Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1878-02-16
suggestions worthy of Attention.

The following letter TO the Detroit
| Post and Tribune, from some one III
Chippewa county, regarding the eastern
terminus of the Marquette & Mackinaw
railroad, contains suggestions which are
worth more than passing consideration
Especially is this the case when we take
into consideration the fact that a very
! large portion of the land grant given fol
the construction of the road comfs from
Chippewa county, and unless some
change of this kind in the route is made
that county will receive very little bene.
iiS from the road: -
To the Editor of the Post and Tribune.
Allow me to call the attention of the
good people of Michigan generally, and
also the Marquette, Sault ste. Marie &
Mackinaw railroad company Gf there is
such corporation) particularly, to a few
facts and suggestions with regard to its
terminus at the lower or eastern end OF
the upper peninsula
1t occurs 10 me that Detour north of
st. Mary's river) has many advantages
over Point st. Ignace. or any other point,
that should not be overlooked.
The line of said road from MARQUETTE
would probably run nearly southeast
from Marquette about % miles, where il
would strike the township line between
towns Al and 45 north. Following this
line as near as may be, it would be oil
the dividing water line between Lakes
Superior and Michigan until reaching a
point about Is miles south of Sault Ste
Marie, thence southeast about 2S miles TO
Detour.
The advantage of this route to the
railroad company, would be that it would
open up easy communication to nearly
all the state lands granted to said road,
which would not be the fact were the
terminus at Point St. Ignace, as a large
portion OF the nearly half million acres
In Chippewa county are in the eastern
part OF said county, which would leave
the lands far from railroad communica-
ton and unstable, as they have been tor
the last 30 years. The distance by this
route would be about % miles greater
thsn to Point st. Ignace, but it would be
| that much nearer to Detroit, and it is be-
'ieved by competent judges that with
suitable boats a ferry could be run'to
Cheboygan the whole year; distance
from De,our to Cheboygan, 80 miles.
Is it not worthy Of consideration
whether iron ore could not be shipped by
this route to advantage2 Freishts Oh
ore from DetOur to Lake Erie ports
| would not be TO exceed one-halt the
rates from Marquette, as it saves 2OC
miles distance, the difficult navigation o
81. Mary's river and canal tolls; besides
vessels could load TO draft of water tC
be regulated by The depth of water in
Detroit river and ports below
Tie route above Indicated would be
| the whole distance nearly in the center
OF the strip of land bounded OH the nOrll
by Lake Superior and st. hlsry's river
ana on the south by Lake Michigan anc
| the straits OF Mackinaw. The land:
| through which The road would pass are
nearly all valuable for tue timber us wei
as for the agricultural purposes
Lake Superior copper could be taker
in winter to the eastern markets instead
of by the Northwest viG Chicago. wilic!
could not be done by the Point st. Igntc,
route. unless, as has been suggested tt
The writer, to lay track on the ice Il
Mackinaw City. which would hardly bs
safe tor heavy freight train.
Chippewa Co.. January 28, 1873.