Peninsula. The whole central portion rises to an elevation of 600 to 800 feet, and toward its northern extremity even to a hight of 1,000 to 1,100 feet above Lake Michigan. This elevated plateau embraces the counties of Roscommon, Missaukee, Crawford, and Otsego and large portions of the counties of Ogemaw, Oscoda, Montmorency, Antrim, Kalkaska, and Wexford. In the southern central portion lie Higgins and Houghton lakes, 589 feet above Lake Michigan. These lakes, which are large and beautiful bodies of water, are the source of the Muskegon river which flows thence nearly southerly through a broad, deep valley. The general aspect of this extensive central elevation is that of an undulating plain. There are few abrupt hills, but the streams have cut deep valleys which usually show precipitous banks. The chief rivers which drain this region are the Au Sable on the east, and the Manistee on the west. The headwaters of these rivers almost mingle in Crawford and Otsego counties, the summit of the Peninsula. Flowing also from this summit eastward, northward, and westward are the Thunder Bay, Sturgeon, Boyne, Boardman, and other streams of less magnitude. This portion of the State has been only recently opened to settlement. Within a year railroad extension has brought within the range of development a large tract of country hitherto practically inaccessible. The soil is generally well adapted to agriculture; the native timber is pine mingled with valuable hard woods. In the region bordering on the lakes and on the large streams which empty into them pine lumbering operations are extensively carried on. The western portion of this division, about Traverse bay, has become famous as a fruit-growing region. The soil seems to be specially adapted to the raising of all the common varieties of fruits in great abundance, and the climatic influence of the large body of water to the westward is such as to bring them to great perfection in their season. THE EASTERN DIVISION OF THE UPPER PENINSULA has not been extensively explored and, with the exception of a few villages about its borders, and some settlements recently opened, is yet a wilderness. It possesses, however, a fertile soil, an equable climate, and is known to be capable of agricultural development of a high order. Its principal river is the Taquamenon which rises near the center of the St. Mary's peninsula and flows northeastward into Lake Superior. Other streams in this region are the Munnusco, which flows eastward into St. Mary's river, and the Pine which flows southward into Lake Huron. An elevated range of limestone hills extends across the entire southern border from Point Detour to Little Bay de Noquet. These hills rise to a hight of 200 to 300 feet above the lakes, on the shores of which they sometimes appear as bold bluffs, cut into weird and romantic scenery by the action of the elements. Along the north shore of this peninsula is a similar range of hills, in some localities even more lofty and bold than those on the south shore. These extend from the vicinity of Point Iroquois westward, following the direction of the shore line, and sometimes rise to an altitude of 600 feet above the lake, from which they appear as lofty headlands or perpendicular escarpments, as at Grand Sable and Pictured Rocks. The streams which break through this range are interrupted by falls, some of them 40 to 100 feet in hight. The scenery is very attractive. Inland the surface of the country is quite level and for the most part heavily wooded with hardwood forests. The Manistique lakes, three in number, are considerable bodies of water near the center of this peninsula. The Manistique river flows southwestward from them into Lake Michigan. Westward of these lakes the country is flat with a gentle slope to the southward, the watershed being within six to ten miles from Lake Superior. The streams all flow southward and are somewhat sluggish in their character. The country is almost wholly undeveloped as yet, except by the recent building through it of the Detroit, Mackinac, and Marquette railroad. Peninsula. The whole central portion rises to an elevation of 600 to 800 feet, and toward its northern extremity even to a hight of 1,000 to 1,100 feet above Lake Michigan. This elevated plateau embraces the counties of Roscommon, Missaukee, Crawford, and Otsego and large portions of the counties of Ogemaw, Oscoda, Montmorency, Antrim, Kalkaska, and Wexford. In the southern central portion lie Higgins and Houghton lakes, 589 feet above Lake Michigan. These lakes, which are large and beautiful bodies of water, are the source of the Muskegon river which flows thence nearly southerly through a broad, deep valley. The general aspect of this extensive central elevation is that of an undulating plain. There are few abrupt hills, but the streams have cut deep valleys which usually show precipitous banks. The chief rivers which drain this region are the Au Sable on the east, and the Manistee on the west. The headwaters of these rivers almost mingle in Crawford and Otsego counties, the summit of the Peninsula. Flowing also from this summit eastward, northward, and westward are the Thunder Bay, Sturgeon, Boyne, Boardman, and other streams of less magnitude. This portion of the State has been only recently opened to settlement. Within a year railroad extension has brought within the range of development a large tract of country hitherto practically inaccessible. The soil is generally well adapted to agriculture; the native timber is pine mingled with valuable hard woods. In the region bordering on the lakes and on the large streams which empty into them pine lumbering operations are extensively carried on. The western portion of this division, about Traverse bay, has become famous as a fruit-growing region. The soil seems to be specially adapted to the raising of all the common varieties of fruits in great abundance, and the climatic influence of the large body of water to the westward is such as to bring them to great perfection in their season. THE EASTERN DIVISION OF THE UPPER PENINSULA has not been extensively explored and, with the exception of a few villages about its borders, and some settlements recently opened, is yet a wilderness. It possesses, however, a fertile soil, an equable climate, and is known to be capable of agricultural development of a high order. Its principal river is the Taquamenon which rises near the center of the St. Mary's peninsula and flows northeastward into Lake Superior. Other streams in this region are the Munnusco, which flows eastward into St. Mary's river, and the Pine which flows southward into Lake Huron. An elevated range of limestone hills extends across the entire southern border from Point Detour to Little Bay de Noquet. These hills rise to a hight of 200 to 300 feet above the lakes, on the shores of which they sometimes appear as bold bluffs, cut into weird and romantic scenery by the action of the elements. Along the north shore of this peninsula is a similar range of hills, in some localities even more lofty and bold than those on the south shore. These extend from the vicinity of Point Iroquois westward, following the direction of the shore line, and sometimes rise to an altitude of 600 feet above the lake, from which they appear as lofty headlands or perpendicular escarpments, as at Grand Sable and Pictured Rocks. The streams which break through this range are interrupted by falls, some of them 40 to 100 feet in hight. The scenery is very attractive. Inland the surface of the country is quite level and for the most part heavily wooded with hardwood forests. The Manistique lakes, three`in number, are considerable bodies of water near the center of this peninsula. The Manistique river flows southwestward from them into Lake Michigan. Westward of these lakes the country is flat with a gentle slope to the southward, the watershed being within six to ten miles from Lake Superior. The streams all flow southward and are somewhat sluggish in their character. The country is almost wholly undeveloped as yet, except by the recent building through it of the Detroit, Mackinac, and Marquette railroad. MIDDLE DIVISION OF THE UPPER PENINSULA. The Middle division of the Upper Peninsula comprises what is known as the iron region. This is, along its watershed, quite wild and mountainous in its character and in its more level regions contains immense tracts of valuable pine lands. The watershed extends from the headwaters of Chocolay river north of westward nearly to Keweenaw bay, and thence runs in a southwesterly direction to the boundary of the State. This mountainous range reaches an altitude of 1,250 feet above Lake Michigan, the hills commonly being 800 to 1,000 feet in hight. Lake Michigamme lies at an altitude of 966 feet. To the southwestward the country slopes into a gently undulating plain toward the western boundary of the State. There is, however, near this western border another range of hills known as the Menominee Range, which forms a watershed between the Brulé and Menominee rivers and their tributaries and the streams which flow northward and eastward. This range does not reach the altitude of the northern watershed or approach it in ruggedness of character. Menominee Range and the range which constitutes the watershed extending from Marquette bay to Keweenaw bay comprise the developed iron region, which is one of the richest in the world, the hills, in some instances, being almost solid masses of iron ore. The intervening region between these ranges is an elevated and gently undulating plain, well watered and heavily timbered with pine, mingled in some instances with hard wood. WESTERN DIVISION OF THE UPPER PENINSULA. The The Western division is characterized by a somewhat rugged and mountainous watershed beginning at Keweenaw point, which is a rocky promontory extending far into Lake Superior, and running westward nearly parallel with the shore. Mt. Houghton, near the head of the promontory, is 884 feet above Lake Superior, and the range reaches a maximum altitude of about 900 feet. From the base of the Keweenaw peninsula this watershed takes a southerly direction, uniting with and becoming the watershed of the Central division. West of the Ontonagon river a new range develops near the shore, trending at first southwesterly and then more directly westward. This is known as the Porcupine Mountains, whose altitude is 1,000 to 1,400 feet above Lake Superior. In some places near the lake the former altitude is reached, forming mountainous and romantic scenery. In the rocky range which constitutes the Keweenaw peninsula, and thence westward to the Ontonagon river, are the famous copper deposits of this region. A similar range is found running in a nearly parallel direction in Isle Royal, on the other side of the lake, some 80 miles distant, where like deposits have also been found. The mining industry is the only one to which attention has been given in any marked degree in the Upper Peninsula. But railroad extension is reaching forward into hitherto undeveloped regions, and the country is opening up to profitable lumbering operations and to the successful prosecution of agriculture and horticulture. A SKETCH FROM THE STATE GEOLOGIST. To the Commissioner of Immigration: It affords me pleasure to comply with your request to prepare for you a brief sketch, describing the surface character of the different parts of the State of Michigan, exhibiting in particular the agricultural qualification of such parts. In my previously published reports on the geology of Michigan I have already |