Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1844-02-21

manage rail roads with less expense than
governments: such are not the facts. TAXI
ing the following statement compiled from
Legislative Documents Of Massachusetts,
which presents this question in its true pc.
sItion.
The total distance of all the rail roads
in the State is 465 1-2 miles, the entire
cost of which amounts to SlS,72l, $50 f;
the receipts for The year 1912, were ST.
sos, 100; expenses for the same time ST.
Ol2,S30, leaving balance of nett profits
t790.276 or nearly A IA per cent interest
on the capital invested, thus showing that
more than half the earnings have been
required 10 defray the current expenses.
| The entire earnings of the western rail
road for the year 1913 were S573.sS2 ;
expenses drumming $3.50, S26: nett prof
its $270,056 abou. one half. Thus
agreeable to your tabular statement in
which you are so particular in giving the
precise amour, of earnings and expenses
of the road for the first four years up to
the period well known in the political
history of Michigan, the nett proceeds
agrees essentially with those of Massa.
chusetts for the year 1912. Subsequent
TO thar time, and when our roads by prop.
er management began TO show their profit
aud utility. you are lot quito SO positive,
but have drawn largely on memory 10
serve the double purpose of proving your
consistency as an editor, and The disre-
pu,e of our roads, in both of which you
have mos, signally failed. That the facts
may be understood, will give the fol-
lowing statement from the Committee on
Ways and Means, and OH Internal In
provemerts, the former of which shows
"lhe nett proceeds of the road for the
years of 1912 ane lS43 10 be l-3 per
cent on the entire cost of construction"
the Chairman of the Committee on Inter,
nal improvements, Mr.. Joslin. says 'lhe
proceeds of the Central rail road for the
year 1S41 the last fiscal year before it's
completion to Jackson, were $25,655 80;
for the year 1912, the profits were $685.
O75 96, or nearly six per cent. For the
year 1S43 $75,O26 81; or within frac
ton of Z per cent, Notwithstanding loss
of $4,000 in It's proceeds of last year,
arising from the unsual inclemency of
the weather, without which, the proceeds
would have been fully equal to s l. 2 per
cent. Upon It's entire cost of construction"
Com AdvsrssT which 2 iay' s sssa 8s is
position, that companies cannot manage
works of Internal Improvements, with
more economy than States -
"From the monthly earnings of the
Central Railroad, Michigan, it is evident
large quantity of produce is coming into
Detroit; and, Notwithstanding the work
only penetrares a short distance into The
interior ofthe State, it is fast gaining upon
the most profit able roads ia the country.
During the month of January, just past,
the receipts of the Western railway.
which connects two large cities and forms
the chain between the seaboard and the
lakes, was S30,66s; in January, 1913,
$26,416. The receipts of the Central
rail road, for January, compare favora.
bly, with those returns, as follows:
c. r. r. 1874 1S43 1912 1e4l
January Sl1,sl9 4,255 6,O2l 1857
II has been urged that sale is neces-
sary, because we have no means to pro.
gress with the roads; this is lame excuse;
the proceeds of the sale of primary school,
university, salt spring, and State lands
could be appropriated for this purpose,
and prove the safest investment for the
several funds that could be made, the in
interest on which would be promptly paid
when due. You say sthat Michigan is
Stunned as the vortex of ruin, and her
name reproach;" such grave charges
are like the kicks of the jdckass; if the
State of Michigan has been disreputable,
it was made so by band OF reckless and |
editors who attempted to ruin
when they could not rule.
There never was period in the history
of any country more favorable to prosper
ity and happiness than the present 10
Michigan her soil is prolific and yields
in abundance; her citizens are proverbial
for industry and economy; her public SER
wants are faithful and honest; her public
works are the admiration of foreign capt.
ta,ists;
Her politics are Democratic to the core
And will support Martin Van Buren, in "A.
Who would not be a wolverine!
A FRIEND TO INTERNAL IMpovEMENTs.
Mr.. CALHOUN.