Year: 1879

GOVERNOR CRoswELL's MEssAGE-RIaHTs OF


THE PEOPLE AGAINST RAILROAD MoNopoLIEs.


LANSING, Jan. 9, 1879.


In the House this morning petition presented
for memorial to Congress asking for the improve
ment of Mackinac Harbor. Governor Croswells
Message was read at two p. NJ. In its opening he
refers to the fact of this being the first Leg
islature to assemble in the new Capitol. the
completion of which reflects the progress made
In social and poicical condition, and he trusts
the deliberations therein may conduce to the welfare
OF ALL The condition of the State Treasury referred
to with satisfaction Regarding the railroads travcrs
ing the State the Go says that the rights and
privileges granted by preceding Legislatures should
not be unustly unnecessarily intcrfered with. but
the interest of the public should still be protected
Mature consideration should bc given to the
matters of local rates; losses on competitive
through traffic should not be permitted to be made
up local rates TO the increase OF the burdens on
our own producers. The railroad corporations in
the state have been organized common carriers.
and the suggestion is made whether 1t Is not desr-
able to prohibit by law any agent or servant OK rail-
road company from business competition on ner-
chandise to be transported its road, and also
provide against discrimination in favor OF ndividu
as The attention of the Legislature s called to the
attempt being made by the railroad commissioners
of the various States to q uniform system Of
railroad bookkeeping in aid the authenticity Of the
value Of the returns made to the commission
ers. and the suggestion is made that our
law ,hor, ,a's rr rcgora sooos Rsi1road. as





carry the action of the Commissioners Conven-
tion held at Columbus, Ohio the 12th Of last No
vember.


AID ron THE UPPER PENINSULA RAILWAY.


Touching upon State aid in the construction of the
Mackinac and Marquette Railroad the Gov
ernor says:--Impressed with the Importance
OF more intimately connecting the upper and
lower pcninsulas by rail- way communication
the Legislature of 1875 reserved from sale 32G 965
acres OF land be given to any company who would
construct n continuous line of railway from the
Straits Of Mackinsc TO tho city Of Marquette and at
various times responsible parties seemed
about to take hold of the enterprise and
push IT.: but the commercial depression IL probably
10 bo blamed for the that flow has yet been
struck. The time for the completion of the road is
now nxcd for December 81 1879; but there is
no reasonable probability that the last parties
who took hold Of the matter will accomplish
the work The road is an urgent neces-
sity. not only TO facilitate trade with the
for the securing TO our people fair share of the
trade of the immense grain producing section pcnc-
ratcd for hundreds of miles by the Northern Pacific
Railroad but, important as is the demand for the
Mackinac and Marquette road, the withholding
from market OF the lands of certain localities
is retarding the settlement and preventing the
development of that portion Of state. Portions
OF the grant are heavily timbercd and other portiovs
said to be available for agricultural and mineral
purposes. The lands should not be diverted from
the purpose for which they reserved; but IL IL
be found necessary TO open them for sale II should
be condition that the proceeds OF sale be paid into
the treasury and set apart ~ fund to be APPLIED In