Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1854-05-03
RAILROAD TO THE CIFIC.
THE GRAND TRUNK.

Mr.. Walter Shanley, well known as Cana
dian Engineer, to the Directors Of the Port Hu-
ron and Michigan Railroad Company, has pre-
sented his report to that Company. The report
is not yet printed but the following is an extract
from it, for which we are indebted to the Mont
real Herald which paper says:
"The OBJECT of this Company it may be short
ly stated, is to cross the State of Michigan in
line which shall be the extension Of our own
Grand Trunk, westward from its termination at
Port Sarnia. 1t may not be uninteresting to
Canadians who feel a pride in believing their
fellow conntrymen equal TO any enterprise, to
learn at once, that not only the survey for this
project has been made by fellow-countryman !;
but that the whole work has been contracted for
by the Canadian firm of Holon, Mcpherson,
Gait, 81 Gzowski. The extract from the report
is as follows:
81 have stated" says Mr.. Stanley, "that the
eastern starting point of the contemplated road,
is opposite to Port Sarnia, the western terminus
ofthe Grand Trunk Railway Of Canada, and sep.
arated from it by but half.a.mile of water. Run
ming your finger along directly opposite to the
other extremity of the route, and distant from it
by the width of Lake Michigan (S5 miles) stands
Milwaukee, already noticed as the commercial
metropolis of the great State of Wisconsin, and
now numbering population of 10000, which,
Judging from past progress, is certain to be
doubled within four years, a certain criterion of
the magical growth of civilized communities in
the far West. We would here beg leave to re-
fer you to the map of the United States and
Canada, and to direct your attention to the route
of the Grand Trunk Railway, from Portland; in
the State of Maine, to Montreal, thence follow
ing the banks of the st. Lawrence to Toronto,
from Toronto in a general westerly direction to
Sarnia, at which point you are close under the
Add parallel of latitude. Near the parallel, west
ward you will find Port Huron, Grand Haven,
and Milwaukee, points in the same leading line
from Lake Ontario to the broad west and still
pursuing it beyond milwaukee, further towards
the Pacific, you reach the great Mississippi river
at Prairie du Chen. Beyond is spread out the
immense State Of Iowa and the vast Minnesota
territory, inviting millions to fix their homes up.
on those smiling prairies, to cultivate for the
benefit Of mankind the teeming soil that until
yesterday was an undisputed possession of No.
madc tribes of Indians and countless herds OF
buffalo. From Prairie du Chen, the Mississpp
is navigable downwards 1900 miles to the Gull
of Mexico; upwards l6O miles to st. Paul's, al
the Falls of st. Anthony, to which point steam
ers are daily plying during the season of navi
cation. Milwaukee has Railroad in operation
half way to Prairie du Chem tho whole dis
tance will be completed in less than two years
and though we have travelled due west, 45O miles
form Sarnia before reaching the Mississippi, we
are still scarcely more than on the threshold o
the far west, which like the mirage of its prai
res ever seems to recede before the traveller be
wildered with the immensity and fertile same
ness of the regions that surround him. With
long route from the west, terminating at Mil
waukee and the gigantic Trunk Line of Canad
terminating at Sarnia link between the two
such as the Northern Michigan road would be
must command an immense through travel no
need the break in the chain caused by the cross
of Lake Michigan be looked upon as detrimental
to the interests Of such line. X y
The traveller from beyond tn
Mississippi, weary of long day, passed in tn
Railway carriage, will joyfuly hail the sunse
view of the clear waters of Lake Michigan an
the prospect of a nights rest on board the steam
er awiting him in the harbor of Milwaukee. II
awakens next morning to take his seat in tn
train for Port Sarnia where he arrives at 10 A. M
and at p. M. of the same day finds himself i
Toronto, where, if he be travelling for pleasure
as many thousands from the South and Yves
do in the summer, he may again take the waite
for the sake Of enjoying the scenery of the s.
Lawrence. The man of business bound for th
Atlantic coast, or Europe will keep upon the ra
to Montreal and Portland.
The whole distance thus brought into tn
most direct communication with this cty,is west
ward to Prairie du Chen, 958 miles, eastwar
to Portland 900; in all 124S. This distance
thus divided, viz: Prairie du Chen to Milwau