By the early 20th century large-scale logging had ended in Michigan, with one example being along the Au Sable River. Owning vast areas of cutover, burned-over land, lumber companies tried to sell these lands as prime farmland, often through the use of a little "exaggeration". For example, in 1904 the Loud Lumber company circulated a Homeseekers Guide. According to the Guide, Loud’s cutover lands possessed "rich loam" soil with a clay subsoil that was "very fertile." "Practically none" of the company’s land was " not arable." The lands were "especially adapted" to wheat, oats and potatoes. Even the stumps posed no problem. "Crops can be grown among the stumps, and the stumps taken out at the farmer’s leisure. Hardwood stumps are easily pulled in a few years after having been cut. An able-bodied man can in two summers clear off all the land he needs for tillage purposes, and at the same time raise crops for the support of his family." According to the Guide, Loud’s lands were worth $40 - $50 an acre, but they were available for $6 - $12. "In a few years," a man could have a farm worth $12,000. As a further incentive, the Loud Lumber Company offered perspective buyers temporary accommodations for a $25 deposit, which was later transferred to their land purchase.

And now the truth.... Oscoda County’s soils proved unable to sustain farming, and many of the cutover lands reverted to the pubic domain. By the early 20th century, one million acres in Oscoda, Iosco, Ogemaw and Alcona counties had returned to government ownership because of nonpayment of taxes.

Some of the text on this page is excerpted from a past isue of Michigan History magazine.

This material has been compiled for educational use only, and may not be reproduced without permission.  One copy may be printed for personal use.  Please contact Randall Schaetzl (soils@msu.edu) for more information or permissions.