Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1854-03-01
THE GRAND RIVER TIMES.
GRAND HAVEN, MICHIGAN,
WEDNESDAY EVENING, MARCH 1. 1854

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A LOCAL PRoJEcr.-Wc are glad to know
that the project of opening road from this
place to Muskegon is somewhat under agitation.
1t is high time that the two most important and
rapidly growing business points in the county
were connected by passabe highway, and VIC
hope present consideration of the subject will
lead to practical results.
At least three different routes have been pro-
posed, by either Of which the distance would be
less than twenty miles, and each of which, we
suppose, has its peculiar advocates. The one
which seems to find as much favor as any, would
pass through Mill Point, and could be put into
operation by connecting the road that passes
Torrans mill, with one already extending from
Muskegon to point on the South side of Black
Creek. The distance Is greater than by either
of the other routes, but the expense would be
less, rs there would be but four miles of new
road, and no bridges to construct. The most
direct route would be the one from Ottawa
Point, to which objection is made on the score
of expense, it being necessary to bridge Black
Creek, and also to build through great dis
lance ofswamp. The third route would be near
er the lake shore, and by way of Porters mill,
from which point there are already good roads
to the several points on the South side of lake
Muskegon.
Of the respective merits Of these several
routes we have not fully formed an opinion, but
the paramount Importance of the object to be
obtained, by which ever one may be adopted,
we can not refrain from asserting, and, in fact,
we regard the whole subject of local improve
ments of a similar description, as being at the
present time worthy of receiving an earnest at
tention from the citizens of our county. The
commercial necessities of our own and other
States has given rise to several projects of
more than local character, either of which would
be attended with extraordinary benefit to this
section of the country, and the accomplishment
of some of which, must, ere long, be realized
Hereafter we shall doubtless have, during the
months of navigation, permanent steamboat IA
ciities by way of the lake, and not many sea-
sons will elapse before railroads will extend
still greater facilities By land A great change
is destined to take place in our immediate vcin-
ity. We, who live at this point, will not always
continue to occupy an isolated position, but
shall at no distant day find ourselves situated on
great thoroughfare, and occupying centering
point for the business transactions of large
and widely spread population. A ready means
of communication with ourselves which might
at the present time be regarded merely In the
light of great accommodation to the parties
concerned, will soon come to lie looked upon as
an absolute necessity, and it behooves our neigh
bors in other parts Of the county to be making
early preparation for the new order Of things
that is shortly to be established.
The people could never better than now, af-
ford to bear taxation for the purposes to which
we allude, and we shall be disappointed if the
proper townships do not take all the necessary
steps to secure speedy completion of the par
ticular Improvement which is proposed.