Jackson Or Ann Arbor

Toledo, Feb. 25, 1864. Editor Commercial : I desire to add my testimony in favor of the suggestion made by a correspondent in your issue of the 24th. in regard to tho plan of bringing tho Michigan Central Eailroad into thia city from Ann Arbor, instead of Jackson. Taking for granted what seems undeniable, viz : that the Michigan Central will derive much greater benefits from connectiona at Toledo, than it can ever hope for at Detroit - even supposing that the bridge is built, then it also seems to me that Ann Arbor presenta many advantages as a point of connection over Jackson. Lot us considor these in order: Jackson is distant from Toledo about 75 miles ; tho proposed Eoad could hardly be built for less than f 30,000 per mile. This would give for the bare construction the aum of two and a quarter millions. If we add to this the cost of equipping the Eoad, building depots, station houses, of obtaining an entrance into thia city, with depot grounda. and other nocessary adjuncts, tho total cost will not fall far short of three inillion dollars. As Eailroad projectors havo discovered by this time, such a sum is not among tho readily obtainable things, especially for a new Eoad, which has to be built in direct competition with one already running and not earning very largo dividends. But littlo hope can bo ontertained of receiving any assistanco from tho country through which the proposed Eoad passes, since its wants are measurably supplied by the Eoad already in existence. On the other hand, tho route from Ann Arbor here is but little ovor half as long ; the Eoad-bed is graded and rcady for the rails the entire distance, with four miles not actually ironed, leaving but 38 miles to be completed. The entire cost of putting tho Road in running order is estimated at half a million dollars, or about onesixth of the amount required to build the proposed Eoad from Jackson. In raising such a sum the Ann Arbor Eoad would have many advantages aside from its comparativo smallness. A large amount would be taken by the citizens along the route, who are anxious for a Eoad to give them access to market, in which respect they are badly off at present. Tho Eoad bed is free of any debt or incumbrance, and is in excellent shapo to offer to foreign capitalists as security for bonds to pay for tho iron and rolling stock. - Ifc can also bo shown to capitalists that thero is an assuranco of a remunerativo local business, such as cannot be had on the other route. The distances between Aun Arbor and Detroit, and Ann Arbor and this place are so nearly equal that the difference, some four miles or so, is hardly worth taking into account; and should this connection once be established, shippers along the line of the Michigan Central and its feeders would have no hesitation in choosing this route, as here they would have the choice of four great trunk lines to the East, a variety of markets, and no danger of delays from blockade ; while at Detroit they would have but two trunk lines, leading to but one market, and the liability of blockado imminent at all times. The advantages of the Ann Arbor routo to the Michigan Central are sufficiently obvious. The policy of every Eailroad is to secure the longest, possible carriage of freight over its lino and leave as little possible to the connecting Eoad. By the Ann Arbor route, the Central will have all the mileage, exoept the very small f raction of 38 miles from Ann Arbor to Detroit. This in a line 284 miles in length, is an exceedingly small pro rata. Jackson is 76 miles fiom Detroit, but as the volume of the Eoad's business increases in a geometrioal proportion as it nears Detroit, that city is relatively three or four times as far off, and it is much more of an object to secure the hauling past Jackson. than it is to that city. Yours,