East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1865-02-15
A Delegation from Bay City Before
the Detroit Board of Trade.
Their ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. Thereon &C.

From the Detroit Daily Free Press, Feb Q.
At the meeting Of the Board of
Trade yestordoy, delegation of gen
tlemen from Bay City, whose names
will be found below, presented them
selves, for the purpose Of bringing
before the Board the subject of inn
proving the navigation of Saginaw
River. They offered the following
address, which was read by the Sec
retary
To the Honorable Doard Of Trade Of the City Of
Detroit:
Whereas, Al n public meeting Of tho citizen,
Of Bay City and county, held IN the court room
at Bay City on the evening Of January 3lst, the
undersigned were, by authority Of said meeting,
(ns also by authority Of the members of Bay City
Board Of Trade, now in Process OF Organization
appointed committee to attend the Vessel Own
ers Convention, 10 lie held in the city Of Detroit
Feb. 9Th, 1865, for the purpose Of enlsting CO.
operation Of the vessel and other interests tbcrs
10 meet IL convention upon the subject, aud 10
impress the necessity .or the improvement If the
navigation nj the mouth OF Saginaw River an !,
Whereas, Your memoriRiists, believing the
already immense aud rapidly growing trade, in
lumber, salt, slaves, and other products Of tho
Saginaw Valley, conduce greatly TO tho welfare
Of the city Of Detroit, we'll as the entire State
Of Michigan, and Ia a scarcely less degree, 10 the
advantage OF the cities aud States upon, aud west
of the great chain OF lakes, inas,nuch Ms the pro-
duets and trade Of the Saginaw Valley. enter so
largely into the commercial interests and .rade Of
the entire West and,
Whereas The bar nj the mouth of Saginaw
River is Of 40 formidable character rs TO prevent
vessels drawing over seven and half feet of
| cargoes, without incurring a heavy expense in
lightenge, as well US risk in grounding upon tho
bar; and
Whereas, For reasons hereinafter set forth, the
citizens Of bay City and county are unable 10
furnish all the means necessary for tho deepening
Of said rivers mouth, and cannot find any en-
couragement TO hope for government aid during
the continuance Of the present internal difficulties
The citizens and Board Of Trade Of Bay City and
county, have tkcidcd to ask the cooperation and
assistance Of the commercial interests OF the lakes
for the removal Of said Instructions We, there
fore, the committees appointed st said meeting do
most respectfully solicit and ask the assistance OF
the Honorable Board OF Trade OF the city Of
Detroit, in bringing tho subject prominently be
fore the commercial interests about to convene in
said city; rs also before the Boards Of Trade, and
others interested in the cities of the lakes
Your memorialists would State that tho esti-
mated expense Of tho work to be performed Is
City thousand dollars, which sum 1t Is believed
will secure n channel not less than twelve feet in
depth Mt the lowest stage Of water. That tho
citizens Of Bay City and county can and will
pledge themselves TO raise twenty thousand dol
lars but are absolutely poweriess to q raise q
larger sum.
That the shipments Of tho Saginaw River for
the year 1865, will not probably fell short Of two
hundred millions feet Of lumber, eight hundred
thousand barrels of salt six millions Of slaves one
x.xtll Of.
Of shingles and lnth beside other articles, which
though large In amount Ia the aggregate, bear
but slight proportion 10 the quantities above men
toned That the amount paid by vessels during
the year 1864 for lighterage over the said bar,
and other extra expenses Herewith connected, ex-
elusive Of delays, did not fall short Of the SUN Of
two hundred thousand dollars, which amount will
be increased from year 10 year Ms the trade in
creases. That inasmuch 90 the manufacturers Of
lumber upon the river are in but fcw instances
engaged In saving their own stock which, IN
most cases, belongs to non-rcsidens (a great pro-
portion Of whom arc vessel owners) II Is mani
festly out Of the question TO ask said manufac-
turers 10 defray the expense Of said improv cincnt
IL Ia also manifcstIy opposed to the policy Of the
United States government TO permit system OF
tolls or dues 10 be levied upon shpments or ton
mage. The population Of Bay comfy IL scarcely
six thousand souls, large proporin being Of the
laboring class aud aliens, feeling but little interest
In permanent improvements in our country, and
TO great extent, opposing this particular one,
lest its successful prosecution should initiate
against their interests. AMI finally, the business
men of said county arc ling 10 do all In their
powor for the prosecution Of said work.
All Of which Is respectfully submitted.
II. II. SWINSCOE,
CiiAs. @. FITZHUGH,
M. II. GILBERT,
y w. GROsvEN0R,
M. S. HENRY,
W L. FAY,
A. STEVENS,
GEO w H0TCIlKrSS,
JAMES FRASER
Duncan Stewart Esq, evidently