The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-01-15


IL must be evident to careful observer.
and tho reports made to the Commi ssioner &c
to prove, that the system Of corporations or
ganized within and inside the railroad COR
porations. known IA Transportation Lines,
- Dispatch Companies !" f" Gar gaming Com.
panies, Fast Freight Liues," Sleeping
aud Palace Cur Companies" arc sapping the
life-blood OF the railroad companies. They
earning hundreds Of thousands. il not
millions of dollars, on the track of our rail
roads, not dollar Of which finds its way into
the treasury of the road. These corporations
pay good dividends but tho railroad stock
holder gets none aud the bondholder re-
ceives no interest. Parties whose MOI ey il
invested in our roads should reap soma Lene-
tit from 1t we want low freights and fare for
our own citizens but we cannot expect them, il
the roads are to be used for the benefit OF
outside corporations Do we not owe it to
our people and TO the holders of $3.50, 600, 000
OF property in this State. to protect them from
this loss, il possible? When we remember
that the railroad bonded debt issued under
the laws OF the State is 100000, 000 an
amount far in excess OF all the State, city.
town, county and school debt ought we not,
as a State, to aid in every inst way in sus-
tanning their credit
In the present necessary system OF running
through trains, with so many competing lines
in other States. seeking for business, the
difficulties in the way of legislation seem
almost insurmountable, without the co-C pera-
ton of surrounding States but the subject
seems to me to demand your thoughtful con-
sideration.
The public demand sleeping and palace car
accommodations, and our roads must be en-
abled to meet il. For them 10 do 80 it will be
necessary TO amend the railroad charters and
the general railroad law, permitting them to
run such cars and to charge proper rates for
their use.
The Commissioner suggests several needed
amendments to the railroad laws, all of which
he deems important, and to which your atten-
ton Is directed.
MARQUETTE AND aACKINAC RAILROAD.
Act No. 1876 of 1878. amended in 1874
granting ten sections to the mile of swamp
land in the Upper Peninsula to aid in the con-
struction of II railroad from the Straits of
Macklhac to Marquette has not accomplished
the hoped-for result. The panic of 1873 and
the depression in business since, with other
causes, have prevented any new railroad enter
prises.
L do not know that any action can be taken
by you, that will hasten this work but IL any
reasonable aud proper addition to the grant
would do it, l would most earnestly recon-
mend it. When it is remembered that we
have in the Upper Peninsula population of
81 800 persons, who export everything they
sumo, it would seem that this great commerce
of our own citizens ought not to be diverted
from us to other States, as it now is. The
construction of this road would give our farm
ers, manufacturers, and traders market
for their products, from which they are now
practically excluded. So, too, it would give
our miners winter market for their products.
The swamp lands of the Upper Peninsula,
amounting to /, 789, 6l2 51-100 acres were given
to the State by the general government for
the purpose of building roads and bitches
and reclamation. Wagon roads are being
built by grants of these lands, and they are
gradually slipping away, year by year, yet
doing but little for the real development of
the country.
firmly believe. if grant of the whole Of
them would construct railroad from Macki-
nae to Marquette, and another from lance
TO Houghton and thence up the Mineral
Range, it would be wise policy to make it.
1t must be borne in mind that this is not a
question of "land grants" in the ordinary ac-
ceptation of the term. 1t il question
of whether the lands already granite. shall be
given for wagon roads or a railroad
The State has 240,35S 30-l00 acres Of other
than swamp lands in the Upper Peninsula
that would be largely increased in value by
the construction of these roads.
ST. MARY's FALLS SUP CANAL.
The business of this canal for the past two
Tons.
Tonnage passing through for 1873 ...... ,2O4 49,
Tonnage PASSING through for 1874 ,287, S0(
Gross receipts for 1873 $44 ,9i9 Is
GLOSS receipts for 1874 .......... 1887 "A
Copper carried through 1873. ............. 1892
Pig iron carried through 1873 ........... SO, "a!
Iron carried through 1873. ........... 500, 12
Copper carried through 1874. ........... o.. l9,5lS
Pig iron carried through 1874. ........... 41.904
Iron carried through 1874 $685.
Tolls were reduced by the Board Of Contro
July /, 1873, from a cents to 81 cents pei
ton.
The amount OF State bonds issued for the
canal outstanding Sept 30, 1874, was S6l, 900
while the balance to the credit of the canal al
the same date was $85, 1918 SO. The State
having thus been fully reimbursed for it's ex-
penditures, il was decided 10 expend tho sur.
plus earnings OF the canal in putting it il
complete repair, and orders to that effect have
been given the Superintendent. The noutl
OF the canal was ordered dredged. New gate!
were ordered for the lower lock. The piert
at both ends were ordered repaired, and those
at the lower end extended. 1t is estimated
by the board that the net earnings for 1871
will enable them them to accomplish these
improvements, and that by 1876 they will bt
enabled to reduce the tolls to an amount suffi
cient to pay running expenses and small
surplus for contingencies.
The repairs and improvements are abso-
lutely necessary, as the piers. gates and tim
Der work are very badly decayed.
PORTAGE LAKE AND LAKE SUPERIOR CANAL.
The work upon this canal has been com
pleted according to the plans and specifica-
tions. Upon its completion the company re
quested NE to Issue my certificate to tha
effect, that they might Herewith acquire
title to the laud grant made by Congress t
the State for the purpose Of constructing tn,
canal AZ the title to tue lands upon whlcl
| the canal was constructed was vested in in
dividual hands held that the work was no
completed in accordance with the act Of Con
gress or the laws of the State, 70 long a
| neither the company nor State owned the'bo
tom and banks of the canal. Application wa
made by the canal company to the Supreme
| Court for a mandamus to compel me to issue
the certificate, which was denied. There
upon the owners of the lands offered to dec
the right of way to the canal company, ant
asked for my certificate. l again refused t
| is .ue it until the canal teelf, with the rgh
OF way, was conveyed to the State or TIT
| United States. This the company has re
fused to do, claiming that tue act Of 1s6
| gives Thorn the ownership and control OF tn
canal have claimed, on the contrary, tina
the act of Congress comforting the grant doe
no such thing. In the meantime the cana
company has been placed in bankruptcy tn
United States court has appointed receive
over it has f xed the rate OF tols, and given TIA
receiver absolute control of it's management
In its present condition, if the company wer
| 10 accept tho construction Of the act elaine
| by the State, they have no power to conve
the canal.
The State and canal company are so widel
oDart II, THAR copstruction of tho law IN