Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1838-02-07

e.half OF the peninsula OF Michigan
was therefore obviously the duty Of the COM
missoners TO fix the commencement OF this
road as far north as the law would permit
them, especially as this road was intended
for the benefit OF the northern tier OF coun-
lies; and yet the most ,orthern point IL
which its commencement could be fixed,
is between six and seven miles south OF the
county seat of Lapcer, and south OF the
centrc Of the other counties west. Ihcre
is also at this place a large, commodious
and safe harbor, at al seasons OF the year,
and vessels at this point can receive from
the interior, the wood and provisions neces-
sary for the lake navigation an extensive
fishery is established here, VIII CHI will con-
stantly increase and mus; eventually add 10
the wealth and importance Of the place. Ii
at any time hereafter, railroad should be
constructed through Canada, from the head
of Lake Ontario TO the river ST. Clair, the
most direct and eligible point to connect
with the northern railroad would be near
the foot Of the lake. Such company has
been formed, and, by its charter il is to ter
inmate at "a point nearly opposite the CON-
mencement ofthe northern railroad. When
the Canada road shall be completed. then
the real value and Importance Of the north
railroad for the transportation OF pas.
sengers will commence, because it IS the
shortest and most direct route from the At
lantc States to Wisconsin and the min.
eral region west. The road from the mouth
of Black river, passes through lands belong.
ing to the people of this state, to some, but
, to what extentth commissioners are not in-
, formed.
, The location at Palmer, was urged for
r variety of reasons, and among others, that
in addition to the business the road would
, do, if commenced at Black river, rich
and productive part Of Macomb County
. would at once furnish produce and business
enough to pay the interest on the cost o!
: construction for at least that distance of the
\ road and minute calculations were made
, in proof of these statements that the prin-
}. cipal business of the road would be to and
,, from the city of Detroit, and the east, and
f that by commencing at Palmer, twelve or
|. fourteen miles of difficult and often tedious
n river navigation would be avoided that
Palmer was an old settlement, and was and
e long had been the county seat of st. Clair
o county. That in relation to the termi.
&c nation of the Canada railroad, interes,
/. would induce that company TO terminate
d their road opposite the commencement
r. Of the northern road, wherever that shoulc
10 be.
,e These arguments and others not here G.
,e numerated, had their weight with the com
he mssioners; but it was objected, that if the
v. road should run to Romeo, in Macomt
4. county, it would virtu- lily defeat the in
le tention of the legislature in their desigr
e. to accommodate the northern tier of coun
a. ties.
- The road, il located there would be il
IN the immediate vicinity of the Clinton an
Kalamazoo canal, work intended for tn
70 benefit of Macomb, rs we'll as the countie
~ west. That from Romeo 10 Lapeer, tn
h. line of the road is crooked, bad and expen
Sc sive; that it would cost from eighty to ont
n. hundred thousand dollars more than The 9th
ut er line, besides an expense always to be en-
nd dured of bad grade and crooked road
al. That in relation to the produce AMI trans
ge poitaton, to be furnished for the preser
le from Macomb county, it was replied. thu
III UCSC IOduo WCiO uot SouotuStSo iOi ~
en- present time only, but in view of the futur
ty wants and necessities of the State; thu
,r. when that part of the country now wild an
o. uncultivated, should, like the older countie
of Macomb and Oakland, be settled b
IN, an active and enierprising population, equa
he ly DESTROYS Of S, nd.ng their surplus produc
o. lions to market, they would be destitute Of
"a, canal or any oher facility to the navigab
en- waters.
ne From the mouth Of Black river, the roa
be was located west, passing through, or I
I'm near as the interest of the state would pei
asst init, to the villages of Lapeer. Flint, Owa
lie. so or Corunna, or to both places, thence
di. the mouth Of the Maple, and keeping {
aid the south side of Grand river, to the villal
of Grand Rapids, from this place 10 Il
ri. mouth Of the river. Owing to the gre
a. bend in the river, the route of this rot
lis. would make large circuit to The south.-
es. With this exception the route is not on
,rn feasible but equally good with the other pc
lions of the surveyed lne-the most dire
zen line to the mouth Of Grand river from q
las mouth of the Maple, would not pass We
ers n ar the village at The rap DIS; but this W
be deemed an important point, because u
the navigation of the river is INTERRUPTED at II
place by the rapids, and her, good ma,
tn. CATION for steamboats, to the no tn OF u
I'm. river commences, and no n ccs.i al Ir
Nv. ent exists for making railroad by
err. sid, of navigable river, altho' the mou
md of the river furnishes one OF the best hi
Ike bors on Lake Michigan, and is destined
e lie place of great Importance WIN
OF country is improved up the valley Of {
ear river.
"a. The reports Of the chief engineer on II
ere survey, are herewith submitted, marked
ed and +.
and The expense Of this survey amounts
ese the sum of eight thousand two hundred a
ar. twenty-six 6ollus and twenty. five cen
tice In this amount. the price Of horses, ba
,uld kets, tents and camp equipage, are
10. cluded, and are now on hand, and nee,
sary for the fut ire use of the engineers
tro. preparing the road for Letting out TO CO
- tractors. v, fsi
Ibil. The eng ineer employed to make the s
and yey s.of a canal, or for canal part of
,ere way, and railroad the balance Of the rot
DIV. commencing at, or near Mount Cleme
n OF on the Clinton river, to terminate at, or N
ON. the mouth of Kalamazoo river" has ms
A. It, H..