Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1881-03-19
The Lake Shore Railroad.

At the time of the purchase of the
Detroit & Bay City railroad by Messrs.
James Mcmillan and H. B. Ledyard, the
TRIBUNE stated that in the minds of
many it meant the building of rail-
road from Bay City along the shore of
Lake Huron through to the straits.
In confirmation of this we find the fol-
lowing in the Detroit Post and Tribune
of last Monday:
Gen. R. A. Alger, president of the COM
pany organized for the purpose of build
ing road along the shore of Lake Huron
to Alpena, to be known as the Bay City
and Alpena railroad, returned on Satur-
day from New York, where he has been
on business connected with the road. As
yet, except the organization of the COM
pany, very little has been done. Gen.
Alger said to representative of the
Post and Tribune Saturday that there
was really very little he could say about
the project. As soon as the weather
would permit a survey would be begun.
He had little doubt the road would be
built and operated if the people along
the line fulfilled the promises they had
made.
The construction of this road is mat
ter in which Detroit people cannot fail to
take deep interest, as when built it will
place this city in more direct cOmmuni-
cation with a large and important pOr-
tiOn of the state that can now only be
reached by water and teams. 1t Is a
matter of great Importance to the peO-
pie along the shore that this road should
be built. If through their Indifference
it should not be constructed they will
continue to compete at great disadvan-
tage with other parts of Michigan which
have good rail facilities; and should it
be built it will undoubtedly form part
of a connecting line to the straits with
out any heavy grades. The line will be
free, too, from the deep and heavy SHOWS
which fall in the central part of the
state. 1t will thus possess many natural
advantages.
In reference to the same matter the
Bay City Tribune has this to say:
There is possibility of B. c., L. S. &
A. company disbanding, as it is known
that there was company formed in
DetIOit short time ago, with capital
OF $2,oOO,O00, to build broad guage rail
road from Bay City to Alpena, with the
evident intention of continuing it to the
straits. The word success was written
on the very face of this company, as it
consists of such men as James Mcmillan,
Gen. r. A. Alger, Allen Sheldon, C. IL.
Bull, James +. JOY, and others OF like
stamp; persons who are known as men
of vast means, strict integrity and great
business capacity, and if they says they
are going to build a road to Alpena or
the straits the people know they mean
business, and will gladly donate every
dollar they can spare to assist them.
If Mr.. Mcmillan ct al, own or control
the Detroit & Bay City railroad, it is an
easy matter to see that it is their inten-
tiOn in the end to build the road between
here and Alpena and the straits. thus
giving them direct line from Detroit
to Mackinaw. At the latter place con-
nectiOns can be made with the Mackinaw
and Marquette road now building. The
route along the shore is free from heavy
grades and should road be built, it
could be operated by the use of smaller
engines and at less expense than the
+. road going north from this city.