The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1859-08-02

". J.,
the mouth, is just taking a start. Il IS IN the
hemlock woods, and has 4 few houses, and
steam saw mill. Senator Pennoyer's farm Is near
this place.
As the lake is approached the ground becomes
vcrv marshv, and there are many bayOus and la-
coons, nterspersed with marshes. Mil Point,
which is very new place Of some pretentons
and size, lies about mile from Lake Michigan.
The Detroit and Milwaukee Railroad Co. have
a noble station, built above piers in the Grand
River, opposite the wharf-front OF Grand Ha-
ven, and some thirty rods distant The commu-
nication i formed by ferry which plies usually
and constantly, but at the time Of our visit, It
was laid up for repairs, and our Investigations OF
the Grand Haven itself, were confined 10 gazing
at il, across the river II seems a thriving vii
lage of some thousand inhabitants. IL has
four warehouses and large steam saw-mill, be-
longing to the Messrs. Ferry & Sons, which
has the reputation OF having made more money
| than any mill in the State.
Far and near, as far a. sight extends, up and
down the Lake shore, and back into the interior,
Grand Haven is one continuous pile of shifting
/ sard.duncs living a the wind left them, but La
able to SHIFT with the next. All these masses Of
/ sand, have been cast up from from time to time,
| from the hollow of the Lake which like sea-
| sick passenger, takes advantage of every storm,
| IN throw up its overload. We much enjoyed a
| fine supper of fresh white-fish, not an hour
caught. which were eaten with much relish, and
M sonnor swallowed than the whistle OF the
Tug informed us that our attentive friends
/ had new treat for us--to visit the " break
water" now building at the mouth OF the river,
and to take a breath of the evening Lake breeze,
after our hot and dusty ride.
| Going on board We found his honor Judge
! I.ittleiohn, then holding term Of the Court in
/ 0ttowa, with number oi gentlemen Of the bar,
among whom were Church, Eggicsfon, Board
man Of Grand Rapids, Scott, of Ionia, Clerk of
the county &c G. c. Trowbridge, ESD, Treas
urer OF the company was also of the party, look
inc as yOpng, and certainly a active as when We
first saw him, twcnty-two wears ago.
This same break-watcr, j. a great work. Its
design is To- prevent the filling in OF the bar,
across the channel, and To make a lee for vessels
aud steamers II rUns from the south bank Of
the river, in direction II. W. into the Lake, and
is Ia be- 3,oon feet in length. 1t is what is usu
ally called "crib dock with piIinc. The piles
are set, driven until they are broomcd up. and
cut off at a uniform height, bv horizontal cir.
culir saw Err-h il then put in between the
double ranks Of piles, and sent down by ping
on stones All this forms a tight hreakwater
\ good fresh run into the Lake, brought US in
sirht of the evening steamer Cleveland, from
Milwaukee.
Returning, our attention Wa called to the
stakcs, nets, schooncrs and boats of the Lake
fishermen They live in huts on the sand, and
their fishing last year, melted ESQ ,ooo.
Our attention and that of Mr. Trowhridge was
drawn to the clnmsey gambols Of young Rruin,
who was chained 20 post, lear a fishing cottage.
Mr.. Trowbridgc remarked that he had often tried
to buy him, but had failed to negotiate Detroit
and Milwaukee stock for him-pcrhaps because
the Wall-srr"ct relatives of Rruiu had hurged it
too hard
Port sheldon, rife with speculative rcminisen-
ccs and association, with the Will scenes of 1876
7 lies some dozen miles south of the mouth Of
the Grand River. Here it was that certain " mad
wags' from Philadelphia, with more money than
forethought, erected a magnificent hotel, impor-
ted keeper and servants, stocked it with wines,
liquors and all mportable Injuries till It's ccllcrs
and garrcts .roancd with the weight, built ware
houses, stores, dwellings, and iarrl7, and Jared
sumptuously every d.y," until the evil times
come on, when each grahhe what he cnud and
"vamoScd."
The place is 4 solitary ruin now. The fox
prowls about the door wards, the owl boots in the
chambers, and the buildings slowly crumhc
Look upon Port Sheldon to-day, and YOU see
type and realization Of the madness of that era
which among the settlers of the west, is known
as the land fever OF 1896.
All the route from Lansing to Kent and back,
presented a uniform view of crops absolutely
drying up.
One Of those episodes occurred on Thursday,
OF painful nature, which arise upon all occ,-
SONS, casting gloom Tor ,ne lime o., cr The hearts
al all Witnesses Ga the return of the excur-
sion train on Thursday, it colljdcd with gravel
train between Boston and ioua, on a curve 4
fireman named Sidney irwin, a citizen of Detroit,
seeing the collision inevitable, jumped 20 save
his hf, but >trucl, 4 fence rail with his chest,
and soon died.
The u. & VI. Il. ". Go. have now almost rca-
dy for sea, two splendid steamers building in
Buffalo to he called respectively the " Detroit"
and Milwaukee," to be ready for the line By
August 18th. They are to be of the largest
class, and of the first rank in elegance OF finish,
furnitured and equipped. So far As We have
learned the following are to toe the officers, re-
spectively:
Steamer Ddroit-Captain Mcbride First Of
ticer, not appointed; Second Officer, Mark Nor
risOn; First Engineer John Stark; Second En-
ginecr, not appointed: Steward, W. J. Fowler;
Clerk, John Muir
Steamer Ml'ca',lec-Captan NJ s. Cross
First officer, VIM. Kyneston Second Officer,
not appointed; First Engineer, Thomas Fitzpat-
rick, Second Engineer, Nicholas Napier; Steward,
d. {. Wilcox; Clerk, Henry Bradford
When these boats are on the route, trip
from Lansing To Milwaukee, will he nm unallovcd
pleasure.
GIRL Drowned At PoSrIAc.-The Gazette OF
Saturday saws: YESTERDAY forenoon about IL