Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1853-04-27
Counties. l840-45. l845-50.
Southern increase, 23,972, 22,4l3
Central, 24,292, 24,504.
Northern, 43,6ll, 45,309.

Of through travel, this road would command
a full share because Of its superior position, it
being q part of the most direct line that can be
drawn between the great cities East and West
The shortest route from Chicago to the East, is
through Canada. London, in Canada, is CON-
mon point for the two great rival routes. 1t is
thirty miles nearer from Chicago to London via
Port Huron, than by Detroit-and one hundred
and ffy-one miles nearer, from Milwaukee. 1t
is seventy miles nearer from Milwaukee via Port
Huron, than it would be by the projected Oak
land and Ottawa Railroad"
The Railroad from Toronto to Port Sarnia,
opposite Port Huron, has been made part of
the Grand Trunk Line" from Halifax westward;
it is in progress of construction from Toronto
to Guelph, town some sixty miles east of Port
Sarnia, and we are informed by Toronto papers
is already under contract to the latter point
The Great Western Company" too, are max
ing every preparation for constructing branch
of their Road from point about ten miles west
of London to Port Sarnia BY the Trunk
Line" the Port Huron and Lake Michigan Rail
road will CONNECT with Halifax; with Portland,
at Quebec and Montreal; with the Ogdensburgh
and Boston Road, at Cape Vincent; and with
the Oswego road and Rochester, by crossing
Lake Ontario at Toronto. BY the Sarnia branch
of the Great Western Road" we are put in
connection with all the roads leading eastward
from Niagara Falls and Buffalo. Besides, the
crossing at Port Huron is safe and reliable at all
seasons, while the passage of the Detroit River
is difficult and dangerous, if not impossible, for
days and even weeks, during the winter.
Considerations like these have induced the cit
izens of Northern Michigan" to believe that if
commensurate exertions are made, capitalists
like those who have invested means in the Gen.
trail and Southern roads, and reaped rich returns
from their enterprise, may be found to aid, by
their money, the building Of the "Port Huron
and Lake Michigan Railroad" 1t is certainly
equal to any and unsurpassed by no road in
Michigan, in the inducements it otfers-and far
transcends, in the certain prospects of business,
either of those roads at the time when private
companies purchased them from the State. Its
cost will be less. Instead of paying the State
for what it has done, the company have dona-
| ton of all that $4,000 in cash and 10000
acres of land have accomplished to invite them
on to its construction. The route is the most
direct possible between the East and the West
the local business is certain to surpass that so
proftaby enjoyed by either of the other roads
now traversing the State, and the through trav-
ell" we have seen, is likely to be commanded to
a great extent. The people of this section of
| VIC Siy, UclleNc lllaL lllle tlaS ar
rived when this road can be and must be buih,
as well for their own accommodation as to pre-
vent the construction of a rival line. Meetings
have been held at Grand Rapids, Flint and 9TH
er points on the line, showing that the people
are united, and at last aroused to the necessity
of immediate action. Letters are often received
in this village and Port Sarnia, from those con-
nected with the Canada Roads, making inquiries
about this road, and expressing desire to dis
pose of its stock to cash subscribers The
"Oakland and Ottawa" company, piercing but
half the territory which the Port Huron and
Lake Michigan would, and which would be but
a feeder of the Pontiac road, claim to have re-
ceived the favorable cooperation of Eastern cap
italists Directors Of the Trunk lines in Cana
da, and of this road, rs well as the Hon. Alvin
N. Hart, who holds majority of the stock
(open, however to cash subscriptions) have ex-
pressed desire for a general convention of all
the friends of the work. Believing that Port
Huron is as central point and rs easy of access
as any, for delegates both East and West, and
her citizens feeling that they have a paramount
interest in the speedy construction of the work
they have, after due correspondence and consid-
Grafton, called Convention of all persons inter.
ested in the construction of the "Port Huron
and Lake Michigan Railroad" to meet in Port
Huron, on Wednesday the 4h day of May nert
at ~ o'clock NJ, to consider the subject of the
road, and the means most proper to secure its
immediate construction.
A special invitation is extended to the
"Trunk" and +" Great Western" lines of railroad
Canada, and also to the citizens of Milwaukee
to be present by their delegates.
1t is also hoped that the delegates from La
peer, Genessee, Shiawassee, Clinton, Ionia, Kent
and Ottawa counties will come prepared to lay
before the convention statements of the amount
of cash subscriptions to be obtained and reliable
statistics of the probable business which woult
, be afforded by their several localities. Those
counties should at least be represented by large
, delegations. But the undersigned believe thai
nothing is necessary to be added, on their part
to secure such representation. No,o is the
, auspicious moment for the "North"-rval'
more ambitious than deserving, hope we will al
low it to pass unimproved
Very respectfully,
w. L. BANCROFT,
|, JOHN WELLS,
| H. L. STEVENS, Committee.
w. III. L. BOWLING,
o. ID CONGE2