The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-01-10


established for the purpose, among other things,
of arriving ut an authentic report OF the trans
actions Of railroad corporations, with q view to
legislation in regard to their rights and the in
terests and protection OF the public. This sys-
TEN has also been adopted in many of our sister
States and is, without doubt, OF very great
value in enforcing the laws against such cor
porations. The returns from the companies to
the Office by the Commissioner OF Railroads,
and the subjects on which such returns shall
be made, are quite specifically defined in our
law But, as quite number OF railroads form
parts of continuous lines in other States, il has
been thought desirable to adopt uniform
system of returns from the railroad companies
for each of such States; and, as the authenticity
and value of such returns must depend upon
the system of book keeping adopted by the several
companies, il has also been thought desirable to
prescribe uniform system of book KEEP ing for
railroad companies. meeting for consulta-
ton on this subject WAS held at Columbus, Ohio,
on the 18th of November last, at which ten
States were represented and a committee was
appointed to recommend system of accounts
and returns, and to report at an adjourned
meeting to be held in June next call your
attention 10 this action for the purpose of sug-
costing that our law in this regard may be 80
far modified as to authorize the Commissioner
of Railroads to carry out the action of this con-
vention.
In accordance with the direction of the Legis-
lature of 1877 proceedings have been taken,
and are now pending to test the claim of the
State against tho Lake Shore and Michigan
Southern Railway Company for the amount of
certain specific taxes claimed to be due and
unpaid.
MACKINAc AND MARQUETTE RAILWAY.
The Legislature OF 1873, impressed with the
Importance of more intimately connecting by
railway communication the Upper Peninsula of
the State with the Lower reserved from sale
,;ss6, 965 acres of land to be given to any COM
pany who might proceed and construct within
specified time, continuous line of railroad
from the Straits of Mackinac to the city of Mar
quette. This valuable land grant was deemed
sufficient encouragement to secure the early
completion of the proposed railroad, and
would, without doubt, have accomplished this
result had not the financial crisis practically
suspended railroad building throughout the
country At various times responsible parties
seemed about to take hold of the enterprise and
push il, but by reason of the commercial de-
preston failed to do so.
In May, 1876, the Board of Control entered
into contract with the Marquette, Sault Ste.
Marie and Mackinaw Railroad Company for the
construction of this road, but no immediate
steps were taken to build it. On the 14th day of
MAY, 1877, the Legislature further continued
the grant and extended the time for the COM
pletOn OF the road until December 81, 1873.
Last winter the company with which the con-
tract was made claimed TO have perfected an
arrangement for securing means for the imme-
date construction of the road. Its agent, DIR.
W. W. Lamar, gave most positive assurance
! that money had been negotiate !, and thai, with
the opening Of navigation, work would COM
mence at various points on the line, and be
prosecuted rapidly until the railroad was in full
operation.
The board afforded every facility within its
power to aid in the enterprise and appointed
Hon. John J. Bagley and Hiram b. Crosby truss
tees to receive and disburse the avails of any
pledges or securities made upon the railroad and
lands to obtain means for the building thereof.
The prospect for the construction of the road
seemed hopeful, but since, Notwithstanding
peated assurances have been given that the work
would be Immediately commenced, not blow
has been struck, and the board being now salts
fled that the parties concerned have not the
funds requisite 10 build it, and that there is no
reasonable probability of their being able TO OBJ
tain moneys for that purpose, have taken steps
! to declare the contract forfeited, and To place
the land grant so that it may be available TO any
other parties who may contract to build the
road.
The construction of this railroad is an urgent
necessity demanded not only to facilitate trade
with the rich mining regions of the Upper
Peninsula, but to secure to our people fair
share of the commerce of that immense grain
producing section, penetrated for hundreds of
miles by the Northern Pacific Railroad.
1t is well understood that this great line of
railroad is yet to be built eastward from Duluth
to the boundary of Michigan, on the south
shore of Lake Superior Now, with short
extension of the line projected from Mackinac
to Marquette, we shall be able to tap il and to
divert large portion of its travel and trade
to this State and thus open the way for direct
intercourse with the vast extent of country it
! is built to traverse.
Communication between the Upper and
Lower Peninsula is now carried on for three
| fourths OF the year by circuitous route
! through three other States diverting the traffic
of an important section of this State elsewhere.
and making II tributary to other interests.
The construction of the Mackinac and Mar
quette railroad would, in great measure re-
store TO us this trade, and bring the two PENN
sulas into nearer and more intimate relations.
But, important as the demand is for this
road. il is apparent that withholding the lands
! from market in certain localities il retarding
settlement and preventing the development of
the country. Portions of the grant are heavily
/ timbered and other parts of IL are said to DO
valuable for agricultural and mineral plr-
poses, and public interests seem 20 require nat
! in some sections they should not be kept from
sale and settlement, while at the same time
there is no reasonable prospect that the pur
pose of the grant will be accomplished. | be-
! 1eve it wise policy TO devote the lands sacredly
to the object contemplated, ana l would not di-
vert them to other purposes. IT. however, it
shall be found necessary to open any of them
TO sale, recommend that it be upon condition
| that they be sold for cash and that the proceeds
be paid into the treasury and set apart as
fund to be applied in aid of the enterprise for
which they were appropriated.
SAVINGS BANKS.
renew the recommendation repeatedly made
! by my immediate predecessor for some further
provisions similar to those in the National
Banking law for the more careful examination
and scrutiny of the savings banks of the State.
These banks hold large amounts of money,
and, so far as / know, they have been prudent
| ly managed But they are the offspring of the
Legislature and, in creating them, it fails in
its duty If it neglects to guard the rights of
depositors, many Of whom are laborers and
persons of moderate means.
The rates of interest have been steadily de-
creasng for some time past. An abundance of
money can now be obtained on good security at
Z and per cent Real property in the State
has no uncertain value, and the probabilities are
that hereafter money will never command as
high rates of interest as it has heretofore As
a result of this state of circumstances there
seems TO be demand for the repeal of the pro-
vision authorizing contracts to be made at rates
az high as 10 per cent. With this accomplished,
the uniform rate throughout the State would be
7per cent
The bound and unbound books on the shelves
of the library number about 10000 volumes.
OF these, some 300 have been obtained within
the past two years through purchase, exchange
| or donation The law der,a rtmeut contains the