Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1854-03-15

WEDNESDAY EVENING, MARCH Is. 1854.
~ Owing to the temporary absence of the
editor, We solicited tho services of HENRY PEN
NoYER, Esq, TO whom our readers are indebt-
ed for the editorial matter contained in this
weeks issue.
- 1t is high time that measures were taken
to connect the town and village of Muskegon
with the balance of this county, and the rest of
the world. We would, therefore, invite the Sc.
rous consideration of that already populous
town TO the project Of plank road, commence
ing at, or near, Messrs FERRy's mill, on the
quarter line of sec. l6 Il. N. r. l6 w., to run
from thence due north, on said quarter line, to
the south line Of section Il. N. r. l6 w.,
from thence on straight line to the southwest
corner of section 20 T. 10 N. r. l6 w. which
last named route is at the boundaries of the vii
lage of Muskegon. For eighteen long years
the subject of common carriage road, between
Grand Haven and Muskegon, has been talked of
but not yet accomplished. The principal rea-
son why said carriage road has not been built
can be charged home upon the inhabitants of
Muskcgon; they having been too much en-
crossed in the business of making lumber to
turn their attention upon this always important
subject. AS the matter of a common road has
been neglected so long, we now ask the people
of Muskegon to meet together, or enough to
talk over the subject of plank road, and there
organize plank road company, under act No.
l55, session laws of 1851, entitled an act to pro-
vide for the formation of companies to construct
plank roads approved April 9Th 1851.
Now, if plank road is desired it can almost
be spoken into existence, by the inhabitants of
Muskegon, Spring Lake and Grand Haven. If
this subject is received favorably by property
owners, in the above named towns, a company
can be formed and the work be progressing ear
ly the coming summer, soon enough to give us
the plank road, bridge, and enough of good
road across the head Of Black Lake and the wet
ground this side, for safe, qnick and easy trans
it, ia carriages, before the lst of January 1855.
The advantages that would accrue to the prop
erty holders at Muskegon would be, that all the
money they parted with in building this road,
would yet be their own property and be paying
them dividend, instead of paying in the shape
of tax, which when so paid is gone from them
to the public forever. 1t would double the val
Tic of all their property, and all the real estate
along the line. 1t would pay an annual divi-
dend Of IL per cent rs soon as the road should
be completed. 1t would reduce the price of
wood, on either end of the route from $500
s. 25 per cord, on account of the facilities af-
forded for getting it to market. 1t would in.
fuse new life into the Muskegonites and set
them to building churches and put them in
position so that some of our most jealous Mis-.
sonaries could occasionally visit them. We es-
innate the cost of good carriage road, grubbed
and graded 20 feet wide, timber cut, and cleared
rods wide, 10 miles, at $500 per mile, 3d.
600 bridge across Black Creek, at 81 600 maxi
ing cost of good carriage road $4,000. Cost
of plank road at 81 200 per mile, 10 miles,
$l4,40O.
If THEODORE NEWELL & Co., Foss, CHAPLIN
e. Co., RYERsoN a. MORRIS, with other capital
lists on Muskegon, will organize this company,
open the books, subscribe $4,000 Of the stock,
then pass the books to this end of the route, the
balance will, we think, be subscribed at once,
and we will then have, in less than two years,
Il road that will connect the whole of the Mus
kegon people with the rest of the world. BY
that time the Oakland and Ottowa railroad will
be ready to receive them; and if any Of that
long benighted people should choose to take
their flight into Canada, in two more years the
Port Huron road will deliver them safe to the
Grand Trunk Railway on the other side of The
line.
Now, Gents. of Muskegon, let us see wheth-
er you have any enterprise. If you find You
have, upon n careful examination of yourselves,
make it manifest By pushing along those books,
for good plank road at once.
~" We arc pleased to see that the Nebras-
ka bill has passed the Senate by decisive ma.
jority. We hope it will be put through the
House in double quick time and become law.
The bill itself is based upon the true Constitu-
tonal theory of our government. 1t neither leg
isla!es slavery into or out of the territory, but
leaves, as it should, the power to the States that
may be formed out Of that territory to regulate
their own domestic concerns as it may seem to