Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1857-02-25
SENATOR FERRY'S


come before the Senate in the advocacy of a
measure especially local to the constituency
which have the honor here to represent
Though the appropriation which am asking
at the hands of the Legislature is purely To-
cal in its application, its results will outstretch
the vicinity to be Immediately affected, and
prove to what extent general interests are to
be subserved by the proposed improvement.
When the measure was first started in the
form of an appropriation of portion OF the
Swamp Lands, | insisted upon the gentle
men who were urging the project forward,
the necessity of awaiting the disposition Of
the whole subject of the disposal Of the
Swamp Lands before any definite action
could be had thereon in furtherance Of this
object. | held that, in the event of the dis
position of the proceeds, and the manage
ment Of the drainage of the Swamp Lands
by the Boards of the Supervisors of the sew
eral counties in which said lands lie, who, |
doubted not, would become the Trustees Of
the great work of reclamation, every county
through which the Muskegon River runs
would cheerfully afford such substantial aid
as would more perfectly accomplish the pro-
posed Improvement Nor did | change my
views or modify my action in this regard un-
til 1 became satisfied that the Senate was de-
termined to pursue a different line of policy
upon the Swamp Land question, from that
which l was led to mark out The passage
of the the Swamp Land bill put to rest any
hope from that quarter i'll behalf of said inn
provement. The combined object of drain
age" and River improvement, which must,
necessarily, have resulted from an appropria-
ton of lands for the projected work, was now
completely Frustrated, and no alternative left
us but to claim an appropriation of money for
the desired object. To this end, therefore,
have circumstances enforced my labors This
bill asks for an appropriation of $4,000, out
of the Internal improvement Fund, not 9th
erwise appropriated. The estimated cost Of
the removal of all distractions, and the nee
essary expenditure to ensure a free and sue
cessful transit through the sand flats which
are now the source of trouble to the naviga-
tors of Muskegon River is $4,000. This
sum exceeds the capital of the resident citi-
zens along that stream, who might be desi-
rous of devoting their surplus means to the
accomplishment of the object through private
enterprise. They appeal, therefore, to the
aid of the State for onethird of the amount
necessary to effect their purpose, while they
tax themselves the remaining two-thirds to
ensure the realization of their object. The
work is to be prosecuted under the direction
of three Commissioners, Mr.. Davis, of Mus
kegon, Mr.. Merrill, located above the obstruc-
tions, and Mr. Watson, of Newaygo, all OF
whom are gentlemen of ability and business
reputation, with whom l have personal ac-
quaintance, and for whose good faith in such
contemplated capacity will not hesitate to
vouch. The whole work is to be under the
supervision of the Governor, and the perma-
nent completion thereof for the purposes
named, must meet his approval before one
dollar of the appropriation can be drawn
Thus is the appropriation guarded to its legit-
innate application, and barrier interposed to
reckless expenditure of the public funds to
other uses thans contemplated by such grant
Neither is the appropriation asked out Of the
General Treasury of the State, but from the
Internal Improvement Fund "not otherwise
appropriated" We have been told that there
was no suppostion of the existence Of any
such fund. Then, sir, if we have been the
means of bringing this important treasure tc
light, let the same delight which possesses
the youth who finds himself the possessor o.
"bright shilling" and the avidity will
which he seeks to convert his treasure to some
noble object, actuate and control Senators il
the disposition of this new treasure to lauda
bic object. will even hope that the firm
grasp of the venerable Senator, Pierce who
is the Briareus of the public vault, will, in this
stance relax those muscles which constitu
tionally render him the formidable hero o
economical expenditure.
While we are laboring for judicious dispo
sition of the great land grant for Railroad
purposes, let us not lose sight of the charac
ter Of the stream we are proposing to i'm
prove. This river cuts through eight coun
ties and finds its source far in the interior O
the State, with width of some three hun
dred feet and depth sufficient for steamboat
navigation, distance of two hundred anC
fifty miles. It's magnitude is but very simp
ly illustrated by calling it the longest ant
most important water course in the State
The vast numbering interests involved Will
the successful navigation of that river, as
sumes an importance second to none In the
State. The agricultural interests of It's fer
tile valley are destined 10 rival any othe
section of like extent within our borders.-