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Owosso The Times Nov. 20, 1891

The Street Railway

There is a certain definiteness in the way the Owosso and Corunna street railway is being built. Commencing at both, ends of the route with a large force of men the work is being rapidly pushed until it is but a question or a few days when the two cities will be connected by this new bond. Railroad building is no new thing with the Haines Bros. for that is their business. Road after road in the northern states has been built and equipped until these gentlemen are the largest street railway owners and operators in the world. The presiding genius of the Owosso city street railway Co. is Chas. D. Haines who was born in Albany Co., New York. in 1856, and who in the prime of manhood is in the front rank of railway managers. Mr. Haines is accompanied to this city by his wife, who occupies the peculiar distinction of being the only woman president of a steam railway Co. In the U. S. Mrs, Haines is as ardent in railway matters as her husband and is greatly pleased with Owosso and its possibilities and can see no reason why Owosso and Corunna cannot, as the twin cities of Michigan in a lesser degree, imitate the famed twin cities of the northwest. And who can dispute a woman's intuition, especially it its a woman of trained financial experience. The street railway means thousands of dollars paid out here in construction, it means the centralizing of business and the expansion of the residence portion of the city, because rapid transit will enable people to reside at a greater distance and do business within the city. The experience of all cities has been that residences sprung up along the line and adjacent to the line of transit. This will undoubtedly cause a boom in the Woodlawn Park addition to the city where a large number of houses are to be erected in the spring. It seems more than probable that the building of the street railway will mark an era in the history of Owosso, and too much credit cannot be given to Chas. D. Haines, whose business judgment forecasted the growth of this town and whose enterprise will unite two cities.

Owosso The Times 12-25-1891

The crossing over the Ann Arbor road has yet been nor have the cars commenced to run as was advertised. The general impression is that some deal is in progress concerning the transfer of property. The Saginaw News of Monday says that Little Jake Seligman is the reputed purchaser,while, while the Courier-Herald has also the same advice. The transfer of properties owned by Seiligman in Saginaw are in part said to be in confirmation of the rumor and this added to the fact fact of his successful control and management of one of the connecting roads between Saginaw City and East side is also said to be a reason for the Owosso investment. The Owosso office of the street railway is closed and any information from that source was not obtainable.

Owosso The Times Jan. 15, 1892

BOUGET A RAILWAY

A Saginaw Syndicate Purchases the Owosso and Corunna Railway.

“Little Jake” Sellgman again figures in a heavy deal, this time being the purchaser of a street rail at Owosso and Corunna. The railway in question in has never been operated and has just been constructed. The company had finished laying the track and had ordered the cars and the motors. The property is very valuable and the deal is sure to prove a financial success. The road is four and a miles in length, runs through the principal streets of both Owosso and Corunna, passes several railway depots and will prove of great benefit to both cities. The road is well constructed and has a fine and well-appointed station and car house between the two cities.

Since the construction of the toad began more property has been sold in Corunna than during the ten previous,and real estate has has increased 25 per cent in valve. Within two years it is safe to say that the entire line of street railway between the two cities will be solidly built up.

After purchasing the road, Mr. Sellgram organized a syndicate is composed of the following gentlemen: Jacob Sellgram and Frank E. Snow , of Detroit. At a meeting of the syndicate last evening it was decided to adopt the trolly system instead of the independent motor system contemplated by the original builder of the road. The trolly system is more expensive at the outset, but cheaper in the end. The purchase of the was made conditional upon the Common Council modifying the present franchise to meet the wishes of the syndicate. Mr. Sellgman will go before the Council to-night and ask for the necessary changes. He has been assured that anything reasonable will be granted. – Saginaw News

The impression is in Owosso that the actual deal has not yet been consummated, but that “Little Jake” has secured an option on the road. The advent of “Little Jake” into Owosso investments is hailed with delight because property owned by him will be well handled and abundant capital will back the enterprise. When Sellgram strikes a town a boom follows.

The Owosso Times Jan. 22, 1892

The street railway question still remains in abeyance. The situation as detailed from one point of view is that Delano, Detroit, was one of the parties interested with Haines Bros. In the construction of the road but that Delano never paid for his stock and it became necessary to freeze him out, and in order to do this, not one dollar more would spent until this was accomplished. If the road had been tracked one month earlier cars would have been started, but as the delay ran on into winter until warm weather, and in the meantime the settlement could be forced with with the Detroit delinquent. The cars have been built in Detroit and are ready for shipment. Owosso and Corunna Street Railway is lettered upon the in the usual place. The offer of of Seligman was refused because of the ridiculously low price offered and the original option withdrawn. In the meantime Delano's stock has been transferred or at least other parties interested and it proposed to operate the road before the terms of the franchise expire, which is in May, 1892, when certain portions of the road must be operated. As to whether the road will pay Haines Bros. say that three passengers per trip will operating expenses.

Owosso The Times Jan. 29, 1892

Halnes Bros. Who have constructed the Owosso and Corunna Street Railway are are longer interested in it. Chas. D. Haines has resigned his position as president. Delano and Carleton, of Detroit, have succeeded in placing the bonds of the road in Philadelphia, and are are now paying off the debts of the road as fast as possible, the labor account on the road being largely settled last week. F. M. Delano is vice-president and treasurer, and the road will be under his management.

The serious trouble trouble which the road has heretofore labored under, lack of money, is now removed, and the completion of the project with-municipal communication, will soon be accomplished.

Owosso The Times March 18, 1892

The Mex Mazo speaks Russian and builds railroads, and when the weather gets warmer, he will clean the the mud off the Owosso and Corunna street railway track, and for one nickel Corunna people may come over on the street railway, which Mex Mazo will operate for the present company.

Owosso The Time March 25, 1892

Messrs. Delo & Carleton, of Detroit, were Owosso, Wednesday, looking after the city street railway. These gentlemen are anxious to have a track on Washington street north and these west on Oliver street to the central school building.

The Owosso Times Sept. 1, 1893

A Receiver Necessary.

Judge Newton has sent to Frank T. Lodge, of Detroit, his finding with reference to the receivership of the Owosso and Corunna street railway which came up before the term of court for this county just closed. Judge Newton says in the finding that the road has a valuable franchise and is a valuable property, but has, in some unexplained matter, its affairs in a chaotic condition without a president, a board of directors and a treasurer who had issued the the bonds bonds for the concern ready ready to resign without any person willing to fill the vacancy made by his withdrawal. Mr. Watters, who was left in management, is honest and efficient and should be retained under the receiver whom the circumstances would tend to show the road was much in need of. The receiver should give bonds for the faithful performance of his duties and clothed with only the necessary power to make the road more efficient in service and more productive in resources.

Judge Newton asks the Detroit stockholders (who are in the majority in number) to name any person they they deem fit as receiver and he will appoint him. If they cannot agree upon such a person he would advise the appointment of either Newton Baldwin or Edwin Todd of Owosso.

The Owosso Times Nov. 8, 1895

The engines and boilers for the Electric Railway Co. have arrived and will be set as soon as the location of the power house is settled upon. The work of grading and putting the track in shape is being pushed very fast.

The Owosso Times Nov. 15, 1895

The Electric Railway.

Work on the track is progressing favorably. The hill near the Johnson cracker factory on the Corunna road has been cut down during the week and the approach to the Ann Arbor track filled in. Nearly all the poles have been been set. Over a thousand dollars was paid to the men employed on Monday.

The question as to the location of the power house and general office was settled Tuesday by the purchase from Lingle & McDannel of land on Corunna Ave., between the street and D. & M. Ry. The buildings will be substantial brick structures, to be erected at once.

Fares from Owosso to Corunna were reduced from ten to five cents on Monday.

President Ralph, Of Philadelphia, is in the city looking after the work and interests of the road.

Pres. Ralph and Frank Entrikin leave tomorrow for Chicago and Indianapolis to purchase machinery.

The Owosso Times Nov. 15, 1895

An axle of the truck use to hall the street railway boiler from the M. C. depot to the power house broke down on Washington street Saturday. The boiler is an immense one and it was quite a difficult task to re-load it.

The Owosso Times Dec. 20, 1895

The dynamos and engine for the street railway were received the of the week.

The Owosso Times Feb. 7, 1896

The New Motor Cars.

The two motor cars of the Owosso and Corunna Traction company have been unloaded from the Ann Arbor cars on which hey have been standing for over a week, the center of curiosity in that vicinity. These cars bear the names of the makes, the J. G. Brill Co., of Philadelphia, and are very pretty. They are painted in a very deep, though bright red with the Owosso and Corunna Traction Company's name painted in large gilt letters on the sides. The windows are large and clear, and the little ventilating windows overhead are made of roughened glass stained in old gold. The inside is finished in rather light woods, well finished and highly polished. There are twelve double seats covered with cane, like the seats in the cars of the intra-mual railway at the World's fair. One portion of each car, nearly seven feet square is reserved for baggage and has doors opening on each side. This baggage room is separated from the passenger room and the motorman's place by doors. The motormen will be protected from exposure to the weather by glass windows and doors on all sides. The car cars are fitted with incandescent electric lights and fully equipped with electric bells, holding-straps, etc. The trailers of which there are are four, are much smaller, but but are painted and finished in style similar to the motor car. These cars have a sufficient display of brass trimmings and are in every way fitted for the street rail railway service. It will afford much pleasure to our citizens to see these cars in motion, and to appreciate the great improvement over the old service. It is quite confidently expected that these car will be be in use by the fifteenth of this month.

The Owosso Times Sept. 11, 1896

Electric Consolidation

The Caledonia Electric Light & Power Co., has purchased the entire plant of the Owosso Electric Co., and will move the whole outfit to the plant now owned and operated by it. Work was commenced Monday on a new building 45x50 feet in size, just north of the present building, in which the two engines and the dynamos of the old Owosso Electric Co. will set up. By this arrangement the lighting plant and the power plant will be entirely separate, the engines of the old company being being used for furnishing light and the the two engines now in use at the power house, still furnishing the current for for power purposes. This will guard against the irregularity in the lights, which would result if the lighting were done by the same dynamo or engine which ran the street car motors and at the same time both both the lighting and and power plants will be be in duplicate. A large archway will cut out from the north wall of the present building, and will connect it with the new one. When the machinery is set up in the new position it will be in different shape from from what it is in its present location, as the engines and dynamos will be on the same level, while the main shaft and condensers will be considerably lower. The additional boilers will be set up in the part of the building now used as acar barn, which will bring them conveniently near near the ones now in use there, while a new car car barn will be erected. The consolidation, when completed will make one of the best equipped and largest electric light plants in central Michigan.

President I. D. H. Ralph has great energy and enterprise in building up a first class plant with every convenience and ample power, and is to be congratulated on his present move which will mean continued good service. On the other hand the Travis brothers have given good service and have made many friends in Owosso who will be very sorry to see them leave the city after doing business here so long and so successfully.

The Owosso Times Sept. 25, 1896

The railway how has a side track in use on Washington street near the Wildermuth House.

The Owosso Times Oct. 16, 1896

The old car barn has been removed in sections from its old location and is being erected on the three-cornered lot east of the O. & C. T. Co.'s power house.

The Owosso Times Jan. 1, 1897

The Owosso & Corunna Traction Co. is no building and addition on the north-east corner of its building which will make it much convenient to attend to the company' business. The addition will be of brick, two stories high. It will contain the company's office, a convenient testing room shut in completely be by four brick walls to secure quiet from noise and jarring, and on the second floor Mr. Ralph's private office. The room now used used for an office will be used for the store room. All off the machinery from the Owosso Electric Company's plant is now in position at the new place and shows off to even better advantage than before. The plant is really a model of its kind.

The Owosso Times July 23, 1987

The Owosso & Corunna St. Ty. Is rebuilding one of the steam motor cars and will fit it up for a trailer, will will be a great convenience to the company in handling crowds,

Motor No. 1 has been repainted and given a general overhauling. It is now nearly ready for service again and will look like a new car.

Thomas Payne is learning the peculiarities of the electric fluid and the motors, and will soon be a full fledged motor man.

The Owosso Times Aug. 20, 1897

The street car motor men have orders to stop only on crossings in Owosso and Corunna, except in front of hotels. This is the same rule which prevails in large cities; that is the car crosses the street before stopping, thus always stopping, at the cross walk farthest in the direction in which the car is going.

The Owosso Times March 11, 1898

A new hot water heater is being built at the O. & C. T. Co.'s plant

The Owosso Times April 1, 1898

Under the direction of Supt. Stoddard of the O. & C. T. Co., cinders are being put on the street car track to fill up the holes caused by the recent rains.

The Owosso Times Sept. 2, 1898
D. A. Britten, of the Michigan Electric Co., Detroit is in the city doing some extensive repairing for the Owosso & Corunna Street railway company. Mr. Britten graduated in electrical engineering at the University of Michigan in 1897 and assisted in the installation of the University electric lighting system before taking his Detroit position.

The Owosso Times Nov. 18, 1898
The O. & C. street railway company now has an extra closed car, the “Magnet,” which made its first trip Tuesday. The was purchased last summer for use as a trailer and has been refitted and equipped with motors in the shop here. It is shorter than the other cars but fills the bill while the company is limited to but a part of its tracks and for supplementary work.

The Owosso Times Nov. 18, 1898
Articles of association were filed with the secretary of state yesterday for the Long Lake, Durand & Corunna Street Railway Company with a capital stock of $50,000. Of this this amount it is said that $45,000 has already been subscribed, and over $11,000 paid in. F, J. Northway, of Durand, M. P. Nichols, of Corunna, and I. D. H. Ralph, of Owosso, among the principal stockholders. The company already has secured franchises from all the cities and townships between Corunna and Holly and expects to combine with a road already running out from Detroit to Pontiac. At Corunna the O. & C. Ry. tracks will be made use of to continue the service to Owosso.

The Owosso Times Jan. 6, 1899
Street cat traffic to West Owosso has been interrupted again this week, the second time since the cars began running on the temporary structure over the river. This is, however, the last interruption for the tracks laid this time will be in the permanent flor of the bridge.

The Owosso Time May 12, 1899

There is a possibility that new steel rails may take the place of the light rails now in use by the Owosso & Corunna street Ry. If this change is made street car passengers will no longer need to imagine themselves rough riders – as the smooth running of the car on south Wash Washington street where heavy rails are laid in the pavement clearly shows.

The Owosso Times June 2, 1899

The Ann Arbor Ry. Has recently secured terminal facilities at Menominee and is planning to build a depot and warehouse in that city. The ferry business across Lake Michigan is growing to important and profitable proportions.

The Owosso Times July 28, 1899
The street car track was torn up yesterday between Washington street and the bridge and the railway company will harten the work of putting in the new ties and laying the new rail so that the delay in paving will soon be over with. One car has been left between the bridge and the Michigan Central to remedy a part of the inconvenience caused caused by the interruption to the service. In the meantime cars leave the New National corner and Corunna at the regular hours.

The Owosso Times Aug 11, 1899

Street Ry. and Paving Cos. In a Row.

Owosso had a street car fight Saturday which once or twice seemed in danger of becoming almost a riot Marshal Lovett, Sheriff Scougale and Under Sheriff Crane were on the scene and largely through their influence the employees of the street railway company and those of the paving company were kept from actually coming to blows. As it was Mr. Crane was struck once during the scrimmage. The trouble began at noon when President Ralph, of the street railway company, ordered his men to take car through to the Michigan Central station instead of stopping at the corner of Washington and Main streets, as they have been doing since the track was torn up for paving. Several barrels of tar were between the newly laid rails at the intersection of Ball and Main streets and these were rolled out of the way by some of some street car employees before the car started. By the time the car reached the place, however, the barrels had been rolled back on the track by the employees of the paving company under direction of Foreman Young, who was temporarily in charge of the work during the absence of Superintendent Bobbins. A lively dialogue ensued between Young and Ralph, the former insisting that the cars should not be run over that part of the track before the newly laid cement between the ties and rails had had time to set. A lively tussle then took place between the employees of each, but Mr. Ralph finally ordered back the car. At three o'clock the same thing was again attempted and the tussle became warmer than before. It was this time that Under Sheriff Crane pushed aside a young negro in the employ of the paving company and was himself struck by another. Finally at the sheriff's order Young called his men off and the car was allowed to pass, and have been constantly passing since then. Opinions differed quite materially as to the rights of the two contending parties and the duties of the officers in the case but the general impression.

The Owosso Times Nov. 10, 1899
Notice
On and after this date, Nov. 8, 1899, except Saturday evenings, one car will run until 9 o'clock a. m., after which two cars will run as usual until 9:45 p. m. First car leaves National hotel corner, going east, at 6:10 a. m.; last car leaves Owosso at 10:30 p. m. I. D. H. RALPH, Pres.

The Owosso Times Jan. 26, 1900
A deal is said to have been consummated whereby the Owosso & Corunna street Railway will change management early in February. The plan of the new management is said to be to continue the present efficient service of the local company and to combine with it service in different directions from from the the city over new line to be built soon. Mr. Ralph expects to devote his time to his Philadelphia interests.

The Owosso Times Mar. 16, 1900
One means of settling the matter of electric railway connection between Owosso and Saginaw and Bay City in the North and and Durand and probably eventually Detroit on the east, seems to be agreed upon. The Saginaw Southern which expects to begin the work of construction through to Durand as soon as spring opens up and the Owosso and Corunna company have have agreed to form a junction at Venice center, an arrangement which would seem to offer import advantages to both companies and will certainly be a long step in advance for Owosso in securing better connections with surrounding cities.

The Owosso Times Oct. 26, 1900
Monday evening the Owosso & Corunna Street Ry. Co. had one of the old steam motor cars running to accommodate the crowds who went to Corunna to attend the political meetings, but when they came around Quayle's corner from the south the car jumped the track, running into a telephone pole by Walsh's grocery. The car was badly demolished, but no one was injured.

The Owosso Times May 31, 1901
Mr. A. C. Kendall, of Philadelphia, is the new manager for the Owosso & Corunna Electric Company.

The Owosso Times June 14, 1901
Manager A. C. Kendall, of the O. & C. E Co., has ordered a large amount of copper wire to be used to a large extent in replacing wiring about the city which has become defective.

The Owosso Times July 5, 1901
Manage A. C. Kendall of the O. & C. E. Co., left Saturday evening for Syracuse, N. Y,, to purchase another open car for the street car line. The new will be shipped at once and will be of the most approved types of open suburban cars, somewhat larger than the one now in use by the company.

The Owosso Times Aug. 16, 1901
One of the dynamos at the O. & C. E. Co.'s power power house burned out Friday afternoon, causing a loss of of $700.

The Owosso Times March 7, 1902

Big Improvements

The Owosso & Corunna Electric Company has spent several thousand dollars the past few months, improving its plant, and the work is nearing completion.

Two 150 horse power boilers, manufactured by the Heine Safety Boiler Co., of St. Louis, Mo., have been put in by Expert J. W. Telford, and are almost ready for firing. A brick tank has been built in such a way as to catch the exhaust steam. This heats the water almost to the boiling point, making the work of the boilers much easier.

A patent stoker, the merit of which is its feeding the coal in beneath the flame instead of above, is another new bit of mechanism. Its manufacturers claaim it will save at least ten per cent in fuel, and a test of the the stoker, as compared with the ordinary firing, will soon be made.

The Owosso Times March 14, 1902

The O. & C. E. Co's barn - employes have built a derrick-car for use along the line.

The Owosso Times Aug. 5, 1904

The O. & C. E. will soon ballast its tracks with cinders from the plant, and have purchased several small dump cars for the work.

The Owosso Times Oct. 19, 1906

A new boiler of 400 horse power is being installed at the O. & C. E. power house, the roof being raised four feet to make room for it.

The Owosso Times Jan. 3, 1908

New Management for the O. & C. E. Company

President Stephenson,, of the Owosso & Corunna Electric Co., was in the city several days last week. Before leaving on Saturday he announced that the resignation of Lawrence Manning, for three and one-half years manager of the plant, had been accepted, and that Robert I. Gale and Eugene S. Brewer would become joint managers. Also that E. A. Garrison had been succeeded as collector and meter reader by Walter R. Clingenpeel. No one could have worked harder than Mr. Manning to keep the plant in running order and he is certainly entitled to great credit for what he has done. A man with less determination would have give up in disgust long ago. Mr. Stephenson gives assurance that the new managers will not be hampered as Mr. Manning has been.

The Owosso Times May 8, 1908

IN HANDS OF RECEIVERS

Owosso & Corunna Electric Co.

Failed to Pay Interest on Bonds.

On application of the Fidelity Trust Co., of Philadelphia, Pa., Judge Swan, of the U. S. Court at Detroit, has appointed Edward E. Mandeville, of Philadelphia and G. L. Taylor, of Owosso, joint receivers for the O. & C. E. Company, because of the company's failure to interest on bonds. Receiver Mandeville arrived in Owosso Tuesday and has taken charge of the management of the business. There are no local creditors and no Owosso money is invested in the company. It is probably a good thing that the company affairs have reached a crisis as it may result in some necessary improvements bring made and the electric and street car business put on a good basis.

The Owosso Times Sept. 3, 1909

New Generators for O. & C. Power House

A new 150 horse power generator is being installed at the O. & C. E. Co. power house and will be in operation by Monday, giving a total of 1225 horse power in generators. The engine power is 975 horse, boilers 900 horse power, putting the plant in shape to have reserve machinery of all kinds at all times and insuring little if any more trouble as to power.

The Owosso Times Sept. 2, 1910

New Manager For Electric Co.

On Friday last James DeYoung of Holland, Mich., succeeded W. E. Guthris as manager of the of the Owosso & Corunna Electric Co., recently purchased by Detroit parties and ultimately to be divided between the Lansing & Northeastern Ry., and the Commonwealth power Co. Mr. DeYoung is an experienced business man and has been for thirteen years in charge of of the electric plant at Holland. He will soon be located in the city with his family.

The retiring manager, W. E. Guthris, will leave the city bearing with him the good wishes of everyone with him the good good wishes of everyone with whom he has had business relations. No man ever had more difficulties to contend with than has Mr. Guthris in keeping the plant of the O. & C. E. E. Co. in working order and it was only done by the most untiring work on his part.

The Owosso Times Nov. 18, 1910

Consumers Power Co.

The separation of the business of the lighting and power from the street car operations of the Owosso & Corunna Electric Co. which was announced some months ago would follow the sale, has now taken place. The lighting and power business is now done under the name of the Consumers' Power Co. It is understood the present management will be in charge of both branches of the business until the line of the Lansing & Northeastern is completed.