The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1864-03-30

time and money individuals will spend in
making lle trip TO md from this g Eligi-
bic and beautiful location" whenever they
have business TINT must be transacted at
the County Seat?
But we wish now, particularly, TO call
attention to the bond, wherein the East
mans, and one John Wagner--sto use the
Identical words of the instrument
"Obligate and bind themselves, their
heirs and assigns, and agree to build on
the site so designated by said board land
II confirmed by the vote of the electors),
for the exclusive use Of said county, n
Courthouse equal 10 and better Jail
than the buildings now used rs such at
Grand Haven, finish and complete the
same before the first day of October next,
the county granting to them the use and
benefit of all the material aud findings ia
and appertaining to said Courthouse and
Jail, at Grand Haven, owned Ly the
County. Now, therefore, if the above
bounden Timothy Eastman, George East
man, John Wagner and Galen Eastman,
shall build, finish and complete said
ourt-House and Jail agreeably to their
obligation and agreement above specified
in time and manner, then the above obi
cation to be null and void, otherwise To
remain in full force and virtue" -as .
Now, note the condition of that bond.
The county must grant these parties the
material and findings in and apper-
tanning TO the Courthouse and Jail at
Grand Haven"
The plan then, appears 10 be, TO re-
move the present county buildings TO
these premises, which Mr.. Eastman has
selected. The Courthouse is then to be
put up again, as good as new, and the
Jail to he put in some better condition
than at present. Then the obligation will
be performed, and should the county ever
get sick of the bargain and wish to
change back again to Grand Haven, or TO
select some other more suitable site up
river, Mr.. Galen Eastman, the great fl
nnncier Of Ottawa County, may point TO
the condition of that deed and say, YOU
may go, if YOU must, but these buildings
are mine. The alternative then present.
ed for the county would be either to loose
whatever stock il might have put'ihto the
concern, or remain in the Eastman enclo-
sure forever. BY the way, their sod pi-
oneer Friend" did not sec fit to pat in
print the conditions Of CHS deed when he
spread his other documents before the
people. '.a G
( The County Seat, at Grand Haven, en-
braces an extent equal to twelve village
lots. These could be sold, aside from the
buildings, within one week, for more than
$4,000, in cash. AT the rate other lots
have been sold, near by, they would bring
$4,000. The deed Of this land to the
county, which was made in 1876, pro-
vidos that in case Of q change Of the
County SHE the property shall revert to
the original owners, allowing six months
time for the removal Of any bindings
thereon that belong to the county. H.
Now, we candidly ask the people Of
this county if they are willing not onlyto
loose this piece of land, but also to run
the risk Of having their public buildings
gobbled up by Gaen Eastman, as re-
suit of the foolish experiment of attempt
ing to fix the County Site on that high
level" which their " Old Pioneer Friend"
has forced them to the alternative of yot-
ing for or against9 . t6 \
Il But there is another consideration fully
as important as this last. 1T is well
known that the present Court House was
built by certain citizens of Grand Haven,
in 1857. The conditions on which it was
built have not been fulfilled by the coun-
ty, and the moment it ceases to be used
for county purposes il will be claimed
and held by those who built it. The pro-
prietor Of "Thc South Addition to
the Village Of Eastmanville" will meyer
be permitted 10 remove it, even il tho
Board of Supervisors should attempt 10
authorize such proceeding.
Suppose, then, the county should not
be able to furnish this material aud
findings" how long would il take tho
great financier to discover breach in the
agreement and to say we arc absolved
from the performance on our part99
Are the people of this county prepar-
ed not only 10 throw away the land and
buildings which they now have, at Grand
Haven, but also run the risk Of being
obliged to build, at their own expense,
costly buildings on land that N0uld, in
all probabilitv, soon revert, with all the
buildings thereon, to GaIep RastpiangL
This last dilemma is worse than tho