Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1876-03-25
RAILROAD PROSPECTS.
The Building Of the Marquette
and Mackinaw Railroad a
gtI} Certainty.
The Contract Will Probably be For,
malIy Let on the 29th.

Last week Governor Bagley summoned
the Board of Control together by tele-
graph, to meet at his office in Detroit on
Friday, in accordance with an arrange
ment made at the last regular meeting in
Lansing, to receive proposals for the build
ing Of the Mackinaw and Marquette rail-
road, as provided by the act of the last
Legislature, should any propositions be
received before the next regular meeting
on the 29th Of this month. The Board
consists of Gov. Bagley. Secretary of
State Holden, Treasurer McCreery, Aud
itor General Ely, Commissioner Clapp
and Attorney General Smith, all of whom
were present. 1t was found that two ri
val parties were anxious to take the con-
tract, one composed mostly of eastern
capitalists, and the other Of western.
The former were represented at the meet
ing by Andrew Stone, Of Cleveland
brother of Amasa Stone, formerly of the
Lake Shore road, and Mr.. III. 5. Crosby
and Mr. Lanmann, of New York city, all
of whom were present at the meeting.
The western capitalists are represented
by Capt. Craw, of Frultport. and Messrs.
Stevenson, Cooper and Webster, of Chi
cago, none of whom were present except
Capt. Craw. Each party seemed anxious
to secure the contract and business was
lively for time, but owing to the absence
of the Chicago parties who were expected
to arrive during the day, the Board adj
journed to ten o'clock the following
morning. Mr.. Stone left for home in the
evening, but the others remained.
The Board met OH Saturday according
to adjournment, and further considered
the propositions received. No definite
action, however, was taken by the Board,
the whole matter being deferred to its
next regular meeting in Lansing on the
Doth inst
The Detroit Post says that the propo-
sitions are of such character, and the
guarantees offeredsby both parties are
such that the road is certain to be built,
no matter to which of them the Board
may award the contract.
Thus it seems that the prospect is
more favorable for speedy agree
ment, and upon terms more adj
vantageous to the state than were at first
supposed. At the previous meeting Capt.
Craw and his hackers were unwilling to
bid except upon the condition that the
road should be built entirely from the
Marquette end, but at this meeting they
expressed a willingness to begin work at
both ends Of the road simultaneously.
Tile cost of grading and ironing the road
was estimated at $4,000 per mile-one
party put it as low as $4,000. The length
of the proposed road is l47 miles, so that
at the highest estimate the total cost of
the road would be s2,94O,OOO. Accord
ing to the last annual report of Commis-
ioner Clapp the amount of land available
in the four counties of Chippewa, Macki-
nav, Marquette and SchoOlcraft, through
which the road will pass, is 100000
acres. Whichever of the parties now bid
ding shall receive the contract, it is ex-
pected that work will begin with as little
delay as possible at both ends Of the line.
and that it will be pushed speedily to
completion. 1t is matter of sincere
congratulation to the people of the state,
and particularly the people of Cheboy-
gan, that the prospects for the early
commencement and rapid building of
this road are so fair.