Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1851-12-16

~ Our publication day Is changed from
Wednesday to Tuesday, in consequence of the
mail arrangements between this and Grand
Rapids. Hereafter, during the winter, our pa
per will 90 up with the Tuesday mail
~ We see u notice in the Detroit Tribune,
calling for petitions to Congress for grant of
land, to aid in building what is termed the
Northern Railroad, from Port Huron to Grand
Haven. The people should petition, they
should be active in doing SO; two or three petit
tons should be in circulation in every town in
the counties of Ottawa, Kent, Iona, Clinton,
Ingham, Shiawassee, Genesee, Lapeer and st.
Clair, praying Congress to grant one million
acres of land for the purpose Of building this
Northern Railroad A grant of this kind would
ensure the completion of this great road, in
three years from the passage and approval of
the act making the grant. The people and the
country along the line Of this Northern route
are well prepared to sustain Railroad, but are
to poor to build it. There can be no doubt of
this road paying, even better than the Central
Railroad now does, or ever did. 1t will be con-
nected with the great road through Canada
West New York and Massachusetts, and the
great net of Railways in the Eastern States.
West Of us, it would connect directly and in Il
continuous line, with the Milwaukee and Miss
issippi Railroad, and with another net of Rail
ways through the Western and South Western
States and Territories now being built there.
The only interruption of any consequence to a
continuous line from the Eastern extremity of
the United States to Oregon and California, is
Lake Michigan, which can be crossed in four
hours, for full ten months in year. Let this
road be built and the direct tendency and effect
of the enterprise would be TO advance the value
of property along the line and contiguous to it,
to twice or thrice its present value; villages
would spring up in places that are now wild
and untouched by the hand of man; it would
invigorate and enlven all and every thing upon
the line; the whole face of the country in the
counties we have mentioned, would become
changed for the better. If any one doubts the
road being good property, let him look at the
vast pineries OH the East and West sides of the
State; the extensive beds of gypsum, the fishe-
ries, the best grain-growing region in the world,
with now Il busy, active population of an intel
ligent hardy race, and then say whether Rail
road stock on this Northern route would be a
good investment or not. Agtate Agitate !!
Dan O'Connell like; Petition! Let one be
started in every town and circulated until every
mans name is affixed to it. We have an active
body of Representatives in Congress, and if
called upon by anything like a united voice, for
this one object, you would find them laborng
together to insure the grant prayed for.
Below we print the form of a petition. We
hope petitions will be circulated here, there and
everywhere on the line.
To the Hon. Senate and House of Represent
tatives, of the U. S., in Congress assembled:
We the undersigned, citizens of the State of
Michigan, pray your honorable body to pass an
act granting to the State of Michigan, one mill
ion of acres of land, to be used only in aiding
the construction of the Northern Railroad, lead
ing from Port Huron, in the county of st. Clair,
to Grand Haven, in the County Of Ottawa, in
| the said State of Michigan.
| And yonr petitioners, as in duty bound will
ever pray.