Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1857-02-04
THE GRAND RIVER TIMES
GRAND HAVEN. MICHIGAN,
WEDNESDAY EVENING, FEB. 4, 1857.
ET- We have again been reminded Of

the moving of the county site, during the
past week, by the notices posted in different
locations, by the Chairman Of the Board OF
Supervisors, in reference to the vote to be
taken at the next township meeting. The
more we reflect upon the wants, convenience
and interest of the inhabitants OF the county
the firmer is our conclusion that it should not
be moved to Eastmanvile, if moved from
Grand Haven A small place like that, will,
necessarily, cause greater outlay OF money to
erect suitable buildings for the county, to
speak of nothing else, than an old and estab-
lished village, or city, where labor and mate
rial are in greater abundance, and more easily
procured, at less rates than they can be there.
Every officer of the county will be personally
interested in these expenses, besides the citi-
zens of the county, for they must have houses
and other conveniences for living which can
not be built without material. They may
have small lot given them-as the proprie-
tors seem to be very liberal in that line-but
their buildings must be erected before they
can approximate to even small enjoyment
of the comforts of life. But this does not az
feet the citizens of the county particularly,
an increased taxation of property will reach
all, and this will inevitably follow. We shall
be taxed for the county buildings to COM
mence with; for it is absurd to suppose we
can erect building that will reflect any cred
it to the citizens of Ottawa land we want no
other for the small sum of fifteen hundred
dollars-which is all the proprietors stand
pledged to give. 1t will require, at least,
three times that amount to erect even res
pectable building; and, citizens of Ottawa
county, how will we get the funds9 There
is only one way, and that is taxation. Again
we can not get there without good roads,
from all parts Of the county, and-except the
road from the Haven to the Rapids, through
Eastmanville, which, by the way, is worse
through the township of Polkton than the
same length any where between the same
ponts-these are yet to be made. The ne
cessity, for some, for instance Holland, Zee
land and Muskegon, will be imperative to &C
commodate the inhabitants of those localities;
and this necessity will have a natural ten
dency to cause petitions to be laid before the
Board of Supervisors for appropriations from
the county for each Of these objects.
Judging from the influences thrown in the
Board Of Supervisors, during its last session,
it requires but limited extent of vision to
see that this will be the result. The labori-
Gus Holander will be taxed for the road from
Muskegon to Eastmanvile, in addition to his
own, and the tax payer of Muskegon for the
Holland road, and the tax payers Of Grand
Haven, and all the northeastern and eastern
portions of the county will be taxed for both,
and what accommodation or benefit do they
derive from either?
They have no inducements to 90 except the
enjoyment of riding over bad roads, if that
can be called an inducement which must be
done whenever the Court or Supervlsors-lf
a member of the Boards in session. There
is nothing connected with their occupations,
in that direction; no foundries, mills or ma
chinery of any description; no market for
any of their productions, and only one store
to purchase supplies. People are not all
aware of the expense incurred in moving Co.
sites, until they investigate the subject by the
light of natural causes, followed by certain
events. We look upon this movement, in
the present undeveloped state of the county,
as accompanied with great expense, and sure
to be followed by an increased taxation, upon
every tax payer, for many years; and, if sane
toned by the votes of the people of the
county, complaint, and dissatisfaction will
follow their own acts.
EE GREELEY's Annual Almanac has
been kindly furnished us by the publisher.
1t contains vast fund of valuable informa-
ton connected with arts, science, politics and