Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1857-03-25

tance by water, to be compelled to 60 far in
land to prosecute their cases as would be the
case If the county seat were to be removed to
Eastmanville, as proposed. Experience has
shown by the example Of almost all Lake
shore counties both in Michigan and Wiscon-
sin, that the towns on the coast are the most
eligible for county seats, hence such towns
have almost invariably been selected, and
where navigation and frishing form SO large
portion of the employmentof the people, such
towns are, even geographically, the most cen
trail for the population Of county. Why do
counties 50 universally select such towns if
such be not the casea ilIlt
w. Convenience IN a business point of
vieW enabling persons, when travelling onl
county business to transact their oWn private
business at the same time d. a0ithout additional
enpence.-Every body who has an eye to eco
nomy must see the importance of this advan-
tage in a county seat, What business can
any one transact at Eastmanville9 Are there
stores here9 Are there professional men there
Are there mills and manufactures there Can
farmer buy his farming implements and
machinery there9 Can provisions be obtained
there as cheaply and as abundautly as at
Grand Haven? Is it ever likely that East
manvile will present the advantages for trade
that Grand Haven does and will continue to
presents 1t never can rival Grand Haven in
any of these important particulars and per-
sons who 60 on county business must pay
their expenses and lose their time without a
chance of doing any business which would
make their journey profitable. Not so in
coming to Grand Haven. Here are stores
amply supplied with everything required by
family in the country and at prices which
competition always keeps reasonable, while
there are professional men and mechanics Of
almost every kind required, ready for engage
ments. In this respect, therefore, Grand
Haven is incomparably superior to Eastman
vile or any other vile in the County, for a
County seat i.....
v. Economy in County expenditure
Other articles in this paper have shown that
in the first outlay for public buildings, East
manville presents no greater advantages than
Grand Haven. Indeed if we may Judge from
the fact that there are more builders at Grand
Haven than at Eastmanvile we may reason
able expect that at the former place there
will be greater competition in bidding for con-
tracts and that consequently the work will be
done at much less expense to the county. The
facility too for obtaining building material is
greater at Grand Haven than at Eastman
vile. Then as to the ordinary county ex-
penses the conveyance of criminals and pau
pers; the payment of the expenses of judges
witnesses jurors and lawyers; the expence oi
, employing mechanics and others to do county
business, repairs and SO forth, all these items
of expenditure must be less at Grand Haven
than at Eastmanville for the reasons already
given. The cry therefore as to "Taxes
Taxesw is and must remain a reason why
the county seat should not be removed
Why should the industrious citizens Of OF.
tawa County be called upon to pay largely
increased taxation, and to submit to every
possible inconvenience in the transaction o
their county business, merely to satisfy the
desire Of one property holder that he may
be able to increase his rents and the price
of his lots at the expense of the county? W.
do not blame Mr.. Eastman: his assidnity and
perseverancein the matterare highlycommend
able; he has perfect right to endeavor tc
increase the value of bis land, but the people
of Ottawa County have an equal right tc
"look before they leap" and to inquire
whether they can justly to themselves, and t.
the county thus afford to waste their resour
ces for the benefit of man who needs nc
such charity, however deserving and worth!
citizen he may be. .,...,.. 81.
vi. Convenience for public scrutiny Q
the doings Of county officers either By tn
press or the people.-It is notorious fac
that men when they get into office, no mat
ter to what party they may belong, are ap
to become more or less corrupt and that the
hest safaoruard AGAINST such corruntion is a,