East Saginaw courier., 1865-09-06
THE SAGINAWS.

We last week made O brief visit TO
the Saginaw Valley, via the Flint &
Holly and Flint & Pere Marquette
railroads. The first of these roads
has surmounted all the obstacles Incl.
dent to Its infancy, ana is now one OF
the best in the Stale, enjoying large
and growing traffic. The same also is
true of the latter, and conjointly the
two tend materially to open up and
develop the immense resources of the
wealth of the Saginaw country.
In 1850 we passed over the ground
upon which now stands the village of
Salina, nearly opposite Saginaw City
That place was then wilderness, and
our recollection is that not q solitary
building from thence upon the south
side of the river, down through what
is now East Saginaw, saving the frame
of steam saw mill then being con-
structed. The primeval forest reached
the very waters edge, and reflected
upon its surface, we well remember
al Indian camp, that being the only
vestige of human life.
Thus, in the brief space of fifteen
years has grown up city of ten or
eleven thousand inhabitants, count
ing Salina), with magnificent hotels,
stores, and public buildings, and hav-
ing maratime commerce whose sails
line and whiten its entire border on
the river side. Where the Indian
feetly followed the river trail, a
splendid street railway stretches its
iron length, and every fifteen minutes
the shrill whistle of the conductor an
nounces that the weary footman may
rest and refresh himself 40 he jour
neys in the pursuit of his business
Splendid steamers lie moored where
IN 1850 the Indian secured his "dug
out" 10y its bark fastening, and the
whole scene is so changed, so marvel
ously changed, that one can hardly re-
alize that all this lfe-this brick,
mortar, lumber and salt, is not Wis
ion rather than a reality.
The street railways of Saginaw give
fresh impetus to its vigor, and en-
hance the value of property to very
great extent: The Washington street
station at the foot of Washington
street, to Salina distance of about
three miles. At the foot of Jefferson
street, near the bancroft House, is the
lower terminus of the Saginaw City
railway, which from this point crosses
the bridge and turning upon the north
bank, runs to and trough Saginaw
City, parallel with the river. Both
these railroads are doing thriving
business, and the latter has been the
means of opening TO rapid sale all
the land opposite East Saginaw. This
is being laid out into steets, upon
which numerous dwelling houses are
being erected, and the day is by no
means distant when the cities will
thus be linked together and become
one in reality, if not by Incorporation.
There is no place in the State where
one can get as correct or as favorable
an idea of its immense resources as at
Saginaw. The quantity Of lumber,
slaves and salt manufactured there,
must be seen to be realized; mere
figures convey but a poor idea. They
answer well to post the dealer, but
they give no conception of lumber
piles and seas of salt barrels, as they
actually exist. Behind all these evil
dcnces of prosperity is q population,
entcrprising, active, vigorous, public
spirited, and in our opinion he who
lives to see twenty years pass over
will see a city in the Saginaw Valley,
equal in size, and far ahead in enter
prise, of the city of Detroit as it
stands to-day. Pontiac Jackson,da, 7th