History of Saginaw county, Michigan; together with ... portraits ... and biographies ... History of Michigan ...

CHAPTER XIV.

AGRICULTURAL-PRESENT AND PROSPECTIVE.
From whatever standpoint the Valley is reviewed, it appears immensely fair. It is conceded that its lumber and salt interests are
incomparable; but some have groundlessly doubted that its agricultural interests are very respectable. Now, by some strange
revolution of physical appearances, the great pines of the Saginaw
region spring from lands as rich as ever bore a forest,-lands which
to-day yield a plenty to a large and prosperous agricultural population, and which to-morrow will grow in public esteem until they
form the gardens of the Peninsula.
C. P. Reynolds, in addressing the farmers of Saginaw, said:
" It may seem strange that one should speak of a new Michigan.
The name suggests a ilewly discovered land, having possibly a
new and distinctive flora and animals, and climate relations to
produce them. Such possibilities excite the curiosity of the naturalist, the geologist, as well as the agriculturist, who combine all
those elements, for here is a new world to conquer, undeveloped
resources to be added to the wealth of science and the State. It is
not the object of this hastily written paper to excite such curiosity,
especially among such as are ever eager to learn some new thing,
like the old Athenians, but it will have accomplished its necessarily limited purpose if our New Michigan but catch a passing
glance from our much loved Michigan, that has long held the attention of her sister States as-the gem of the lakes, richly endowed
with resources that, though new and undeveloped, have already
swelled the wealth and honor of our glorious Union.
"When Father Marquette stood awe-struck on the island that
commands the Straits of Mackinaw, and took in at a glance those
immense maple groves that bound the northern limit and fringe
those ocean lakes, something more than mere religious zeal bowed
his head as he listened in silent adoration to the sighing of the
pine forests overhead, mingled with the rippling of the water at
his feet. Religious zeal has ever been true to patriotism and love
of country, from Columbus, the great discoverer, down to the late
Sir John Franklin, so long lamented, and whose bones, bleaching
under arctic frosts, are but the teachings of the divine Master,
' Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the
things that are God's.'
" Martyrs to religion, patriotism and science-how their glorious
names illustrate history, and add godliness to manliness, to which
all other things are added. These sublime qualities characterized
many of the pioneer settlers of our new Michigan, of whom our
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