The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-01-31


which, in their season used to swarm the river
AFT ording abundance OF food, easily obtained
to these forest invaders.
For considerable period 10 the early settle
ment of the State, the Paw Paw was regarded
as navigable river, and supplies we're brought
in and shipped out upon it. The Landing
| on the Paw Paw was looked upon as favor
able point for commerce." and log house
was built there to receive goods and produce
intransitu. Al that time l.ge canoes were
nsed. or fat Lottomed batLsa TX and the au-
thontiss OF the Territory, in order to open up
the advantages OF the river to as great sec
ton of country as possible, authorized in the
Spring of 1888, series OF roads, one connect
ing Schoolcraft and Big Prairie Rsnde with
"The Landing" and also the mouth OF the
South Black River; another connecting it with
Adamsville aud Little Prairie Ronde; and an
other to connect Gun Prairie and Barry county
with the "Forks Of the Paw Paw" and some
other roads, so that the first settlers about
the " Landing" declined to farm it, for the
reason they could buy grain from the Prairie
cheaper than they could raise it. In 1910, the
Big Mills J" at Paw Paw were making flour, and
Mr.. Willard constructed two large hat boats to
send the flour down the Paw Paw. One Of
them, named the daniel Buckley was COM
manded by Capt. A. r. wlldey; the other, " The
Wave" was commanded by Capt. VIM. H.
Hurlbut who subsequently served with honor
to himself and his constituents IN the State
Legislature. The daniel Buckley" was once
loaded With 800 barrels Of flour, an Improbable
effort at navigation, as Mr.. Willard now states
it. These boats were loaded near the bridge
over the river on Main street of Paw Paw.
Subsequently other parties, among them Rev.
John Reynolds, purchased two river boats at
st. Joe for use on the Paw Paw, . venture
that brought greet to the pockets OF these on
terprsing gentlemen, and the boats afterwards
with their keels in the air, gave significant
warning to all over sanguine river men to let
the Paw Paw flow unvexed by their paddles
and poles to the marshes OF the st. Zoe.
Paw, were made long before the advent OF the
Central Railroad, or even Of good highways
but suoh Was the rage for internal improve
ment, and 90 great was the amount Of land
at the disposal OF the legislative power Of the
State, that no scheme could be named that
land might not be appropriated to. In 1S4s,
tho Legislature appropriated ten thousand
acres Of land for the Improvement Of the Paw
Paw, with view 10 make it navlgable at least
for fiat boats, and Mr.. John X. Baker, late Of
Paw Paw village, took the job--of securing the
the concurrent voices Of the Captains, Pilots,
Boatmen, and all the country besides, OF i'm
proving the navigation Of the Paw Paw River.
The tradition is that,
John the subtle navigator
or the crooked Paw Paw River
as the "local poet Of that day expressed it,
took canoe, three men, few axes, paint pot,
and certain refreshments, and proceeded TO fill
the expectation of making the Paw Paw navi-
gable. With the axes they cut into pieces the
trees they found fallen into the stream. and let
them float away with the pant they made
signs shallow water here and stuck them up
on the sand-bars, and with the refreshments
they kept themselves in heart until they got to
the st. Joe, where they shouldered their imple-
ments and took the trail home
But tradition may not do Mr.. Baker justice.
The difficulty was with the river and want OF
care on the part OF the Legislature in making
appropriations. The river 10 veIy crooked, with
plenty Of "slack water" and broad spreads
over shifting bottoms and with the advance OF
settlements and clearing Of lands the supply OF
water became irregular, which changed the
bottom in flood time and left it shallow at other
times, All who attempted to use the river for
the purposes OF commerce. lost money, whether
by private enterprise or by State donations
aud when appropriations are loosely made for
such purposes, the shrewd and active repre-
sentatives of our race are quite certain to turn
1t to their own advantage and end their days
ranked among the " solid'' men OF the town.
The Dowagiac river makes an outlet for some
OF the lakes in Decatur and Hamilton town
SHIPS but the strsam flows almost entirely
within Cass and Gerrieii counsies and suggests
little OF nothing connected with the history of
Van Bhren county. There has not been dis
covered in this county, as yet, any mineral ex-
cept bog ore, nor even lodges or rock in place.
Boulders, some of great sue, are found In
many PLACES in the county, notably on the base
line. Indurated quicksand exists in places, bnt
OF little value. There are also beds OF peat
and mari to considerable extent, the former
affordipg good fuel-the latter excellent lime.
Clay, suitable for BRICK, Is found IN every
township.
To Be Continued.
To the Legislators ct Lanslng-Plesse, gen
tlemen, don't make 30 many, many laws. Let