Agriculture.—The soil of S. Michigan is especially adapted to fruit and berry growing; grapes, cranberries, cherries, strawberries, apples, pears, peaches, and plums are raised to a large extent. The figures for production of the principal crops in 1919 were as follows: corn 64, 350,000 bushels, valued at $88,803,000; oats, 36,875,000 bushels, valued at $26, 181,000; rye, 13,500,000 bushels, valued at $17,280,000; hay, 3,180,000 tons, valued at $74,412,000; potatoes, 28,688,000 bush els, valued at $38,729,000; barley, 5,200, 000 bushels, valued at $6,278,000; wheat, 20,237,000 bushels, valued at $42,497,000.
Banking.—On Oct. 31,1919, there were reported 110 National banks in operation, having $19,205,000 in capital; $11,597, 338 in outstanding circulation; and $11, 037,450 in United States bonds. There were also 511 State banks, with $39,114, 000 capital, and $25,233,000 surplus; 70 private banks, with $752,000 capital, and $204,000 surplus; and 8 trust and loan companies with $4,200,000 capital and $3,217,000 surplus. The exchanges for the year ending Sept. 30, 1901, at the United States Clearing House at Detroit amounted to $4,032 443,000, an increase over those of the preceding year of $1, 084,090,000.
Manufactures.—Michigan is one of the great industrial States. The last decade has witnessed a remarkable development in a number of the larger cities, notably Detroit, where the automobile industry has become one of the greatest in the world. Other cities of the State have shared in the increased industrial pro duction. There were, in 1914, 8,724 in dustrial establishments, in which were engaged 320,611 persons. Wage earners numbered 271,090. The capital invest ment amounted to $869,043,000. The value of the materials used in manufac turing was $592,801,000. The value of the finished products was $1,086,162,000.
Education.—In 1917 there were in the State 892,888 children of school age. The enrollment in the public schools was 662, 452, of whom 86 per cent. attended school There were 3,084 men and 18,908 women teachers. The average monthly salary for men teachers was $103 monthly and for women teachers $64 monthly. There was expended for public education $27, 549,985. There are four State normal schools. Among the institutions of higher education are the University of Michigan, the Michigan Agricultural College, Adri an College, Hope College, Hillsdale Col lege, Olivet College, and the University of Detroit.
Chu•ches.—The strongest denomina tions in the State are the Roman Cath olic; Methodist Episcopal; Regular Bap tist; Lutheran; General Conference; Lutheran, Independent Synods; Presby terian; Congregational; Protestant Epis copal; Reformed; German Evangelical Synod; and United Brethren.
Railroads.—The railroad mileage of the State in 1919 was 8,907. For several years there has been practically no con struction of new lines.
Finance.—The total receipts for the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1918, was $26,152,138, and the expenditures were $26,551,763. There was a balance on hand at the end of the year of $13,159, The bonded debt amounts to about $7,000,000.
Charities and Corrections.—The chari table and correctional institutions are governed by boards appointed by the Government and Senate. These include hospitals at Kalamazoo, Pontiac, Trav erse City, Newberry, and Ionia. There is an industrial school for boyts at Lan sing and industrial school for girls at Adrian, and a farm colony for epileptics at Wahjamega.
State Government.—The governor is elected for a term of two years. Legis lative sessions are held biennially begin ning on the first Wednesday of January, and are unlimited as to length of session. The legislature has 32 members in the Senate and 100 in the House. There are 13 Representatives in Congress. The State government in 1920 was Republi can.
History.—This region was first visited by Jean Nicolet in 1634, at Sault Ste. Marie, at which locality Father Mar quette made the first permanent white settlement in 1668. French settlements were also made at Mackinaw and Green Bay, and in 1701 Detroit became the seat of a French colony under Cadillac. The country passed to the English at the end of the French and Indian War, and during the war of the Indians under Pontiac for the extermination of the whites the garrison of Mackinaw was butchered and Detroit suffered a long siege. The country was held by the Eng lish after the close of the Revolution, be ing delivered to the Americans in 1796. Michigan became a portion of the North western territory, and in 1802 was an nexed to the Territory of Indiana. On Jan. 11, 1803, it was set aside as a sepa rate Territory. It suffered severely dur ing the War of 1812, Detroit and Macki naw being captured by the British, and the Territory held till the successes of the Americans in 1813. In 1818, all the region N. of Illinois and Indiana was incorporated with Michigan. In 1823, the legislative power was transferred, by Act of Congress, from the governor and judi ciary to a council of nine persons selected by the President from 18 nominees by the citizens at large; and the judicial term was reduced to four years. In 1825 the council was increased to 13 members, selected as before. Michigan was admitted into the Union as a State, Jan. 26, 1837, and in 1838 the capital was removed from Detroit to Lansing.