This collection is composed of 0.10 cubic feet and consists of a notice from Portage Township from September 22nd, 1866.

The notice was printed on September 22nd, 1866 and it calls for a special township meeting to be held on October 1st, 1866. The meeting was going to be discussing two issues facing the township. “The first issue is shall the township of Portage raise the sum of Three Thousand Dollars [$3000] to be used in paying for the right of way and settling damages in connection with the location of the “Kalamazoo and Schoolcraft Railroad” through said township. The second issue discussed is shall the said sum $3000 be raised by issuing the Bonds of said township of such denominations as may be necessary, not exceeding one hundred dollars, and not less than twenty-five dollars, with interest coupons, for the payment of seven percent annual interest thereto attached, said principal to become due and payable as follows: $1500 on the 1st day of March, 1868 and $1500 on the 1st day of March, 1869.”

A right-of-way in this context is referring to creating a path from one piece of land to another. It is typically used in transportation (to create rail line, footpaths, highways, and, gas/oil lines, etc.) The right-of-way was a type of easement that is helpful for providing pathways across two or more pieces of property, allowing individuals to access other properties or a resource.