The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1859-10-18
for dime, at most, passengers may be SET down
In front Of the hotels

/ Tor dime. al most, passengers may De Sci uo~u
in front Of the hotels.
/ Grand Rapids is as much a city in population
and appearance as Detroit was twenty years ago.
Some Of is stores will compare iayorsbly with
the hes, in Detroit even now; and though
cannot think il will ever be As large as Detroit
now is, it certainly gives fair promise OF becom-
ing a large inland city-I say inland, in fact,
though il has always been practically port town.
! The river here runs nearly south, the city lying
mainl- on the east side, upon ground rising quite
abruptly from the river TO height OF over two
/ hundred feet. This ascent is more or less cut
into ravires, and the many elegant residences
that adorn its sides and top betoken both taste
and wealth. Springs issue al different places,
from which water may be carried TO the tops OF
the highest buildings below. The business
streets are paved, and lighted tor the buildings
arrl with gas. There are three bridges over the
river, bui!t al heavy expense The hotels are
good--the Rathbun House, OF which We can tes-
/ tify, Is exceeded in is comforts and well-set
tables by no hotel in city OF country. We have
not set down 10 better furnished table for
| years, aid the charges are moderate.
/ There i certainly no city in Michigan Tor
/ which nature has done 80 much for Grand
Rapids. Thirtv-tve miles inland it has steam.
boat facilities. Its water power is equal 10 any
demand. Its plaster beds-beIow the city, but
practically in it--are ineNhaustible source OF
wealth and it is confidently expected that salt,
for which boring Is going ON, will sooa be extern
siveiy manufactured. With such resources,
nothing, il would seem, can stay the progress OF
Grand Rapids; and her rival sister cities must
make up in enterprise what she has 10y nature,
or she will leave them all behind.
Several villages are projected along the rail-
way west of Grand Rapids, but none vet have
attained any considerable size until we approach
the mouth o, Grand river Nil Point and Fer
rysburgh are small numbering villages, mile or
more up the river, that have sprung up within a
few wears. Grand Haven, the county seat OF
Ottawa county, i at its mouth, behind the sand
hills.
These sand hills are among the greatest natural
cuIiositie~ on our globe. For hundreds of miles
they stretch along the western coast OF State
- some places four hundred feet higher than
the lake ana extending mile back thereirom.
Their entire composition j. quicksand, all Of
,chich has been washed ashore by the lake, and
piled into mountains by the wind. Many parts
of these hills are covered with heavy growth
OF pine, hemlock, cedar, &c. In some places,
the old forest has been partly OF wholly buried
by recent deposits of sand. la other places the
Ia.
trees Just like the encroachments Of a river upon
lis banks, until they fall, to be buried forever,
perhaps, by new Accommodations
In company with large party OF ladies and
gentlemen, in attendance upon the Teachers
Institute AT Grand Haven, We assembled a bill
: that overlooks the village, and rises three hun
bred beet above il. The grandeur OF the scene
from lis summit i, hardly less thar that of Mag
ara. Thousands and thousands III acres spread
ont 10 the eve, presenting hills and valleys of
, light coiorcd sand, locking, except in color, ike
immense drifts ot snow. with here and there a
spot OF Vcr,iurr, nth I'll the changes above de-
/ scribci goin. on. Near the top-which is bare
Sand--we picked grapes the vines of which were
Supported hy small cedars . II il surprising how
ANYTHING can grow in the dry sand, 80 clean and
free from sod that it will hardly soil a white kid
! -le~ei TIimh;"a tho hil hilarious iah
having To take IA large circuit, and sinking most
( OF thc way TO the aiikle-. though IN some places
/ it drittei - hard that i light person could
walk upon the surface But the descent was
/ delightful W cam" down at an angle some
! what sleeper tha;! iorty five degrees, leapng
twenty bet at a step, striking half knee deep in
the sand, and sliding several feet before another
spring could be made. | 10 not "a, the ladies'
made suc!i leaps, bat they came down very easy,
with their shoes fun OF sand, but with stockings
less >oilcd thar. after short walk in the dusty
street Of CITY
/ The situation. "t GfsiId Haven j. not an invi,-
/ ing one 20 the eve, yet there is considerable
/ weath, and 81 added TcS names 10 our list of
/ pleasant acquaintauccs there. We examined the
new saving ma, hiuerv OF Senator Ferry x Co.,
which obtained much notoriety at The late United
States Fair at Chicago. After the log il pa,
upon the carriage, the machinery does most of
the rest, till the whole is lcft in a very few min
u.cS outside oil the building ready for market
There i a good court house. good school-house,
built ten years ago, and several churches. Our
friend Club here publishes one of the largest
| papers in the State. and Is building IA cOInmodi-
ous office. The citizens of the place should well
appreciate ms enterprise.
The Detroit and Milwaukee RAILWAY terminates
at Grand Haven, This road appears to be in as
/ good condition ~ any of the older roads The
! track il very smooth, ana the management j.
well systcmatized. The latest improvements in
sleeping cafs accompany the night trains We
had no small curiosity 80 see the boats that fiji
out the line t. Milwaukee. Men are sometimes
/ made by b,n- abused So these boats have
been well advertised, without expense 10 the
owners, by the efforts Of some Of the Chicago
/ papers 70 Gisparaec them. But whatever rival
interests may do, they fixed fact, and could
probably outride storm that would swallow M
every other boat on the lakes Their stvc il
plain, but the arrangements are very convenient,
and in good taste, while every thing indicates I'M
common strength. There are no guards. aud no
upper cabins; and the gunwale rises three feet
above the main deck without any opening. il
being surmountei 10y steps The machinery j.
very powerful and two mast. are rugged with