New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-08-07
EARLY HISTORY AND PRESENT CONDITION OF
The MICHIGAN CENTRAL RAILROAD COMPANY.

FAIRLY HISTORY AND PRESENT CONDITION OF
The MICHIGAN CENTRAL RAILROAD COMPANY.
In 1880 the Legislative COUNSEL OF Michigan at the
instance of Mr. Kingsley Of Washtenaw, adopted &
memorial 10 the General Government in favor Of the
| es-ab ishment Of a Canal or Railroad route from De
troit TO the mouth Of st. Joseph River, upon Lake
Michigan.
Pursuing the project, Mr.. Kingsley in 1892 intro
duced and procured the passage and approval with
out single amendment of the blu 10 incorporate the
Detroit and St. Joseph Railroad Company. Twenty
/ one Commissioners were named ia the acc TO open
book and receive the subscriptions for stock, which
was fxed az one and one-haf millions Of dollars, in
shares Of $50 each 4 large proportion Of the Con-
uiesoneIs were citizens OF Detroit, and had become
eminent the holders OF a large piece OF land.
The charter required the construction OF the road 70
/ be commenced within two years. 10 1884 this time
| was extended for two yeara.
/ In 1894 Major Biddle one OF the Commissioners,
| being appointed by that body its Chairman, sOhc-
tied the War Department TO cause the route 70 be
viewed. This duty was performed under the authority
Of the War Department by Lieut. Beuiep, and on the
oath Of December of that year he made report Of
his survey to a Convention held that day @, the Capt.
tel In Detroit composed of the friends of the project
throue bout the State and of delegation from Mon
roe The route surveyed by Mr.. Bcrrien was the
as that which VI j, Biddle bad Pecihed-commenoing
at Detroit, on piece OF public ground styled the
! Campus WdrfIHs, on the town plat, aAd running
thence via Ypsianti and Ann ArbOr, az near as may
be through the center of jackson, Calhoun, halama-
ZOO and Van Buren, Counties TO the mouth Of the Riy
| er St. Joseph. The Convention adopted resolution
| that q memorial be forwarded 10 Congress praying
for an appropriation OF public lands to be granted
to the Territory for the purpose OF constructing
Railroad across the Peninsula of Michigan upon the
route SURVEYED under the authority of the War De
"pariment, with a lateral branch terminating az Mon
roe.
substantially and practically the efforts Of the citizens
and real estate holders of the city OF Detroit co.,
struet the Central Railroad. Thus far they had been
excited 10 action through the efforts of Mr. Kingsley
and other friends from the interior. The city OF De
troit then as now embraced what originally cOnsti-
tued some twenty-three old French farms spon the
river and which extended back some three miles. A
few of these farms had been somewhat divided, yet
he entire real estate Of the city then, as now,
owned by comparatively few individuals. These
Rip Van Wrinkles awakened sufficiently TO 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 to die. That which Mr.. Kings
ley had projected and for which ia 1882 he had OBJ
tanned the charter was with change in the route,
suggested by the growing wants OF the country des
tined to become 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 had assembled in 1897 after the organiza-
ton Of the State Government, extensive syste
was projected, which included the Central Railroad.
Under the auspices of the State, the road opened
TO Ypsanti in 1885 10 Ann Arbor in 1882 to Jack
son IA 1912 and finally TO Kalamazoo l43 miles from
Detroit in ls45. In 1886 the Legislature chartered
the Michigan Central Railroad Company, and sold this
l43 miles of habar railroad, with the franchises of
the Company, for 80 900, being fraction less
than $l4,0CO 9 mile.
The Company came into the possession of the road
on the 23d Of September, 1916. Ii Immediately deter
mined 10 extend the road Neg-Buffalo, under the
privilege granted in the charter and after il per-
Ceyed the necessity of continuing the road around the
Lake TO Chicago, TO which place obtained the right
.Ia az vbof
desperate and litgious struggle with other interests
which foOlishly considered themselves rivals for a
trade which is rapidly proving TO be beyond the
pacity of all of these interests 10 accommodate.
Tie road was opened to Paw-Paw, l6j miles from
Kalamazoo. in ls4s, TO New-Butfalo in ls49 and
finally to Chicago on the 2lst Of April, 1852, and
twenty years after the original charter had been OBJ
tanned.
With an energy that knew of no abatement and
with forecast and breadth Of comprehension that
challenged the admiration Of the bold and frightened
the tmid the Company while engaged in the cOnstruc-
ton and completion OF Its road from Kalamazoo
West; in the erection of depots, warehouses and
staion-houses; in the building of cars, locomotives
and steamboats,, and in reaying its old track,
also making combinations for the extension and in.
Of business and for the completion of tributary
roads uron a Aaloeonic scale.
Those efforts have resulted successfully, az all SINH
lor Efforts VII result when skilliuly conducted with
talent, ard when prosecuted with true enterprise.
Under the Iirehce OF these efforts the road has be-
cone matter OF great PRIDE 10 the State. The writer
has never Travelled over IT. nor with the exception OF
few miles Oh the eastern portion, has be ever beer
upon II. lie hos never stepped on board OF one Of
ter steamboats, and knows not tina; he is acquainted
with single officer or stakeholder Of the COMPANY
But If public nooreiy, which passo without contra
dctiOn, may be consderCd being within the proba-
btes Of tie truth we may believe thst dis 70 ID
nom Detroit 10 Chicago Is second 70 in the West
for s pcrmaneEcy toidiiy, Is good order, It's good
and agreeable management aid is appointments 10
both plant and rolling stock, and that IL STEAMBOATS,
are unT.YalCd npon the Western waters 20 that a
citizen when upon whatever steamboat may prOldly
say, we "A Michigan have line Of boats running uoon
Lake Ere mat Is Lot to be oxeeed for their sDsod
Their Strength then comfort, their safety then gor
eeous furlitufc; and when upon whatever railroad be
may happen to b., can say, have q better one in
Michigan.
There ao oher reasons why i, should be cherish d
by tie citizens Of tie State saying nothing o. the
comforts Of civilization and the prosperity which il
canes 10 tho doncis Of the increasing and popalous
towns and countes throughout which il runs il Is
sufficient for our present purpose 10 safe that il has
and III ave paid al the cose Of the present wear for
ia specific FAX into the Treasury Of the State the sun
Of sl coo 043 49, ana that il VII hereafter paw 10 the
State anIUsy tax exceeding the o.dinar5 exDenses
of the Stare Government
For tie beIeft Of hose In Detroit Who originally
put their hand TO the plow and then looked back AMI
left II, lew facts may he stated which are OF cheer
ing character TO the Stockholders especially those Who
took Il upon ther anus from State. Thee faefs
viii show that from a poor miserable road scarcely
worthy Of the name Of railroad, il has Become a
gigantic institution.
The Company received with the road from he S.ate
seven locomotives the largest one weighing ~ tuns
Il has DOW sxiyiouko of sreai power. l. received The
equal OF % single freight care L has new lGsl. Il re-