Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1845-06-25
OUR PUBLIC WORKS

OUt6 StOAAEAS'
We trust that IN consideration of this subject
now likely to become the chief topic of dispute,
we are uniuAuenced by any motive except pub
lie good. Were we convinced that the measure
now advocated by some of our co-laborers IN the
Wing cause, of selling our unfinished roads was
promo,ive Of this, none would mere heartily advo-
cate it. But with all due Difference we beg
leave to say that, neither are the arguments they
------ tho roasons we ourselves have been
able to discover, sufficient TO demonstrate to US
the benefit to result from this so clearly
they seem to perceive it.
Let us trace The course of Stale policy, which
some would now wish suddenly to abandon for its
opposite, and their origin, which have thrown US
into debt, instead of yielding revenue, which make
our improvements burden instead of an advan-
tage. Was not the first mistake the project of
three, and The commencement Of t,co, magnificent
lines of Railroad across the peninsula, instead OF
one? One evidently being all sufficient for the
transfer of external commerce across the state and
the lateral branches inevitably arising either from
the surplus revenue of the main road, or the Ell
terprises of individuals and corporations. better
serving to supply the wants ofihe internal? That
this pas the first grand mistake we think no
one will deny. We presume that this mistake
originated, more in the superabouudng confidence
Of the Stale in its own wealth and import ance,
than 10 any sectional Partially and selfishness.-
That was The time of great anticipations. Every
acre of public lard, and every article Of private
properly, was of immense value, and doubtless 40
one dreamed that the Central and Southern Rail.
roads could not be completed readily, and would
Immediately yield good profit on the money in
vested But this state Of things continued only
long enough to allow of the commencement Of
these works, and the fair commi,,al OF the state
to their prosecution, when the bubble bursed, and
men saw things as they were.
Every prudent man will say that it behooved
the State, in order to preserve and render bene
fetal the labor and money she had already ex-
pended, to make farther outlay where II would
Weld the quickest and surest returns. This course
road alone by which the freight and travel, i'm
mense in amount, constantly passing around the
Peninsula, might be thrown across 1t and pour III
tribute into the State Treaury. But If, as charity
has led us to suppose, sectional selflshness was
heretofore wanting the dragon-teeth had beer
sown and now sprang into full grown harvest
The centre and north could combine against thu
south. and the south and centre against the north
and the north and the south against the centre
but never could there be any union for the goo'
ofthe State: the dscord invariably ended in gral
by each section for what it could get, to squande
with the same narrow contracted view. will
which il was obtained. This was error numbe
8 two, if what deserves the name of crime ought {
be called error. In the pursuit OF this course, W
are brought to our present situation, which is tia
|, Of State SO deeply indebted that its taxes ave