Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-08-11
A letter from Michigan.
EAST SAGINAW, MICH. }
Auoust | 1870


Editor Rutland Herald Leaving Rut-
land on the morning train of the Renssel-
aer and Saratoga Railroad. passing thro'
a hundred or more villages and eleven
cities, over 700 miles of connecting lines
"e'lway in. thirtv-two h9nvg and
finding ones self in the central city of
Michigan, from which place this letter is
dated, is one of the marvels of achieve
ment and progress that give proud dis
tinction to the 10Th century. Seventeen
years have elapsed since my former visit
to this locality. At that period convey
ance was by Railroad from Detroit to
Pontiac, 20 miles, and the remaining rs
by Stage, with II through a forest un-
broken save at the Great Bend of Cass
River, now Bridgeport. The forest trees
had then but just been cleared from the
site of what ia now city OF 10000 in
habitants.
At that time Saginaw, two miles up
the Saginaw River, on the west bank, had
a population of 1900, and being the coun-
ty seat, had every advantage as manu-
featuring and commercial center. The
landholders put an oxtravagant price
upon their lots, and drove capitalists to
seek another locality. The enterprise of
building town on the lowlands of the east
side of the river was laughed to scorn as
an utter impracticability. 1t was so re-
garded by your correspondent, who lost
the opportunity of buying lots at $3.50
which cannot now be purchased for $4,000.
But enterprise and capital have made
East Saginaw splendid city, with double
the population of the older town. The
two are, however, really but one city, the
younger having extended up the river,
the elder down, until they lie opposite
each other with three fine bridges con.
Meeting them together.
The Saginaw River is formed bv the
confluence of the Cass, Flint, Shiawassee
and Tittabawassee Rivers, about four
miles above Saginaw City, from which
point it is wide but rather shallow
stream OF water, although vessels draw
ing nine feet of water navigate it with
ease. Sloops, propellers and steamers ply
between the city and Chicago, Mil
waukee, Godericb, Port Huron, De-
troit, Toledo, Sandusky, Cleveland, Buff
falo and Toronto. In addition To these
natural advantages, this section is highly
favored with railroads, having direct lines
to Detroit, Chicago and Milwaukee, A
oirect line through Ann Arbor to Toledo
is lnaugurated, and will surely be con-
structed, although the work NAV be some-
what retarded by waiting for such an
amendment of the State constitution 90
will permit towns to bond themselves for
the purpose of aiding railroad enterprises
You are aware that the Legislature is
now holding an extra session for the pnr-
pose of authorizing an amendment which |
will take effect retrospectively as well as
prospectively, under which laws will be
framed In such manner that they cannot
oe ihValidated by Supreme Court deci-
sions.
:. mere let me say, that, my opinion,
= As an abuse of prerogatives. if not an
:n..1. 'nofizeo stretch of powers, for the
!uaiciary to control the action Of tbo
Legislature and Executive Departments
OF government. 1 hold that the s,nro-so
Court can only decide case pronan,.n
fore 1T for adjudication. The decis;o
only affect the particular case. Tf s.
instance, decision destroys the legality
of bonds issued by Detroit, it does not
affect :he bonds of Ann Arbor, Jackson
Lansing or Saginaw. If in the latter
owns no case is made on appeal, their
ponds are valid. The courts should con.
Inc themselves to cases before them. and