Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1880-09-11
Progress of the Marquette and Mackf.
nae Railroad.

Progress of the Marquette and Macki.
nae Railroad.
The editor of the Adrian Times has
just returned from trip to the upper
peninsula and publishes i'm that paper of
Sept an interesting article upon the
progress of the Marquette and Mackinac
Railroad, from which these extracts are
taken: The line of the road is $50 miles
long, from Point St. Ignace, ON the
straits of Mackinac, to Marquette. At
first 1t was contemplated to build only 20
miles this year, r,and on the 10th day of Oc-
t0Der last the surveyors were put on the
line at Marquette with that idea in view.
But the gentlemen who were at the head
OF the enterprise have habit of push
Ing through to completion, and this
proved to be no exception their general
rule On the 18th of December last the
company decided to push on and build
the whole line. Two other surveying
parties were put on. making three in all.
One party pushed into the wilderness
from Point st. Ignace; the Marquette
party at the other end of the line con-
tinued work, and third party was put
into the field at Munissing, one of the
finest, If not the finest, natural harbOrs
on Lake Superior, Grand island, just out
side the harbOr, forming a natural break
water. After leaving Marquette the
road follows the lake at some distance
trGm 1t, and then takes course nearly
due east, through the center of the PEN
lnsula, bending i'm southeast direction
TO reach the Point. Engineer McKeOwn
informs us that on this central portion
of the lihe the land has gradu-
a! fall to east and south. 1t lies much
higher than the level of Lake Superior,
and was at one time vast sandy plain.
But the growth and decay of vegetation
have covered this with deep deposit of
rich soil. Forty miles east of Sand river
the land is high, rolling, of sandy loan
and red clay, Overlying sandstone rock,
heavily timbered with hard wood, hem
lock and pine. There is one strong point
In connection with this timbered land
that is an important consideration to
the settler. For the timber there will
always be a ready market. Charcoal is
necessity of the Iron business, and for
some time past the important industry
OF making charcoal has been dormant
In THIS region in consequence of the
scarcity OF timber on any accessible
land. But already, with only 20 miles
OF the road completed, land has been
purchased by Marquette capitalists in
large quantities and arrangements have
been perfected for the manufacture of
charcoal on an immense scale. Great
as has been the development of mineral
resources of the upper peninsula, it is
believed by the best judges to be yet in
its infancy. The richest are inexhausti-
ble-417, ,989 more tons of iron ore has
been shipped this year than last, the to-
tai being more than 1, 100000 tons. What
is needed is that the country should be
settled, that the agricultural develop
ment should progress, and the Mar
quette and Mackinac railroad is to be
the great factor i'm achieving this desira-
BILE result.
The contract for the first 20 miles was
let December 13 last. The work of clear
ing was begun six days later; one week
after grading was begun and 20 miles,
the first section, was finished, ready for
the rolling stock, on the 24th of July.
On Friday last the board of control of
state swamp lands met at Marquette for
the purpose of officially inspecting the
hrst 70 miles. The company was repre-
sented by the Hon. w. B. Moran of De-
trOit, one of the directors, and few in
vlted guests, principally representative
men OF Marquette, accompanied the Off
cial party. ALI were agreeably surprised
at the manner in which the work has
been done. Railroad Commissioner
Williams was one of the party, and his
opinion is that of an expert. He says it
is the best piece of new road that he ever
went over. The track is smooth and
ballasted, the bridges are substantial
structures, constructed in the best man.
ner, and no one would dream, while go
ing over the road as the party did part
OF the time at very high rate of speed,
that piece of road running. into the
wilderness had been built so we'll in so
short time. Every detail of the work
Is first class, every part is well done, and
neither pains nor expense have been
spared In doing the work thoroughly
and well.
The survey for the 13O remaining
miles were completed, prOfiles made and
contracts let April IL, 1880.
The road is divided by the company in
to three sections. The first section con-
sists of the Az miles east of Marquette,
the second of the next 40 miles, and the
remaining portion forms the third sec
tiOn. Messrs. Hendrie & McDermOtt are
the contractors for the first and second
sections and John ID. Mcdonald for the
third section.
The line is practically straight, with
little grade at any point on the line.
The western connection of the line
will be via the Marquette, Houghton and
OntOnagOn railroad. This company will
build soon to the OntOnagOn river, from
whence line is surveyed to Thompson,
on the Northern Pacific. The eastern
connections will be via the extension
OF the jackson, Lansing and Saginaw
road to the straits of Mackinac. This
extension will be completed next season.
1t is probable, also, that the Grand Rap
Ids and Indiana road will be extended
thlther at an early day.
The straits of Mackinac will be cross
ed by ferriage of three or four miles. No
trouble is anticipated at this point.
The immense Importance of this line
to the state of Michigan can be easily
seen when we state that the only rail-
road intercourse Marquette now has
with the rest of the world, during the
close of navigation, is by way of Chica-
go. This road will bring Detroit as near
her as now is Chicago.
Work was begun at Point st. Ignace
the first of June. Fifteen miles On that
end are graded ready for the iron, three
miles of the track is laid, and two loco
motives belonging to the company are
already employed there. l.l..
Contractors are at work on 80 miles of
the road, and there are now at the Point
rails and track material for 80 miles of
the road. ~. -.
. 1t is arranged to receive 5000 tons of
iron and steel for the track at Mar
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