Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1880-01-24
DETROIT, MACKINAC & MARQUETTE
RAILROAD COMPANY,

D11hO1l, &uANhlNAO "
RAILROAD COMPANY,
PRESIDENTS OFFICE,
DETROIT, January IL, 1880
My DEAR SIR have the honor to ac-
knowledge the receipt of your letter of
the 14th inst, making inquiry in regard
to our progress in the construction of
the Detroit, Mackinac and Marquette
railroad.
The company was organized and the
contract with state entered into in Sep
tember of last year, and as soon as pos
sible thereafter chief engineer was
engaged, who, with staff of assistants,
made survey extending to distance
of 20 miles from Marquette eastward,
and for the construction of this section
a contract has been executed, the rails
and fastenings purchased, and think /
can assure you that it will be finished
and in operation by the 31st of July
next.
Engineers are now pushing forward
the survey of the balance of the line, one
party working from Marquette east and
another party from Mackinac west, and
as soon as this work is completed con-
tracts will be let for construction, which
will be energetically prosecuted until
the whole line is finished from Marquette
to Mackinac not later than October of
next year.
The necessary financial arrangements
have been made, all the money required
for the completion of the enterprise and
the equipment of the road is insured and
will be promptly furnished as wanted
from time to time.
With regard to the cOmpany's lands,
the directors have appointed a commits
sion made up of members of the board,
who are now busily engaged i'm making
arrangements for the disposal of the
lands. 1t is our purpose to sell them at
a low figure to actual settlers, and in
order to render their acquisition easy
we intend to allow long time for pay
ment and to accept the purchase money
in instalments.
You refer to the advantage of this en-
terprise to the inter-cOmmerce of the
two peninsulas of the state and the so
licitude of the people of Michigan for its
success. We fully realize the immense
benefits to be generally derived by the
opening up of the country, and sympa-
thize with the public in their sOlicitude,
Every effort is being made and will be
luduc W push LUZ IWdIu tuc IOdu W GULL
pletiOn, and also to insure the practical
success of the undertaking afterward.
The favorable expectations we entertain
ed at the inception of this enterprise have
been strengthened by closer examina-
tiOn. We believe that the settlement of
the district trayersed by the road will
begin soon and go on rapidly.
We are crediblyinfOrmed that the Jack
son, Lansing & Saginaw branch of the
Michigan Central railroad is to be ex-
tended to the straits; this work will be
begun as early as practicable, and the
day is now not far distant when the in
habitants of the southern counties will
be brought into direct railroad connec-
tiOn with the upper peninsula.
1t is very gratifying to those who have
put their money into this enterprise, of
course, not without some risk, to know
that they have the good will and hearty
cooperation of yourself and others repre-.
senting the interests of our State.
1t will give me pleasure from time to
time to keep you informed of our pro-
gress.
Thanking you for your kind impres'
siOns with regard to myself personally
and fully reciprOcating the same.
am, my dear sir, yours very truly.
JAMES MCMILLAN,
President
Hon. CHAs. M. CROswELL, Governor
Adrian, Mich.
Tn addition tn tho ahova corrocnond