The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1859-11-23
Editorial Cor. of the Allegan Journal.
Ailegan, Muskegon and Traverse Bay
State Road.
PoRT SAUBLE, Oct, l8.


We are progressing finely with the sur
vey of the Allegan, Muskegon and Tray
erse Bay State Road. Tho survey will
soon be completed to Traverse City.
The country north of White River j.
much better than that Immediately soutl
of il, particularly in Townships i3, Ia
and l5 North of Range II West. The
road makes an angle at the so-callet
Wheat" Settlement in Muskegon coun
ty to the head of White Lake where g
flourishing village is springing up named
"Mears." Already an extensive steam
saw mill is in operation, and a store is il
course of construction. A few dwelling
houses have been erected and others arc
being constructed. From the village Of
Mears the road goes to Cartoons Mills
which we have already described. The
road makes an angle from Cartons west
erly until it strikes town l3 and then fol-
lows the section in northerly direction
on Range II until we cross Pere Mar
quette River where direct angle is taken
in north-easterly direction for Traverse
City-distanco about 90 miles from this
point where our surveying party is at
present.
Whiin I,rratae;nes rnni1;.-,,ra. have lsoi
occasion to visit the mouths of several of
the streams emptying into Lake Michi-
gan where we found several enterprising
numbering villages among others Duck
Lake, White River, Pentwater Pere Mar
quette and Little Sauble. Above this
place are the settlements of Big Sauble,
Free Soil and Manistee.
The point from which l now address
you Little Sauble) is indebted to the en-
ergy Of the Messrs. Mears for an excel
lent harbor and various other improve
ments. The Messrs. Mears also operate
in the lumber business at Duck Lake,
Pentwater, Pere Marquette and Big Sau-
bic, and are the most extensive lumber
men in Northwestern Michigan. Con-
nected with their numbering villages the
Messrs. Mears have propeller making
regular trips twice week to and from
their points, and to which the pioneers in
this region are indebted for most of their
supplies. 1t is commanded by Capt.> by
erson, who is an experienced sailor &ad
sociable man. The stores and boarding,
houses connected with the mills of the
Messrs. Mears are extensive and comfort
able establishments and furnish to the
pioneer, traveller, and explorer everything
that he can possibly desire.
The timber most abundant in this re-
gion are beech, maple, rock elm and bass
wood interspefsad with butternut. The
soil is a sandy and gravelly loan inter-
mixed with clay, aud is e,oellent farming
land
The withdrawal of the goverment
lands adjoining the Railroad lands irou
the market retards the settlement of this
portion of Michigan wonderfully. Set
tiers are ready TO move on these lands
but are prevented by government. l fear
the land grants will prove rather a curse
than blessing to Northern Michigan.
Our party consists of E. Mix, survey
or J. Butler, assistant, Isaac and John
II. Andrews, axemen, Samuel Under.
wood and Mr.. Berget, chainmen, besides
the Commissioners. At Pere Marquette
we procured man named King 10 pack
King was formerly connected with the
Hudson Bay Company and is quite 9
character. Berget is the well known
wolf-hunter and keeps us well supplied
with game.
When l arrive at Traverse City l shal
write something about the character O
the country between the Pere Marquette
River and Traverse City. Excuse haste
d. 9. H.