The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1859-11-16
For the News.
PRAfEfk RoNDE, Nov. z, 1859.

tho I'd inst, was duly received. i was
aware of your having resumed the edito-
rial chair before seeing the proof in the
number you sent. ! am glad 10 find you
again in the pleasant occupation of spread
ing broadcast intelligence for the million.
Yet l hoped to find you on the upper side
of the political world, and not, Chinese
like cropping in darkness on that side
which rolls up nothing to brighten the flu
ture. But so it is.
have " squatted" here for the present
upon this rich and beautiful Prairie. AL
though l have not the pleasure of looking
out upon the "white-winged messengers
from 'tother side of Jordan" or upon the
tall pines as they nod a prayer of thanks
giving 10 the healthful breezes of Lake
Michigan, or Of hearing the buzzing of
the "Big Circular" set moving to the
startling music of the steam whistle, yet
| can at proper seasons look upon that
which moves all these, rs far as human
energy can accomplish, waving fields Of
grain, and wealth, its Legitimate result.
often stroll away to some one of the
numerous small ponds in the vicinity, at
evening, there to hear from the original
authors Of BAKERS famous and popular
song, "Old Hodge," and view the dwell
ings of those amphibious inhabitants, the
muskrats. 1 do so for it recalls many
pheasant items from minds cell, and var
nishes afresh past enjoyments in the Up
per Room.
BY the way, what has become of all
the members of the RetreatW Where
is that sprout of Blackstone? / doubt
not, wherever he is, by this time, he is
the longest limb, if not the main trunk.
All he wanted was expansion, and the
whole law would be reflected. What has
become of that spirit named member,
is he yet in the flesh, or has the family
called home their namesake? Those
were good Ivmes-John, when all de-
partments of the Retreat" were in
session and in full blast.
If you will come out here l will show
you a county that puts your boosted
Grand River country entirely in the shade.
You would acknowledge that Grand Riv-
or amt no whar." The soil here does
not require coaxing to cause the starting
of vegetation. Neither does vegetation
require coaxing TO ensure its growth
The greatest labor is to hold in check,
unless timely frost cuts it back. 1t
would do you good to ride about this
Prairie and look uron the fields of grain
in the time of harvest. According to
the estimate there was harvested on this
Prairie the present season $500 acres,
yielding 100000 bushels of wheat. II
seems the life of the farmer is the only
independent one of all others. This Prai-
rie is beautifully laid out, everything
square with the world. The streets on
n parallel with section lines, in blocks
from quarter to mile square, max
ing it very convenient as well as pleas
ant for all. The streets are wide and
all well fenced, and the farm houses are
samples of neatness, where homo can not
but be made pleasant. Some of the farms
are large--too large for any ono man to
attempt to care for. But as the present
generation acquires age, in all probability,
division will take place in families, and
an increase of products will be the newt
able result. There is no lack of timber,
Of any kind, in the immediate vicinity,
except pine, which is abundant at some
distance toward the Lake.
There is an Academy, very beautifully
situated, and well ustained-fully mani
testing that the mind is cultivated as well
as the soil by the inhabitants. There are
three churches of different denominations,
where all can worship as their particular
tenets dictate.
l have often reflected while riding about
the county of Kalamazoo, what an i'm
mensc population could be sustained if
the land was so divided that il would be
fully prepared for the seed, and fully cared
for--by such division that each family
could control such quantity, and only
such as would be well prepared and well
attended to; could we see that number l
doubt not it would astonsh the most i'm
| o0inafiva mind