Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1854-02-08

HARBoR APPRoPR1ATIos-Wo have good rea.
son to hope that Congress will pass an appropri-
alton bill providing for the completion of the
harbor works now in progress and for the CON-
mencement of such new ones as are of a nation.
al character. 1t seems difficult for our whig
friends to understand the difference between
careful, judicous expenditure, and blind eXtrav-
agance. Hence, because democratic Statesmen
hesitate to make appropriations unless fully sat-
isfed that they are for such works as the gov
eminent should construct, and unless that they
are well assured that they will be judciously ex-
pended, they are denounced unsparingly, as the
foes of river and harbor improvements, and rs
enemies to the true interests Of the country
The difference in the policy of the two parties
on this question seems TO us to arise from the
fact that the grand desideratum of wing policy
appears to be to drain the treasury, and thus
prevent any diminuton Of protective duties;
therefore, the principal question is, how to dis
pose Of the surplus revenue. How it is appro-
priated, becomes matter of secondary impor-
lance. On the other hand, the democratic party
advocate the policy Of economising our govern
ment expenditures, and paying our debts and if
our income exceeds our expenditures, reducing
the duties on imported goods until income and
outgoes balance Hence it is natural and prop
er that they should carefully examine all schemes
for the appropriation of the public moneys, and
oppose unnecessary expenditures. Hollander.
KALAMAZOO AND BLACK LAKE HARBo2s-We
notice that our member in Congress, Mr.. Clark,
has introduced bill, making appropriations for
the harbors along our coast, including the mouth
of Kalamazoo river, and Black Lake harbor. All
our readers are well aware of the wants and ca
liabilities of our own river and harbor-many Of
them having had abundance of personal expert
ence of the difficulties which calls for remedy.
We had occasion to visit Black Lake Harbor
during the past season, while the Government
works were in progress there, and although we
had expected much from the statements made
by Maj. Bowes in the official report Of the sur
vey in lS49, we were still happily disappointed.
Enough has already been done to develop tho
plan, so that the outlines of the whole work can
be seen. more perfect Harbor Of refuge,
probably could not be constructed upon the
lakes, than this promises to be when completed,
combining rs it will, the desirable points Of easy
approach and entrance, and abundant room and
depth of water inside, perfectly protected by the
ridge of sand hills forming the narrow peninsula
between the lakes. The works in progress seem
substantial, and well calculated to facilitate the
performance of the heavy work which cannot be
commenced without larger appropriation than
has yet been placed in the hands of the superin-
tending officer.
1t is in safe hands; Maj. Bowes, the Super
intendent, being well known as an engineer of
experience in works Of this characters some of
the best works on Lake Erie, were constructed
under his superintendence
Both these works are demanded by the gener-
al interests Of the commerce of the lakes, and al
though they would confer great local benefits,
come no more under the category of local i'm
provements than the harbors on the Atlantic
coast.
We would remind our delegation, that Black
Lake has been cheated out of the appropriation
for Building Light House, by the negligent
careessness of the late Galphin administration,
and that the rapidly increasing business of thes
port, makes one very necessary.