Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1838-01-31


or superintendent on the route.
The board met at Jonesvie in the coun-
ty of Hisdale on the 9th day Of October
last, to hear those interested in the southern
railroad relative to its location, at which
time petitions were presented asking addi-
tional surveys, and adducting such rea.
sons as satisfied the commissioners that
further examinations were necessary, to
enable them to select the most favorable
route. E
Accordingly the engineer was directed
to cause a survey 10 be made from Centre.
vile. through Lockport and Cassopolis, to
Niles. Another from the west part of Len.
awcc county, south of the then southern
surveyed line, through the counties of Hills
dale and Branch to Sherman in st. Joseph
county, and another from the Southern
route east of Branch, to the northern route
west of that village.
All these surveys having been completed,
meeting of the board was held in Monroe
on the 2Sih day Of November, when all
those who felt an interest in the location were
heard again and after full hearing and
patient and careful examination of the
subject, the road was located part of the
distance, and at subsequent and full meet
ing Of the board, the following resolution
was adopted unanimously:
"Resolved, That the southern railroad
be, and the same is hereby located and es-
tabished as follows, to wit: Commencing
on the navigable waters of the River Raj
sin, and running through the city of Mon
roe to the limits of said town, and from
thence on the most direct and eligible route
through, or as near as may be expedient, to
the villages ofAdrian, HilIsdale, Codwater,
Mason. Branch, Centrev:lle, Constantine,
Mo,tvlle, Adamsvle, Edwardsburgh, and
from thence inteIs,cting the surveyed line
of the southern route, and crossing the St.
Joseph near Bertrand to New Buffalo, with
such alterations in the line Of said survey
between the points above named, as the
commissioners may deem advisable upon a
more minute survey of the route, or when
unexpected difficulties should occur in the
construction of the road on said surveyed
line"
The words of the act which directed the
creation of this work are, "the roads shall
be located on the most direct and eligible
route between the termin," and in selecting
the proper location, the undersigned, keep.
ing in view the probable intent and mean
ing as well as the literal reading of the stat.
ute, considered themselves authorized to es.
tablish the location in such n manner as
would tend most to the benefit of the inhab-
itants along the line, provided such location
would not too much injurc the paramount
interests Of the state.
rccapitulate the arguments advanc-
ed by the friends Of the several routes,
would cover more ground than would pro-
baby be necessary in a report Of this kind |;
but a few of the reasons which influenced
the decision of the commissioners may be
briefly stated.
Had the road been located on the most
northern route surveyed, passing from Mon
roe through Tecumseh and Jonesville, it
must necessarily have run for consdera-
bic distance so near the line of the River
Raisin and Grand river railroad, as TO mate
rally affect the interests of the stock hold
ers.
Nearly four thousand dollars had been
expended on this road in making prelimin-
airy surveys, &c. A claim for the amount
of the expenditures Of that company has,
since the location of the road, been present
ed to the board for payment but as the route
selected runs so far from their line as not
materially to iniure their rights, the claim
was not allowed.
The Erie and Kalamazoo railroad com.
pany have completed and put into operation
their road from Toledo to Adrian, and ow-
ing probably to its being at present the only
passable thoroughfare leading from Lake
Erie TO the interior of our peninsula, it is
diverting much business to Ohio, which nat.
urally belongs to our own state.
Had the southern road been located
through Tecumseh and Jonesvie, without
touching Adrian, the people of tina; town
and adjacent country would have been CON-
PEELED TO find market in Ohio for their
produce, unless they, at their own expense,
should construct road to intersect that
of the state between Tecumseh and Mon
roe.
Itwould also probably have been for the
interest of that company, to continue their
road to Jonesvile and thence to the central
road, which is but eighteen miles farther,
thus tapping two instead of one of the roads
of the state, and diverting the business oil
all that section Of the country lying between
Jonesvile and the line of the state, to To.
ledo.
The inducemcnt for them to contin-
ue their road is much diminished, and if con-
tnued, would result less to the injury of our
state, by the present location through A.
drian.
The Jacksonburgh and Palmyra railroad,
which is now in rapid progress of construc.
ton, between Tecumseh and Palmyra, Cat
which latter place it intersects the Erie and
Kalamazoo rairoad,) would give to Ohio
the trade of another portion Of Our state ly-
ing south Of Tecumseh.
The located line of the southern railroad
crosses this near Palmyra. By means of this
road, the people of Tecumseh will have a
railroad communication with Monroe, with
an increased distance ofonly about six miles
from nireci line.
The water power on the route which has
been established from Monroe 10 Coldwa.
ter, is probably much superior to that on
the other route /; very little being found on
the northern, between Tecumseh and Cold.
water, q distance Of sixty miles. This is
undoubtedly matter Of considerable i'm