The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-05-19

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the annual interest of which was pIedg
ed by the Legislature as a perpetual
fund for the support of the public
schools Of the State. This was the
gain secured by the State from her
Western Reserve, and more than two
generations have reaped the wise fore.
thought Of the Connecticut Legislature
A bet er investment of the fuud from
the sale of Western lands, has probably
never been made.
Within less than five years after the
sale had been effected, quite a number
of settlers had found their way to the
new country. The ordinance for the
government Of the Northwest Territory,
furnished for them, perhaps, as we'll IA
for the settlers iu Southern Ohio, Ger.
tain fundamental laws, designed 10 sc
cure the lights Of person and Of prop
erty. At the commencement OF tbs
present. century, indeed, early in the
year 1900, the entire Reserve, east Of
Cayahoga River, had been surveyed 10.
20 townships of five miles square. Set
Elements had been commenced IN thir
ty-tVe of these townships, mills had
boen built, and roads had been cut to
the extent Of about 700 miles, while
the population amounted to about l 900
inhabitants.
But the settlers, holding their title
to their lands under the State of Con.
necticut, could not safely, even while
properly included in the Northwest
Territory, acknowledge any other than
Connecticut jurisdiction. This juris-
diction could not conveniently be ex-
tended over them, aud yet they riskei
the secure tenure Of their property by
submitting to the goveru men. establish.
ee by the United States over the North
west Territory. In these circumstances
they applied to the Legislature of Cou-
necticut to ceds It's jurisdiction over
the reserve to the General Government
La accordance with this application, the
Legislature (Oct. 1877 passed an act
authorizing its Senators 10 Congress to
execute deed of release, by which the
territorial jurisdition should be trans
feried 20 the United States. 1t was a
little more than two years before the
cession was effected. but early in the
year 1900, the Western Reserve became
an integral part of the Northwestern
Territory. All special connection be-
tween it aud the State of Connecticut,
thenceforth ceased, although many of
It's first settlers had been citizens Of the
State, and pore with them, to their new
homes iu the West, the steady habits
aod moral worth, as we'll as respect for
religious ordinances, characteristic Of
the region from which they emigrated
The southern line of the State of
OHIO had been explored, and to some
exteut occupied, before the first perma-
nent settlers had located on the Wes-
tern Reserve. The Ohio River was
ready-made highway to the vast regions
bordering it upon either side and when
the Kentucky pioneer was once launch
ed upon its waters, he felt that the
greatest of his difficulties had been
already overcome.
But there was no such route for the
Eastern emigraut to the Reserve. The
New highlander must accomplish te-
dlous journey of weeks, sometimes pro-
tracted to months, before he could
reach what was ere long to be pronounce
ed the Eldorado of the West. Through
the swamps aud forests of Western New
York he must make his way, aud then,
unless prepared TO launch his extern
porzed and frail craft on the treacher-
o1s waters Of Lake Erie. he must pass
along Its shores, exposed to all the haz-
ards and hardships of "A wilderness soil.
tude, broken only by the intrusion of
game or beasts of prey Even if he
followed the track of the Marietta set
tiers as far as Pittsburg, broad, un-
trodden and Hninhabited region sep.
arated him from the place of his des-
tlnaioD.