Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1853-11-09
THE HOLLANDERS in MICHIGAN.
Correspondence of the N. Y. Tribune.


have just returned from visit to the kala,
mazoo Valley Region, and trip to the Holland
Colony. Left the Central road cars at Kalama-
zoo, a most fourishing town, and the centre OF
an extensive trade with the farming districts IN
that vicinity, and took the stage for Alegan vii
lage passing through the village OF Otsego,
which begins to show signs OF progress. Reach
ed Allegan the County site, the next day. and
spent several days there most agreeably. The
village is beautifully situated on a peninsula
formed by the Kalamazoo. There is an excel
lent water power, many manufacturing establish
ments. considerable traffic by merchants with
The people of the adjoining towns, and a large
quantity of lumber exported to the mouth OF
the river, and thence to several lake ports. The
numbering business is now amost profitable one,
on account of the large demand in Illinois and
Wisconsin for timber, boards, shingles, sash, &c.
But the harbor at the mouth Of the Kalamazoo
is miserable one. In the summer season the
bar across the mouth of the river is about hive
feet deep, and impossible for the larger lake
crafts. The products of Allegan industry, are
obliged to be taken outside the bar by lighters,
thus greatly increasing the cost OF the transport
alton and OBTAINING the vessels. Otherwise the
harbor is naturally most excellent one, the nv
er being navgablc for steamboats, to Allegan,
and quite deep at both sides of the bar. The
river widens into lake at Newark village
Hundreds of lives are annually lost by gales on
the lake. and several of these wrecks occur a,
the mouth of the Kalamazoo. A vessel and her
crew were reported missing when l was leaving
Allegan County, on my return to Detroit. With
good harbor and rail road from Kalamazoo,
the products Of Michigan would obtain good
markets. the resources of Allegan County be
greatly increased and its business be extended
While at Allegan, | took jaunt to the Hol-
land Colony, twenty-five miles to the northwest,
accompanied by the Coroner of Aegan, in
team of the Sheriff s, and arrived at Holland city
in six hours, taking the Bee Line Road" Pass
ed through fine farming country, some OF the
best timbered land in the State, and except at
the village of Holland (Black Lake, where the
land is piney, the soil is of much the same quail
ity throughout the Colony. The settlement in
the neighborhood of Black Lake was commence
ed by the Rev. Mr.. Van Raalte, in Feb, lS47, by
some of the friends of party Of prosecuted
Hollanders, who had spent the preceding winter
at Detroit and Allegan, until they could make
preparations to clear the lands they had purchas-
ed
The colony is composed Of three organized
townships, Fillmore in Allegan Co., and Holland
and iceland in Ottawa Co. In 1850 the two
last townships had population of 1929, and
the former 600. These towns are subdivided
into settlements on the basis of the Colonial
Church organization, each place having Church
of its own, with schools convenient OF access to
all the children of the settlers We give the
names of the settlements, and the Dominies who
officiate as pastors over the Dutch Reformed
Churches:
Holland Staat-The Rev. A. c. Van Raate.
North Holland
South Holland-Rev r. Schepers.
Zeeland-Rev. c. Van der Meulen.
Vriesand-No pastor.
Drenthe-- Staatsland.
Overyssel-No pastor. Anoron r,
Graafschap-Rev. Ypma.
Mr. Schepers, who breaches in South Holland,
is connected with the Associated Reformed
Church. The Rev. Mr.. Smit in Drenthe is
PRESBYTERIAN, and the other Churches in the
Colony are connected with the Reformed Dutch
Church of North America.
Holland Village, which is considered the great
emporium of the Colony, has about 700 inhab-
itants, and the village of iceland 500 or 600.
The lack of harbor has materially retarded the
growth of the Colony, although the entrance to
the Black Lake is we'll situated naturally for a
harbor, the Black Lake being from 30 to 10 feet
deep. The harbor is almost or quite inaccessi-
BILE in the summer months or business season,
but can be entered with difficulty during the
spring and fall season by small craft, lighters,
&c: The Black Lake is from to miles long
and from 1 to miles wide. The last Congress
granted small appropriation for widening the
channel of the Lake and opening out at its en-.
trance into Lake Michigan, designing to make it
$50 feet wide and IL feet deep. A job is now
under contract, and will remain unfinished until
larger appropriation is granted The harbor
having failed, the want of shipping facilities at
the village of Holland has checked the growth
of the place, and has tended to scatter the new
corners to other places in the vicinity, Grand
Haven, Mill Point, Grand Rapids, Allegan, Kala-
mazoo, &C., who all look with hope to perma-
nent harbor improvements at Black Lake As
soon as a harbor is made they all design to re-
turn to the Colony, which will double the popu-
ation in IL months, the Colony now numbering
about 1000 inhabitants.
The Harbor Appropriation is being expended
in commencing Harbor in concordance with a
plan previously reported and approved by the
Typographical Engineers, which would cost
100000. The work this season has been the
erection of shops, clearing grounds for proposed
cut, getting machinery and building a bridge
pier to receive materials for two solid piers.-
Should another appropriation be made the ex-
cavation of the new channel will probably be the
first work which will be undertaken. The Har-
bor if completed according to plan, will be the
best on Lake Michigan, of easy access, perfect
safety and abundant capacity. But as 1t now
~. - 1880 tbon nm hrtdoa ,,;ar % so0