New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-08-08
RAILROADS.


lad ypoera s in the first Inc OF the last paragraph
Il Is now ccrrcI;l
r,nIy HISTORY AND PRESENT CONDITION or THE
MICHIGAN CENTRAL RAILROAD COMPANY.
In 1880 the Legislative Council OF Michigan, at the
instance of Mr. Kingsley of Washtenaw, adopted
memorial to the General Government in favor Of the
Establishment Of Canal or Railroad route from De-
troll, TO the mouth OF ST. Joseph River, upon Lake
Michigan.
Pursuing the project Mr. Kingsley in 1899 intro
duccd and procured the passage and approval with
out single amendment, Of the blu TO incorporate the
Detroit and ST. Joseph Railroad Company. Twenty-
one Commissioners were named in the act to open
books and receive the subscriptions for Stock which
was fixed at one aid onchalf millions of dollars IN
shares of $50 each. \ large proportion OF the Com
missioners citizens OF Detroit, and had become
cniindDt the holders OF large piece OF land
The charter required the construction OF the road to DO
commenced within two years. Ia 1894 this time
extended for two years
La 1894 Major Bidile one of the Commissioners,
being APPOINTED by that body az its Chairman sOc-
tied The War Department 70 cause the route to be sur
yeyed This duty was performed under the authority
of the War Department, by Lieut. Berren, and on the
Path Of December OF that year he made Il report of
bis survey 10 Con, ention held that day at the Capi
tai at Detroit composed of the friends of the project
throughout the State, abd OF n delegation from Mon
roe. The route survcye d by Mr.. Berren the
as that which Maj. Bidde had specifcd-commen ing
" CAMPUS Mortivs, on the town plat" and running
thence via lpsanti and Ann Arbor, as near as may
be Though The center OF Jackson Calhoun, kaama-
ZOO and Buren, Counties TO the mouth OF the River
81 Joseph. The Convention adopted resolution
that memorial be forwarded to Congress praying
q for Oh appropriation OF public lands 10 be granted
" to the Territory for the purpose OF constructing
Raroad the Peninsula OF Michigan upon the
" route surveyed under the authority Of the War De-
"par;ment, with lateral branch terminating at
" Alonrce.'
With the adjournment of this Convention termi-
mated substantially AMI practically the efforts of the
ciiZers and real estate holders OF the City oil Detroit
10 construct tie Central Railroad Thus far they had
been excited 20 action through the efforts OF Mr..
Kingsley and other friends from the Interior The City
OF Detroit then, as now embraced what originally con-
ttued some tweniy-tbree old French farms upon The
river, end which extended back some three miles. \
few Of These farms had been somewhat divided yet
the cIIliIe real estate OF the city was ihon as now,
owned by comparatively few individuals. These
Rip Van Wrinkles awakened sufficiently 10 attend the
Convention, and thinking they had the full dawn
of the better day. they settled back again into the
very bottom OF Sleepy Hollow. Tie project, how
ever was not doomed 20 die. That which Mr.. Kings
ley bad projected and for which III l,32 he had OBJ
tanned the charter was, with change in the route,
suggested by the growing wants OF the country, des
tined 20 become one OF the most important OF the rail
ways in the Western States.
The desire for internal improvement had become
quite general throughout the State and when the
Legislature hal assembled n 1884, after the Or4aIs-
zaOn Of the State Government. an extensive system
was projected. which included the Central Railroad
Under tie u-pces Of tic state the road was opened
10 Ypsilaui IN 1888. 10 Ann ATbOr IN l-jy, TO Jack
son n 1912, AMI finally 70 kalamazoo, 10 miles from
Detroit IL I-i5. In lslG tie Legislature chartered
the Michigan Central Railroad Company and sold this
H. miles o. hai-bar ruiroad with the franchises Of
tie Company, for S2,OO0,Ooo, being fraction less
= al = 4,b0o = mile.
The Company came into tie possession Of the road
on the 23d OF September, 1876. II Immediately deter
mined 70 extend he road 70 Neg-Buiillo under the
privilege granted in the charter and soon after it per-
ceiyei the necessity OF continuing the road around the
Lake 10 Chicago, 20 which place Il obtained the right
drumming the cars only after q somewhat protracted
desperate lul lH soBs struggle wih other interests
which 0o..s-lg considered themselves as rivals for
uaoe winch u rapidly proving 10 he beyond the CO.
paciy o. cL d these Interests 10 Accommodate.
The road was opened to Paw Paw. lG, miles from
Kalamazoo. m lsis, 70 Nev-Buffalo in l-49. and
nnoNy 10 Chicago Oh the 2lst of Apri 1852. and
iweHiy years liier the o.i-nal charter had been OBJ
tsned
WIKI an cyer-iOn that knew OF no abatement and
with forecast and breadth OF comprehension that
challenged the admiration OF the bold and frightened
the timd, the Company while engaged 10 thecOns,ruc-
ton AID completion Of IT. road from Kalamazoo West;
in the erection Of depots warehouses and station.
houses IN the building Of cars locomotives and steam
boa.- and Ia relaypg irs Old rack was also MAKING
combinations for the extension and increase Of busi-
ness and for The completion of tributary roads upon
Napo|eCnic scale.
1ress eaos.s have RENTED 1ccessf1ly. as al sui-