The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1865-07-05
Westward Extension Of the Grand Trunk
Railway.

mendei.
Westward Extension Of the Grand Trunk
Railway.
At the last session of the Legislature an
act was passed enabling the counties Of
Macomb, Oakland, Livingston, lngh4m.
Eaton. Barry, Anegan, Van Buren, and
Berrien 10 aid in the construction Of rail
road from Ridgeway in Macomb county,
10 st. Joseph, in Berr.ea county, and
thence to the Indiana State line. 10 Was
dasi0ned that this railroad should be an
extension Of the Jruu r--.-'- r'-i' ---f '..'t'
that it should be- run through % Chicago.
thus not only aIor1ing tac greatest adyan-
tages to the people Of the counties through
which the road should pass but also being
a project Of the most desirable and adSan-
tapeOus character 10 the Grand Trunk
railway. as il would connect this great
thoroughiare with the extreme Northwest.
and thus form direct transit lrom Chicago
10 the most eastern markets making the
most direct route eastward from that great
shlppine center OF the West. TO the peo-
ple along the line Of such roai tie advan-
taees cannot be estimated they would be
of the most Invaluable character While
urging upon our people the PROJECT 81
building the Lansing and Jackson railroad
we presented many OF the most prominent
beneficial results OF railroad comuuutc~-
ton with our city. The benefits APPLY 90
any and every locality through which "a
rail road passes. Having presented the
advantages OF railroad communication
heretofore, we will now speak more partic-
ularly of the advantages that will accrue 10
the people from the building Of The con-em-
plated extension of the Grand Trunk Rail
way to Chicago. With this road construc-
ted. a direct Ike OF communication =
formed between Chicago and Portland. 10
Maine, and from thence with New York and
Boston, the great market places OF the
east. Goods can he shipped from Portland
to Lansing, or any point along the line OF
this road and landed V,th0u, change OF
cars or rchaHdliug, thus materially reduc-
inc the price Of freight, which Will inure "a
the benefit of the purchaser, as the retail
merchant can afford To sell his goods for rs
much less as he obtains the transportation
OF them.
The same rule will apply 20 grains andprO-
duce shipped TO the East Tie purchaser
can pay more for all he buys, as he can
land them in the eastern markets less the
cost Of the several landings TO which they
are now subject when shipped from among
US by the means OF communication We now
have. These facts alone when considered
in all their bearings. are the great argu
ments. and all that should Do necessary tC
be used 10 speedily secure the building O
this road No railroad project was ever
mooted to any people possessing greater
advantages. or that can bring stronger in
ducements TO bear i'm IFS favor than this
western extension OF the Grand Trunk rail
way.
The counties through which tlis road
will pass probably are Macomb, Oakland.
Livingston, Ingham, Eaton. Barry, Ale
gan. Van Buren, and BeTrien q tier OF the
finest agricultural counties ia Mich gan.
now but partially developed. with thous-
ands OF acres OF the very best OF land lying
uncultivated and open 10 settlement Only
about one quarter of the territory compriS
inc these counties IS under cultivation, still
they comprise population, according tC
the last census, of lS2.So7. over One-hftl
of the entire population OF the state. ans
this. too, when many of them have no rail
road communication at alL With the con
templated railroad constructed. thes,
counties viii double To population in les:
than ten years.
The advantages OF railroad communica
ton are known 10 every intelligent man.
The particular advantages Of The road from
Ridgeway to Chicago need 10 particular
expatiation TO be apparent to the mos
casual thinker All Will admit the adyan
tages. but the question At once arises car
the road be built We reply ysS, y.
railroad project was ever conceived thai
AAS AAOAc ANttlA AMe-NNAiSA III - IA i-it4llt'
and feelings Of people than has this con
templated line Of road the people az
along its line. from cast 10 west. In ever,
town Of importance meetings have heer
held, and il remains for Us 10 hear OF lear.
of one such gathering that has not pledge.
TO do its full part. and pay il full share %
the expense. There are a few locali,ie
where the matter has not been consider.
as yet. To these We would say, awake iiou
from your lethargy. and q bright DAY w.l
yet dawn upon you. The towns wing III
reetly east Of this city. in this county
should at once 90 TO work and say wha
they will DO. Also the towns In Livingston
county 1t is in the power OF these peopl
TO secure to themselves the great advanta
ges of direct east and west railroad c.
to work al once. and demonstrate that IA
project has your sympaties by pledsing &
do what the enabling act passed by tn
Legislature OF last winter enables v0
10 do We trust these towns viii all D
prepared TO report at the meeting in thi
city on the 2sth, that they viii vote the IA,
or ten per cent. Of their assesSeI valuatio
TO aid this railroad.
To the people Of the entire State. thj
railroad project is Of great moment. Ever