Year: 1878




There is considerable restiveness in
the public mind relative to the lano
grant appropriated for the construction
OF this road.


There has been some settlers dropping
in upon them in Chippewa county, anu
there has been some disposition to COM
plain because these lands cannot be en-
tered by them.


There is doubtless some inconvenience
arising from these things. Some OF the
public prints have stated that many
thousands of acres of these lands might
have been sold during the pAst year.
This Is doubtless an exaSgcration, and
yetit is true that some OF these lands
would, IL ia the market, have been en-
tered by spectators, who think money
might be safely invested in them,


There might in the vicinity OF the
Sauit have been some lands taken by
Immigrants for cultivation. No large
quantity, however, would have been so
taken, and that would have been the on
ly locality where lands would have been
taken for actual settlement.


There are also doubts about the good
faith of the company which has made a
contract to build the road, and suspic-
ion has been created that II Is holding
the contract for speculation, and not for
the purpose of building the road, These
things are creating tendency In the
public mind toward an abrOgation of the
grant, This is natural, aud the direct
result OF the great delay in commencing
actual work upon the road,


1t does not admit OF n doubt that the
parties who have been making an effort
to raise money to build the road have
wholly failed, and that the road, if it is
to be built, must be taken by other par
ties; but it does not follow from this that
The appropriation of these lands Tor the
purpose Of securing the construction OF
the road should be withdrawn, or the
law authorizing it repealed. 1t may be-
come necessary to take them from tue
present company, which is unable 10 60
along with the work; but in every as
pect in which it can be viewed the best
interest of thest require that the ap-
preparation should continue and be de-
voted to the single purpose of building
he road.


There is no land communication be-
tween the upper and lower peninsula of
The state, except by way of Chicago.
about 800 miles farther than it would be
by rail b; way OF the Straits OF Macki-
nav. That section of the state, With its
rich Industries, is almost wholly cut off
from US, so far rs its trade and business
is concerned. Its supplies of every kind
are drawn from Wisconsin and Chicago,
Instead of from Michigan and Detroit.


The hay, oats, butter, pork, beef and
the necessities of lite produced by the
farmer are taken from the line OF the
Northwestern Railroad i'm Wisconsin. All
either supplies are taken from cities west
OF the lakes and out of Michigan There
is, therefore, vefy large section of the
state with richly productive industry,
ia the past contributing almost exclus-
lively to the wealth and prosperity of
other states, and but little or nothing to
that Of the state of which it forms part.
This is an important matter, at all times
though not as important AS when the bus
iness of the Upper Peninsula was more
or OsperOus than it now is or has been for
few years past.


1t has severely felt the universal par.
alysis, like the rest of the country. This
will pass away, is passing away, and 9
few wears more and it will again be full
of energy and thrift, and contributing
largely TO the prosperity OF the country
with which it shall be compelled or per.
mitted to maintain its business relations


The question of railway connection
with it will again become as important
and far more important, than ever.
| 1t Is for these reasons that hope you
will allow me to use your columns fol
one or two communications OH the sub
ject to bring the question OF this lane
grant and its importance to the futur,
prosperity of the state before the public
aud il possible avoid a great mistake il


the affairs OF the state. In doing SO will
state that have no interest of any kline
in the present company, which proposed


to build the road, nor have any inter
est or control in the Michigan Contra


Railroad Company, which owns one o
the roads running north nearly to tn,


Straits. 1t is only as the Marquette ant


Mackinaw road affects public interes


that am to be agected by it, and it i
only as one of the citizens of the state


and rs such interested, that shall speal


of the subject. Yours, etc.,


JAMES F. JOY.