The Great Western Valley -- Its growth and population -- Comparison of Atlantic with interior cities -- Relative growth of river and lake cities -- Centre of population -- Lake tonnage -- Progress of the principal centres of population. 228 CHAPTER XIII. Michigan Agricultural Reports for 1854 -- Prof. Thomas' report -- Report of J. S. Dixon -- Products of States -- Climate -- Army Meteorological Reports. 255 CHAPTER XIV. Agricultural interest -- Means of transportation -- Railways and vessels -- Lumber -- Vessels cleared -- Lake cities and Atlantic ports -- Home-market -- Breadstuffs -- Michigan flour -- Monetary panics -- Wheat -- Importations -- Provisions -- Fruit -- Live stock -- Wool -- Shipping business -- Railroads -- Lake Superior trade -- Pine lumber trade -- Copper interest -- Iron interest -- Fisheries -- Coal mines -- Salt -- Plaster beds. 272 CHAPTER XV. Desirableness of a trip to the Lakes -- Routes of travel -- Interesting localities -- Scenery -- Southern coast -- Portage Lake -- Dr. Houghton -- Ontonagon -- Apostles' Islands -- Return trip -- Points of interest -- St. Mary's River -- Lake St. George -- Point de Tour -- Lake Michigan -- Points of interest -- Chicago. 395 CHAPTER I. Mackinaw and its surroundings -- Indian legends -- Hiawatha -- Ottawas and Ojibwas -- Paw-pau-ke-wis -- San-ge-man -- Kau-be-man -- An Indian custom -- Dedication to the spirits -- Au-se-gum-ugs -- Exploits of San-ge-man -- Point St. Ignatius -- Magic lance -- Council of Peace -- Conquests of San-ge-man. Mackinaw, with its surroundings, has an interesting and romantic history, going back to the earliest times. The whole region of the Northwest, with its vast wildernesses and mighty lakes, has been traditionally invested with a mystery. The very name of Mackinaw, in the Indian tongue, signifies the dwelling-place of the Great Genii, and many are the legends written and unwritten connected with its history. If the testimony of an old Indian chief at Thunder Bay can be credited, it was at old Mackinaw that Mud-je-ke-wis, the father of Hiawatha, lived and died.