Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1877-05-19
NORTHERN TRIBUNE.
SATURDAY, MAY 10, 1877.


Since it was founded, the NORTHERN
TRIBUNE has persistently advocated
every scheme of internal Improvement
which would be likely to advance the in
terests and permanent growth of the
Cheboygan region. Especially has this
been the ease regarding the inland nav
igation project. The feasibility of this
project was first brought into public no.
tice in its columns, and it was through its
aid that we are able to announce that the
final and perfect success of the enterprise
is without doubt. The enterprise has
been surrounded with difficulties from
The first. difficulties which has required
hard and persistent labor to overcome.
Chief among these has been the opposi-
ton manifested by certain class of our
citizens, who believed that there was no
good in it, that it was wild, visionary
sctIemc with 70 prospects of success.
This opposition commenced when the
subject was first talked of. When it was
first proposed to secure aid from the
STATE with which to do the work, instead
of joining hands with the friends of the
enterprise and eDdeavoring to induce the
authorities to grant the aid necessary,
they stood back and said in effect, "It
would be very good thing if it could
be done,i but the state will never make
any appropriation for doing this work"
This, although perhaps not intended to
work against the enterprise, practically
had that effect. A few earnestly in favor
of the work relaxed not their efforts. and
the result was the appropriation was
made. 1t was thought then that all Op
position would cease, for it would seem
that none could but see that the enter
prise, if completed, would be of great
benefit to the whole of Cheboygan coun
~. But no, the next thing that was
heard was from the same class of citi-
zens: ats no use, you can't set any
cody to take the contracts, and the work
will never be dOne.n The contracts
were advertised and let upon the most
favorable terms, and still the opposition
did not cease in their work of discour-
agement. The work Of improvement
was costingsthe county the engineering
expenses, which has been not to exceed
ten per cent. on the cost of the work. 1t
did not seem to a single real friend of the
enterprise that the proviso on the part OF
the state that the county should pay the
expense of seeing that the appropriation
was properly expended was an unjust
one. Then came the Indian river bar
difficulty. Although considerable OBJ
ttruction, it did not discourage those in
terested in the success of the work, but
they Immediately went TO work to devise
ways and means for overcoming the
trouble. This was done, while the oppo-
sition was talking and using their influ-
ehcc TO make the public believe that al
the money expended was thrown away
Then came the report that the channel
cut through Grass Lake had filed I'D.
and the enterprise failure from that
cause, and this was injustriously used to
Influence the public against further APP
preparations by the county. Then came
q newspaper which boasts of working for
the interests of Cheboygan county, and
insinuated thar all these objections are
abOnt 10 be realized, and the enterprise q
failure. and this without taking any pains
to ascertain whether there was founda-
ton for them or not. Thus has every
step forward in this work been impeded
and the expense made greater by these
Individuals, who apparently can see nc
further into the future than today. and
who oppose every effort for improvement
or advancement. However, amidst al
these Heterogeneous, the TRIBUNE has
never failed to advocate the ultimate sue
cess of the enterprise. The only doubi
about its entire success was the cut
through Grass lake. A careful eXamina-
ton of that work shows that il is now the
best part Of the line. The only remain
ing difficulty which now remains to be
overcome is the bar in Indian river
There is nothing insurmountable i'm this
1t simply adds to the expense. If some
means are not adopted to stop the inflow
OF sand, 1t viii be very few years at the
furtherest that boats of any kind CIR
navigate the river. Still we hear of par.
ties who oppose doing anything there
, They would sacrifice the future nayioa
Ton OF Indian river for all time. be
cause to remedy it now would cost til,
county hundred dollars or two i'm thu
way of engineering expenses. 1t is tn,
penny wise and pound foolish system
Had it not been. for such objections a
weshayc named. and the obstacles thu
thrown in the way of rapid and success
fUl work, Inc whole matter could hav
been arranged and completed .befor
this time. It has been delayed, and ca
be longer delayed by such objections an
such opposition. We regret that Their
is such an element in this place. 1t wi
retard all public improvements of wha
ever nature. for the same element
found arrayingitself against all improve
meiits' and constant opposition, how
ever small, if persistent, will retard,
not prevent, the future growth and pro-
perlty OF the county, by retarding an
preventing improvements. We are ola
to know that the inlaniI navigation Pre-