Toledo, Ann Arbor And Owosso R. R.

10 THE fciDITOR Oï THE AeOUB - Au Oiamination oí its agricultural statistics will show the great valué to Toledo of the comraerce of Central and North-Western Michigan. The completion of the Toledo and Aun Arbor road to Owosso, will open up a section unsurpassed in fertility Dy any portiou of country now tributary to Toledo. In gram, potatoes, apples, hay and dairy productioua this part of Michigan is unsurpossed. OL (Miir.se the lumber and salt trade will form uo inconsiderable part of the freight traffic which will como to Toledo by the new road. The completion of this road to Owosso, will enable about one-half of the people of Shiawassee, Livingston, Washtenaw, and Monroe (Jounties, to do their business at Toledo more advnntageously and cheaply than they now do at Detroit. In addition to the direct trade of these four rich and populous counties, I think it safe to eatimate that at least one-fourth of the entire tntde of Central and North-Western Michigan, south of Saginaw, and noith of the Southern tier of counties through which the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern passes, will naturally seek a market at Toledo, by way of the Toledo and Aïm Arbor Kailroad and its connections, iusteud of going as they do now to Detroit. The wholesale and retail xnercliauts of Toledo, and the farmers aloug the line as well, ought to give prompt and practical encourageinent to this proposed new road, as it facilitates and cheapens the transit of all farm pro. ducts to Toledo, and opens up a trade through that part of Michigan, in which Toledo is today without a customer. The four counties through which the new road will pass, Shiawassee, .Livingston, Washteuaw, and Monroe, producad in 1870, as follows, I quote from the Uuitad States census of 1870: Countias. Wheat bu Cora, bu. Oats, bu. WooI.Ibs. Shiawas'e 484,687 262,861 202,510 192.612 Livings'n 673,701 454,923' 247,801 455 540 Wash'n'w 1,050,311 874,822 418,138 906,011 Mouroe 249,086 399,583 260,913 154,421 Total 2,467,685 1,992,189 1,129,362 1,708,584 In 1877, it is estimated that these countiea produced as follows: Counties. Wheat bu ; Corn, bu. Oats, bu.l WoolIbi Shiawas'e 750,000 350,000 450,000 250,000 Livinj?s'n 1,000,000 600,000 550,000 500,000 Wash'n'w! 1,500,0004,000,000 800,000 1,250,000 Monroe 450,000 500,000 450,000 175,000 __Total 3,700,000 2,45O,OOoi 2,250,000 2,175,000 Add to thi8 production of wheat, corn, oats etc, the potatoes, hay, fruit, and dairy productions, together with all the farm produce not above enumerated, and it must equal if it does not exceed in value the aiinual wheat erop of three mzllions seven hundred thousand bushels, one-third of which, it is safe to say will fiud a market at Toledo when the Toledo and Ann Arbor Road is built, not only because the transit will be cheaper and more direct, but because for the past flfteen years Toledo, as a wheat market, has been on Michigan White from 4 to 6 cents higher than the same grade iu Detroit. The simple fact that Toledo is the largest grain market onhe lakes, except Chicago, tellB its own story. Last year over 200,000 bushels of wheat were received in Toledo via the Canada Southern Road, paying freight irom the very doors of Detroit, in order to reach the Toledo market. It will be observed that Toledo not only pays 4 to 6 cents per bushei more ior the same grade ot wheat, but that the farmer can ship his wheat and produce via the Toledo and Ann Arbor Road at a less rate than he can ship to Detroit, thus saving from 5 to 10 cents per bushei on all the wheat or grain he sends to market. If a farmer receives 5 cents more on each bushei of wheat he sells in Toledo over what he gets in Detroit, and pays leas freight to get it here, by the Toledo and Ann Arbor Road, it will be conceded that he ought to aid in completing said road. It he has forty acres of wheat and raises twonty bushels to the acre, he will save at 5 cents a bushei, on 800 bushels, $40 a year. Forty dollars will pay interest at 10 per cent. on Í400. Thus the saving of 5 cents a bushei on wheat or a like saving on the transportation to market ot any farm products, equal in value and weight, increases the value of the forty acres just four hundred dollars, or whatever the amount thus saved will pay interest on, at the rate of ten per cent. If every farmer living along the line of the proposed Toledo and Aun Arbor Road should coiitribute no more thau the amount which he would gaiu in one year by sending his wheat and other products to market at Toledo, it would more than build the road. I have given some six mouths of my time to the organization of this enterprise, because I believe in lts practicability and necessity. I have from the first feit confident of the practical and hearty co-operation, not only of the citizons and business men of Toledo, but of the farmers and all others along the line of the road, who will use it, and profit by it, when completad. Eelymg on this aid and co-operation, I have undertaken to build thia road. The citizens of Ann Arbor and along the line are respouding liberally and promptly, and I ain coufldent that on or before the lóth of September, the amount asked oí them will all be subscribed. Il Toledo responda as I expeot and as have every reason to believe, work on the road will commence this fall. Within ten days duly aocredited solicitors will begin a thorough cauvass of the city for subscriptions. Below is a circular which speaks for itself. It is signed by a ntimber of our well-known business men and bankers of Toledo, and conimends the enterprise to the aid and encouragement of all. J. M. ASHLBY. TO WHOM IT MAY CONOKBN : The undersigned citizens of Toledo, respectfully recommend to the peopla of Toledo and on the line of the Toledo and Aun Arbor Eailroad, the proposition of Gov. James M. Ashley, to build said railroad, and we ask aid trom all parties, believing the enterprise worthy the support of all. Toledo, August 23, 1877. Secor, Berdan & Co., C. A. King ifc Co., K-etcham & Viot, Heury D. .Walbridge, Whitaker,Haynes& Co W. T. Walker, Richard Mott, Milmine & Bodman, Baymer.Seagrave & Co Williams & Hallaran, W. W. Uriffith, . Bangs & Wagar, H. Brand & Co., V. H. Ketcham, Gruido Marx, Horace S. Walbridge, Ketcham, Bood & Co., B. C. Daniels, Burgart & Hart, C. L. Luce & Co., W. W. Jones, Emerson & Co., Taylor, Eogers & Co., H. P. Platt, C. Holmes, Fuller, Childs & Co., A. T. Babbitt &,Co., E & J. Cumings & Co.