TO THE HONORABLE,
THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES:

The undersigned, citizens of the Counties of Calhoun, Eaton and Ingham, in ^Members of the Legislature of^ the State of Michigan, would respectfully represent, that a Mail Route is much needed from Battle Creek, in the County of Calhoun, to Michigan, the seat of Government of said State, in the County of Ingham; that a large proportion of the inhabitants of said State labor under serious embarrassments for the want thereof, having no direct communication with said Capital; that Battle Creek is the most feasible point for all the travel from the West to leave the Central Railroad for said Capital, and also the most eligible point for the travel from the Capital West to intersect said Railroad; that the distance from Battle Creek to said Capital is inconsiderable, being only forty-four miles on a State Road already laid out and mostly opened; that said Road passes through a rich and productive country, mostly settled by a sober, industrious and reading community, and also that it passes through the flourishing villages of Bellevue and Charlotte, in the County of Eaton, the latter being the shire Town of said County; that Michigan, aside from its being the seat of Government, is a place of extensive business and of great importance; that Battle Creek contains a population of two thousand inhabitants, and in point of business and prospective importance is second to no place in Calhoun County. We would, therefore, in view of the foregoing facts, earnestly, but respectfully, solicit your Honorable Body to pass a law establishing a Mail Route on said State Road, from Battle Creek through Bellevue and Charlotte to Michigan, in the County of Ingham.