Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1844-02-07
For the Ypsilanti Sentinel.
SALE OF OUR PUBLIC WORKS.

OhLE vi w A. ~ DLkC VOhhS.
MIR. EDITOR.
l noticed an article in your paper of
last week, referring in favorable terms to
the report of d. c. Walker, chairman of
the Committee OH Ways aud Means, re-
commencing sale of our public works.
| desire space in your paper to express
my views relative TO the proprieiy OF such
a measure, and my opinion of the report
Of the Committee. That sale of our
public works under any circumstances
meets with favor from certain quarter is
evident, and those recommending it are
doubtless governed by sense of duty to
The people they have the honor 10 repre-
sent; yet they, like other individuals are
liable to err in Judgment, therefore. l
would say, pause moment before pro-
ceeding to accomplish an object, the re-
suit of which may entirely change the
destiny of our States prosperity. On
this subject the people have not had time
10 reflect. it necessarily involves many
grave considerations that do not present
themselves at the first view the first
impressions may be favorable to the pro.
jec,, as it proposes to cancel our state in
debledness: here the matter rests with the
superficial observer, not thinking of cou-
bined wealth and corporate privileges.
in the hands oflhe few, welding an iniiu-
ence over the many, corrupt in precept
and practice, wherever it may prove to
their interets to do SO, specimen of which
will long remain imprinted on the memo
ny of the citizens of this town.
Those men who wish TO barter with US
for our public works, doubtless understand
their business correctly; companies are
not apt to place at their head, individuals
TO negotiate for important stock who are
uQacquainted with the art of rendering
the dollar capable of yielding its liberal
percentage, and in fact j. requires no keen
sighted observer, if be will take up the
map of the Western States, TO discover,
tina, there is no point on it, which pre-.
sents more fattering prospect for the
permanent investment of capital. than for
the purchase of the rail roads, extending
across our Peninsula. The fact of their
utility and profit, has been sufficiently de-
monstrated by our faithful public servants,
10 call the attention Of capitalists abroad,
and hence, their willingness to embark
in the enterprise for their purchase
That they have not reached any thing
like their medium value no one will hon.
estly doubt; as yet they are in their in-
fancy, increasing in importance in a four
fold ratio, as they progress toward the
terminating point, and when completed
uniting in measure, Chicago. the Sec
ond queen city OF the West, with Detroit,
the New York of Michigan. both cities
rapidly increasing in population. with
corresponding increase in the States
where they are situated; then these roads
will form the greatest thoroughfares by
land carriage in North America. Thus
far the travel on our roads has been COM
paratIvely nothing, to what it will be when
they are completed, and it is from this
quarter that rail roads chiefly derive their
profits; even as it is, under the dsadvan.
tage OF the most severe winter known 10
our Oldest inhabitants, with little or no
travel on our road for nearly five months,
with the powerful opposition of the ship.
ping interest of the lakes, during the Pc
riod of navigation, It has formed a very
important item of profits; though without
the increase of travel, we will always
have sufficient quantity of produce,
grown within onr own borders, seeking a
market, the transportation of which will
be sufficient to support our rail roads.
That part Of the report which alhdes
to Stale Government forming competi-
ton with individual enterprise, in the bu-
siness ofcommou carrying, is gra,uItous
assertion too far fetched to prove anything.
what might be termed the legitimate busi-
ness of individuals by few, the many
would consider it the special agency of
governments TO perform, as in case of
public instruction, internal improvements.
&c. 1t is not bSlieyed that the dignity
of the State will suffer by being made
the pack horse for transporting travellers
and luggage beyond our borders any more
than will the State of New York sink
in dignity by not monopoIizing the bust
ness of common carrying on Lake Erie
and the Hudson River. That govern
ments should confine their operations to
the purposes for which they are intended,
no one will attempt to deny, and con-
ceive it well settled point. that in legis-
ation "the greatest good TO the greatest
lumbeI," should be the leading motive.
even were il to promote Internal improve
nent or for any other purpose having for
is object the public veal. If the Com
niilee will take that portion of the road
they will find that the nett
proceeds more than pay the interest on
he cost of construction there is nothing
,roblema,ical the matter solves itself
without any garbled statement. and as The
work progresses the proceeds increase In
iue proportion, which must of itself form
sinking fund sufficient to discharge our
q. L To- nv