Year: 1878

lne TumOr OI cOuuluatlOlf OF capital
lists and others to influence legislation
looking to the abrogation of the land
grant to aid in the construction of the
Marquette & Mackinaw railroad. has
awakened the press of the state to the
importance of having the grant in order
to secure the road. 1t is matter of state
Interest and the universal opinion of the
press seems to be that the original intent
of the grant should be carried out.
The Lansing Republican shows the i'm
portance of the road in an article from
which We take the following:


In the Republican of Nov. 80 we men,
toned the fears of the Cheboygan TRI-
BUNE that combination had been form
eel 10 grab the land grant of the proposed
Marquette q Mackinaw railroad. The
law-making power ought to do nothing
in the way of legislation that will hinder
the building of the road. Should it ever
be completed, and with the j., L. & s.
and other roads extended to the straits,
the vast amount OF money belonging to
the people of Michigan which is being
scattered along the line of the Chicago &
Northwestern road would be kept with
in our own state. The money paid out
tor supplies in the upper peninsula
amounts to millions every year. and Mich
isan is shut out from the golden harvest
because we have no means of access to
the upper peninsula by rail.


The following extract we take from
Letter published in the Detroit Evening
News.


The fact is not to be disputed, that the
land grant has beer available for years.
but that the first practical step has not
yet been taken TO build the road.


Meanwhile, railroad. even i'm these
hard times, is stretching itself from Mar
quetfe to Ashland and Duluth-from the
rich iron and copper mines. the stone and
slate quirries and other industries of the
regiOn-towartls the farming supplies of
Wisconsin and Minnesota. And dan
gerous rival has already established itself
between the same section of our state
and the merchants and farmers i'm and
around Milwaukee and Chicago.


1t is, of course, Improbable to Spend
time quarreling or lamenting over the
past. Ii is also asking Too much from
The people that they should consent
TO allow this state OF things to remain.
Those under whose control the mlgnifi-
cent land grant has fallen have failed to
use it fer The pnbic benefit. Let them
step aside and make room. for those who
can.


The distance from Marquette to Mack
nav is only l50 miles-a mere bagateile
in distance and difficulty when compared
with the importance Of the results sought.
At MackinaY It cosnects not only with
the farms os the lower peninsula and the
mercantile interests OF Detroit, but also
with the railway system OF the continent.


1t is incorrect either to unGervalpe the
land covered by this grant, or to state
that settlers are not eager to acquire
homes upon it. Had the wagon road
undertaken from the Sault to Mackinac
some years ago been properly built, it
would now be thickly settled thrOugout
Its entire length Even as it is, being i,n-
passable, excepting i'm favorable weather
it has induced a large number of settlers,
The land through which the Marquette
& Mackinac railroad should pass is thick
ly covered with pine and with excellent
hard wood, every stick of which would
i'm that region be eagerly sought for
charcoal, tor timber or for fuel. The land
is good, and under the powerful stimulus
of the immense hon manufactures,
every possible acre would soon be under
the plOw.


1t is not in the nature of things that
this princely gift of the people should be
left in imbecile or unwilling hands. We
of the Lower Peninsula have vital in.
terest i'm being restored to full and unin-
terrupted intercourse with the Upper,
Whilst those of the Upper demand the
most direct and available route Ito the
metropolis of their own state and to the
outside world, their immediate interests
also require that millions of acres at
their door shall not remain a wilderness
in the hands of an effete corporation
whilst hundreds OF hardy settlers are i'm
ploring the right to establish their homes
upon it. 1t would not be wise to divert
the land grant from It's destined use. But
let it be withdrawI from the hands of
those who cannot or will not utilize
it and be placed in the hands of those