New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-01-04
TIE SAGINAW COUNTRY.


Corrcsron5ence Of The v. Y. Inesne'
LowrR S,CisAw, Mich, Dc, lsS5.
This place is situated about five miles rom tho
mouth of the Saginaw River, large ana oesutsfoi
stream that emptes into the Saginaw bay one n1ndfed
miles northwest from Detroit. The position Of The
town promises TO make il the second IN sIe ana CON-
uercia importance in the State -Four large ana navs-
sblc streams. flowing through region unsurpassed N
St;r,v and nntuyal resources, tributary 70 The
SAGINAW Az the country bordering upon them Ne
comes cultivated and improved vast amount o. pro-
duce must seek depot at Lower Ssgina" ,or l,ah,
binmeut either to Chicago Detroit, Toledo, Cleveland,
Rusnlo or Liverpool II may be said TO De the bead
of Lake commerce, for the country Is watered by
these rvers The largest vessels that navigate tho
Lake can find safe harbor hsre. Inc Ago
promote the rapid growth Of the place. =.
The contrast between the appearance OF the country
and the town, my 6rst visit here III iet!, anu i Sna
present visit j. remarkable. Then che trip nom rhns
10 Saginaw was one incesSaut plunge through mud
axle deep and over corduroy. Now II Il Peassut
ride of few hours over good plank road Inen .nc
most available mode of reaching Lower Sagiuam uvu
Saginaw City was the employment OF an indian anu
his canoe. Now several steamboats, are constantly
upon the river. Then there were not more tns nno
dozen houses here, nov there u popualon ~ 700 49,.
Then the whole county contained not over ,3OO, no"
Upon the river there are now some forty or fifty
large steam saw-mills. And during the last season
there We're 100 600 feet of lumber shipped from ns
port This circulates great deal OF money among thS
people.
dnd that produce Of all kinds commands the highest
cash price. This partly owing to the act thar 20
large proportion OF the population are consumers and
Much enterprise energy and foresight has been ex-
hibited the part of some New fork cSPNan'ts,
among whom are Jesse Hoyt, Ex-Mayor Westerveh,
johnson and Others They inst attempted 10 purchase
the site of Lower Saginaw, but falling IN th,s, they
bought about the year 1851 large tract OF land 10
miles above ON the river. Here they cut down the
Lii N lu k-rOa
at a cost of 1000 sl-o grist-mil costing $4,000,
and made other liberal improvements. The oonse-
auence was that their town grew very repdy, and IN
the course of four years there population Of 1000
ON ground up 10 that time covered by the forest.
Had the propretors of Lower Saginaw been pos
sessed of the same enterprise foresight and funds,
would now have contained a population OF 5000. lts
depression heretofore has been owing 10 the fact that
its proprieOrs have been for the most part Donresi-
dents They have relied too much upon its advan'
tages of position. Trusting TO the future they have
been unwilling to sell, and being occupied with busi-
ness elsewhere, they have not made the improvements
that would attract settlers. The whole business oil
tic place has been done upon the river without refer
ence to the rich country back of it. They now see
the importance of opening roads, ana understand
that one is under contract that will gather the trade OF
Tuscoa County, another that will draw the business
of Midland County. -,
As result of the Graduation Act, the land of the
surrounding counties il almost entirely taken up, ana
immigrants are settling II very rapidly:
No part of Michigan contiguous To the Cenra ka4'
road can compare as to fertility of soil with the Sagi
nav Valley The growth is large, and the soil Is BLACK
and light although the ground is not 20 undulating a.
would be desirable.
The Detroit and Milwaukee Railroad is TO have q
great effect in developing this part OF the state. In
coming here, rode upon II to Fentonvlle, Genesee
Co. They extending as fast as their funds will
allow. II is to be in running order to Owasso by next
june.
The Circuit Court for this county has just cloeed it's
session. IL was presided over by Chefustice Green.
lie ia a learned lawyer and dgnited Judge. The
county authorities have just completed very suitable
appropriate.
Since the completion of the Great Western Railroad,
Michigan may be regarded an extension OF New
York Their business and social connections are init
mate, and are every day becoming more So Michigan
must increase more rapidly than ever 10 wealth