During 1881 the amount of money paid out in building and fitting out boats in Bay City and West Bay City, was as near as can be estimated, as follows:

The Winter of 1883 has been a busy one in the various ship yards, and a review of their opertions will show the extent to which this industry is carried on at the piesent time.

This yard which is located at the northern terminus of the street railway, has its full share of work this Winter as is usually the case. The first boat docked for repairs was the barge **B. B. Icsman," owned by John Homegardner, of Sandusky, Ohio. She was given a new keelson, entire new ceiling, new shelf pieces, tow posts, oak work on deck, mainmast, boom, gaff, rudder-stock, steering gear and other important improvements, to the extent of $2,000. Capt. W. H. Eeynolds will command her the coming season.

One of the most important improvements in the ship building line, that is being made at this port is the rebuild of the steam barge ^^Benton." The '^Benton" was built as a passenger propeller in

1866 at Buffalo, and then ranked at the head in her class of vessels. She is well known to Bay City people, having in later years, run upon the Cleveland route as a companion boat to the propeller *'Bertschy," and in opposition to the propeller "Eobert Holland" and steam barge "Porter Chamberhn." She always minded her machinery and had a reputation as being fast, at one time. In 1879 she was converted into a steam barge by the removal of her upper cabins. The following year she became the property of E. J. Vance, of this city, and Fisher, Wilson & Co., of Cleveland. Since then she has been engaged in the lumber trade and has done an unusually good business, making rapid time and meeting with but little ill-luck. Her financial record was such that her owners resolved to give her a thorough rebuild and that resolution is now being carried out at the Bay City ship yard. She entered the dock on December 14th and since that time, the many employes of the yard have been busily engaged hewing timber and putting it in place. "When completed, she will have received part new floor, new ceiling forward and aft, two strakes of shelf pieces 5x12 inches, entire new deck frames 8x10 inches; three-inch deck; new plank-shear; new

The steam barge "George King," owned by Capt. Gregory Francis, of this city, is lying at the dock and before the opening of navigation, will have received a new center board box, inside arches and other repairs, which will be decided upon when the work has been commenced. Her boiler is undergoing repairs, and her hull will receive an entire re-caulking. Capt. Joseph Shackett will continue her master, as in 1882.

Other minor work, not yet decided upon, will be done at the Bay City yard before navigation opens, so that the large force of men will find plenty of employment.

Saginaw, Bay City And Alpena Steamers

stanchions; 5^x12 inch fender strake; new strake of planking and three inch quick work, inside and out of stanchions up to rail, all thoroughly edge-bolted. She is receiving a new stem and stern post, forty feet of new keel, new outside planking forward and aft where needed; two new main keelsons and two sister keelsons fastened through and through and edge-bolted with one inch iron forelocked. New hatches, hatch combings, timber heads, tow post, spar, part new rail and new upper works around cabin. She will be housed in forward, the forecastle being placed on deck. To complete the overhauling of the hull, it wi'l be re-caulked from stem to stern.

Her machinery, which is in very good shape, is also being overhauled. The cylinder and valves are being bored out by the Industrial works, and about $1,200 is being laid out on her boiler by McKinnon & Co. Considering all, everything is beiug done to make the ''Benton" better than ever before. In addition to the above improvements, alterations will be made where deemed necessary, new pieces of timber substituted for that which is worn or decayed, and every part of the craft put in first-class shape. Capt. Henry Bennett, her master, is superintending all branches of the overhauling and seeing that everything is done as it should be, and feels confident of having one of the very best steam barges on the lakes during 1883. That is the calculation at present, and if nothing unforeseen happens to prevent, the expectations will be realized. The "Benton will remain in the lumber trade.

river was visited, and found to present a scene of great activity, the same as in seasons past. The largest job on hand is the building of a steam barge for Capt. William Forbes, of Port Huron, and through the kindness of that jolly mariner the writer was given a few points regarding the construction of the new craft. She is 196 feet and seven inches keel, thirty-four feet beam and fourteen feet hold, dimensions that are calculated to give her a carrying capacity of 1,100 gross tons, or about 800,000 feet of lumber. She is being built of the best white oak and will be first-class in every respect, rating A, 1* without a doubt. Her floor timbers are 6x15 inches, placed so closely together as to form an almost solid floor. Her frames are sixteen inches at the breech, fourteen inches at the bilge and seven inches on top, Her ceiling is five inches on the floor, seven, eight and six inches at the bilge and five inches up, all edgebolted and thoroughly fastened. Her main keelson is 12x13 inches, two sister keelsons 12x12 inches, and two "riders" the same dimensions, all forelocked with one inch iron. Her planking is four inches on the bottom, five inches at the bilge and four inches on top sides. The average dimensions of the deck frames are 9x11 inches. She will be diagonally iron strapped with 4Jxi inch iron, thoroughly bolted through frames. Twelve tons of this iron will be used. When completed the new craft wiU resemble the steamship "C. H. Green." The cabin for her crew will be located aft, with pilot house and texas forw^ard. She will carry three spars and plenty of canvas. Her engine will be a fore and aft compound, 27x40 and 41 and is now being made by Hodge, of Detroit. Mr. Hodge is also constructing her boiler which will be one of the Moses pattern, Otis steel, twelve feet shell. Her shaft will be ten inches in diameter and will throw an eleven and one-half foot wheel. She will be thoroughly equipped in every respect, having steam hoisting apparatus, steam pumps, etc. It is expected to have her ready for work, by May 1st, when she will enter the Lake Superior trade. Her cost is placed at $75,000. Her officers so far as known will be as follows : Captain, William Forbes; mate, Mr. Hiillips, formerly of the steam barge ^'Caldwell;" engineer, Walter Trueleven, formerly of the steam barge **Tecumseh.' The barge '-Fannie Neil," owned by Mr. Forbes, will be the consort of the steam barge. She will be commanded by the well known Capt. Peter Cummings, for six years master of the barge ''Clement."

A light draft tug is well under way for Capt. P. C. Smith, the dimensions of which are as follows: Length, seventy -five feet; breadth of beam, seventeen feet; depth of hold, five feet. She will have a fourteen square engine and a 5^^x10 feet Otis steel boiler. The machinery is being made by the Eiverside iron works, in Detroit, and the boiler by McKninon & Co., of this city.

The barge "T. G. Lester" has been cut in two and lengthened thirty feet, which will increase her carrying capacity about 100,000 feet of lumber. She is owned by T. G. Lester.

The bargb "Boscobel" is to receive new deck frames and part new railing, and the steam barge "Mayflower" will receive considerable overhauling before going into service.

AT JAMES Davidson's yaed was found a monster steamship on the stocks, the largest craft ever constructed on the Saginaw Eiver, and the largest craft on the lakes, so far as dimensions are concerned, the iron steamship "Onoko" being the only boat that will eclipse her in the way of carrying capacity. The dimensions of this mammoth are as follows :

Li company with her owuer, Capt. James Davidson, the TrUnme reporter made a tour of inspection of her monster hold and from that genial gentleman obtained the following: Her keel is 14x10^^ inches; inside garboard strakes, 7x14; outside garboard strakes, 6x12. The frames are seventeen inches at the keel, fifteen and onehalf inches at the bilge and eight inches on top. One long, extra piece of floor timber runs from bilge to bilge across keel, making a solid floor with the exception of two inch water space. She has thirteen keelsons as follows : Main keelson, 17x17; two assistant keelsons, 17x14 inches; five floor keelsons, 14x14 inches, on each side, running from main keelson to bilge, the entire length of the vessel. These immense pieces of timber are thoroughly edge-bolted, with three bolts of one and one-fourth-inch iron into every frame. The floor keelsons are securely fastened in the same manner with one-inch iron. There are five bilge keelsons, two at the turn of the bilge, 11x12 inches; two 10x10 inches and one 8x10 inches. The ceiling from the bilge keelsons to the clamp strakes is six inches in diameter, thoroughly edge-bolted between every frame. There are four strakes of clamps near the top of frames, seven and one-half inches thick by twelve inches wide, all cut out one and one-half inches and notched on to the frames.

shelf pieces six inches thick and twelve inches wide, with a ten-inch hanging knee under each beam, at every alternate frame, all bolted and forelocked. The upper deck beams are 8x12 inches, with 6x12 inch shelf pieces put on over clamps and let on to frame, kneed oft* and fastened the same as those previously described, except that the knees are placed at the other frames, which is equivalent to a knee to each frame in the ship.

On the upper deck, the water way is 12x12 inches, mth solid rail, two and one-heJf feet from top of deck, planked inside and out and edge-bolted through both. The outside planking is five inches in thickness from the garboard strakes to the top of frames, where there are three strakes six inches in thickness. The upper deck will be of pine, three and one-half inches in thickness by five inches in width.

To obtain further strength Captain Davidson will introduce a new idea in the way of trusses, one of which will be placed in the center, about one-fourth way from the stem, another amid-ships and the third about one-fourth way from the stern. The fourth will be placed just forward of the boilers. A heavy truss will begin on either side at the bilge and proceed to the center of the upper deck, and thence to the main keelson. The truss first alluded to will be two and one-half inches in diameter, and will be firmly fastened at top and bottom with nut and washer set up tightly. The braces, from bilge to center, will be secured, screwed by a turn buckle. The first trusses are each calculated to support a 150- ton strain, and those beginning at the bilge, seventy-five tons.

The cabins will be arranged in a modern style, the pilot house and apartments for the captain, officers and part of the crew being forward, and the mess room, engineers' room, dining room, etc., aft. When completed they will resemble those of the steamship Siberia, completed in August last.

Her windlass will be of the American Windlass Company's manufacture, or, what is known as the Providence steam windlass, an improvement on any ever made. The windlass, pawl, etc., will all be one heavy iron bed plate, combining strength and neatness. All capstans on deck will work by steam. There will be a strong hoisting machine on deck for raising sails, freight, and for doing general heavy business. The anchors, two in number, are of the Boston patent make, one weighing 3,000 pounds and the other 2,600. They will be furnished with Sterling chain, one and three-fourths and one and five-eighth inches in diameter. Her machinery will be a duplicate of that placed in the Siberia, the engine being a fore and aft compound, 30x42, being the size of the high pressure cylinder, and 50x42, of the low pressure. It is being manufactured at the King Iron Works in Buffalo, and will be ready for placing in position by the time the new boat is ready to receive it. Her boilers, two, 8|xl6 feet, are being made of Otis steel, by Eitter Bros., of Buffalo. They will be placed, bet ween decks, and furnished with a patent covering and a water tight ash pan.

An item that must not be overlooked is the diagonal strapping. The frames will be strengthened by an iron girt or cord ten inches wide and three-fourths inch thick, running fore and aft from near the stern to the stem. Another band of the same size is placed on the inside of the frames, and to this the outside band will be thoroughly riveted. To the outside girt will be riveted bands, five inches wide and one-half inch thick, taking a diagonal course to the turn of bilge where it takes t.^e floor. These diagonal straps will commence at every opening of frame, crossing twice, and are to be solidly riveted at each crossing. An iron arch will extend from around the fan-tail forward, making a perfect net work of iron bands around the boat, imparting great strength and firmness.

Captain Davidson expects to have his fine new craft ready for business by June 1st. She will then have cost him in the immediate neighborhood of §140,000. Her estimated carrying capacity is placed at 2,600 tons, 90,000 bushels of corn or 1,500,000 feet o*f lumber. In her construction 1,500,000 feet of white oak and 300,- 000 feet of pine will be used. A. C. Eosa, builder of the steamships ^'Lycoming," ^'Conemaugh," '^Oceanica" and ''Siberia," is superintendent of Mr. Davidson's yard.

Dixon 'S Yard

Directly south of Davidson's yard, Wilham Dixon has the tug "Cora B." and the steamer "Luther Westover" hauled out upon the bank. The former is receiving extensive repairs to her machinery, and the latter a complete overhauling, as follows: - Her cabin will be placed below, and all upper works cut away, except those that are positively necessary. This is done in order to lighten her up and make her more easily to be handled. Her boiler, engine and running gear, wheels, etc., are to be renewed. The cost of her rebuild will reach $5,000.

Miscellaneous Notes

The tug "Alanson Sumner," lying at the Industrial Works, is having her engine compounded. In the Spring she will be towed to the Bay City dry dock, and there housed in forward.

The occupation of a fisherman dates back to a very early period of the world's history, and the catching of fish to obtain food, as a sport, or as an industrial pursuit is an employment that has been engaged in wherever success crowned the efforts. The history of amateur anghng would go much further than this and portray the motley throngs or solitary anglers upon piers and banks, impatiently dipping their baited hooks into the water where the presence of fish was unknown. Sport, in such instances, being the object sought, the ^.dventure must be regarded as a satisfying success; for the fatigue is just as prostrating, the lunch basket as devouringly emptied, and the blistered nose flames gorgeously and smaits as lustily, as though the "catch" had been prodigious. It is, however, with fishing as an important industry that we present the subject upon these pages.

This trade has constituted a prominent and an important part of the business of the lakes and bays that hem tnis beautiful peninsula for many years. Its extent and profit are not generally understood. It would be a difficult thing to estabhsh the exact time when this trade was first entered into upon the upper lakes, but its history as an industry dates back to a very early period. As early as 1858, the lake and river fish exported from various points on Saginaw Kiver, amounted in value to upwards of |40,000 a year. The principal fisheries noticed here are at Saginaw Bay and up the shore to Thunder Bay. The pioneer industry at Au Sable, Alcona, and Thunder Bay was fishing, and on the Saginaw Bay it was among the early pursuits. Au Sable was the most noted of the early fishing points, and there are few men living who can remember back of the time when fishing was commenced at that point.

We find this business reviewed for the year 1867 as follows: "The fisheries of Thunder Bay constitute an important item among the resources of Alpena. Some of the trap net grounds in the vicinity being the most valuable and productive of any on the entire chain of lakes and the business generally successful and remunerative. The average yearly catch of fish in the bay and from adjacent islands is 6,250 barrels; of these one quarter are trout, worth |8 per barrel at shipping point, the balance white fish, worth from $11 to |12 per barrel. The season of 1866 being generally unfavorable for the business, the whole catch did not exceed 5,000 barrels. There are regularly employed at the different fishing stations, in the aggregate, nine sail boats, seven trap net skifi:'s, requiring the services of 100 men. The value of the investment in the business is, for boats, nets, etc., |25,000; for grounds and buildings, |35,000. Average yearly product fully equal to the investment, 160,000.

"At Au Sable there are forty sail boats for gill net fishing and four trap net operations. Average yearly catch 30,000 barrels; value of property in boats and nets, $50,000; number of men employed, 175. Fifteen tons of fresh fish are shipped from the Au Sable every week during the season of navigation, to Bay City and the Saginaws.

"At Harrisville, sixty men, four sail boats and appurtenances, and four trap net skiffs and appurtenances are constantly employed in the business of trap and gill net fishing. Average yearly catch, 5,000 barrels; value of product, |40,000; value of property invested, $40,000.

"The fishing interest in the Saginaw Kiver has assumed a considerable degree of importance. The trade opened during the Winter of 1864-'65 through the efforts of Harvey WiUiams, the pioneer. The fish are caught under the ice by cutting a series of holes and passing the nets under the ice from one hole to another. The kinds of fish caught for the trade are pickerel, pike, black bass and perch. When caught they are packed in barrels and shipped to Detroit, Cincinnati, New York and other markets. The amount reahzed for these fish during the year 1867, not calculating those used for home consumption, was not less than $14,000. For 1865 and 1866 the average catch was about seventy-five tons each year, bringing an average price of $100 per ton. The catch on the river and bay for 1867 amounted to about $25,000."

In 1870, carefully prepared statistics compiled under authority of the Legislature show the amount invested, the catch and value of the product to have been as follows :

Capital. Bbls. Value Pee Sen Ted

The total money value of the gift was $350. The watch is still carried by Mr. Hunger, and has faithfully ticked away the seconds of the fifteen and one -half years that have elapsed since he received it under such memorable and gratifying circumstances.

The banquet and ball previously arranged was held at the Eraser Houses on the evening of November 26th, and was an affair highly creditable to all concerned.

About the time this road was completed, the eTackson, Lansing & Saginaw road was completed to Wenona, now West Bay City, and then the people of Bay City realized the importance of the Bay City and East Saginaw line.

Early in 1880 it became noised abroad in the county that some of the bonds issued by the county were outstanding and that the county was liable to be called upon for their payment. The Board of Supervisors appointed a committee to visit East Saginaw and interview Dr. Potter regarding the matter. Finding him absent, the committee returned and addressed a letter to him, to which he replied, giving all the facts in the case, and definitely settling all doubts in regard> to Bay County's security. The letter was as

B. F. Partridge, Esq., Chairman of Board of Supervisors of Bay County, Bay City - Sir: - Your letter of 20th instant received by me to-day on my return from New York. I regret that I was absent when you called, as I could have given you full particulars relative to tJtie issue of bonds of Bay County, in aid of the Bay City and East Saginaw Eailroad.

Bay County issued on Sept. 1, 1867, to the Bay City & East Saginaw E. E. under act of Legislature, approved Feb. 3, 1864, $75,000 of bonds, payable twenty years from date at the Importers and Traders' Bank, New York, with interest coupons attached at rate of ten per cent, payable semi-annually, on September 1st and March 1st of each year. The bonds and coupons were signed by Eansom P. Essex, chairman of the Board of Supervisors, and bear also the signature of the clerk, and the seal of the county.

As security for the payment of the principal and interest of these bonds, the Bay City & East Saginaw E. E. Co., mortgaged by instrument bearing date .June 4, 1867, to James Shearer, Chauncey W. Gibson, and Eansom P. Essex, of Bay City, as trustees, the railroad of fourteen miles together with all the property connected therewith. This mortgage also secured $100,000 of the bonds of the road, which mature July 1, 1882. On the 30th of September, 1867, the Fhnt & Pere Marquette Eailway Co., to whom the Bay City & East Saginaw E. E. had been conveyed, guaranteed the interest and principal of the Bay County bonds. Since the date of issue twenty- six coupons have matured and been paid by the F. & P. M. Eailway Co., and the coupons canceled have been parted in the bond book in my possession, and are open to inspection. The aggregate amount thus paid is $97,500, being $7,500 per annum for thirteen years.