The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1866-04-11
The AmbOy, Lansing and Traverse Bay
Railroad Land Grants.

Some weeks since, we reviewed fully aud
fairly the condition and prospects of the
various Land Grant Railroads Of Michigan.
We proved most cOnclusively, that tho Am
boy, Lansing and Traverse Bay Railroad,
from its own annual reports. on file in the
office Of the Auditor General, was entirely
bankrupt, both in character and capital
We are informed by most respectable
citizen, that u part OF the present directors,
ON the principle of wheel within wheel,
have succeeded, by setting up n man OF
straw with whom to make a nominal con
tract, in obtaining illegal and permanent
possession Of the road counting their
stock by hundreds OF thousands OF dol
lars, which really belongs - the legit-
innate stockholders, over which the law
gives them no right OF ownership. We
refer to A. n Hart. Geo. c. Monroe and
A. L. Williams, all directors, and the last
named, President Of the road We are in
formed that these statements are suscep-
rible Of proof that will satisfy tho most
skeptical
This is not all. We are in favor of build
ing all the roads possible that make Ian
sing a common centre provided there Is
any tangible evidence that they are to be
built We have seen nothing to satisfy US
that this road will be built, if the land
grants should be extended for thirty years.
There are reports about millions Of English
capital in waiting to be invested in the
road, If the grants are extended; Ia which
we reply, that even John Bulls are no. fools
when the money question is at stake and
the man or men who proiIer such aid are
only fools or insane men. What are tl,.r
names, and who has the written proposal.
The City Of Lansing has taken stock in
the Jackson, Lansing and Saginaw Rail
road, To the amount of So 500: the County
has $40, 600 OF the same stock: and other
townships in the County hold nearly $40. 600
of the stock. Thus, a total Of more than
100000 Of bonds, voted by the people Of
city, towns and county, are at stake in the
last named road This road has been un-
dertakeH and will be completed from Jack |
people aided it, and taxed themselves for
the purpose, because they had no faith in |
the completion OF the road from Amboy, /
ria JoneSyille and Albion. TO this CITY. or 1
that the road would ever be extended from /
Owosso to Saginaw City. They took the /
stock in good faith, expecting that it would 1
remain at par, and that the entire amount /
OF the investment would ultimately be re-
turned to them, dollar for dollar The
extension Of the grant to the Amboy road
would make dubious the stock Of this \
road, and the loss would fall heavily l
upon our taxpayers, many of whom 1
are unable TO bear the loss More than 1
this The Jackson, Lansing and Saginaw 1
Railroad are ready at once to complete the
road from this point to Saginaw CITY. with 4
or WITHOUT the aid of land grants. If this
worthless, dead corporation can only be I
kicked under ground, where il ought 10 .
have been years ago. They viii. if this ex-
tension is not granted to the AmbOy road \
put US in connection with Saginaw City I
early in the fall One of the directors. OF /
the Amboy road. A. y. Hart. is q member
oil the Common Council, and has, by the
use OF false logic, succeeded in inducing
our Common Council to pass a series Of
resolutions favOring a further extension of
the Amboy land grants, which have been
forwarded TO Congress. Mr.. Hart, one of
the Directors. voted for these resolutions
from which he expects, if success attends
MS operations, to reap a rich harvest. We
10 not believe the action OF the Common
Oouneii was well considered, or that it
AIRY represents the sentiments Of our citi-
-ens' any more than we believe that the
petition forwarded and signed by many of
our eitlzens' Is fair expression of opiuion.
Men readily sign any petition. Of whose
ultimate objects they are entirely ignorant: