Pioneer history of Ingham County, compiled and arranged by Mrs. Franc L. Adams, secretary of the Ingham County pioneer and historical society.

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PIONEER HISTOlRY OF INGTIAMI COUNTY

MAKES URGENT APPEAL FOR INDUSTRIES.
An urgent appeal for the establishment of manufacturing industries in our city was made in the following paragraph of the
book: "A much more extended reference might be made to the
advantages of our timber lands in connection with the manufacture of articles composed largely of wood, and especially such as
are in constant demand in our own and adjacent states, such as
agricultural implements, furniture, railroad cars and other products. It is very questionable economy for our railroads to wear
out thousands of cars in hauling from and through our city to
distant points the raw materials for the building of other cars to
take their place. These are considerations worthy of some note
at least by manufacturers."
That there was no need for government control of fuel conditions back in the happy days of 1873 is shown in the paragraph
which reads: "A question of first importance to any manufacturing city is that of fuel. In this respect Lansing again comes up
to the front with a wealth of wood and coal accessible and cheap.
Being situated in the midst of heavy forests of hard timber, wood,
being the most easily and cheaply obtained, has been hitherto the
staple article of fuel and for some years to come it will continue to
be plenty at low prices; but in all cases, when it becomes necessary to use coal it can be obtained in good quantities and quality
within 12 miles of the city at the rate of $4 to $5 a ton."
Building stone was abundant in the vicinity of Lansing in the
early seventies and the brick situation was described as follows:
"Mr. George B. Hall, who is supplying the brick for the new State
Capitol, is also shipping large quantities to Jackson and other
towns, and there is no good reason why, with our abundant and
cheap fuel, our direct and competing lines of railroads to Chicago,
we may not send to that extensive and growing city millions of
brick every year at remunerative prices. They are now being furnished at the yards at from $5 to $6 a thousand. The demand for
drain tile is just commencing and must increase rapidly."
Much space was given to the fine farm land adjacent to the city
and the advantages in crop growing near the city of Lansing as a
market for the products.
The scale of prices for farm lands is shown in the book as follows: "Lands within 15 miles of the city range in value from $15