Southport Telegraph

Imposition.—We learn from various sources entitled to credit, that emigrants and passengers, coming to this Territory on board Steam Boats, have been grossly imposed upon by false statements and misrepresentations, with respect to the facilities for landing freight and passengers at Southport. Every variety of falsehood has been resorted to, for the purpose of inducing emigrants to stop at other points on the western shore of Lake Michigan, and prevent their landing at Southport. We are informed upon unquestionable authority, that boats stopping at Milwaukee having on board passengers and freight destined for this place, are told that there are no conveniences for landing goods and passengers at Southport, and that extravagant prices are charged here for bringing ashore emigrants and their effects. Many by this kind of deception whose goods were marked for Southport have been induced to leave the boats at Milwaukee. Strangers are also persuaded from their purpose of landing at Southport, by being told that there are no roads leading into the interior. Were such impositions practiced only in a single instance, we should not feel called upon to bestow any remark, but since they are repeated again and again, it is proper the public should be made acquainted with the facts.

With respect to the facilities for landing passengers and freight from boats at Southport, the public may rest assured that our means are amply sufficient, and attended with as much expedition and safety, as any other place on the lake north of Chicago. It is not our intention to draw any invidious distinctions, between this and any other town on the western shore of the lake, but it appears to us that the false impressions which evil-minded persons are seeking to make cannot be fully corrected without saying what is true of others, as well as ourselves. Passengers have always been charged twenty-five cents each, for being landed at Milwaukee. Of this we have no right to complain; but when passengers are told at Milwaukee that they will be charged six shillings each for landing at Southport we have a right to correct the falsehood. Passengers now are, and always have been landed FREE of charge at Southport. In a majority of cases freight of every description, has also been landed free of charge at this place; and we are authorized to say that during the present season of navigation, the goods of every emigrant, be the amount great or small will be landed FREE of charge at Southport. With respect to the advantages and facilities for going into the interior of the Territory from this place, we can assure the public that no town on the lake shore, has better roads leading back into the country than Southport.

We regret the necessity of being obliged to make any allusion to a neighboring town in a matter of this kind. The uniform kindness of the people of Milwaukee towards the prosperity of this place is acknowledged and appreciated, and we know that a vast majority of the inhabitants of that town, are too honorable and too high-minded to countenance such impositions as we have named. The agents employed in these misrepresentations are most likely an irresponsible set of fellows, who get their living by lying. But we could not well give a statement of the facts required, and put the traveling public on their guard against future impositions, by saying less.