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

than the agricultural? Does not the rugged
sterile soil Of New England supply population
to the great westin an almost constant tide Of
emigration, and yet continue by far the most
popuIous portion for our country? Are the
rich prairies of Illinois and the vast agricul-
tural districts Of Ohio, Indiana and other
western states ever likely to become as thick
ly populated as the sandy shores of Pennsyl-
vania, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island,
Massachusetts, and Maine, or the rugged hills
Of the Granite State? No. Nature has form
ed these States to be the great Emporiums
of manufacture and commerce and they must
ever continue the most populogs States in the
Union in proportion to their extent. Just SO
is it with the coast of Ottawa County, and
with the extension of the Detroit and Milwau-
kee Railroad from Grand Haven as the grand
center, to Holland and New Buffalo south,
and to Muskegon and Grand Traverse north,
all along the Lake shore, Grand Haven must
become the most accessible point to that line
of manufacturing towns which are already
springiug up along the Lake shore and which
must in the very nature of things contain the
great bulk of The population Of Ottawa Coun-
ty. We know that an attempt has been
made by interested parties to make it appear
that the Lake shore railroad would be an un-
profitable speculation, and that its prospects
of trade are very small, and thus a stab Is
aimed at the interests Of the population OF
Holland just to serve the selfish purposes of
an Eastmanville property holder. How un-
Just is this to our Holland fellow citizens and
how false is the reasoning on which that at
tempt is based The supposition is that Chi
cago is the only place to which Holland looks
for demand for her lumber, whereas it is all
Southern Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois
south of Chicago to which Holland is now
looking for the disposal of her lumber. The
thriving population of Indiana must now send
to Chicago and pay Chicago prices for the
lumber which Holland could furnish them in
a direct manner by this Lake shore Railroad.
The continuance or non-continuance OF navi-
CATION on the Lake would scarcely affect the
traffic or the Lake shore railroad, intended
as it mainly is, to open vast lumber region
for the supply of Indiana, SO as to avoid pay
ing the large profits of the Chicago merchants
This lumber business alone would secure a
large traffic on the Lake shore Railroad
while the Railroad would give rise to line
of manufacturing towns, which would readily
obtain supply of labor from the increasing
Holland emigration. We think it is no mat,
ter of ofunproftable speculation but one of the
best investments which could be entered into
to construct this Lake shore road; and when
it is constructed, as it doubtless will be, i
will make Grand Haven still more accessible
than it is now to the most populous part o
the county. We contend therefore that i
not only is already the most eligible site TO
the county business, but that the internal i'm
provements projected, the natural formation
of the county and its division into agriculture
and commercial manufacturing districts shows
that it will continue to be the most accessible
point for the most populous portion of tht
county. '"
III. Proximity to lat portion of the eoua
ty aohere criminal business is most likely Il
arise.--It cannot be disputed that in an a
gricultural community there is but little Grim
inal business. 1t is in a commercial, fishing
and manufacturing population, excited by the
intellectual activity incident to their pursuits
and the various temptations to which the.
are exposed, that crime invariably become
most common. In this respect, therefore
Grand Haven must be and continue the mos
eligible point for the county seat, and all th'
: argument respecting the adaptation OF tn
eastern portion Of. the county to agriculture
} so much in favor of Grand Haven, and show
that Eastmanville could never become 81
near point for criminal business as Crane
! Haven.
) III. Proximity not only TO the residence
Of the Inhabitants but to- the localities ,oher
men are mostly employed--Grand Haven
although on the coast Of Ottawa County. j
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