Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1838-01-31
should be as well subserved by such loca.


tres OF Lenawee and Hillsdale counties, and
Branch and Ccntrevie near the centre ofthe
counties Of Branch and st. Joseph. II was
believed that the inhabitants of Branch and
Hillsdale would be better accommodated by
a location near the centre, and that as the
country generally south oftbose counteswas
comparatively unsettled, and may reasona.
bly, be expected to remain so for some years
the road would be as productive to the state,
as it would be were it constructed further
south.
Between Coldwater. and Centrcvillc, the
land is well adapted t1thc construction of
a railroad, and for Great part Of the dis.
lance requires but little grading. The route
from Ccntreville by the way of Lockport
and Cassopolis to Niles, was found on ex.
animation TO be less favoroble than was an.
ticipated
II was considered utterly impracticable
to construct road upon that route with the
grades and curvatures which had been es.
iabllshed without mourning great additional
expense, and the location was consequently
thought inexpedent.
estimate of the engineer, which is herewith
submitted marked A., without taking into
consideration the amount which should be
added for increased grades and dimin-
ished curvatures, exceeds the one located,
$ll7,7O5.
Those interested at Lockport, at which
place there is said to be an important wa
for tn hax az
run from Centreville through their town to
Constantine. The distance would thus
have been increased about four miles, and
there is also an immense amount of water.
power on the line located therefore the
advantages TO be derived from that location
were not considered sufficient TO counter
balance the increased distance and cost of
construction.
A route was also surveyed from Con.
stantine, by the way of Niles to New Buff
alo. A range of hills runs from within a.
bout forty rods of the state line near Mott
vile, TO the north part of Cass county, which
makes the eastern part of the county rough
and broken consequently the cost of con-
structon would not only be greater, but
the annual expense would be much in.
creased.
No water power Of consequence is
found on that route, except at the village
of Niles, where there is one a mile north
and another two miles south of the survey
ed route.
On the line located, very excellent wa.
ter power may be obtained at Mottville, by
throwing dam across the st. Joseph, which
will probably be necessary in improving
the navigation Of that stream. AT Adams.
vile, where the road crosses the Chrisliana
creek, there is another; and at the crossing
at Bertrand and its immediate vicinity,
there is probably more water power than
at almost any other point IN the state.
West of the st. Joseph, the balance of
the water power is in favor of The southern
route. One Of the principal Arguments in
favor of the southern road, at the time Of
the adoption of our present system of inter.
nal improvement by the legislature, was,
that unless our state was first in the field,
the states of Ohio and Indiana would prob
ably construct road from Toledo to Mich.
igan City, along the southern boundary of
our state, ane divert the travelling commu.
nifty from our thoroughfares thus, not on
ly completely insulating us, but com.
pelling large portion of our citizens to
find market for their produce in those
states.
The commissioners consider the argu.
ment forcible one IN favor of the most
southern location, as well as Of the southern
road itself. The north part of the counties
of Laporte, st. Joseph and Elkhart, in the
state Of Indiana, adjoining Cass and Ber-
rien, are much better settled and produce
more grain than any equal portion Of our
own state.
BY the present location Of the road, we
shall have it in our power to offer them a
better market for their surplus produce with.
in our borders, than they can obtain else.
where and although they may be benefit
ted thereby, the inhabitants of our st ate will
not complain of measure which enables
them to become the merchants, and miers
and factors of the people of Indiana, as well
as their common carriers.
1t may well be questioned whether it is
not short sighted policy, which would base
the location Of our ihoroughfares and the
great system of internal Improvement, up.
on the doctrines of non-intercourse with
our neighbors, more particularly if We are
directly benefited by a connection with
them.
Ry report which has been made to the
legislature of Indiana, it appears that tri.
fling expense will render the Kankakee ma
vigable for STEAMBOATS, from the Illinois riv.
or to within fourteen miles of South Bend,
to which place canal may be construc.
Iaed for less money than almost any
other work of equal length in the coun-
Try. From South Bend TO the located line
of the southern railroad, is but six miles on
the river, which is navigable for steam.
boats.
The probability of communication be.
tween the interior of Indiana and Illinois,
and the eastern market across our PENN.
sula, should certainly be taken into con-
sideration in the location of the southern
railroad.
That those states duly appreciate the i'm.
portance Of such communication with the
east, is apparent from the fact that a railroad
is now being built from the Kankakee 10
Lake Michigan, and canal from the Iii.
nos river to Chicago. The Kankakee, con.
nected with the southern railroad, will ere.
ate facilities for transportation and trade,
superior to those possessed by either Of the