Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1847-04-14
s'~'s' : For the Ypsilanti Sentinel.
NAVIGATION OF THE HURON
- RIVER.

NAVXGAV1ON OF THE H hON
~ RIVER.
In our former number on this subject we
predicated our estimates on the following facts
(viz:)
First, that $4,000 bbls of -four would be man
ufactured for market at our village the present
year.
Second, that this was but fourth part of the
wheat passed this point to Detroit from the
west on its way to market, which will give as
the gross amount of the export of -four by this
route 100000 bbls.
Third, That the freight on goods of all des-
criptions brought into the country would equal
one half of this amount or, 100000 bbls. and
Fourth, that the export of all other articles
from this point and west would be equal to 5O,-
600 bbls -four making an aggregate equal to
530,000bbls. on which an average charge OF
2scts. per Dbl. was paid between this point and
Detroit amounting to $l4s,00O.
We supposed the cost of improving our Riv-
er, so as to make Ypsilanti as good point for
shipping and landing this property as Detroit,
to be $4,000. and the annual interest, re-
pairs and attendance to be $4,000. The toll
on the River at ten els ON the Dbl. to be S53,-
600, which deducted from the cost by way of
Detroit of $l4S, 400, would leave clear saving
to the farmers and consumers of @95, 400, per
annum or, lscts per Dbl. on all property trans
ported by this route.
R,t &c toll II M, ,orts nor b,rral ,,rod,~oe
as we have supposed S53, 900 which, after pay
ing the interest, repairs and attendance, will
leave a surplus of S32, 900, to what rate can the
charges be reduced and still leave the invest
ment in this work profitable to the owners!
At toll of Gets on $4,000 bbls, this work
will produce annually S3l 800, or SlO,sOO
more than will pay interest, repairs sc. and
sufficient to reimburse the principle or pay for
itself in fifteen years, and at this rate a saving
to the country of 22cts. per barrel or, $4,000
per annum would be effected as compared with
the present rates paid by way of Detroit. The
question then, and the only one that arises Gf
our calculations are correctly is, whether the
Railroad and other charges by way of Detroit
can be reduced from their present rats of %
to Gets per barrel. This we believe cannot be
done. If then they cannot he SO reduced, our
position as to the amount of business to be done
on this route and the profit arising from it can
not be materially wrong, for the present year.
But there is still farther and as we believe a
more important view TO be taken of this matter.
1t will be perceived that the foregoing esti-
mates and calculations are based entrelyon the
actual products and business of the country the
present or current year; and that without any
increase, the investment for its construction
will be profitable one to the owners, after re-
ducing the rates of freight and charges from
2S to Gets, and thereby saving to the producers
and consumers Of the country annually s2ll6,-
GOO.
But the improvement of cur country is yet in
its infancy. Whoever was acquainted with
its condition ten years ago, need not be ted
that large portion Of our bread stufs, Shy far
the largest portion of our beef and pork, was
brought from Ohio andNew York,--our exports
from this point the present year las we have
shown) is $4,000 bbls. andswe believe it a safe
calculation that the next five years will double
this amount of exports and imports, and that
over million of barrels of flour and its ouiya-
lent, must pass thispoint to its destined market.
We have thus far confined our examination of
this matter to the probable results of profit or
loss on the disbursement necessary for its con-
struction, and unless we have fallen greatly in
to error in our calculation, the facts assumed
we have shown that the investment as direct
source of profit will not fall behind the best
stocks in the country. 1 now remains for us
to examine its immediate effects on our village
the surrounding country; the Hydraulic pow
err and consequent business it would create and
its general effects on our prospects and bust
ness which will be the subject of concluding
number next week.
Dx-,-, -