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Pinckney Dispatch Jan. 3, 1884
The freight house is all enclosed and about ready for business.

The passengers depot at this place is a building 211 x 60 feet on the ground, with bay window on front of ticket office. It will will be very nearly finished and contains two waiting rooms, baggage room, and ticket and telegraph office.

Two gravel trains will be retained on the Air Line, one stationed at Jackson and the other at South Lyon.

Workmen are are being layed off and worked turned over to section crews.

Pinckney Dispatch Jan. 10, 1884
The Toledo and Ann Arbor was completely snowed in for a couple of days.

The T. & A. A. Co. began occupying their new depot Tuesday, and will have an agent of their own.[Picket]

Pinckney Dispatch Jan. 17, 1884
On an average 20 cars of wheat per day arrived by the the T. A. A. & G. T. to be transferred to the M. A. L. R'y. and taken east.

Pinckney Dispatch Jan. 31, 1884
The T. A. A. & N. engineers have returned after completing their survey to Owosso via Pleasant Valley, Hartland, Brancroft, and and are now running another to Hartland. They speak highly of the new route.[Picket]

The Ann Arbor Courier Feb. 8, 1884
It is probable that one passenger train a day each way will be discontinued soon on the Toledo road, the passenger business not warranting their continuance.

For the month of January we are informed that the Toledo road received $2,000 worth of freight at this depot more than in previous month since the establishment of the road and perhaps $8,000 worth more than in the month of December.

Pinckney Dispatch Feb. 21, 1884
B. F. Jervis has been appointed assistant engineer of the Toledo, Ann Arbor and Grand Trunk with his office in Toledo[Ann Arbor Register]

Pinckney Dispatch March 6, 1884
The Canadian Express Co. have recently established offices at Romeo and Armada, which would indicate that they will control the express business along the Air Line Road.

T. A. A. will again transfer their freight to the D. L. & N. after next Monday.[Excelsior]


The Ann Arbor Courier March 19, 1884
Steel rails are being put down through the city on the T. & A. A. R. R.

The Daily Chronicle, Marshall, April 9, 1884

The Dundee people are kicking because the Michigan & Ohio railway company will not carry passengers from Dundee to Toledo. The Toledo, Ann Arbor & Grant Trunk company, over which they run from Dundee to Toledo, will not allow them to do so.


The Ann Arbor Courier April 16, 1884
The passenger train going south Monday on the Toledo road ran off the track at the High street crossing, and was delayed about an hour and a half.

Pinckney Dispatch April 17, 1884
The G. T. company will soon build a side track and freight house, to be located just west of the T. & A. A. depot [South Lyon Excelsior]


Pinckney Dispatch April 24, 1884
J. T. Eaman, Esq. Has been engaged for several days the past week assisting Major Anderson in securing right of way and notes in the interest of the T. A. A. road between South Lyon and Hartland. He says the work is progressing very satisfactorily.

The T. A. A. are painting their passenger cars red [South Lyon Picket]


The Daily Chronicle (May 18, 1884)

The Michigan coal company's mine at Woodville, near Jackson, has shutdown, throwing over 100 miners out of work, but it is hoped it will be only a suspension.


Pinckney Dispatch May 8, 1884
The T. A. A. R'y. will purchase two new engines for their road.[Picket]

The M. A. L. are building a large freight house between Lake and Liberty Streets.[South Lyon Picket]


Pinckney Dispatch May 15, 1884
Frank Chandler, of Toledo, is clerk at T. A. A. office. [Picket]


Pinckney Dispatch June 5, 1884
Wm. Greig has the contract for building the Hamburg freight and passenger depot, and will commence its erection in a few days.[South Lyon Picket]


The Owosso American June 18, 1884
Completion of the T., A. A. & N. M. R. R. to that Point – And Arrival of the First Train

Last Friday, one hundred of our citizens accepted an invitation extended them by Manager J. M. Ashley, Jr., to a free ride over the new road. A special train arrived Thursday evening over the D., G. H. & M. railway, containing ex-Gov. Ashley, Wm. Baker, A. L. Backus, David Robinson, John Cummings, Frank Young, Henry W. Ashley, C. Culton, of the Bee, C. L. Curtis and others of Toledo; John Goodnough and D. M. Meyo, of New York, W. Hamilton, C. Eberbach, Emmanuel Hanri and H. Hiltzle of Ann Arbor.

Friday morning the visitors were driven around our beautiful city. About 10:30 a. m., the train started on the first trip over the road to St. Louis. For about twenty miles the road is ballasted and in good condition, and the train made good time. The remainder of the road not being in so good running order the time made was necessarily somewhat slower.

The train arrival at St. Louis about 2 p. m., where the iron gang were still laying iron, the rails not being laid within a quarter of a mile of the village, where they were met by some of the citizens of St. Louis, and a procession was formed headed by the St. Louis band. When the order was given to start, the firing of cannon, blowing of whistles and ring of bells commenced. The band was followed by vehicles containing the visitors, and the several fire companies of St. Louis were also in the procession. On the arrival of the procession to a point on the main street, the order was given to break ranks and an invitation was announced to a free dinner prepared by the citizens of that beautiful village, where the crowd soon commenced to “paralyze” the fine eatables spread before them. After all had “fill up,” and address of welcome was made by Mr. Whitney, stating the occasion of which this jollification was commemoration, et. Ex-Gov. Ashley made some pointed remarks, followed by Rev. Mr. Kellogg in a spicy vein; before he got through, however, he surprised the gathering by presenting Mr. Jame A. Ashley, Manager of the road, with a fine, gold headed cane, as a token of esteem from the citizens of St. Louis.

Mr. Ashley kindly thanked the citizens and made a few other remarks, after which Rev. Mr. Matthews and Rev. Mr. Stearns made short speeches pertaining to the road.

The visitors soon after departed for the train which left about 4:30 p. m., feeling that they had been royally entertained by the citizens of St. Louis.

Notes

The Ann Arbor Courier July 2, 1884
The Toledo road is now known as the Toledo, Ann Arbor and North Michigan Ry. The last time card went into effect on the 22d ultimo. No. 1 leaving here at 7:37 a. m. connects at Milan with the W. St. L. & P. Ry., for Adrain and points west No. 3, leaves Ann Arbor at 2:49 p. m., connects at Monroe Junction for Monroe. Trains connect at Toledo as heretofore.

The Owosso American July 9, 1884
Owosso City Council Meeting

Ald. Lewis presented a petition of citizens asking that the balance of the bonds voted by the council to aid the Toledo, Ann Arbor and North Michigan Railroad company, be now delivered to the company, in consideration of which, the manager agrees to establish their machine shops in Owosso. The petition bears the names of a large majority of the business men of Owosso. Referred to committee on Claims and Accounts.

Mr. M. Osburn made some remarks in support of the petition, expressing his view that the company had earned the bonds.

Mr. J. M. Ashley, Jr, in response to call, stated his understanding of the agreement, corroborating the statement of Mr. Osburn. He denounced as false, statements made in Owosso that his road was a Grand Trunk project, saying the Grand Trunk has not one dollar of interest in the road. He gave assurance that the road would be built south to South Lyons, and if the balance of the bonds be delivered now their machine shops shall be located in Owosso.

Mr. Ashley stated that every arrangement had been made to commence work at South Lyon to construct the road northward. Mr. Taylor, boss of the construction gang, had been ordered to go to South Lyon with his gang, at the time of the financial flurry in New York when the company found their funds tied up out of their reach in that city, and orders had to be countermanded. He trusted, however, that the matter would be righted in a short time, and the funds would be available. One of their New York men (Eno we suppose he meant,) is now a fugitive from justice in Canada. In meantime he was embarrassed for want of funds to pays his debts, and the bonds which he thought they had earned, would be of great interest to him just now.

A remonstrance presented by Ald. Lewis, protesting against delivering the balance of the bonds until the company complete their road southward, or five proper security to do so, bears the names of twenty or thirty persons.

After the remonstrance had been read, Mr. B. O. Williams was called for remarks. After expressing his gratification for what had been done by the railroad company, he stated that he had that day, with the assistance of the Attorney General,had an injunction served upon the city officials to stop the delivery of the bonds, deeming it proper that the company should construct their road south before receiving the bonds. He explained his motive. He had seen a good many failures to accomplish the construction of railroads, and even though the company gave security, the city had the security while holding on to the money money. He had not been able to fine any record of the contract, didn't know much about it except by hearsay, and didn't believe any proper record had been kept of any of those transactions.

Ald. Jones denied Mr. Williams' allegations; he said they had records of every transaction.

G. R. Lyon, esq., was called up by the Mayor to make a statement of the case, and which cost the city only twelve hundred dollars. Ashley having fulfilled his agreement was entitled to the balance of the bonds, to say nothing of his favoring the city in the matter of the right of way. The arrangement made with Ashley was reported by the commission to the council, the council appointed trustees to take charge of the bonds paid the money for the right of way, and so, if by no other action, ratified the agreement, and the council is now in duty bound to fulfill the city's part of the agreement made by the commission.

There were some sarcastic, irritating remarks concerning the injunction, which created some unpleasant feeling and brought out brief responses from B. O. Williams, Ald. Dawes and others, several attempting to speak at the same time.

Ald. Jones said the trustees were appointed to hold the bonds and pay them out under the direction of the council. He said Mr. T. D. Dewey came before the council and told them they must appoint trustees, etc.

Mr. T. D. Dewey said Ald. Jones was mistaken; he did not tell the council to appoint trustee; it was Mr. Ashley who asked for the appointment of trustees. Mr. Dewey also made a statement corroborating Mr. Lyon's statement, he being present when agreement was made with Ashley.


Pinckney Dispatch July 17, 1884
Jno. Bartley, the accommodating agent to the T. A. A. & N. M. R'y, has received orders to report for work today, on the extension north. F. W. Rider, late relief on the D. L. & N., will take his position here.[South Lyon Picket]


The Ann Arbor Courier July 23, 1884
Messrs. Swathel, Kyer and Peterson are making extensive improvements at the city mills. The east portion of the old building has been moved north of the mills and will be used for a cooper shop for the firm. Its former place is being rapidly covered with a three-story new building the frame work of which is up. A special Michigan Central side track, that cars from both can be run upon track scales in front of the building. The new building will be covered with corrugated iron, and has elevator story above the third floor. These improvements will add very much to the already fine facilities of the mills.

Boston Evening Transcript July 24, 1884
A MICHIGAN CONSOLIDATION

The Toledo, Ann Arbor & Grand Trunk, which extends from Toledo northwardly to South Lyon, where it joins the Air Line Division of the Grand Trunk, is to be consolidated with the North Michigan road, which is completed to a point about eighty miles northeastwardly from South Lyon, and will thereafter be known as the Toledo, Ann Arbor & North Michigan. It is the intention of the owners to build the road on northeastwardly to Frankfort, on the shores of Lake Michigan. Between this place and the iron mining region of the upper peninsula of Michigan vessel supply during the season of navigation, and the new line will secure much of that valuable traffic.


The Ann Arbor Courier Aug. 6, 1884
The Toledo road's regular trains between Owosso and St. Louis began running Monday.

The Toledo road has an excursion Sunday to the Brighton Encampment, and one on Monday. The sham battle is on the latter day.

The New York Times August 9, 1884
THE ASSETS AND LIABILITIES OF COMMODORE GARRISON
PROPERTY OF ACTUAL VALUE IN THE HANDS OF THE ASSIGNEE WHICH NEARLY TREBLES THE AMOUNT OF DEBTS

First mortgage bonds of Toledo, Ann Arbor and Grand Trunk Railway Company, $150,000;
(only part of the listing)


Pinckney Dispatch August 14,1884
Hartland people are disappointed to learn that is no prospect of T. A. A. & N. R. R. extension being built this year.

Michigan Air Line merged into the Grand Trunk Railroad

Pinckney Dispatch September 18, 1884
Gen'l Manager Spicer, of the M. A. L. R'y, let out the information during a recent visit here that the tickets for all the railroads entering here would be sold at M. A. L. depot shortly, and all passenger trains would stop there only making what was supposed to be the case at the time the M. A. L. Depot was built, a Union depot.[South Lyon Picket]

Pinckney Dispatch October 9, 1884

The American Express Company will establish offices along the Air Line during the week. E. McGarigle is to be agent for the company at this place with office at the depot.

Pinckney Dispatch October 30, 1884
All the freight and telegraph business of the D. L. & N. R'y of this place has been transferred to the G. T. depot.[South Lyon Picket]

The Pentwater News Nov. 13, 1884
A mammoth saw-mill is being erected at Manistique, Schoolcraft County.

The following mail routes have been established in this state: Route 24,065, Owosso to St. Louis, Toledo, Ann Arbor & North Michigan Railway. From November 10, 1884, establish service from Owosso, via Elise, Bannister, Ithaca to St. Louis, forty miles and back, six times a week, or as much oftener as trains may run.

Pinckney Dispatch November 13, 1884
James E. Young, of Chicago, represents $207,000 first mortgage bonds and interest of the Michigan Air Line Railroad. These bonds were issued to construct a railroad from Ridgeway to Jackson and South Bend, Ind. The bondholders of the road after it was built foreclosed and sold the road for $17,000 in excess of enough to pay the the interest to date. The Grand Trunk became owner of the division north of Jackson and the Michigan Central purchased the line to South Bend from Jackson. Suit was commenced by Young in the United States Circuit Court, and this morning Judge Brown rendered a verdict in his favor for $355,865.24. Defendant's counsel say this judgment will not affect the road's franchises, as the sale in 1875 estopped the holders of these bonds in question from making another levy on the road or its rolling stock. --Ex.

The T. A. A. depot has been moved across the tracks. Rumored that a good sized addition is to be built on.[South Lyon Picket]


Pinckney Dispatch December 11, 1884
The Owosso Times says that arrangements are completed for the construction of the T. A. A. & N. M. Ry, from South Lyon to Owosso. [South Lyon Picket]


The New York Times Dec. 15, 1884
ANNXIOUS TO BUY A RAILROAD

CLEVELAND, Dec. 14 – The Receiver of the Toledo and Indianapolis Road has paid all the debts of the corporation, got the road in order, and has $12,000 in the treasury. The court has has ordered a sale of the line, and two contending parties are after it, the Indiana, Bloomington and Western and the Toledo, Ann Arbor and Northern Michigan Company, the latter desiring a Southern connection, which would take it to Columbus and the coal regions of Central Ohio.