Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1878-11-23
SPECULATORS AND THE HAIL
ROAD GRANT

The rumor which we give in another
column of combination beiny formed
to effec; legislation recording the Mar
quette & MacAinaw railroad for specula-
tive purposes, would seem at the first
glance to be entiiely sensational, and we
lope it is so. Still, during the past year,
number Of circumstances have trans
PRED which would seem to lend proba-
b:lity TO there seing some truth in the
story. For the past two years, and
especially during the past year, the farm
ers have proved beyond doubt that the
state lands of Chippewa county are ex-
tremely valuable Tor agricultural pur-
poses, aud this, as the readers OF the
TRIBUNE already know, has induced
very large emigration from Canada to
thit county. So great has this cmigra-
ton been that all the available land in
any near proximity to the Sault has been
either homestealed or purchased, and
still the demand was not supplied, and
we understand from looking oyer our
Sault correspondents Scraps during
the past summer that Il large number on
these settlers have squatted upon the
railroad LANDS, expecting to secure their
titles sometime in the future either from
the state or railroad company. Ii is not
surprising that they should take these
risks when we know that similar lands
adjoining are being sold for from three
to six dollars per acre. Neither is il sur
prising that spectators who are aware
of all these facts should see "millons'
in just such an enterprise as is FORE
Swallowed by the TRIBUNE in The rumor
published this week. And il such Il
scheme could be carried to successful
termination, and the lands now held for
the railroad put upon the market and
secured by combination as limited, at
the usual price of stale swamp lands,
there would be hundreds OF thousands.
ii not millions i'm it. This whole thing
may emenatc from the diseased brain OF
sensationist, but the facts demonstrate
the assertion that there is prospective
profit enough in such an enterprise to
call together a class OF men who would
epen.i money freely if that would secure
legislation regarding this land grant,
favorable to their schemes.
If there is any truth in this matter OF
foundation for the report, then indeed
does the future of this road look dark.
With the contract for its construction in
the possession of irresponsible specula-
tors" whose great aim seems To be to
keep the road from being constructed
until they can compel transfer of a
gOodly portion into their own pockets
on the one hand, and OIL the other, more
Spectators who see more money tor
themselves in defeating lis construction
altogether.
The TRIBUNE is and always has been
AN earnest advocate of this railroad, be-
lieying it to be for the best interests OIL
The entire state, both north and south
as we'll rs for the small portion of the
state which is more particularly inter
ested. We give this new rumor out as
note OF warning to our Representative
and Senators in the Legislature. W.
think that Legislation can be had, if any
As needed. to Secure the early completion
OF the road. and We hope that tie Legis
1ak. ~
Or nothing else. II there should be any
organized effort to defeat the railroad
project entirely, then should il DC under
stood what is the aninus of the oppo-
sitiOn, and whether such opposition seel
the benefit OF the country or themselves