Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1847-03-24
For the Yps;lanti Sentinel.


by the improvement Of the country and The de-
velopement o. it's resources, in defiance OF the
apathy and indifference with which it has been
treated by those most interested in its construc-
tion-and it remains to be seen whether those,
who could not fail to profit their tens of thou
sands by liberal Il spirited effort to put forward
this work, Twill doze on in their present stateof tor
por,until the growing wants of the country shall
find remedy in the enterprise of some indvid-
ual, or association more calculating and public
spirited than those who now control the disti-
MES, and it like an incubus upon the energies
and prospects of our village.
The maxim of "every man mind his own bust
ness" rightly understood and practiced, is
sound and wholesome one, and one, the observ-
ance of which, is indispensable to the prosper
ity of every community: But sound and whole
some as it is when rightly practiced-itis new
ertheless destructive of the great ends of So
ciety, when carried to tina. selfish, contracted
and misery extreme, that overlooks every OBJ
ject and enterprise, of public and general
character, in its eagerness to grasp and hoard
up individual qualification, leaving every mat
ter of public concern to take care of itself as
best it can.
In the immense internal commerce of our
country, roads and canals are as direct and es-
sential means of wealth and prosperity as the
implements of husbandry, or the tools of the
mechanic are in producing the articles which
constitute the elements and foundation of that
commerce-and the farmer, who, from a parsi-
monious economy, saves the expense of pillow
by employing substitute hoe or sharp
ened stick, or to avoid the cost of a Wagon,
transports his products to mill or market by
horse loads-acts just as wisely as the commu-
nifty, which, to avoid the cost of cheap and
ponds each year in the extra labor and cost of
transporting its commodities,a sum equal to the
cost of good and durable road or other chan
nels of convey aDce.
That we as community are economizing in
the manner just described, we believe to be
susceptible Of demon,tration.
age alone the current year, being the produce!
of the last harvest, will probably exceed eighty
Thousand barrels, the average charges on which
for expenses ofRailroad, carriage and storage at
Detroit Is 2scts per barrel, amounting TO s22.-
40e. With the navigation Of our river rightly
improved, this property could be Transported
from Yrsilanti TO Buffalo by way Of Gibralter
at the same rate that it can be carried from De-
troit to Buffalo. We must then deduct from
the % cts paid at Detroit, tie amount Of tells
necessary TO meet the expenses of 80 miles of
improved River Navigation. To arrive at a
right conclusion we assGmc as position which
we believe very. ere that has carefully exam
ined the subject. viii allow 10 be correct, viz
that b. the Improvement of the navigation o
orr river, the products of the country designed
for markets, will be taken from this point tc
Buffalo at the same rates as from Detroit with
the difference of lockage which we have noticed
the remaining enquiries are, What will the
improvement cost and what amount OF business
will it secure as source of profit on the in
vestment and with advantage to the country
Suppose this work to be made on scale
sufficient to allow the passage of boats suited t.
the navigation of the Lakeland that it costs 81 SO
: 600. The interest on this sum at per cent
is $4,000, allow for attendance and repair
$lO,50O, and we have an annual cost of gal,
r 600 to be provided for.
AS we have already stated, the quantity Q
flour manufactured for market at this villag
: the present year is $4,000 bbls. and pays Raj
road and other charges between this point an
the wharf at Detroit, of % cents per bbl., or a
4 aggregate of 500, 400, and this does not excee
t a fourth part ofthe -four that has and will hay
passed this point from the west to Detroit,
Railroad and teams the current year. The to
> tai charges which, between this point an
a the wharf at Detroit is $4,000.
!. Let us suppose the freight on the imports G
/ Merchandise, Salt, Plaster, Coal, Iron, &c. sc
: for the consumption of our western, interior, I
4 be equal to one half this sum or $44,SO0 w
have as the total charges for freight betwee
this point and Detroit the sum of $l34,4O0, t
which must be added the export charges, on al
: other articles (viz:) Pork. Lard, Wool, Ashes
Grass seeds, Beans, Hydes, Wh;skey, sc. sc
: equal 10 $4,000 bbls. -four or $4,000 and W
have total cost of freight between the point
named, (viz:) Detroit and Ypsianti, of $l4s,
400, for the business of the present or curren
year, and this amount the producers ofthe coun
try, the farmers and labores have to pay.
Let us now see what portion of this sun
6 could be saved by the improvement of our rive
navigation the cost of which we have estima
S ted at $4,000
Z Interest at per cent. $4,000
Attendance and repairs $l0,500
Annual expense $4,000
ct us sunnose that with this mnrnvemen