Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1852-02-24
NORTHERN MICHIGAN-ITs PRosPE

We publish in our columns this week
itoria from the Detroit Tribune, upon the
named subject, and desire that our reade
il their careful perusal Our friend Of tt
bune is ever vigilantly watching the best
ests of the state, and hence he could not misti.k
so important feature as the development OF tn
Northern portion of the Lower Peninsula. We
have several times directed attention to this SUBJ
ect and we intend to do so in future, for we
think it is one of much more Importance thanis
generally conceded Our own people, though
fully sensible of the advantages of the soil on
which they live and of many other considera-
tons surrounding them, either do not feel the
Importance OF calling attention to this part OF
the country, or else have not the means OF so
doing.
It is fact which cannot be successfully dis
puted that this part Of the State, including the
valleys Of the Saginaw, Cass, Flint, Shiawassee,
Tallahassee, Grand River and its tributaries,
the Muskegon and its tributaries, are, all of them
of the very best quality of land: and in much
of this portion of country there are forests OF as
good Pine as can be found on the Western Con-
tinent But why is not this district settled and
occupied? The reasons are many. One OF
these is the means of Transportation of products
are wanting; for though there are many rivers
and creeks, yet they do not, from the rap'dity
of their currents and from their necessary short
ness, afford navigation. Our Peninsula being
swept on both east and west coast by Lakes,
the rivers draining our territory are necessarily
short and small 1t is not much over 200 miles
across, from lake to lake. Another reason is
the combined efforts of land owners in Wiscon-
sin, and the steam boat interest on the great
northern lakes, to procure the settlement OF the
Badger" state, and the transportation freight
and passengers to that more distant territory
These reasons together with the unfortunate
Bank speculations and failures which took place
between 1886 and 1889 have contributed great
| ly to induce emigrants to seek Wisconsin and
neglect this State. But in this even with the
want of the means of transportation here exist
| ing, we think no greater misfortune has ever
overtaken the emigrant Yet perhaps that evil
| to them may rebound to our interest eventual
| ly; for Wisconsin being settled it is an induce
ment for building Rail Road through to Grand
Haven. Such an Improvement being made there
can be no doubt this part of the State would be
more desirable for the settler than any portion
of the whole Northwestern Territory now open
for settlement.
Many will consider the fact that Northern
Michigan remains comparatively unoccupled
abundant proof that it is not desirable But we
can assure them that no conclusion could be
more erroneous. There are instances in some
of our elder sisters of the Northwest, quite sim
liar to this. In Ohio much of the very best part
Of the State has remained wilderness until
quite recently. But now the opening of new
thoroughfares for travel and transportation is
giving new direction TO settement-new impe.
tus to the growth and prosperity of the State
So it will be here. The riches of the valleys
that have so long remained the haunts Of the
deer, elk and the hunter will soon yield varied
fruits to the honest efforts of toll and civilza
ton.
The great instrument to bring about this re
suit, is the Rail Road from here to Grand Ha
ven, and we sincerely hope it will soon be com
pleted. 1t would be great enterprise, goot
investment, and blessing to the whole North
west. Pontiac Gazette.