The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1905-10-20
THE PAW raw RIVER DRAM.
Mr.. n. \. smith Endeavors to Make Final
Reply.

/ COHllllNdhCC VI llllS ONSi-tdlhNd al = u
inent, l will endeavor TO make final
reply.
That the Paw Paw river is not a
swiftly running stream, as mentioned
! by Mr.. Woodman, is not a question of
veracity between he and myself, as
my statement Of August II was based
upon actual survey, the grade being
S6-100 foot per mile, whichis not rapid
AS TO the value of river valley as
pasture land the reader may turn to
another page of this paper and see an
advertisement of ia acres of land
which can be used free of charge
Is it suggestive of any thing? l know
of no flock Of sheep in this vicinity
that is kept exclusively upon river
bottom pasture.
And as to dams in river for soaking
cedar poles, Mr.. Woodman must be
wrongly informed. l never knew of
such a thing. There was!a boom there
for time for such purpose. ST
In regard to the people of Hartford
and Lawrence, as spoken Of by Mr..
Woodman. Isagree that it is safe to
presume they have intelligence enough
to understand what the result Of
drainage would be, and TO their minds
submit my statement of August H..
And l will further state that l am in
formed that their remonstrance was
solicited by a man who did not live
among them.
As TO Mr. Woodlands statement of
stagnant pools in old channel on
account of fills and embankments, they
are unnecessary, as a small tile
would relieve any such pentsup water,
as can be seen by any one takinglthe
trouble to view the Dowagiacs. river
/ drain, which is one of similar character
And as to that petition, it is. with ex-
ception that there,were four instead of
two not living on their land .sjust
what I said in article of August Il.
There were . names on petition, every
mau-living on his land, with. excep-
ton of four at the time, and all liable
to assessment l will add for bene-
fits in construction Of Paw Paw river
drain. I could have secured others,
but had more than twice the number
required on such documents.
As for Mr. Woodman's proposition
of obliging the people across whose
land the river runs to clean out the
distractions, he has overlooked the
injustice Of obliging men to clean ont
drain and thereby benefit great
many people whose land would be
drained, but does not touch the.river,
as is the case with my own. He has
also forgotten lin great. many
instances the Lockwood and, .obstruc-
tions have hoated down stream from
other land, possibly some of it from
Mr.. WoOdman's land.
The historical sketch in Mr.. Wood
mans article of September % is very
interesting, and brings to our minds
the fact that only a few years ss.ago
those old men were, the sturdy pioneers
who rescued from a boundless forest
this beautiful country. of ours. To
such men is due our kindest regards.
They are the men who endured the
hardships of ] frontier life without
murmer, and now, after a test of
almost their allotted three score and
ten, we find their! lives without
blemish and see upon all sides the re-
suit of their life work. We do.not for
a moment. question their honesty of
purpose nor their good intentions, but
they can sometimes be under wrong
impressions. Does Mr.. Woodman wish
TO deprive us Of the privilege of tax
ing up and carrying along the work Of
development SO nobly begun. Surely
he cannot consider that our lands have
reached the zenith of their develop
ment with such vast acreage in the
condition we find it. The Paw Paw
river may be symmetrical, but is not
beautiful while occupying the land
that should be occupied by the homes
of people.
Does Mr.. .Woodman wish torealize
that for all .time to come this.tract of
land must depend for drainage upon a
channel that extends ~ miles to accom-
plish IL?
Would he think Of travelling a high
way with like results, or would he take
a shorter route. over our land, as the
water does? And now in conclusion,
I will say that there is no chasm that
I will not join hands across, and if
disinterested men who are qualifedsby
experience to judge say that I am
wrong | will so back and sit down.
HIRAM a. SMITH
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