Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1853-04-06
OAKLAND AND OTTAWA RAILROAD.

OAKLAND AND OTTAWA RAILROAD.
This great work is now in the way Of early
prosecution, and no doubt exists of its speedy
completion to the waters of Lake Michigan
Its Importance to every interest of Northern
Michigan cannot be overrated. The eonstruc-
ton Of this road, and also of the road from this
place to Flint and Saginaw, is, to the citizens of
Detroit Pontiac, and the counties through which
the respective thoroughfares may pass, or that
are contiguous, Of that vitaland absolute iInpor-
lance that no effort should be spared by every
citizen of this portion Of Michigan to hasten
their speedy completion. In few months the
several roadsthrough Canada will be completed,
and consequently the winter months instead OF
being season of stupidity and practical stagna-
ton SO far as all our business interests are con-
cerned, will partake of the activity and hustle
incident to our summer months. AS an invest
ment for capitalists, no man at all conversant
with the operations of Railroads-with the
present and prospective business that must of
necessity be thrown upon the line of the Oak
land and Ottawa road-can for moment doubt
that it will be one of the best dividend paying
roads in the West or the Union. From the
most careful estimates thai can be made, the
way-business alone on this road from Lake
Michigan to the city of Detroit would, at the
present moment, if the road was completed, pay
the expenses of running, and seven and half
per cent. premium upon the estimated capital
necessary to build and equip the road. The
way business of course would increase the rap
idly developing resources of the finest agrcul-
tural region in Michigan or the Northwest
Coupled with this, the exhaustless plaster beds
on Grand River, and the almost equally mex
r. e e.. .Nsx has hot
converted into lumber will find its way to mar
ket on this road, would, even were the country
beyond Lake Michigan sealed book to us in
the way Of business-furnish adequate business
for single track, and return to the stockhold-
ers dividends equal to any ofour Western roads
The location of this road is such that no COM
peting road can or will be constructed to inter-
fere with the business of an extent of fertile and
productive country far more extensive on either
side than that which finds its outlet over both the
Central and Southern roads. But beyond all
these considerations the immense trade and trav-
ell of the already great and rapidly growing State
of Wisconsin, a large portion of Minnesota, and
the vast and as yet but partially developed re-
gions lying to the North West, in which is found
iron, copper and lead, are looking to this route
as their necessary and natural outlet to the sea-
board and from conversations we have had
with gentlemen of the highest intelligence, who
have recently traversed that region, and are en-
tirely familiar with the business and resources
of the country, we feel not the slightest doubt
but that the through business alone, would by
the time of the completion of the road, pay the
expenses of running, and dividend of at least
eight per cent. per annum on the investment,
over and above ordinary wear and tear and de-
probation in value of the necessary equipage on
the line.
Already railroads, having their eastern termn-
us on the West shore of Lake Michigan, are pen
etrating the distant interior of Wisconsin and
Minnesota, reaching the Mississippi on the one
hand, and the inexhaustible treasures of the
Lake Superior mineral districts on the other
Lake Michigan it is true, intervenes but that
will hardly create break in the communication.
The distance across is on an average from fifty
to seventy miles, which can be traversed by
steamboats, constructed for the purpose without
transhipment of baggage or freight, in the space
of three or four hours at almost all seasons of
the year. and from the best and most authentic
information and data we can obtain on tins SUBJ
ject, one month in each year will cover all the
time, to average the seasons, that the navigation
from Grand Haven, or the mouth of the Muske-
gon River, to Milwaukee, Racine, Kenosha,
Sheboygan, &C., &C., would be interrupted.
Second in Importance only to this great thor
oughfare, so far as the interests of Northern
Michigan are concerned, is the road to Saginaw.
Good and subsisting charters exist under which
the road can be constructed, and no one can
doubt who is conversant with the country thro'
which the road will pass, but that an immense
business would be done upon the route Under
the circumstances it behooves every man, even
of limited means, on the line Of the routes of
these respective roads to take practical inter-
est in their construction-take such amounts of
stock as their means will permit. This is i'm
portant in more ways than one. 1t secures a
warm and lively interest in the road when con-
confidence to capitalists abroad,
and aids TO ensure speedy and prompt compile
ton of the roads. Pontiac Jacksonian
THE LTMAs AFFAIR.-We learn from the N
Y. Tribune that an arrival at Boston brings fur
Their accounts, which correct, to some extent
the previous reports of the doings of the British
steamer Devastation in Honduras. Some dis
lance east of Truxillo, the river Roman empties
into the Gulf of Mexico this river it is contend.
ed by the English, is the northern or rather the
northwestern boundary Of the Mosquito Ter
torn Nd