The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1865-03-22
Railroad to Chicago.
Editor lansing Republican:

Editor Lansing Republican:
l see there is a move on foot TO com
mence a survey of the route west from Ian
sing. Of the railroad, in order to make ,
connection with Chicago Some advocate
new route, or continuation of the Gran,
Trunk and Broad Guage. independent Of al
other routes or points Of railroads. Thit
policy seems to me as grasping at far too
much. l mean more than the nature OF the
country could or ever would support.
Great losses and disasters are caused by
graspinS too much, especially in the build
/ ing Of railroads The Grand Trunk IS now
| believe, the longest railroad in the world
Il -ie--u. stei-- - pe~t --.,,ss., i@ C..no.is,
Huron across the river One transhipment
between Chicago and Boston, or Portland
in Maine. a distance Of 100 miles. woull
be but a small matter. especially as sucl
transhipment would or could be made Al
that point, direct from one car TO the other
The river being only a few hundred feet
wide. cars could be run across on boats to
and from each side. so the changing OF
freight would be light
Now, let's look at the route from Port
Huron to OwOssO. The distance is about
90 miles, by way OF Lapeer and Flint. At
Flint 4 connection is already made with
Saginaw. by railroad. From Owosso the
railroad is in operation to Lansing-22
miles. From Lansing to Battle Creek is 40
miles Ten miles of this ~ is, or will be
made, by the Battle Greek, Hastings &
Grand Rapids K. K. CO., which work is al
ready commenced and will be prosecuted
rapidly; so you see that l32 miles OF rail-
road would connect Chicago with the east
by this route. II would connect many very
important points, such as Lapser. Flint.
OwOsso, Lansing, Charlotte, Bellevue aud
Battle Greek. The country drained by this
route would be divided between it and the
Detroit s Milwaukee Railroad. A connec-
ton with the N. c. r. R.. at Battle Greek.
makes it almost an air line from Port HUI
ron 10 Chicago. or the shortest line hv 81
miles OF all other routes; so l can see no
good reason for advocating an Independent
route that would involve an expenditure OF
AZ least -. GOO. 600 more. if not s., 600. 600.
than this route would
But some seem TO argue, that an in
dependent railroad. or extension Of the
Grand Trunk Railroad TO Chicago. would
reduce the freight and fare. This. think.
IS an error. except only rs the route from
Battle Greek east is 81 miles shorter than
any other route. | am opposed. ia toto,
TO sraspiDg at more than can be prOftably
handled. We are not so flush of money in
his country. that we can throw away mil
ions Of dollars on projects OF doubtful
character. The route alluded to. fully be-
ieve, would pay fair interest on the cost.
md the country traversed would double in
Talue in a short time. Cars loaded AZ Bur
ingtOn, Iowa, or st. Louis, could run 10
Port Sarnia, and rice VerSd The Legisla-
ure have acted wisely in passing a law au-
horizlng the people TO vote aid to this
QUITE Every township and county in the
state should have similar privileges, mas 1
much as no people, as a mass. are so much (
'eneiitted by railroads as the farmers and /
property owners; and be it said TO our
hame, that we farmers do the least towards
hese great Improvements. that make onr