Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1878-01-05
: TRIBUNE. i !: !.
SATURDAY. JANUARY &. 1873.
RAILROAD PROsrEGTs..

NAAAAOAD FkOSE-EAs1S..., 80
IA :i..ni; :"
Particularly Of she Contract !. for
Building the Mackinaw &. Mar.
quetse Railrsad d-Prespocts ,es
Railread Extensiens @; aehebSy.
gan. =
The Detroit Post and Tribune has the
following particulars regarding railroad
prospects The efforts for the opening of
direct railway communication between
the Upper and Lower Peninsulas OF this
state, by constructing line from Mar
quette to the straits Of Mackiaaw, are
familiar to most of our readers. The
subject has long been agitated, and the
Importance of road universally coin.
ceded by the people of both peninsulas.
But for the business depression which
swept over the country following the
panic, the road would have been COM
pleted before this time. or, at least, we'll
along.
Some four or five years ago the Legis-
lature, in spite of the adverse Influences
of a powerful rival railroad corporation,
gave a land grant to the Marquette &
Mackinaw Railroad company to secure
the the road. But dull times tor railroads
and dull market for their bonds helped
along the Influences of the rival cor
pOratiOn, and the result was that capital
lists could not be found who were willing
to advance the funds to build the road
OH the strength OF the land grant.
Subsequent legislatures extended the
time for completing the work. the last
one until the 3lst of December, 1879, and
during the past summer and fall negO-
tiations have been In progress by the
earnest friends Of the project 10 induce
capitalists to take hold of il and push 1t
along with all possible spe d.
Finally It is believed that the desired
end has been gained and the long delay
ed commencement Of the work is at hand.
At meeting of the State Bo:Y OF
Control, held in Lansing on Wednesday,.
a gentleman presented himself by, the
name of w. w. Laman, of New York.
who stated In brief that he mad subfet
the contract from the Marquette, Sault
Ste. Marie and Mackinaw Railroad COM
pany tor building the road from the
straits of Mackinaw ito Marquette, and
that he wished, OH behalf the company,
to close tie contract with the
state and complete all neccs-
sary arrangements, that he might CON-
mence work Immediately. Some reso-
lutions favorable to the immediate closing
Of the contract were passed by the Board.
They also appointed john j. Bagley rs
trustee to look after the states interest,
while the company, by MIR. Lamar,
chose FL. b. Crosby. of New York city,
as its representative. Mr.. Lanan thinks
he can complete the road in years
time, but everybody will be satisfied II
he does it within the period OF the land
grant.
A paragraph in the original contract
provides that while the company shall
negotiate the sale of its bonds, ~ shall
be allowed to mortgage the road pre-
vious to its completion, the money so
raised shall be placed in.the hands of the
trustees, and shall only be paid out by
them as fast as the road is completed.
upon certified statement of the chief
engineer.
The closing OF this contract under such
favorable auspices is matter upon which
the people of the whole state may con-
gratulate themselves. The road, when
built. will afford an uninterrupted out
let to the minerals Of the Upper PENN
sula, and open up a new market for the
produce OF our farmers and the trace Of
our merchants, to say nothing OF the ad--
vantages to be derived from easy inter
communication Of the people.
The Mackinaw division of the Michi-
gan Central will be at once completed to
the straits of Mackinaw. 1t is now open
ed to Gaylord, about 40 miles from Che
boygan and within so miles of the
crossing of the straits. The extension
will commence in the spring, and will
be pushed forward so as to be ready for
the opening of the line to the straits by
the time the line OH the other
side of the straits is done. 1t is altogether
lik. ly that the Grand Rapids & Indiana
road will be to the. straits during the
coming season, so that the people and
towns on the western side Of the state
will also have direct communication witt
the Upper Peninsula.
Astonishing Success.