Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1846-01-14
S14l,S05 Al

Unexpended balances of appropriation on some of
those works still remain. The report of the Board of
Internal improvement will present the details of their
operations during the year.
Two only of the works of internal improvement
have yielded any income-the Central and Southern
railroads.
The receipts on the Central road during the past
year have been S202, 746 81 cents, and the running
expenses during the same time have been Sl04,1l8
%, showing nett income of ,62S dollars and 4Scts
The receipts OF the Southern road for the year have
been 2735 dollars and 81 cts, and the running ex-
penses 1881 dollars and al cts, leaving nett in
come of 1913 dollars and 81 cts The cost of
structing the Central road, including ten per cent
on cost of construction, and stock and fixtures
amounts to 2,238;2S7 dollars and 72cts and of the
Southern road, the cost o. construction including the
Tccumseh branch, is ,125,590 dollars and 65cts.-
The whole amount above stated the nett proceeds
of the two roads, has been expended during the year
for lrOn spike and transportation for locomotives
and pay of engineers employed in the construction of
the road, excepting the of 600 dollars which was
paid into the treasury.
Sale Of the Railroads.
A project for the sale of the roads was aeitated
by former Legislature, and has been much discussed
by the public. 1t is subject of great difficulty and
Importance.
Two objects are proposed by the contemplated
sale. The first is by disposition of the works which
were undertaken by the State and REIMBURSEMENT
of the Internal improvement system, to seperate the
government from business which has usually been
the subject of individual enterprise. The conduct
ing, by the State of such works involves the ordina
ny hazards attending the ownership of property, the
the necessary risks of extensive business operations
and the enjoyment of numerous Officers, agents and
laborers who are paid by the public treasury. The
business of transporting passengers and freight by
the railroad is clearly not within the ordinary designs
of state government and it is believed that that
iS host xvh ic no
ned to its necessary and simple duties, and partic
pates least in matters of ordinary business. sale
of these works would have the effect to simplify the
operations of the state, to reduce the number OF Off
and servants in its employ and to render less
complicated the whole machinery of government.
The proposition for sale however, is urged prin-
cipally as measure of discharging in whole or in
part, the debt due from the internal improvement
fund. For this purpose, it must be regarded a
relief measure, and unless the amount received should
be such to cancel this debt, to afford essential
relief from it, the object of sale would be defeated
To dispose of his property, and the right of enjoying
it, terms that would leave the debt still oustand-
ing without essential dimunition, would be to yield
our means of payment, without Kidding of our en-
barrassments.
If sale can be made on such terms as will secure
essential relief from these embarrassments the ex-
pedency of suoh disposal of them must depend much
the profits of these works. both present and pros
pective, to the Treasury-the necessary to COM
plete them so far as to put them in state to yield
the greatest amount of revenue and the ability of the
State to make such advances.
From the returns of the past year, it is evident
that the income from them in their present situa ton
can do nothing towards paying the principal of the
debt In fact they have fallen far short of paying the
interest the original costs of their construction
The bridges and much of the superstructure on the
the Central road from Detroit to Dexter some fifty
miles must in short time be rebuilt, and the iron for
that distance relaid. Ifiron of the size that
originally used, the cost for this and other neces-
sary repairs this portion of the route alone would
not probably fall short of 900 thousand dollars. The
other portion of the road having been used for shor
ter time, would require less repairs, but must still be
constant drain upon its proceeds.
The annual interest the adjusted portion of the
debt for which the whole proceeds of the two roads
are pledged, by the act of March, 8, 1872 is nearly
1872 thousand dollars and the interest the amount
due on the adjusted proportion to which the same
pledge is by the act to be extended, when the
shall be adjusted, is nearly 100000 annually. If
the proceeds of the Central road applied to the
payment of this interest, according to the terms of
the last mentioned act there will be nothing with
which to rebuild the road. If by subsequent provis
ions of law the repairs made out of the proceeds
of the road resource is made to pay the interest,
other than tax upon the people; and it will borne
in mind, that without the repairs above mentioned,
the road must soon become useless.
The above estimate is upon the hypothcsys that