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TERRITORIAL ROAD RECOLLECTIONS OF THE "OLD TERRITORIAL ROAD" AND ITS TAVERNS
Michigan had a variety of surface and soil, and hence pleased almost all. True, she didn't have the "hanging rock and airy mountain, " yet from the rugged hills to the level prairies, she had every variety of surface; and from the dark, rich prairie mould to sandy earth, she had every variety of soil. And the same is true of her woods. From her magnificent forests of heavy timber to her sparsely wooded openings, she had every variety of timber. She had something to suit every one. Her climate was mild, her lakes and streams of pure water; and, although she had the watery marsh, the occasional swamp, the slough or swale, yet where they were useless they did not seem to discount very much of the country. Probably very few States had less waste lands.
Taking the State as it was, it went at a premium with the emigrant. We hear much about the language of flowers. When this territory was in its full bloom, in all its natural wealth of tree and flower, ere-the white man's ax had resounded in its forest, or his plow turned a furrow, I think that Ponce de Leon would have interpreted the language spoken here, as he did further South, in Florida—"the land of flowers. " But there was a language of more utility spoken in her immense forests. Here she told of vast fortunes to he. made in the lumber trade; but heavy blows and hard labor to be given ere the emigrant could get to farming. In her oak openings she said: "here are lands almost fitted for the plow; build a house of the wood here, fence into fields, thin out the timber, if in the way, keep the heaviest for woodland, and go to farming. " In her prairies she said—"here are your farm lands: build your house, fence off into lots and drive your team a-field. " In her marshes she said—"here is your meadow, all ready for the scythe; fence it of
to keep the cattle from spoiling it, and mow in the proper season.
Michigan
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