Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1856-03-19
WHOLE NUMBER 234.
ming sun went down without cloud, will
never be forgotten. His fanaticism has lost
none of its fire in my manhood's heart.

nohe VI its nre III my inannoous hearc'
/ New ROAD TO GRAND TRAvERsE.-On
the I'd day of February last, meeting was
held at Elk Rapids, by the citizens of that
place and vicinity, for the purpose of de-
vising ways and means for the exploration
OF new route, for wagon road to con-
meet that place with the settlements on the
Muskegon River. After consultation COM
mittee Of exploration, consisting of three
persons, viz: Abram S. Wadsworth, James
Rankin and John s. Barker, were appointed
and funds raised for the above purpose
The committee thus appointed, left Elk
Rapids on the 22d day of February, and ar
rived in this city on Wednesday, the 5th
inst, and the following is their report. From
it, it will be seen that they have succeeded
in selecting an excellent route, which is very
direct, easy Of improvement, and. running
through country, most of the way, admira-
bly, calculated for agricultural purposes.
The committee inform us, that undoubted-
ly measures will be taken early in the
spring to open this route through, so that
emigrant teams will be enabled to pass with
out difficulty: Enquirer
To MoULToN CRAw, HENRY NOBLE, THERON
BosTwIoK, RIAL JOHNSON, and A. w.
| SALYwoRTHY.
GEnTLEMEN:-Yourc committee are ena-
bled to report degree of success in the Sc
lection of Mail route and emigrant road,
that amply repays them for their exertions
in carrying out your instructions and the
wishes of the gentlemen who composed the
meeting at Elk Rapids. The plain language
of our journal may best explain the route
selected
February % 1856, left the south shore of
Round Lake, on Saginaw trail, and made the
summit by easy grades, two miles from said
lake being an ascent of abont 200 feet; at
noon passed small lake, and leave timbered
land on section sixteen, township twenty-sev-
en-, north range eight west thence through
pine timber to Boardman River, last 80 rods
swamp, and will require causewaying; cross
ed Roardman River one rod wide, and forda-
bic, thence continuing by said trail, Climber
Beach, Maple, Hemlock and pine) four miles
and encamped on the bank of lake on sec
tion 7, township 26, north range z west.
Feb. 28.-Continued on Saginaw trail to
Manistee River, over Beach and Maple land,
passing several small lakes, the last mile be-
ing low Hemlock land, with much fallen tim
Der. Crossed the Manistee River, forty feet
wide with easy banks, continuing one mile
on Pine Plains, and leave trail on section
line between sections 7 and township 25,
north range west thence south-westerly over
Pine Plains three miles, and camped on the
bank of small stream in section 80, town
ship and range last named.
FEB. 24.-Soon after leaving camp, left
pine land, and passed through Beach
and Maple timber, good farming land, cross
ing several small streams to camp on the
southwest corner of section "a, township "a
north range west.
FEB. 25.-Continued in Beech and Maple
and crossed small streams at noon, and enter
ed Pine plains, attaining the summit of the
first considerable hill on the route, which can
be easily avoided; travelled throug Pine to
camp on the bank of a small lake, in section
A, township % north range west.
FEB. 26.-Passing small lakes and pine
lands, arrived at camp on bank of a small
lake, in section II, township 21 north, range
8 west. el
FEB. 27.-Thence over rolling land and
billy, to camp on the bank of small lake
OF section 22 township 20 north, range 8
west. 1l
FEB-In pine land, intersect logers supply
road ON the north bank of Muskegon river,
on section 10, township II, north range 9
west.
The most noticeable feature in the topogra-
ply of the route selected is its easy grades
the absence of swamps and its levelness,
there being but few hills in the entire dis
tance and these can be easily avoided;
we find the settlement rapidly extending up
the Muskegon river, which will materially
shorten the distance between the settlements,
which may cause division of the southern
portion of the route, to near the mouth OF
Clam River, passing east of Musk-rat lake.
The route selected is comparatively dry
one for wagon wheels, affording an abundant
supply of water and pasturage on the
marshes and borders of small lakes, which
abound on the route, crossing the streams at
points where they can be easily forded or
bridged; and being the shortest distance be-
tween the settlements. We commend the
route selected, as especially worthy of your
consideration. bI8 .a
ADRIAN S. WADswoRMH, ,uaet