East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1862-02-18
= EAST SAGINAW, MICHIGAN, FEBRUARY Is, 1862.

Tltu TOO ldr, ana that tne sptciai auNo'
Gates of the aGrand Haven location, ia
their anxiety. seem to- lose sight of the
real necessity aud object Of navel depot
Sir, If accessibility is desirable, why
should We place tho depot beyond the
Straits of Msckinaw. whose frozen bar
rier prevents ingress aud egress. during
the yesr, from forty to sixty days longer
than the frigid element cl ,ses the waters
of Saginaw? In trial of sire g;h with
England and her Canadian provinces,
one-sixth of a year in lnarii Q service
should not be thrown way. While the
waters Of the lower rivers aud lakes are
navigable in early spring. what havoc
might there not be made upon your una-
rine interests and lake ports, while you
are waiting for the snn to climb north
ern sky, and slowly dissolve the thick
ribbed Ice at Msckiuxw---gradrally nn-
locking from its frosty grasp the gates Of
Lake Michigan. where not foot of coast
is owned by foreign power 20 menace
an orposi,rg foe. ~ But, suppose by STRAIT
egy, or by the betrayal or cowardice OF
an imbecie commander, Fort Mackinaw
falls into the hands of yonr ioc-where
then, let mo ask you, sir, Is this iuland
naval depot? Knowing what has hap
pened, is it not the part OF ~isdom 10
provide where you can, against all tho
ossibIe contingencies Of grim vlssage
WARP e,.tAt} esseo4 "a.
The honorable Senator of the Goth, in
the advantages to be derived
from the location Of this depot, has dwelt
with considerable poetic fancy on the
lavish, hand by which dame nature has
thrown iuto the lap OF Grand Haven
every element necessary for depot such
as we seek. Sir, would detract nothing
from the Senator $ graphic picture; | will
concede the enterprise which he claims
for the people of that locality, with many
of wlrm have long had an intimate ac-
quaintahcc, aud whom | highly respect
tor their pubhc spirit; will acknowledge
that 1T affords abundant timber of all
kinds, aud Is accessible by railroad across
the State. admit that the ha,b by
artificial improvements has been made a
good aud safe one--that it is Contiguous
To the States OF lhinois aud Wisconsin,
a II tha, il is protected by natural bar.
riers thrown mountain high. l say, l
cpucede AL ihis--and yet, Mr.. President,
ali of the gentlenan's poetry must give
way To stern reality. The Que great TACT
that this "Haven" Of Poesy is situated
where one of the most probable accidents
- 4 ~ .f.4lu
cessibe To your vessels floating ON tue
waters south and east of Fort Mackinaw,
is alone sufficient to condemn tue selec-
ton. 81 .rE.rrE T
1t seems to me, Mr.. President, that
Senators who favor Grand Haven because
of its greater safety" must concede the
hazard to winch 1 have called attention.
Aud Jet, sir, this g greater safety is the
only argument that has been advanced IN
favor of Grand Haven. admit taat it
is contiguous 10 Illinois AMI Wisconsin,;
but is il not still more remote from the
great States of New York, Pennsylvauia
aud OH ,Y-all Of whom must feel an IN
terest ia this k-yard aud naval depot
not excelled by Michigan or the more
inland otates Vt Badgsrdom and sucker.
dom. ~. sr.. .,ss.st 8
Mr.. President-When you take into
consideration the conflicting interests tina,
will crop out in C,ngres.ioua action
which must be harluonized il. you would
at all secure for these western waters a
naval depot--sir, when you CONSIDER tina,
Collingwood, OH the eastern shore o
Lake Huron, has been designated BY the
British ,Gvvern,nent for just such work
as nave contemplated Ia these resolu
tions--when you take into account til,
great niaratime interests Of Lake Erie
to be fosteredp and protected by thes,
works of the General Governn,ent---you
wil agree With ne that more central a,
well ~ accessible pont is needed thar
that nov named by the committee in tn,
resolutions ? With these considerations
extend your eye, sir, along the coast o
these " eat lakes, aud what spot SO vel
aispted--so feasible III every respect-a
tile broad and deep river that drains a,
area oi more than seven thousand squsr
miles of the very richest section of tn,
otate, and ,cmpues into the deepest u,
denture OF Lake Huron. Every advan
tage that has been claimed for Gran,
Haven may he cIalnied for the Saginaw
sltnout ANY OF the fatal objections hav
alluded To. Bnt 1 shall not rest here.
claim for Saginaw still greater advantage
than have yet been or can be claimed 10
lis rival 1t Grand Haven has he.' forest
Vt plue and Oak--so has Saginaw, an,
that too ot . superior quality. Ii Grau,
Haven can be reached by railroad, $
eau Saginaw long before a naval depo
snali he CONSTRUCTED. IL Grand Have
has bold aud enterprising popnla,iou, =
has caginaw--thau whum there is not q
tie foJtstool OF heaven = more generou
enterprising and industrious people.
Grand Haven can be reached by waite
communication, aud is contiguous to II
Iuois aud Wi-consii; Saginaw can also b
reached by watef--is mnre contiguous
three greater Ststes---ani, as many nav'
stores necessarily cone from the EaS
and water communication is much I'll
>. cheapest. on item of moro than four hol
+ lret miles Of freight is ssved to III
!. Government, on every pound OF tran
: POI tatipn, TO say nothing Of the increase
Il ~ =. II.