JOURNEY TO GREENVILLE by Editor

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 23, 1868

JOURNEY TO GREENVILLE.

By Editor

We are learning more of the noble State in which the good providence of the Lord has located the REVIEW Office. The resources of Michigan, in mineral and vegetable products, are beginning to be appreciated, and are now being developed perhaps as rapidly as those of any other State, at least more rapidly than in any previous years of its history. Its copper, iron, salt, coal, lime, and plaster, are already celebrated in the mercantile world; its lumber is depended on by other States; already it is excelled only by Ohio, in the amount of its wool products, and if we may take the increase of the past few years, as a basis, it will soon be the first wool-growing State in the Union; while its wheat has only to be branded, “Michigan Wheat,” to take the first rank in the market. A constant stream of emigration is pouring through the State, on the great thoroughfares of the Michigan Southern and Central railroads, to localities further west, many of whom, we are satisfied, would find it to their advantage to divert their course to the more northern, and rapidly-growing counties of this State. The impression gathered from only what can be seen by passing through the State on its railroads, we admit, would not be very favorable; and many, doubtless, have no other idea of the State, than what is gathered from their observations under such circumstances. Such know not what Michigan is. For instance, the Central railroad passes through a very poor portion of the State. Following, to a great extent, the course of rivers, whose banks alternate with marsh and sand, the traveler gets a very poor idea, or rather no idea, of the nature of the country at a little distance from the line of travel. We know of no better section through which the Central railroad passes, than Calhoun county, embracing the thriving places of Albion, Marshall, Battle Creek; but for farming purposes, we consider that county by no means equal to the counties further north, as we judge from a little actual observation which we have just had the privilege of making.

June 15, Bro. White took us into his carriage at Battle Creek, for a journey of seventy miles north, to his home in Greenville, Montcalm Co. This journey has given us the opportunity of beholding some of the nice farming lands that lie between these points, as evinced by the thrifty fruit trees, the luxuriant fields of grass and grain, and perhaps as much as anything, by the uncleared tracts of primitive forest, with their dense growth of lofty and massive trees. At one point, we found a tree standing directly in the center of the road, as if defying the march of civilization, which, at a hight of five feet, measured fifteen feet in circumference, and gave no evidence of ever having yielded to any influence, except in the loss of its top, which some commotion in the upper regions had wrenched off at a distance of a hundred or more feet from the ground.

We passed countless fields of wheat, with which the only fault that could be found was, that it was too rank and heavy. Some, by actual measurement, stood four feet and nine inches, and this too, when it is only beginning to head out. When ripe, it will stand six feet. But it is everywhere so rank and heavy that wind and rain must deal very tenderly with it, or it will lodge and be almost entirely ruined. This is now the great danger. A few weeks will determine the matter. Should the season continue favorable, the “staff of life” will be abundant and cheap.

We have never seen nicer farming land than in the northern portion of Eaton county, and in Ionia county. Montcalm county, of which we have as yet seen but little, is less developed, but bids fair to be in no way behind. Of course all the land is not uniformly good, but everywhere in this region, nice farms are gratifyingly plenty. And with all this fertility of soil, and good and accessible markets for produce, farmers here have plenty of timber for purposes of building, fencing, and fuel, which gives them a great advantage over those living in States where timber is lacking. And the nice buildings, and other evidences of wealth with which these farmers have been able to surround themselves, show that they have not been slow to improve their advantages. The expression “north woods,” which is sometimes applied to that region, may once have been applicable; but now it must be lifted over to counties still further north, where its application will not convey an incorrect idea.

The journey has been a good recreation. Fine weather, the cheerful and promising garb of nature, the sweet-scented fields, and conversation on the great themes of present truth, upon which none are better prepared to speak than Bro. and Sr. White, all conspired to render it both pleasant and profitable. And here we are now at the spacious and hospitable home of Bro. White, to spend a few weeks assisting him in the preparation of Life Incidents for the press, for the double object, 1, That this important work may, with as little delay as possible, be in the hands of the brethren; and 2, That Bro. and Sr. White may the sooner be at liberty to visit the churches which are everywhere waiting for their labors.

The poet says that we each “have a work which no other can do.” This is true of all of us in reference to our individual work for salvation; but it is true of these servants of the Lord in reference to their work for the church. They have a work to do for the people of God, which no other can do. It is an important and essential work. Let us all conspire to render them as free as possible for this work, and help them in it what we can. EDITOR.