East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1859-09-29
"a Realizing Sense,

facts that cannot be gainsayed; still, by
energy and proper spirit of liberality
on the part of business men there, the
evils complained of might be greatly
rcmcdicd, and we hope they will be-. 1t
is matter Of every day remark here,
and all through "thc valley" that freights
are far more reasonable by any other
route than by Detroit, in fact there seems
to be a disposition on all hands as much
as possible to void any business connec-
tons with that city, hence the encourag-
ment which is given to the Goderich
route, the Buffalo propellers and the line
Of sail craft to Buffalo, all Of which do a
heavy freighting business. The reasons
for this feeling must originate with the
Detroit people, it cannot be otherwise,
and it is not by any means natural feel
ing or one which should exist. Some of
the reasons are plainly and pungently
given in the letter to which we refer.
why Detroit Does not Reap More Advan-
tagcs from It's Railroads.
Detroit, Sept. 10, 1859,
To tho Editor Of tho Detroit Tribune:
/ have read the articles upon the trade
of Detroit published during the past season
in your valuable paper, with much inter
est, and hope you will pardon the intru-
sion and length Of this communication ,as
the interests at stake are those of every
business man in the city. We have now,
railroads centering here, by which we can
easily reach nearly all the better settled
portions of the State, and in this article /
propose to show the reasons why Detroit
is not reaping that benefit from these
roads that she ought to,
In the first place, freights are decided
ly against us in mere ways than one.
The merchant of Kalamazoo, Niles,
Coldwatcr, Hillsdale, Grand Rapids, and
other towns lying West of the centre OF
the State, can ship his produce to the
great Eastern markets by sending it
Vest to Chicago and Milwaukee, there to
be re-shipped East, at from 10 to 80 per
cent. cheaper than he can forward it di
rect, vM Detroit. This state of things
has been brought about as you very JUS
tly remark, by the strife between the va
rious railroad interests in seeking to Sc
cure through busne SIS, which is done at
runious rates sometimes, and at the ex-
pcnse of the local trade. For instance, l
am shipping every week, more or less, to
and from this city to Chicago and St.Louis
at a less rate for the entire route, than
| can ship to Kalamazoo or Niles, on the
Central, or Jonesvllle, or HllIsdale, on the
Southern road. | honestly think that 3d.
900, 900 of trade is annually lost to this
city from this cause alone. The business
portion of our community have long
known this, and only thorough united ac-
ton on their part will produce a reme-
dy. Freights are decidedly against us also
in the Saginaw trade. In my intercourse
with the business men of that lourishing
valley, they tell me that they can carry
their goods from Cleveland for 10 cents
per barrel and from Buffalo for one shil-
ling, and have them landed upon their
own docks on the river, thus saving six
cents Dbl. for dockage. From Detroit
they Obliged to pay three shillings per bar
rel and dockage additional, as the steam
er will only land freights on the docks Of
their agents. i can ship to-day, to Sagi-
naw,ra Cleveland for 20, per cent. less
than / can ship direct. 1t would be a
paying investment for the owner of good
substantial propeller to put her on to
this Saginaw route for the balance of the
season, taking passengers for $500 and
freights at ~ or II cents per 100 pounds
In the second place the want of public
spirit and observation-disclosures tells sur
prisingly against us, and in favor of Chi
cago and Milwaukee. Take up the local
papers from any part of the Western por-
ton of our State, and you find their adj
vertisng columns filed with the notices
Of the Chicago and Milwaukee merchants
and manufacturers. Examine the hotel
registers throughout the same region, and
you find page after page filled with the
names of Chicago, Milwaukee and New
York business men, who are Of the opin-
ion that the trade of that most wealthy
part of our State is worth looking after.
During the past six months / have
travelled some in the prosecution of my
own business, and during one trip of a.
bout four weeks, | met but one Detroit
business man on the whole route, and
in a long conversation with him, he COIN
cided with me that trade only needed to
be looked after to be obtained. / saw
merchants of 20 years standing in some
of the flourishing towns Of the southern
part of the State, who informed me that
they had never been in Detroit to trade,
had never bought any goods here, and
had never been called upon but once or
twice by Detroit men. A personal solicit
tation from business man of gentleman
ly appearance, who candidly tells of the
advantages he can offer, will induce a
great majority of our country brethren
to call upon him, while an advertisement
in the local paper keeps him constantly
before the eye, and after lapse of time
makes him feel as though he was person
ally acquainted with the advertiser
Many of our business men object to the
expense Of personal solicitation and adj
vertising. Why, sir, 500 will enable
any one Of them TO visit pcrsonlly every
merchant on the line of all the roads cen