, 1861-02-21

Progress Of Settlsment"--C1,arac Of
the. Country .-- Reports -- Lumber.
Ing etc.
Correspondence Of tho Chicago TTibunc.l
EQREEsy1L1E. Montcalm Co., Mich, !

Correspondence Of tho Chicago T1ibunc.]
E4REEsy111E. Montcalm Co., Mich,l
February 1st, 1861 =.
To our Western neIghhors it may not be un-
interesting as a matter Of local interest to
know how We arc progressing in Western
Michigan For that purpose will briefly.
state few faets. Many families from the
Eastern States aud Canada, who have change
of1ocation in view, have located lands in cur
new counties, and it is surprising to see how
rapidly settlers are coming in here, Many OF
them say that they arc just beginning to sec
that the Wolverine State has indeed superior
advantages. Judging from those who have
with ours, We must say that We could not wish
for more Intelligent and enterprising class Of
settlers than are taking up their homes with
ns.., / now refermore particularly to the coun-
ties Of Montca1m, Mccosta, Newaygo and
Ocezana. There Is much 1irst-elaas tinaoe7ed
farming land, and also pine in such quantities
as to supply settlements with an abundance Of
timber for home use; and In many cases tracts
can get be purchased at the Government price,
and in such compact bodies as to make Ii pro-
fit3b1e to erect mills for the purpose Of manu-
featuring lumberfor expectation. as we have
water. powers amply sufficient for the largest
lumber are SO great, we Of course DO consider
ablc numbering. p. =.
Montealm county, in the southern part, is
settled with an enterprising people, engaged
In agricultural, commercial and manufacturing
pursuits. There is . large amount Of exports
from this county, mainly lumber, shingles,
1ath, pelts, furs, wheat, and produce Of all
not 80 tllckly settled. Il is tinbered with
beech, maple and ;pue.-- The hitter is mostly
found on aud in the vicinity Of Flat river, and
-tB lnterepczsed with tracts Of beech and maple,
The landin the county is well watered with
springs and small streams, and has q good
loan soil There is still land to be had ID this
county'iu tracts Of from 400 to 800 acres.
There are two State roads leading through
this county. Greenvflle, the; county scat, is
IN enterpr1siug place Of over one thousand in
habitanta, and has ore Of the duett 1ocatfous
In the State. 3Iecosta county affords every
Marquette, and the Indiana, Grand Rlpids and
Traverse Bay. Railroads intersect each other in
this county, These lines hare been surveyed
and will certainly be completed. The Muske-
gon f;ycr;s:&hich runs through this county,
las an abundance Of the largest class Of pine
the largest numbering Establishments in the
State It is Estimated that there will be no
less than one hundred million feet Of logs got
out aud banked on this river during the pres,
ent winter. IN this county there are very
l}1a5ge tracts Of fine timbcred farming lands,
watered by the tributaries Of the Muskegon
river. The village Of Leonard, situnfSd on The
Mnekegon' Rapids, Ia small, e1terprisins vii
lage, growing in importance every DAY.
| The county Of NcYaygo Is timbered. .princi
| patly with pine Of a superior quality. III eomt
| particular portions Of 1t there are also large
tracts of farming land, part Of which is settled
The Tillage Of; Newaygo, and that 2 Of croton
| Newaygo county Is good, but its exports ar
| confined principally TO Lumbar, shingles, lath
peltg and fnfs, the produce of the country be
| ing most1y,consnmed by the Inhabitants ant
the large number Of men engaged In lumber
ing. In consequence Of which; produce bear,
az high price in these numbering districts q
| in chicago or Detroit ..
.Oceana county is timbered principally viii
beach and MAPLE elm: ironwood, butternu
I and hickory Tho land is well watered by a
pure streams Is n-be fQRnd in the world
] There is some pine, in this county. There IT
| two doulishIng little Villages, one at the moutl
! of PentRater, and the other at the mouth.
White FIyes7 AS: theae rivers. flow. into LAX
Michigan, one OF tho other of; these village
1s.== There are settlements In nearly every toWl
! in this county, and 2paore settaers; coming i
constantly. This lstheEounty which embrace
the Indian Reserve, upon which about tn
I.thousand Nepe{Ned, Gulf yatang farms, raistn
+ cattle; and living in a,quict and happy mar
sonthnf White f1yer there is ., portion whic'
is 1ltnbered with sinnu class df pine, Ind ha
4 alIsht, eandy SOIL The .pAly. difficulty nit
f>this: ps1t of>the country has been tnot Is f. r
i eoufces wero cprnpa Iafirely unknoWn Unit
Yectnt]y, hnt the fart fuf Ii rapid settlepiaI
md cultivation. Ind III progress, sPe.ks II
| inertia louder than words. J. FL,