Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1886-02-17
Wednesday, Feb. II, 1886.
Railroad to Alpena by July Next.

Last week Geo. l.. Maltz. A. w
Comstock, Albert Pack and +. w
Fletcher had n consultation with Gov
ernor Alger in regard to extending
the Alger railroad to this city. The
Governor expressed himself as fol
lows: He had contracts for building
extensions to his road for various
lumber firms, which had guaranteed
to give the railroad several hundred
million feet Of logs to carry from the
lumber woods to various points south
of this county. These extensions are
to be built in Iosco county. Having
thus considerable railroad building to
do. the Governor concluded that il
would DO a good time to extend the
road to Alpena city. He said that
the citizens of Alpena, some two
years ago, had subscribed over thirty
thousand dollars towards projected
narrow guage railroad, and he could
not see why the same amount of bon
us could not be raised now to have a
broad guage extended to Alpena the
present year. After further CONVEX
sation on the railroad matter, the
Governor stated that he would ex-
tend the railroad from Black River
to Alpena, this year, for bonus of
$4,000, and the right of way up
State street to the Fletcher House.
He submitted figures showing that
the proposed road would cost $4,000
per mile, making the cost of extend
ing the railroad from Black River to
Alpena about S150,00O. He did not
propose to lay out that much money
unless the citizens of Alpena would do
something to aid the enterprise.
Other towns along the road already
built had contributed bonuses, and he
could see no reason why Alpena
should not. During six months of
the year he would have to compete
with the steamers in carrying passen-
gers. The Governor was shown
notes to the amount Of $4,000 al
ready pledged as bonus if the rail-
road was extended to Alpena. The
question of running the railroad
by Hubbard Lake was also discussed,
but the Governor did not appear
favorably disposed toward running
the proposed railroad to Alpena by
the Hubbard Lake region, as it would
cost considerably more money than
by the Black River route, and more
especially as he could not get pledges
from the pine owners to have their
logs transported by rail from Hub
bard Lake to the Alpena city mills
the claim being made that the logs
could be brought to the city saw mills
by water much cheaper.
1t is also asserted that if broad
guage railroad was extended from
the Michigan Central to the Hubbard
Lake region, that the mill owners of
the Saginaw Valley would be apt to
get the Hubbard Lake logs and con-
vey them to the Saginaw river mills
to be manufactured into lumber, and
that the Saginaw men would pay as
much for the logs at Hubbard Lake
as they would bring at Alpena city.
With that view we do not agree.
We believe the Alpena mills can
manufacture lumber as cheap as the
Saginaw mills, provided salt blocks
were attached to the mills, the same
as there are to the Saginaw mills, and
Alpena city is certainly far ahead of
the Saginaw river as convenient
shipping port. 1t is easier of access.
docks are not needed. 1t
is distant only about fifteen miles
from the route of the vessels going
from Buffalo to Chicago; it is nearer
Detroit by water than Bay City is, and
has natural advantages far superior
to any place on the Saginaw river.
At this place is one of the best har-
bors on the lakes, and back of the
city are hundreds of thousands of
acres of first class farming lands, as
yet but sparsely settled. Alpena
therefore need not fear any opposi-
ton from Bay City, East Saginaw or
Saginaw City. She is destined t.
eclipse either of the three places
named.
The one thing needed at present is
a railroad. If not by Hubbard Lake.
which route is most desired, then by
some other route. When one rail.
road is extended to this city, it will
not be long before other railroads are
extended also. The country back Of
this city is bound to be opened up,
and before many years pass. We
arc of the opinion that the products
of country must eventually travel
to the nearest shipping point, and
Alpena city, with her magnificent
barber, free from shoals, easy of &C.
cess, and affording safe shelter and
anchorage, must, in the time soon to
come, receive the products of the re-