Page 203 - La Société canadienne d'histoire de l'Église catholique - Rapport 1961

BAIRD'S RECOLLECTIONS.
199
were her enemies. At times almost despondent, but never
despairing, we looked forward with hope-a hope sustained by
the conviction that this was a spot possessed of natural advan-
tagos which needed only to be developed to prove a guaranty of
its importance. Occasionally cheered and encouraged by some
movement in Congress, having for its object a grant from the
General Government for the improvement of our rivers and
harbors; again, these hopes destined to be crushed by the
tardy action of either I-Iouse of Congress, or, perhaps, by the
formidable veto of the National Executive. Pet, notwith-
standing all these draw-backs and "hopes deferred," and con-
trary to the efforts and wishes of enemies and rival towns,
Green Bay has emerged from the cloud of obscurity which so
long over-shadowed her; and thc few early settlers who still
remain, and have been true to her interests, are likely to be
rewarded for their fidelity by witnessing the rapid growth and
permanent prosperity of our beautiful city and fertile country.
In 1824, Green Bay, as well as the entire country, pre-
sented a far different vien from its present appearance. Old
Port Howard then occupied its present site. The grounds
around it were used mostly for fields of grain and gardens. A
portion of the present town of Fort Howard was used by the
troops as a parade and drill ground. The garrison consisted
of four companies of the third Regiment of United States
Infantry, and commanded by the late General JOHN MCNIEL,
the brother-in-law of ex-President PIERCE. The "Settle-
ment," so-called, extended from Fort ~oward on the east, and
from the premises now occupied by our venerable fellow-citizen
Judge ARNDT, on the cast side of Pox River, to the present
village of Depere, then known as Rapide des Peres. The
lands on either side of the river were divided into small farms,
or more particularly known to the old settlers as "claims."
These claims are limited in width, generally from two to seven
arpents, or French acres, but what they lacked in width they
made up in depth, being on the average eighty arpents, or about
two and three-quarter miles long, and contained from one hun-