The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1876-04-21
Marquette & MackinaW Railroad.

We find the following able article in the
last number of the Ashland Press. It's
sound read it:
The most cheerful sign of returning pros
perity and activity to the Lake Superior
country is the announcement that the con
tract has been let TO a party Of heavy eastern
capitalists, for the speedy building of the
Marquette x Nackinaw Railroad. This road
was chartered by the State of Michigan in
1875, the Legislature of that State with its
usual liberalty donating sixteen sections of
swamp lands to the mile lying along the line
of road, the grant thus made by the same act
being exempt from the date OF the charter,
the whole line to be completed and in opera
ton by December SIst, 1877.
The company that has secured the contract
for building the road have already commenc-
cd their arrangements for work and the
opening Of navigation will begin the CON
structon at both the Marquette and Mack
NAV ends of the road, and also at Grand
Island, which is about midway, working in
both directions to meet the approaching
construction forces The whole line is Of
easy grade, one-hlth Of the entire route an
air line and level grade, while another fifth
is less than a teu-fo0t grade to the mile
Very little heavy work viii be necessary on
the entire route, and the contractors will un-
doubtedly he ahle to finish their work with
out DELAY The company which was sue
cessful in obtaining the contract is c0mpos-
ed Of such solid men as Hiram b. Crosby and
Dr.. W. " Lamar, Of New York, Col, I. P
LOOMS, of New London, Connecticut. J. Z
Redfeld, Of Essex, Connecticut, A. b. Stone
of Cleveland Ohio, and others. The grant
bay yt.fD aiva lOgc 90
300. 900 acres of timber and mineral lands,
is a very valuable one, and with the road
completed to open up the tract and help in
its development, will reward the men who
invest their money, handsomely. 1t is a
great undertaking, requiring the expendi
ture Of several millions Of dollars and the
men who are brave and enterprising enough
TO undertake its construction deserve good
fortune
Tie wise railroad policy pursued by our
neighboring State has been such as to hasten
its development and add millions to its tax
able property annually. 1t has pursued ali
entire different policy than any other west
ern State. 1t has donated its State lands
for railroads and wagon roads, and the re-
suit is that every section Of the State, even
the rough and swamp-stained Upper PENN
sula, is sett led up with an active, go-ahead
population, that are busy bringing to the sur
face its minerals and improving the face of
the country by opening farms and building
up manufacturing interests.
How has it been with laggard Wisconsin ?
1t has over two-thii DIS of its territory a will
derness vet, and the niggard policy hereto
fore pursued toward railroad enterprises has
been such that no party of capitalists could
afford to take hold of the mighty work re-
quired to span Northern Wisconsin with the
iron rail. Yet men under the impression
that the State would encourage them dld I'M
dertake to push through our roads, and alter
years of folly on the part of the State which
crippled every such enterprise and brought
is to the verge of ruin, at last, and let US
hope not too late, returning reason has placed
as again upon solid footing, and we begin to
have hope of success. 1t would be far better,
in our opinion, to-day, if the State would
grant half of its lands in Northern Wisconsin
for the purpose OF aiding in building roads |
through the northern portion of the State, |
and exempt them from taxation for term |
of years. than TO allow the whole northern |
belt to remain a wilderness, to be preyed upon
by timber thieves, despoiled of its rich timber
placed upon it by the Almighty to aid men
in settling up and developing the SOIL We
know that to advocate exemption OF any /
species of property from taxation is unpopu-
lar: but when such an exemption will bring /.
to the State three-fold on its investment, 1t
certainly is a wise policy to advocate. Take
the assessed valuation of Northern Niscon-
sin to-day as tits, and ask the question: If
sparned with railroads and opened up 10 civil
lization and settlement as it should be, for
ten years, would not its valuation be three
times as great?" Yes! Ask another ques-
ton: 'If left undevelOped and
without railroads for another ten years,
will it increase in salue, with Its constant