The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1865-03-08
Extension ofthe Grand Trnnk Railway to
Chicago via Lansing and ST. Joseph.


Editor lansing Republican:
GENTLEMEN, Permit NE
70 call the attention OF the readers Of your
valuable journal, and the citizens generally
who NAV be asked 10 aid railway projects,
10 the necessity Of rejecting carefully be-
fore they pledge their assistance TO anyroad;
and to ask that they ascertain first. what
railway project, successfully carried out,
will most likely c0nduce 10 their prosperity
and efectually serve the demands Of the
business that may be offered. Now, If the
aid Of the citizens Of county or town can
be given 10 a line that IS more likely than
another 10 accommodate the business 10 be
offered and gives more reasonable hope Of
returning dividends on the investment than
another line, then the facts should be made
known TO the parties Interested.
wish 10 state the facts respecting the ex-
tension Of the Grand Trunk Railway from
Port Huron, ca Lansing, 70 St Joseph,
and thence TO Chicago, and to refer TO an
article on this subject published in the Jack
son citizen Of the lst inst.
The Grand Trunk Railway Company have
more capital invested in their road than is
invested in any other line on this continent.
The very reliable paper, the Scientific Anler-
ican, under date February 22d, inst, says
" The longest line Of railway in the world
is the Grand Trunk Railway, which extends
from Portland to Quebec and the river Du
Loup, east, 10 Sarnia, at the foot Of Lake
Huron, west, with several branch lines, in
Guiding a total Of 1896 miles, under one
management Il is 10 be further extended
to Chicago by way Of Lansing the capital OF
Michigan. - distance OF 500 miles-making a
total Of l,7l6 miles in all" The extension
to Chicago. rQ Lansing and St. Joseph, is
less than 800 miles, and probably will not
exceed 800 miles The Buffalo and Port
Huron road has been leased to the Grand
Trunk Company, and the International
Bridge from Fort Erie 10 Buffalo, is to be
built the present season. When the pro-
posed extension of the Grand Trunk Railroad
IS completed between Chicago and Port
Huron, this route viii he shorter than any
other line between Chicago and New York
city, the distance being only 92l miles,
while the other routes range from 935 miles
ria PittsbUrgh--tO / O43 miles In ad-
ditiOn TO this, il is the most practical line
for reaching Boston and Portland, and gives
direct access TO the very desirable markets
Of Montreal and Toronto. The proposed
extension viii make the most desirable
route from the Counties Of Van Buren,.
Anegan, Barry and Eaton TO Lansing De-
troit and Toledo; and VIII at the same time
make Chicago readily accessible II the
construction Of this road - occurred. the
citizens along the route are assured of hay
Ing first class railway built by company
who construct everything they undertake in
the most substantial manner, and the citi-
zens are sure OF having but a small portion
OF the funds 10 furnish The excellent har-
Dor at st. Joseph will afford a good depot
for the large quantities Of timber, lumber
and coal the counties the line will pass
through will furnish, and large quantities
Of produce will very properly be shipped
westward to this port. while no mere local
line that can be built, and which must
necessarily depend on the citizens along the
route for the funds fJr constructing and
working it. can possibly secure the ample
accommodations for traffic that an indepen-
Dent broad guage line viii furnish: and the
rates for transportation that local road
must necessarily charge. VIII. for all time.
prove a source Of annoyance to the shippers
rs Well IS the producers Of the country
But the Jackson Clhzeg informs its read
ers .. that tho project of eAtvndiu. tile
Grand Trunk Railway to Owosso is a good
one" that this ronte could as We'll be
placed in communication with Chicago. by
way Of Lansing and this city, IS by build
ing an entire new road between the Central
and Milwaukee, Railroads, aud that. in
these times of high prices we doubt the ex-
pediency OF this move. Is well as its neces-
sity. from the fact that q railroad is soon 10
be constructed from this city, jackson
up the Grand River Valley, either to Grand
Rapids or to Muskegon; that, this will af-
ford an outlet for the farmers and merchants
Of the counties Of Ingham. Eaton, Barry.
Ionia, Kent, Allegau and Ottawa" and that
these counties. in the central and western
portion Of the State, would be vastly more
benefited by the opening OF this route than
the one proposed by the Chicago Tribune"
VIII the Citizen please tell how the counties
named would he vastly more benefited
by the opening Of the Jackson line, than bv
the opening Of through line. Itisnot
difficult 10 perceive that the Citizen issimplv
looking 10 the interests Of Jackson. II he
doubts the expediency of extending the
the Grand Trunk in these times Of hich
prices, how does he justify the building of a
local road under the same circumstances
Let Us consider a moment the "eypeii-
ency' Of building the Grand River Valley
Railway. The road, as the very gentle
manly protector, Nj Root, tells the writer.
passes through the garden of Michigan. and
can be cheaply built by the people it will ac-
commOdate. The road. however. leaves Jack
-~-- - ~-t--- ~lA4-E @cLl llA4rS VI me Lansing
and Jackson Railroad. OF course. for this
distance the Valley Road can he Of 10 p-ac-
teal benefit 20 any body, except as a trib-
utary line TO the Lansing Road, and so far
unlikely 70 he a paying road. For con
siderable distance further. and I believe. 70
Eaton Rapids, the road would run nearly
parallel TO and simply serves the same ter
ritory that the Lansing road VIII accom-
mOdate. Al Eaton Rapids il must compete
with the Lansing and Amb0y road. From
Eaton Rapids to Hastings the road NAV ac-
eommOcate the business that may De offered.
so far as q north and south line can. and
which istributary 70 competing and through
east and west lines From Hastings il
passes through q section Of country that Is
mostly occupied by the Grand Haven and
Detroit road. Now, aside nom serving
Barry aud Eaton counties with q north aud
south line, where is the necessity OF build
ing this road. when The Grand Trunk road
or,-1