Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1857-02-04
Lansing Correspondence.

Lansing Correspondence.
LANSING, Jany %, 1857.
ED. TINES: Since my last special COM
mittee on Railroad Grants has been announc-
ed by the Lieut.. Governor, consisting of the
following Senator's: Messrs. Fairfield, Sey-
mour, Ferry, Lapham, Copger and Graveraet.
This is the most important committee in the
Senate. All Railroad Bills Lave been refer
red to this Committee. Mr.. Fairfield is from
Hillsdale Co., and is one Of the most talented
members of the present Legislature. He is
a Baptist Clergyman, and President of Hills
dale College. Mr.. Seymour is resident of
Flint, in Genesee Co., and is banker by bu-
siness. Of Mr.. Ferry's antecedents and his
tory you are all acquainted. Suffice it to say
that he will do all in his power for Ottawa
county and the lake shore region which he
represents in the Senate as a member of this
committee. Mr.. Lapham is the Senator from
Kent County. Mr.. Conger represents the
ST. Clair District He is talented man, and
has had considerable legislative experience
Mr.. Conger is a warm friend of every project
tending to the benefit of the new counties,
without reference to locality. He was a
member of the last State Senate, where he
took leading position in demanding juctice
to the new counties. Mr.. Graveraet the
other member of the committee, is from the
Lake Superior region, and is Democrat in
politics. His section Of the State is deeply
interested in the construction of the proposed
Railroads. The new counties could not ex-
pect the appointment of better committee,
and their report is anxiously looked for.
Among other members of the Third House,
now in town, l notice Mr.. Wood, of the New
aygo Company, from Chicago; Mr.. Arms,
the Company's Agent at Newaygo, and
Robert Morris, Of the firm of Ryerson d
Morris, Of Muskcgon, who are advocating an
appropriation of Swamp Lands for the i'm
provement of Muskegon River. Senator Fer
ry has introduced bill for that purpose, a
copy of which have transmitted to your pa
per*
A fine map of the Muskegon River, by
Innes, of Grand Rapids is now on exhibition
at the Lansing House. 1t has attracted con-
siderable attention already. The improve
ment of the Muskegon River is considered
deserving work. The only question among
the members is, whether they shall appropri-
ate money or lands. Mr.. Ferry is doing all
in his power for this improvement, and if any
thing can be done for it, by legislative action,
he will not leave stone unturned. The
same may said of Mr. Merrill, your worthy
Representative, who is a resident of Muske.
gon, and, as a matter of course, directly in
terested in all of the proposed Improvements.
But | fear that the old counties of the
State are opposed to all such Improvements,
by legislation, and however deserving the
work really may be, they contend that all the
monies and lands, heretofore appropriated for
such purposes, have been squandered, and
fear like disposition would be made of any
appropriation of the present Legislature. A
bill for the improvement of Flat River has
already been killed in the Senate, although
it was no doubt deserving of State aid.
When the bill came up to remit the Uni
versity debt to the State ($lOO,ooo) the Sem
ators from the new counties generally retail
ated upon the friends of that institution, who
oppose all River Improvements and all aid to
the local Improvements of the new counties,
and voted against the remission of the debt,
and very justly, too, as the debt was contract
ed in the erection of college buildings and
Professors houses for the Michigan University.
1t is to be regretted that the members of
the Legislature, from the new counties, are