History of Oakland County Michigan a narrative account of its historic progress, its people, its principal interests / compiled from the official records of the county, the newspapers and data of personal interviews, under the editorial supervision of Thaddeus D. Seeley.

CHAPTER XV
MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION
FIRST OAKLAND COUNTY HIGHWAY-OTHER ROADS ESTABLISHED-IMPROVEMENT OF THE CLINTON RIVER-FIRST MICHIGAN RAILWAY
CHARTERED-DETROIT & PONTIAC RAILROAD COMPANY-FINALLY
COMPLETED TO BIRMINGHAM —DETROIT & MILWAUKEE RAILWAY
COMPANY —ESTABLISHMENT OF PRESENT SYSTEMS-COMING OF ELECTRIC LINES-THE GRAND TRUNK SYSTEM,-THE MICHIGAN CENTRAL-PERE MARQUETTE RAILROAD-DETROIT UNITED RAILWAYSUMMARY.
It was not until the late 'twenties that the roads which brought immigrants to Oakland county from north and south were sufficiently established to encourage settlement. The military road begun by Colonel
Leavenworth in 1817, started from Detroit and followed the old Indian
trail to Saginaw. Previous to I8I9 this highway had been completed
about three miles, besides "corduroyed" several additional miles. What
manner of road it was, has been already told by Capt. Hervey Parke,
the surveyor, and other early comers into this region by way of Detroit.
FIRST OAKLAND COUNTY HIGHWAY
An act to establish a road along the Detroit-Saginaw route was
passed December 7, 1818, and the following proclamation by Governor
Cass completed the legislation relating to it:
"Whereas, by virtue of the provisions of an act of this territory
passed the 7th day of December, in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighteen, entitled 'An act to establish a certain road,'
the governor was empowered to lay out and make a public highway and
road mentioned therein, and to appoint three commissioners for carrying the said act into effect; and whereas, John Hunt, Ezra Baldwin and
Levi Cook, Esquires, commissioners as aforesaid, did, on the I3th day
of December instant, transmit to me their report upon the subject of
the said road;
"Now, therefore, by virtue of said act and in conformity with the
said report, I do lay out the following as a public road or highway
namely: Commencing at the center of the military square in Woodward
avenue, in the city of Detroit, and running along said avenue to Witherell
street, and thence with Witherell street to the commencement of the
234