, 1865-02-16
Michigan Endorses tho Extension Of
the Grand Trunk Railway.
[For The Chicago Daily Tri5uuc.l
ST. InsEpu. Mich. Feb, Z. 16fS.


81. JOSEPH, Mich, Feb. z, 1865.
In your Invaluable suggestions under the
caption Of *Extend the Grand Trunk Rail-
way" in your issue of the 10Th inst, you OBJ:
serve that IS tue people Of the most central,
growing, and populous section Of Michigan
would be largely benefited by it, and their
substantial mid in carrying forward the work
might be safely counted o." The people Of
this vicinity heartily endorse your rema,ks,
and will aid the enterprise to The extent Of
their ability. The counties Of Ber1ien, Van
Buren,, Allcean, Barry, Eaton, 1ngham, Liy-
ingston, Oakland, Macomb, anc st. Clair
contain O population Of 260, 900, being 2oG,-
241 in 1860, which was IN increase Of IS per
cent in ten years, and 1t is safe to eay that
they would undertake to provide for one
third the cost of building the road. Various
preliminary surveys develop the fact that
railway could be built ut fur less than the
usual cost per mile, md with grades and
alignment highly promising to the cheap
working Of the road. Along the lake shore
to this pace no expensive bridges, no rock
md there is q heavy growth Of the finest
timber awaiting shipping facilities, while
here the road would successfully compete for
Milwauk ce business, and secure large pas
eeugcr business from the fruit growers and
lumber men, whose numbers are rapidly IN,
secure to Lansing the State capitol, and
hence tho cooperation Of the citizens
Of Ingham county. It would secure the in
mediate development Of the coal deposits of
Central Michigan, the working Of the recent
u discovered oil wells directly on the line of
1acture II salt, recently undertaken near the
probable location Of the rond. The immense
pincrics, and oak, white wood, black walnut,
and other timber On the 1me Of the proposed
route, have already attracted the attention
Of capitalists, and eventually would afford
named are the richest in agricultural pro.
ducts Of cDy in the State; and for wheat[of
which there was grown in the State in 1860,
over eight million bushels-is scarcely eaual-
cd By any other section, md Its quality Is so
superior Us to atlrnct the especial attention
nroducts In the State in 1850, WAS S1.116, ,219,
and It Is sate to eay 1t has doubled by this
time, and that one-fourth of the yield is pro-
dlaccd by the counties named; while q large
proportion Of the 1900, GOO pounds Of wool
crown In the same year, and nov probably
frebled, is from the same section OF me
State, No part Of the State would cvual tho
increase of population and wealth OF this
section. If railrond facilities were guaranteed;
and. 60 urgent have been the local demand
for road that preliminary Surveys have been
made Of the greater part Of tue route, and
acts Of incorporation obtained BY various
Companies. This Trunk line would accomo-
date Ill parties, and prove of great benefit to
| the trade Of Chicago. ,,,.,-
It present your merchants secure but little
| Of the trade from the counties named, and
| vel, It is SO important and so rapidly incrcas'
| ing that it would be promoting their interests
to join our citizens in constructing the road
| i;cinatcd. anl which Is the most rcmunerat-
inc Of any railway has. Now, In consfdera'
tion Of tic importance Of securing a new, re-
liable, and direct route to the best haroor on
the seaboard, with the local business that
would be secured to your city, Is it wise fo1
your citizens to longer neglect Initiating this
enterpsisc? Can your merchants afford to
submit to unjust discrimination IL frc'ghts.
when, in IN undertaking Of this kind, there
Is reasonable promise Of returns on the In
ves!meut, euro promotion Of interior ner
contNe operations, and Q warrant Of lover
transportation charges to Eastern cities. The
work Is largely one Of national character
| and should receive the sanction Of every righ1