The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1859-07-27
COUNTY MATTERS.

oDscufe path, "ieho"s S ~
10 puide or direct him ON his midnight
road, bewildered and confused he stops at
last, sits down and patiently waits for The
first bright streaks of the morning that
he may become wise, and having light
may be able to see, take his bearings, find
his position, and direct his steps accord
ingly. Thus have the people Of Ottawa
County been travelling for the last three
or four years in legislative and financial
enveloped in darkness which
must be dissipated to enable them to see
their true position. We can sometimes
become wiser by examining the records of
the past; it is therefore our duty to make
such examination, not only upon miscel-
laneous subjects as matter of history for
information and general intelligence, but
upon special matters that concern and
bear upon the individual interests and
public welfare of all in Ottawa County,
does il become imperative for our public
journals to throw as much light as posi-
bic before the people, that they may be
prepared to correct any errors which may
be at present. creeping in, learning from
the fixed and immovable past, TO provide
for the unknown and ever stirring future.
The responsibilities and duties resting up
on board of supervisors, it would seem,
are not always realized. Each town
sends its representative to the board, and
when convened, according 10 law, they are
clothed with authority TO rule and regu-
late the affairs of the county. All its cit
liens are represented in that board, and
if the inhabitants of any particular locali-
Ly become the victims Of misplaced con-
fidence, through the inef1iciency Of their
representative, their interests not only suf-
fer, but the interests of the whole county
are affected in proportion as one strand
forms q part of the whole cable. The
cable is just as large, but there is no
strength in one strand, consequently all
the power is contained in the rest, and as
the poor strand is twisted into the cable
with the good, it can not be removed with
out making the cable imperfect. 1t is
therefore of no service, except to fill its
place as so much matter, thus becoming
a hindrance to the utility and life of the
cable. 1t is so much dead luggage. If
q cable consists of twenty strands and
fifteen of the twenty are worthless, it is
as much as we can expect Of the remain
ing five to support and protect the whole
from parting and going to pieces. II
would be poor rig for ship to start
on a perilous voyage, and poorer still
should she have occasion to snub. Bet
ter let go her anchor before she gets out
of soundings and fit out anew.
During the last ten years in the histo-
ry of our county, 1851, 2, 3 and a, are
distinguished for the most prompt and eff
ficient boards of supervisors. Men Of in
telligence and sound judgment, who knew
their duty and had the ability to perform,
who could foresee the consequence of their
actions, who scrutinized with microscopic
eye bills and accounts, who were guided
by justice and fair dealing in all their de-
cisions, were elected supervisors. The
county prospered under their government,
aud the board commanded respect. An
account had merit that could stand the
ordeal of the examining committee; its
rejection was evidence Of its fraud or in
justice. They were not parsimonious in
voting for amounts of money sufficiently
large to defray the expenses of the coun-
ty, and when the year rolled round they
called officials TO an account. The treas
ury was flush with money, and county or
ders commanded premium.
But the good times must have an end.
A change in the administration is follow
ed by new laws and revolution in our
county finances. From 1856 10 the pres
ent time matters have been growing worse
"a sorry commentary on the good sense
and discriminating business talent of the
people and supervisors of Ottawa. With
her steady agricultural and commercial
growth, her telegraph, railroads and in
creased facilities for importing and export
ing, her schools and churches, her increase
in population, she seems to have lost her
intelligence, her good name in measure
has been taken from her, and her reputa-