Michigan. Board of Internal Improvement

The Michigan Board of Internal Improvements was created to facilitate the development of canals and railroads in the state of Michigan. The program planned to borrow 5 million dollars to finance transportation development in Michigan. The internal improvements program required that five parallel lines of railroads and canals be constructed to connect major points within the state. As in many well-intended programs, however, things went amiss. Land speculation schemes and corruption followed the project closely. The state managed to salvage its economy and reputation by the sale of two railroads (the Central and the Southern), thereby ending a near disastrous governmental policy of internal improvement.

From the description of Michigan Board of Internal Improvements. (State Archive of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 41933256