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SAGINAW BAY is a very large body of water, it being about 30 miles wide and 60 miles long, penetrating far into the lower peninsula of Michigan. There are several islands near the center of the bay and along its eastern shore; while different kinds of fish are taken from its waters in large quantities. Saginaw River, flowing into the head of the bay, is a large and navigable stream, draining a rich section of country. LOWER SAGINAW, near the mouth of the river, is a flourishing settlement, from whence a large amount of lumber is annually exported.

SAGINAW CITY, Saginaw Co., Mich., is handsomely situated on the left bank of the river, 23 miles above its mouth. It contains a court-house and jail, several churches, two hotels, 15 stores, two warehouses, and six steam saw-mills. Population about 4,000. There is a fine section of country in the rear of Saginaw, much of which is heavily timbered; the soil produces grain in abundance, while the streams afford means of easy transportation to market. Steamers run daily from Saginaw City to Detroit, during the season of navigation.

EAST SAGINAW, situated on the right bank of the river, about one mile below Saginaw City, is a new and flourishing place, also largely engaged in the lumber trade, where are located several extensive steam saw-mills and other manufacturing establishments.

The other important points passed on a trip from Detroit to Mackinac or the Saut Ste Marie are Thunder Bay Island and light, and Presque Isle, on the Michigan shore; while the Great Manitoulin Island, Great Duck Island, and Cockburn Island are on the Canada side.

If the steamer is bound for Mackinac, a westerly course is pursued after passing Presque Isle light until Bois Blanc Island is reached and passed, the steamer then gliding through the Strait of Mackinac, where the water-surface narrows to the width of about 20 miles.

BAYS AND RIVERS-SOIL, CLIMATE, ETC., OF

THE LOWER PENINSULA OF MICHIGAN.

THE Lower Peninsula of Michigan is nearly surrounded by the waters of the Great Lakes, and, in this respect, its situation is naturally more favorable for all the purposes of trade and commerce than any other of the Western States.

The numerous streams which penetrate every portion of the peninsula, some of which are navigable for steamboats a considerable distance from the lake, being natural outlets for the products of the interior, render this whole region desirable for purposes of settlement and cultivation. Even as far north as the Strait of Mackinac, the soil and climate, together with the valuable timber, offer great inducements to settlers; and if the proposed railroads, under the recent grant of large portions of these lands by Congress, are constructed from and to the different points indicated, this extensive and heavily timbered region will speedily be reclaimed, and become one of the most substantial and prosperous agricultural portions of the West.

It is well that in the system of compensation, which seems to be a great law of the universe, the vast prairies which comprise so large a portion of this great Western domain are provided so well with corresponding regions of timber, affording the necessary supply of lumber for the demand of the increasing population which is so rapidly pouring into these Western States.

The State of Michigan-all the waters of which flow into the basin of the St. Lawrence-Northern Wisconsin, and Minnesota are the sources from which the States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Iowa, and a large portion of the prairie country west of the Mississippi, must derive their supply of this important article (lumber).

The quantity of pine lumber manufactured in Michigan alone

is estimated for the past year to amount to nearly one thousand millions of feet. The amount sold in Chicago in 1856 was upward of 450 millions, at an average price of, say $14 per thousand.

This great commodity is to a considerable degree undervalued. The supply in the West is now equal to the demand, but the consumption is so great, and the demand so constantly increasing with the development and settlement of the country, that of necessity, within comparatively a very few years, these vast forests will be exhausted. It is estimated that in ten years a very large proportion of the pine timber, accessible to navigable streams, will be consumed. But as the timber is exhausted the soil is prepared for cultivation, and a large portion of the northern part of the southern peninsula of Michigan will be settled and cultivated, as it is the most reliable wheat-growing portion of the Union.

Natural points for harbors are found at the mouths of nearly all the large streams in the State. Besides the ports and towns already described, there are on Lake Huron, after leaving Saginaw Bay going north, several settlements and lumber establishments, fisheries, etc. These are at Sauble River, Black River, and Devil River. At Thunder Bay a very flourishing town is being built up, with a superior water-power on the river. This is the county seat of Alpena County. The next important point on the coast is Cheboygan River. The U. S. Land Office for this district is located here, at a small town on the bay called Duncan. This point is nearly opposite the island of Mackinac.

Passing around the western extremity of the peninsula, at the Waugoshance Light and Island, the next point is Little Traverse Bay. This is the terminus of the Amboy and Traverse Bay Railroad.

About fifteen miles southwesterly from Little Traverse we enter Grand Traverse Bay, a large and beautiful arm of the lake, extending about thirty miles inland. This bay is divided into two parts by a point of land from two to four miles wide

extending from the head of the bay about eighteen miles toward the lake. The country around this bay is exceedingly picturesque, and embraces one of the finest agricultural portions of the State

The climate is mild, and fruit and grain of all kinds suitable to a northern latitude are produced, with less liability to injury from frost than in some of the southern portions of the State.

Large quantities of these lands have been located, and several settlements and towns are rapidly growing up. Grand Traverse City is located at the head of the west arm of the bay, and is the terminus of the proposed railroad from Grand Rapids, a distance of about 140 miles.

Passing out of the bay and around the point dividing the west arm from the lake, we first arrive at the river Aux Becs Sceis. There is here a natural harbor, capable of accommodating the larger class of vessels and steamboats. A small settlement has been commenced at this place, but with its natural advantages, and the capital and enterprise of parties who now contemplate making further improvements, it will soon become a very desirable and convenient point for the accommodation of navigators.

The islands comprising the Beavers, the Manitous, and Fox isles should here be noticed. The Beavers lie a little south of west from the entrance to the Strait of Mackinac, the Manitous a little south of these, and the Fox's still farther down the lake. These are all valuable for fishing purposes, and for wood and lumber. Lying in the route of all the steamboat lines from Chicago to Buffalo and the Upper Lakes, the harbors on these islands are stopping-points for the boats, and a profitable trade is conducted in furnishing the necessary supplies of wood, etc.

The settlement of Mormons on the Big Beaver Island has recently been abandoned, and the people have mostly dispersed.

We next arrive at Manistee, a small but important settlement at the mouth of the Manistee River. The harbor is a natural

one, but requires some improvement. A large trade is carried on with Chicago in lumber. The river passes through a fine pine district, and is one of the largest in the State.

The next point of importance is the mouth of the Père Marquette River. Here is the terminus of the proposed railroad from Flint, in Genesee County, connecting with Detroit by the Detroit and Milwaukee Railway, a distance of about 180 miles.

The harbor is very superior, and the country in the vicinity is well adapted for settlement. About 16 miles in the interior is situated one of the most compact and extensive tracts of pine timber on the western coast.

About forty miles south of this, in the county of Oceana, a small village is located at the mouth of White River. The harbor here is also a natural one, and the region is settled to considerable extent by farmers. Lumber is, however, the principal commodity, and the trade is principally with the Chicago market.

The next point is Muskegon, at the mouth of the Muskegon River. It is supported principally by the large lumber region of the interior. Numerous steam saw-mills are now in active operation here, giving the place an air of life and activity.

The harbor is one of the best on the lake, and is at present accessible for all the vessels trading between Muskegon and Chicago. A small steamboat runs up the Muskegon River about forty miles to Newaygo, the capital of Newaygo County. This village is in a beautiful region of farming country, and also in close proximity to the extensive pineries stretching along the valley of the river. One of the largest lumber mills in the State, running 114 saws, is in operation at this place. About seventy millions of feet of lumber are manufactured annually on this river.

GRAND HAVEN, Ottawa Co., Mich, is situated on both sides of Grand River, at its entrance into Lake Michigan, here eighty miles wide; on the opposite side lies Milwaukee, Wis. The different settlements comprising Grand Haven contain about 5,000 inhabitants. Here is a court-house and jail, two churches, six

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