Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1851-07-30


while very pleasantly, invigorated in health by
the lake breeze would jot down few thoughts
which you may publish or not, as you may deem
most expedient.
The stranger visiting Grand Haven for the
first time finds much to excite his WONDER and
lead him to ask, "Why is this place possessing
so many natural advantages, where so large
business is done, so little known and apprecia-
ted abroad" Harbor always accessible-the
river navigable-its valley unrivalled in richness
of soil and valuable timber--its climate pure
and equable-its limited capital all proftably
employed-its citizens active, intelligent and
moral, and its improvements indicating prosper
ity, with no appearance of poverty so often APP
parent in places remote from the great thor
oughfares of travel and trade, in more central
districts will endeavor to point out several
causes which operate to retard the growth Of
Grand Haven, whose commercial position and
early settlement should have made it ere this
one of the cities of the Lakes. It's capital, de-
rived wholly from the enterprise of its few mer-
chants and mill owners, who reap the profit of
the laboring classes, and the resources of the
soil, timber and carrying trade is all so we'll in
vested in timber, merchandise, mills and ship
ping, that none Of it can be obtained for public
improvements, such as Plank and Rail roads to
connect this with the main arteries through
which, flow the tide of travel and emigration so
rapidly filling up the great West The monop-
oily of Boston and New York capital constant
ly accumulating on the central and Southern
roads, controlling the direction of the Canada
Railroad to Detroit, and building up that city
and Chicago, at the expense of Port Huron and
other points in the Northern part of Michigan,
and all the ports in Wisconsin, driving all COM
petition from their routes by land and lake by
a combination of boats, and an unequal tariff
of freights operating against shipments around
the lakes. They have thus destroyed st. Jo-
seph, and New Buffalo, and Michigan city will
soon share her fate. This overshadowing mo-
nopoly is rapidly operating to destroy the ship
ping interest, as being powerful competitor
with the Railroad interest in transporting the
vast products of the west. What care they for
rivers and harbors in the North West, while their
Herculean Iron horses can draw miles offreigh-
ted cars over the level track, from lake to lake,
while "a sail vessel is waiting for fair wind, or
stuck fast on sand-bar. The intelligent mind
of the North, both in Michigan and Wisconsin
is awakilg mt last to perception of the cause,
producing effects so injurious. "Wealth is
power" and they feel that ere long this power
will control National and State legislation, and
if necessary to secure its entire monopoly will
prevent harbor appropriations and deny charters
to any routes not contributing to their benefit,
by controlling individual votes. Detroit is ur-
ging her citizens to take stock to secure Wind
sor as the terminus of the Canada road, know
ing that if Port Sarnia gets it. the line will
continue West by Lansing to the mouth Of
Grand River, and connect by steam with Mil
waukie and her Railroad to the Mississippi
We have a charter for Northern Railroad, and
capital can be raised to build it, if those whose
interests are at stake will act promptly, and in
earnest The subject should be discussed in
every Western press North of Detroit and Chi
cago to the head waters of the Mississippi
Minnesota and the Lake Superior region is deep
ly interested. Already Railroad is in pro-
gress from the Iron Mountains of SUPERIOR 40
miles, to the waters of Green Bay. This will
cut off the Detroit monopoly of the mineral
trade and give part of it to the ports of Lake
Michigan, and road from Grand Haven to in
tersect the Canada road, would realize vast am
cunt in freight and travel, from that rapidly de-
veoping source of wealth. Such an investment
as the Ottawa Railroad, will not only pay large
dividends, but will open to market region en-
riched by soil and climate incomparably beyond
any wheat growing country South of it.
But must leave this prolific theme for an
other time, hoping that the few random thoughts
have thus hastily expressed, may lead others
here and elsewhere, to keep the ball in motion
for the Northern Railroad.
Before closing will add one word for the
Washington House, my temporary home. The
way Mine Host" serves up his Lake trout (of
80 pounds) is caution g, to be made note
of" at other crack houses in the West. When
| speak of good dinners hereafter, shall date
back to PENNoYER's table,which, none name but