counties to the south line of Saginaw county, thence in a northwesterly direction across the State to the north line of Oceana county, will mark the southern limits of the destructive fire, while all the country north of this line and east of the Saginaw Bay, was involved in the conflagration. On the west side of the bay a line drawn from the north line of Bay county west to, and including Manistee county and embracing all the territory south to the first given line will give the reader a very good idea of the amount of land burned over. According to the closest estimates which can be made, an amount of pine timber equal to five years, cut of the Valley was destroyed, or in round numbers 4,000,000,000 of feet. Of this vast quantity, no doubt a large amount, variously estimated at from 300,000,000 to 500,000,000 feet, was watered during the following winter, and was saved. The balance of the timber was attacked by the insect whose destructive effects are always manifested in "down timber," and while available for coarse timber for building purposes, was worthless for the nicer work to which lumber is applied, its distance from streams rendering it, in its depreciated value, nearly worthless. The loss in the coarser timber, particularly hemlock, the value of which was then beginning to be appreciated, is beyond computation. FIRST CELEBRATION IN THE VALLEY. The 56th anniversary of Independence was celebrated at Green Point, July 4, 1832. The idea of the celebration originated with Eleazer Jewett, and the program carried out under his direction. The people from Saginaw went up the river in a fishing boat; the Indians were around in great numbers and admired the first reunion of the settlers, if they did not actually share in their enthusiastic recognition of the glorious event which they assembled to honor. There were present on that occasion: Thomas Simpson, wife and daughter, Gardner D. Williams, E. S. Williams and Mrs. Williams, Daniel Hunter, the Indian blacksmith, and wife; Abram Butts and wife, Sam Russell, John Henderson, Jr., Abram Whitney, Charles McLean and wife, Thomas McCarthy. Capt. Jeremiah Smith and Wm. L. P. Little, visitors to the Valley, arrived in the afternoon and took part in the proceedings. It is not related that this meeting of patriotic pioneers was organized; but the statement is fully verified that every article of the Declaration was read by Mr. Jewett, and received with evident manifestations of delight. The entire party were the guests of Eleazer and Mrs. Jewett, and the latter alone prepared that happy dinner or little banquet, which took such an important part in rendering the great anniversary of political and military supremacy over England as pleasing in this feature as it was patriotic in general. The dinner table used on that occasion was the first introduced into the district, and comes down the present time through Mrs. Lee, whose father was the original owner. From that period to the present time the birthday of the nation has been honored. Each year the knowledge of all the Fathers of the Republic did for the world is becoming more widely appreciated; and, as that knowledge spreads, men look on the day as sacred in the calendar-the greatest national holiday, the annual remembrancer of all that pure and simple patriotism won for the enslaved people of the period and for the generations of the future. CELEBRATION OF THE CENTENNIAL. Among the great events which have taken place in Saginaw county, not one excels in pleasant association that of the celebration of the centennial of American Independence. At midnight the Fourth was announced by cannon, and, at its dawn, the music of the cannon and church bells joined in a welcome to that day on which patriotism consummated its desire. Fully 20,000 people assembled to witness the procession, which moved under Chief Marshal James W. Dawson. On arriving at Farley street, the first and second divisions of the East Saginaw procession, under Col. Geo. Lockley, united with that of Saginaw City, and marched to the court-house square, where were erected a number of poles with streamers flying, and upon each pole was a shield bearing the name of one of the Presidents, and the term of his office. Floating from the pole at the Court street entrance were the National colors. The stand was erected upon the south side of the square, and upon the front was placed a portrait of Geo. Washington. The entire space between the stand and Court street was filled with seats. West of the speaker's stand was the stand for the vocalists. Hon. D. H. Jerome, chairman of the committee of arrangements, having called the assemblage to order, the Mayor delivered the following address: "We have come together, my countrymen and countrywomen, in recognition of an event, no less remarkable, no less worthy of public observance than the Centennial Anniversary of American Independence. "While this auspicious event-so full of common interest, so full of historic memories-amply explains this gathering, many of you are, in one sense guests of this city. In one sense, all who participate here are guests; and it falls to me to offer you a word of welcome. To all then, men, women, children, welcome. To the citizen, to the neighbor, to the stranger guest, cordial greeting, hearty welcome, all. "Something of acknowledgment, too, is due the many who are with us from beyond our own borders. And in the expression of this general and wide-spread obligation, it is fitting that I should mention the special gratification of our people at so cordial a joining with us from our prosperous sister city over the water. Gladness and gratitude, not more for the imposing civic and military dis play which adds so largely to these ceremonies, than for the broad spirit of neighborly good will which alone could have found so graceful and generous an expression. It remains only for me to direct your attention for a moment to the, in some respects, distinctive character of the occasion which calls us together. From among the many anniversaries of striking events in the early history of our country, the impulses of the American people long ago chose the fourth day of July as their national holiday. And its annual observance, with honors and customs peculiarily its own, and peculiarly American, has long been common. The profound interest, the national importance attaching to the one hundredth anniversary of that day is such, however, that its special observance with appropriate and peculiar honors, has been recommended by the President of the United States in public proclamation, made in accordance with the joint resolution of both Houses of Congress. And the Governors of many of the States, our own among the number, having issued proclamations to the same end. "So cordially, so heartily, have the patriotic impulses of the people responded to these wise suggestions that this day goes into history as a grand, united national jubilee. This majestic presence, with its pageantry of national colors, its heraldic emblems of our country's progress, is but a feeble part; a single chord in the deep broad chorus with which America greets the years before her; one breath in the mighty tone of thanksgiving and praise which swells from the hearts of a great nation of freemen, as they hail this solemn hour. When Through storm and calm the years have lead "Altogether glorious, however, altogether sublime as is this common demonstration, how doth its glory fade by the side of that other coming together which has marked the progress of the centennial year. Awakened interest in Revolutionary annals has re-taught the lesson that the fabric whose founding we celebrate was the work of all, not part, that Yorktown and Saratoga have an equal luster; that Adams and Jefferson, Warren and Washington, struggled and fought shoulder to shoulder; and that North and South, we are indeed brothers, by a common heroic parentage. As one year ago South Carolina and Georgia, through their citizen soldiery, joined Massachusetts in commemorating Bunker Hill, so only last week, at Charleston, the soldiers of New York and Massachusetts joined South Carolina in doing honor to the memory of the Revolutionary battle of Fort Moultrie. And to-day, in Philadelphia, a united band, these comrades, brother citizens and soldiers, bow, elbow to elbow, at the common shrine of American Independence. Both proof and symbol that the fulfillment is at hand; nay, is now, of those ringing words of prophecy: The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battle field and every patriot grave, to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, shall yet swell the chorus of the Union.' "Hail! All hail to that victory of peace which crowns with such a halo of glory the triumphs of one hundred years! Nought that "Fellow citizens, we cannot glorify this day. can be said or done here can consecrate or hallow it. It is rather for us to receive baptism of its glory. Rather for us, in the noble words of Lincoln at Gettysburg, to this day, 'Highly resolve that the nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people and for the people, shall not perish from the earth."" Hon. Daniel P. Foote then addressed the great assemblage in one of the most excellent orations delivered during the celebration of the day throughout the Union. A historical sketch of Saginaw, by W. H. H. Bartram, and a poem, entitled "Liberty's Song," written by Mrs. Clark, of ChesThe various events referred to in the former aning, were read. are fully treated in these pages; the latter is as follows: LIBERTY'S SONG. There is music, feasting, rejoicing, An orator's eloquent strain, From the lonely star of Katahdin By Columbia's dashing river, From foot to the grand Cascades. Through Cumberland's beautiful valleys, The booming of cannon, resounding From the great north lakes of our own Is met by responses loyal, From dwellers in tropic zone, Blithe winds from the golden Sierras. Atlantic banners unfurled, Then wafted their jubilant tidings Triumphantly 'round the world. Where the heart of the gulf stream's throbbing, Where there's aught for mankind to prize, Where the north wind rudely whistles, Where the soothing south wind sighs, American hands are bequeathing Myrrh and frankincense to-day, For Liberty's shrine that they're wreathing With joy undivided they're telling And others of dauntless courage How the people were hoarse with shouting Praise that kings never could call By bribes, or the fear of proscription, From hearts of subjects in thrall. |