Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1876-01-15
SATURDAY. JANUARY Is, 1876.



ors of this county in voting to pay the
proper share of this county of all neces-
sary incidental and engineering expenses
preparatory to, and during the progress
of, the work of improving the naviga-
ton of our inland lakes and rivers will
meet with theshearty approval of every
person who has any interest in the pros
perity Of the county. The appropriation
made by the state, amounting in cash to
from $4,000 to $4,000, was made under
the law governing state roads and
bitches. For that class Of work the law
Is full enough, and arrangements are
made by which the necessary contingent
expenses are paid by the state. The
trainers os the law had no idea that any
such Improvement as ours would ever be
contemplated. Therefore, the law,
which is very complete as far as state
road or ditch is concerned, is totally in
adequate TO meet all the contingencies in
such work as this. An engineer, be-
yono making the preliminary survey, is
not needed about state road. If we Sc
cure the full value Of the state appropria-
ton in this work an engineer is an ab.o-
Lutte necessity. The dredging must be
paid for by the cubic yard, The bars
which obstruct navigation must be meas
ured to ascertain how much dredging
there Is to do, and the channel must be
measured after the excavation Is COM
pleted to see that the wor. has been
properly done. This viii require the SER
vices of an expert at least portion of
the time during the progress of the
dredging.
There is no provision under the state
law by which this expense could be met
except by adding to the appropriation
for the completion of the work. This
the Board of Control declined to do, TAX
ing the ground that it was the duty of
the counties benefited to bear the ex-
, pense. The matter was presented to the
Board Of Supervisors of this county at
their session last Monday, and they cheer,
fully agreed to bear their share of the
expense. Whether Emmett County.
which receives equal benefits, will step
to the front so literally and cheerfully
remains to be proven. Should it do so,
we have no doubt but that the improve
ment can be completed by the time hoped
for: but if it does not, and the commits
sioner is hampered by the want of means
to see that the work is done properly. it
will not only take much more time to do
tt. but there cannot be the certainty of
having it done as well.
Those interested in lands in the vicinity
Of the Improvement have been written
to for aid to fill out the appropriation If
the state to the sum that is actually nee
essary to do the work. Favorable re-
sponses have been received from some.
Doubtless quite sum can be raised in
this way, but as the state appropriation
is fully $4,000 short of the engineers es-
innate for the work, to make the speedy
completion of the work sure Emmett
County will have to render her assistance
as well as this county and outside indi
viduals. What makes it more particu-
larry the duty of Emmett County to come
forward promptly in this matter is the
fact that all the time and expense which
was necessary to get this work in its
present shape has been borne by this
county. Although Emmett County is
equally benefited, thus far she has done
nothing towards it. 1t will not be be-
coming in her to stand back now, when
only little more money is required to
render the Improvement certain, and still
ask US to go forward and complete the
improvement into her borders. The
large appropriation made by the state
cannot be made available without a small
addition. Cheboygan County has stepped
10 the front and said the improvement
must be completed. VIII Emmett County
do the same? ~