Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1878-05-11


WHAT WILL THE HARVEST BE.
Last week we published communica-
ton from the Sault, which presented
anything out gratifying state of facts.
either for the future of the Marquette s.
Mackinaw railroad or of Chippewa
county. The facts TO wh.ch public at
tention was thus called were not new, nor
have the people Of Chippewa county just
began to realize them. The whole mat
ter.was brought to the attention Of the
Legislative committee on railroads Mt the
last session, and on the strength of the
showing made by that county, Repre-
sentative Macarthur proposed to the com
mittee, and urged upon it the adoption
of an amendment to the law, placing in
market certain townships of land i'm
Chippewa county, the proceeds of which
were to be held in trust for the benefit
of the parties who construct the railroad.
If this plan ha,. been adopted, the set
Element Oh the county woull not have
beenretarded. nor would the prospects for
the success of the railroad enterprise
been damaged in the least. But the plan
WAS not listened TO, and now the result
threatened has come.
There is no doubt that large
majority of he people of the state,
both north and south. are heartily in
favor OF the construction of this
road if it can be done with these lands.
Its Importance to the entire state cannot
be oyer-estimated. nor do we believe ever.
now that it is half appreciated, We
frankly admit that this portion of the
State will receive large benefits from the
construction of this road, anG we would
dislike very much to see even a str: w
thrown in the way Of its Success. Never
theless we cannot but feel that the resi-
dents of our neighboring county have
just cause for complaint. That they
would be, locally. very little benefited
by the road. if built, any one can see.
That they desire the fine lands
of their county settled upon and
Improved, is natural. They have asked
the state, through the Legislature. for
relief. Mr.. Mo.irthur devised q plan.
which, had it been adopted, would have
worked jnstice to all, and would have
brought Chippewa county into line as ii
supporter of the railroad project. In
this as in niany other matters, the peo-
PIE will find their mistake when too late
to c'r ect il. 1t may be that even so
small matter rs this viii in the future
defeat the construction Of tie road.
We may be mistaken, but we have no
hope OF the construction of The road I'M
der The present auspices. 1t looks now
as if the whole matter would be carried
over for the action of the next IegisIa-
ture 1t is very easy 10 see what may
be the result of a determined fight he.
fore that body. TIE most natural result
would be that the further continuance
OF the land grant wculd be defeated. and
the land put upon the market. If this
Is done the prospects for he construction
of the road would be remote indeed.
1t seems to lis that it would be almost
public calamity should this road fail to
be built under the present liberal appro-
priations of land in It's aid. If it cannot
be constructed with the aid of sucI, q
grant, 1t certainly cannot without. If il
Is built at all, it must be commenced
soon, for VIC DO not believe the state can
longer withstand the demands that are
being made that The land be placed upon
the market. If the road is commenced
the lands can be purchased, and that is
the main thing that is asked for.
ltseems TO us hat the state authorities
should take some action soon to see
whether or not there is any bottom TO
The enterprise which has bouyed up so
many with hope during the past winter.
Ii there is any basis for hope. let the
people Know it, and they viii be satisfied;
II not, see that the company have all
their right and privilege forfeited, so that
the state can go before the world again
with is land grant untramelled, and see
II other capitalists cannot be induced to
take hold of the enterprise. 1t is not
enough that the public be informed that
there is land grant there. Let some
means be adopted to show the ualue OF il.
If this was known we have no doubt the
enterprise woulf be success. If
nothing can be done SO that the lands
can be sold soon for the benefit of the
railroad. let them be sold for the benefit
of the state.
TIE opening of the Paris Exhibition