East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1864-12-28
gutal shutters.
pRHpa1Na MEETING.


was called to the Chair and M. LETTERS
Esq. appointed Secretary.
The Chairman having stated the
object of the meeting, the report of
Committee appointed at the meeting
on Wednesday Of last week was CALI
ed for and presented by the Chsir-
man, Mr.. Gaylord, in the form Of
bill to be submitted to the Legislative,
authorizing loan of 100000 upon
the credit of the County, payable IN
twenty years at 10 per cent interest
the proceeds to be devoted to the
dredging of Saginaw River including
a portion to be expended on the outer
bar, the work to be done by Commits
sionsrs appointed by the Board of
Supervisors o. Saginaw County, and
the amount Of the bonds at maturity
to be paif by tax levied on the prop
6n.- in the county most directly in
terested in the improvement to be de-
termined by future Board of Super
yisors.
Report Of Committee accepted.
On motion the bin as reported was
taken up for action by sections.
The first section after some discus
sion relative to the clause submitting
the question of loan to vote of the
people, in which Messrs Little, Gay
lord, Jerome. Weber, LETTERS, d. w.
G. Gage and others participated, was
adopted.
Col. Little offered as substitute
for the section adopted, that our
Senators and Representatives in the
State Legislature be instructed to pro-
cure the passage of an act levying
tax Of $4,000 upon the taxable prop
erty in the townships of Spaulding,
Saginaw, Buena Vista and Zilwaukie,
and the Cities of Saginaw and East
Saginaw, for the purpose of defraying
the expense of making good chan
nelthe entire length of Saginaw River,
urging as reasons in favor Of the plan
that it was more equitable and FEAST
BILE than the one proposed, would save
time and be most likely to insure the
success of the work contempt ,ted.-
The assessed valuation of the taxable
property Of the towns and cities men,
toned he stated to be $1,732,000.
Mr.. Weber opposed the substitute
on the ground that direct tax for the
amount proposed would be exorbitant,
being about 5 per cent on the taxable
valuation OF the property mentioned,
that this sum added to the heavy taxes
assessed for other necessary purposes
would create burden which the peo-
pie could not bear, whatever might be
the extent of their willingness in the
matter. The plan proposed included
the people of the whole county
who were all to great extent inter
ested-only in the payment of the in
terest on the bonds, the principal
therefor to be assessed by future
Board of Supervisors upon those por-
tons of tho property most directly
benefited.
Col. Gage opposed the substitute
also, urging that while the plan of a
present tax to pay interest only on the
amount desired was practicable and
gavo hopeful assurance of a speedy
attainment of the desired object, that
of tax, for the whole amount was
impracticable and could only result in
delay and final disaster. He consid-
cred the out towns nearly if not quite
as much interested in this matter as
those Immediately on the river which
was the great avenue of commerce
and prime source of prosperity to all
alike. Obstruct itsnavigation and the
remotest corners of the county would
feel the damaging results quite as
keenly in proportion to their business
and property valuation as those on
the river. The price, not only Of every
article of produce, but of real estate
also was in a great measure regulated
by the prosperity of the leading locali-
ties and the facilities for trade and
commerce.
Mr.. LETTERS also opposed the sub
stitute giving his views brihey in re-
gard to its entire impracticability.
The vote being taken the substitute
was lost.
The remaining sections of the bill
were adopted without material altera-
ton, and, on motion the bill was adopt
cd in gross.
On motion of M. Jefers, voted that
the Commissioners to be appointed ac-
cording to the provisions of the bill,
be instructed to expend not less than
five thousand nor more than ten thou
sand dollars Of the fund raised in the