Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1852-01-20
CHICAGO FOR THE YEAR 1s5l-REvIEW &c

and figures. Its history cannot be made the
theme of embellished and well-turned periods
the digits, rather than the muses. give it utter
ance. It's progress must be sought in the Ia
bles Of the census, the statistics of the COM
merce of its lakes, the trade of its rivers, the
fleet upon its canals and the laden and length
ening trains upon its railroads in its factories
and machine shops; in its rising villages, its
growing cities and its multiplying schools.
The tourist, who last year made his way over
the unbroken prairie, finds his path swept away
by golden ocean of wheat, to-day, or his Wis
ion obstructed by rustling and apparently in
termnable forest Of corn and through the quiz
ct grove beneath whose shade the pure stream
that ran through whole years of holidays, now
whirls the dizzy wheel, propes the spindle, and
drives the harsh and angry saw, and many q
lovely spot, then far withdrawn from the whirl
and jar of the great world-spots where of all
others, nature took her SieSta in summer noon,
with scarce whispering leaf or q murmuring
stream to disturb her repose, is now the site Of
busy village, a constellation of happy homes.
As the West is no copy of anything on earth,
so it is no stereotype. A magnificent series of
dissolving views, change succeeds to change and
wonder to wonder, and we forget the future in
the contemplation of the present. Again, to
vary the figure, it is the type of the fairest page
yet opened to the world, undergoing, each year,
some new revision, emendation, expansion, or
establishment. And how ample is the page,
how broad the margin, how brilliant the illus
trations!
The great Northwest is already written
over with the lines of civilization, and it seems
rs if the constellation of Hercules that shines
beyond it, were drawing the world to their Pc
rusal.
But it is not necessary to 90 beyond the pre-
cincts of our own city, or beyond the stormy
call of Lake Michigan, to observe the progress
of the West. How often has the watcher for
the morning, with head Bonded upon his breast,
noted the silver of the dawn, as it cleaned
along the crystal surface Of the waters. He
looked up, and there along the sky, rolled the
first bright biow of day And so Chicago re-
fleets and indicates the rising glory of the re-
gion, amid which it is set. There are those and
not few, who will read these paragraphs to-
day. that were residents Of old Fort Dearborn,
as they are now citizens Of Chicago-men too,
without trace of silver upon their locks, and
hardly line of times writing upon their brow
linen who remember, may be, when the roll
of the reveille rang from the garrison-when
these streets, these mansions, these crowds
were not-when the prairie was echoless to the
tread of moccasined feet, and dim trails wound
away along the rivers and through the forests
when canoes coasted along the shores of the
Lake, and when only at long intervals, the sail
Of a vessel hung dimly off in the horizon, like
wings of some lone bird, tempest-driven out
to sea. And what wondrous sea-change into
something rich and strange" have a score of
years and few scores of men wrought herein
Turn back to the old tables of the census;
Of cnlI
tribe Of lndians-a little village and deserted
garrison-a thousand inhabitants and fort on
Lake Nlichigan-five thousand, and Chicago
twenty thousand, and city-thirty-fiyc thou
sand, and the mart of the NORTHWEST. But
to facts and figures.
The LUMBER TRADE-This trade has been
on the constant increase the past year, the de-
mand becoming greater as Railroads and other
facilities for its transportation are extended.
The amount of lumber, lath, shingles, pick
cts, cedar posts, &C., received through the sea-
son, mnst be estimated. No accurate account
is kept at the custom house, for the reason that
vessels are not always reported.
From the following estimate, we may approx !
innate to the amount received during the sea-
son of 1851:
In the Green Bay trade there are about 10 |
vessels regularly engaged, carrying on the aver
age l40 nj. feet each. They make to average
trips month for s months, is say S,0O0,OOO |
From Grand Haven there are engaged about
IL vessels, averaging 30 M. feet each, making
to average trips per month for months, is
26OOO,O0O.
From Muskegon there are engaged 5vessels, |
averaging 80 NJ, making about 8 trips per month
for months, is about 100000.
From Manistee vessels, averaging 100 NJ,
trips per month for s months, about $4,000
900.
From Pierre Marquette, White Lake, and
other points on the East shore, vessels, aver
aging 100 NJ, making trips per month for
months, is 100000.
From Saginaw Zone vessel brought in trips
about 100 NJ about 100000.
From River st Clair and Lake Huron and
Sheboygan River, 100000.
Transient vessels, bring from Green Bay,
Grand Haven, Muskegon, Kawanna, Manitowoc,
Twin Rivers and ports on the East shore at
least 100000.
Making a total Of l05,O0O,OOO
Shingles come from almost all places where
lumber is made. We may estimate the amount
received in 1861, 36,O00,000; lath, 10000 900
pickets, 100000; cedar posts, 10000; wood,
cords, $4,000. Chicago Journal.
Never purchase love or friendship by gifts
when thus obtained, they are lost as soon as
Al an 4