Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1879-08-23

the grain traffic has been for many years
an object of keen ambition with the City
of the Straits. MinnesOtas necessity
would appear to be DetrOit's oppOrtuni-
ty, and we are not at all surprised at the
anxiety manifested to control the carry
ing trade not only of Minnesota, but al
so of the whole northwest"
MARQUErTE AND MACKlNAW.
What DIR. Laman Hns to Say About
His Contract.
Detroit Post and Tribune, Aug. 20,
DIR. w. w. Laman, of New York, ar
rived down from Marquette last evening
by the Empire State, and is stopping at
the Russell House. There representa-
tive of the Post and Tribune interviewed
him last evening. DR.. Lamar is the
gentleman who had the contract for the
building of the Marquette s. Mackinaw
railroad, about which so much has been
said of late. His contract with the
company was annulled last winter, but
the understanding between the parties
remained that it would be renewed if at
any time he should be able to present
satisfactory evidence of such financial
backing as wood ensure the early COM
mencement of the work upon the road.
DR.. Laman went up to Marquette about
ten days ago, and presented to the COM
pany there a contract with MessrS,
Barnes and Depuy, of New York, the
former banker and the latter lawyer,
who are supposed to be able to command
the necessary capital to build the road.
This showing by DR., Laman seemed to
be satisfactory to the cOmprny, and they
at once renewed their contract with
him, and sent their attorney, Dan Ill.
Hall. to New York to fully close the
contract with Messrs. Barnes and De-
puy. In the meantime the State Board
of Control, at their meeting at Lansing
last Wednesday, adopted a resolution
notifying the Marquette company that
they would annul the contract between
| that company and the state on the 18th
inst, unless at that time they were able
to show satisfactorily their ability
to construct the road. The company
will send representative to that meet
| ing of the Board, who will present the
the renewed contract with DIR. Laman, ,and
endeavOr to convince the Board that is a
bona fde contract, and that the parties
thereto have the ability and the dispO-
sitiOn to prosecute the work to an early
completion. DIR. Laman will also be
present at that meeting at Lansing and
| submit his past course, his present pO-
| sitiOn, his contracts with the New York
parties, the showing which they make
and all other documents bearing upon
| the question to the fullest scrutiny. He
will remain in Detroit until the meeting
of the Board.
DIR. Laman says he feels hurt that his
! efforts to secure the building of this
road have not been appreciated. He
| stOutly affirms that he has acted in en-
tire good faith in the whole business,
and that he has no other object in view
than to accomplish what the people of
the state desire, and that is the building
of the road. He says he has spent six
years in this effort, that he has devoted
his time, exerted his best energies and
freely spent his own money. The times
have been against him, capitalists were
shy, and, worst of all, he says he has not
had hearty cooperation where he had a
right to expect it. He denies that he
has been hawking his contract about
| New York, and asserts that he has re-
jected tempting offers with cash enough
| laid on his desk before his eyes to afford
him competence for life to sell out his
contract to tho Chicago and Northwest
ern. He rejected all offers to assign his
contract unless bond were given to
carry it out i'm good faith and even sub
mitted to have it annulled by the COM
pany rather than cOmplicate the matter
in any way to defeat the end sought by
| the state.
He insists that his contract has uever
been annulled by the state board OF con-
troll and that he still has a right to pro-
ceed under his renewed contract with
out any cOnfrmatOry action on the part
of the board.
He asserts that obstacles have been
thrown i'm his way by Detroit parties,
who he thinks should have assisted him;
that while he held the contract he re-
peatedly stated to these Detroit gentle
men that he would step down and out if
they would take the contract off his
] hands and go ahead with the work, but
that they said mo; go ahead and do the
best you can and we will help you along
Instead of doing so, however, they de-
clined to have anything to do with him
and brought their influence to bear up
on the board of control to wipe out the
old company and throw the whole matter
open again. They say they would not
touch anything with which the old com.
pany had been connected. and insisted
upon starting with clean sheet before
| fol- ut NJ af
ever.
But" said DR.. Laman, "this is nc
time for elimination and recriminatlOn
What we all desire is the early building
!, of the road. To that end L am still
ready to bend my best energies, as have
shown myself to be in the past. L have
actively interested myself in the scheme
Nobody else has shown any disposition
to do anything. Your people down here
have been little rough on me, but
: harbOr no resentment on that score.
knew you did not fully understand al
the facts and circumstances and wheI
you come to see things as they are yOu
will be entirely satisfied. Now | hav,
got things in such shape that TIT
, necessary capital will be Forthcoming
work on the road will be commenced
within the next 60 days and we VII
have considerable grading done befOr'
winter sets in. All 1 ask is that tn,
board of control will extend the time fo
, completion of the contract in accOrdanc,
with the extension of the life of the LAM
grant, If they will do this 1 assure yO'
the road will be completed within tn
, time." .l1sia
During the storm on Delaware ba,
: Monday large three masted schO0ne