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Owosso The Times Jan. 7, 1887
Elsie Sun: Grading on the T., A. A. & N. M. road at Greenville is not at all frost bitten. Work is being pushed under the supervision of N. P. Glana, who has at present a force of 75 men and 17 teams. Two teams are kept plowing all night to prevent the earth freezing.
J. M. Ashley of the T. & A. A. R. R. paid $7,5,00 for the 17 acres of flats in this village, and offers the land free to manufacturing industries to locate here. Isabella County
The trains on the T., A. A. & N. M. R . R. have been very irregular for the past week on account of the snow.[Pettysville Correspondent]

Enterprise Jan. 21, 1887
Trains on the T. A, A. & N. M. line have been seriously delayed the past week owing to the inclement weather.

The T. A. A. & N. M. road was extended from Alma to Mt. Pleasant nearly six months ago, and there are no mail facilities yet, and letters from Alma to the north have to go East over the Lansing & Northern and thence by stage, and the feeling among business men on the subject is expressed in the the word disgust.

Pinckney Dispatch January 27, 1887
As the pay car on the T., A. A. & N. M. railroad was going back to Toledo, it discovered a wash-out south of Chilson. They gave orders for the section boss to get what men he should need and fix it. He took eight men up and let the water off before any damage was done.[Pettysville Correspondent]

Owosso The Times Jan. 28, 1887
At a recent meeting of the stockholders of the T. & N. M. railroad, A. W. Wright, of Alma, was elected vice president. A first class selection.

The Ann Arbor Courier Feb. 9, 1887
The T., A. A. & N. M. Ry. Is discussing the feasibility of running a branch from Howell to Saginaw, going by the way of this village and Flint, providing a sufficient bonus be raised. Fenton would do her share on the bonus question. – Fenton Independent

Isabella County Enterprise Feb. 4, 1887
Beginning 21, 1887, the T. A. A. & N. M. begins carrying the mail from the south, a convenience that will be highly appreciated.

Owosso The Times Feb. 11, 1887
The T. & A. will commence carrying the mail from Vernon and Durand on the 25d inst.

Pinckney Dispatch February 17, 1887
The section hands were called out in the night last week to help get some cars back on the track. They think that it is fun to be be called up out of a warm bed on a cold night.[Pettysville Correspondent]
The T., A. A. & N. M. R. R., have completed their water tank at this place.[Hamburg Correspondent]
Mr. Oliver Billsen, night watchman on T. A. A. & N. M. R. R. reports the sinkhole bridge in very bad shape and train men have had orders not to run faster than 144 miles per hour across said bridge.[Hamburg Correspondent]

Isabella County Enterprise Feb.25, 1887
W. Vansicklen moved his family and household goods to Mt. Pleasant last week. He will work in the shops for the T. & A. A. railroad company. [Clare Democrat]

Owosso The Times Feb. 25, 1887
The T. & N. M. road is now carrying mail, and it makes ten mails a day.

Clare Democrat March 3, 1887
The T., A. A. & N. M. railroad surveyors have been making a new survey through the village this week. Staking the town at the southwest corner the new line cuts diagonally across the lots of J. Schilling, A. Rhodes, Mrs. Eva Sailsbury, H. Schilling, down across the marsh, between J. Horning's store and the F. & P. M. depot, strikes Bicknell's warehouse and R. Welch's residence. Continuing northeast through the village, going a few rods to the south of Ed. White's residence on 5th street, and so on. This new route cuts through some of the village property in a very undesirable manner, and will necessitate the moving of two or three buildings if taken up. This route may be did away with, however, if the F. & P. M. company will consent to join the T. & A. A. company in the erection of a union depot, in which event it will probably be built on the west side of town. We can but watch and pray, and it is sincerely hoped the F. & P. M. company can be prevailed upon to join with the T. & A. in the erection of a depot.

It will be a narrow escape if the new survey of the T. & A. railroad succeeds in missing J. O. Callaghan's residence. John looks a little “blue” but then he smiles and says, “Its awful nice; we voted for it, and now let it come.”

The Mt. Pleasant Democrat says: The line, grade and all necessary preliminaries are completed to commence the work upon the extension of the T. & A: from this point to Clare. The company are now only waiting for the snow to disappear and the frost out of the ground when active operations will commence. The road will cross the river at this place, landing on the west side near the cemetery. The extension of this road, together with the many other improvements now contemplated will not only give employment to a large number of labors, during the coming summer, but give our town quite boom, and make business good for the next year at least.

Clare Democrat March 25, 1887
On Monday evening last a railroad meeting was held at Judge Wheaton's office at which Supt. Carling, of the T. & A. A., H. H. Graves, of Mt. Pleasant, J. White, civil engineer for the T. & A. A. railroad, Judge Wheaton, C. W. Perry, Clark Sutherland, A. J. Doherty, N. Bicknell, Mr. Cooley, J. C. Rocksfellow, Wm. Giberson and a representative of the DEMOCRAT were present. The object of this meeting was to talk over the railroad question and appoint a committee to go over the route through Vernon township and negotiate with land owners to see what they would do toward giving the right of way through their lands. The committee appointed were Judge Wheaton, C. W. Perry and J. C. Rocksfellow, who, in company with Supt. Carling, J. White and A. J. Doherty went out in Vernon to canvass that township. The committee report that notwithstanding the fact that a right of way had been donated as far as the township and negotiate with land owners to see what they would do toward giving the right of way through Vernon township all wanted pay for their land. Now as this road would benefit them would it not be better to give it outright and thus not let it be said that for Vernon township the Toledo & Ann Arbor railroad would have run through Vernon township., Clare Co., and so north? Although the sums demanded by each land holder is small, the total amount foots up altogether too large. The depot grounds and yards has been donated in this village , which speaks well for the push and enterprise of our citizens, if nothing more. It will be definitely known in a few days whether this road will come to Clare or go elsewhere.

Railroad Gazette April 1, 1887

G. H. Betts has been appointed Car Accountant, vice D. Broek, resigned.


Isabella County Enterprise April 8, 1887
The following railway mail service has been established in Michigan: Grand Rapids, via Ravenna, to Muskegon, Muskegon, Grand Rapids & Indiana railway, 3950-100 miles and back, six times a week or as much oftener as the trains may run from April 25, 1887. After April 18 service on the Toledo, Ann Arbor & Grand Trunk railway, from Toledo, O., to South Lyon, Mich., will be Curtail so as to make it end at Emery, Mich., decreasing distance about nine miles.

Clare Democrat April 8, 1887
It appears that we are to have the T., A. A. & N. M. railroad after all, as negotiations are pending for the purchase of the branch by that company from the F. & P. M. But that won't netter matters much, as the F. & P. M. will go away east of us on the Houghton Lake branch. Don't like the idea.

For some time past the Toledo, Ann Arbor & North Michigan Railroad Company has been trying to obtain the right of way through a piece of land land in Isabella county, owned by David Kelly. Last Friday John C. Carling, Superintendent of the company, was in the city for the purpose of making negotiations to that effect. Being unable to come to a decision as to the price, it was agreed to settle the matter by arbitration. Thomas Pickard, of Vernon, were selected to name a price for the land. [Saginaw Courier]

Isabella County Enterprise April 15, 1887
The Toledo, Ann Arbor and North Michigan Railroad wants 14 miles of railroad, between Harrison and the junction of that branch from the F. & P. M. railroad, and have asked for figures.

Owosso The Times Apr. 15, 1887
Ashley Argus: The engineers on the new Saginaw & Muskegon road have had orders to commence the survey on the line east of this village soon.

Spokane Falls Review April 21, 1887
Shrewd Legislators
Lansing, Mich., April 20 – About a week ago the Toledo, Ann Arbor & North Michigan railroad requested the return of all legislative passes. Considerable dissatisfaction was expressed by the legislators who hinted darkly about legislation, lowering passenger traffic, etc. To-day the passes were returned to the legislators and all is serene.

Clare Democrat April 22, 1887
SHES COMING
The Latest Railroad News
Work on the T. & A. A. to Commence Next Monday
After out forms were ready for press this morning a rumor reached us that the surveying party of the T. & A. A. railroad were in town surveying land for the depot and yards and that work will be commenced next Monday morning in this place at at Mt. Pleasant on the road-bed. A reporter of the DEMOCRAT at once proceeded to investigate the rumor and found it to be true in every particular and that work will be pushed from now until the road is finished and cars running to this place.
Supt. Carling has ordered picks, shovels and all the implements necessary to commence work at once and is ready to engage a large force of men and teams to commence work. All who wish to engage work will apply early as possible.
Thus it will be seen that what the DEMOCRAT has claimed all the time has come true and Clare will soon hear the scream of the whistle of the T. & A. A. engines within its borders.

An Evart and Cadillac delegation were in Mt. Pleasant the first of the week consulting with J. M. Ashley in hope of securing the T. & A. A. railroad. Mr Ashley's reply was to the effect that “the company had decided to push the road direct through to the straits of Mackinaw, but if Cadillac people would offer sufficient inducement, the company would build them a road through to Frankfort an if they so desired it could be called the main line, but that the company had decided to make a direct line to the straits and there the road was to go.” There is not much danger but that Clare will get the T. & A. A. yet. The reason that work has not been commenced is because the Evart sore-heads have been writing to the financiers of the road and the company have been delayed in getting money.

Clare Press April 22, 1887
OUR NEW RAILROAD
Will Commenced next Week Monday
SURE FARWELL HAS OUR SYMPATHY

The Surveyors Arrived this Morning to Lay out a Depot.
Early this morning the T. & A. A. surveyors arrived by carriage from Mt. Pleasant and processed immediately to the western outskirts of our village to lay out the ground for a T. A. A. & N. M. railroad depot.
H. H. Garaves informs us that work will be commenced at both ends of the line Monday morning and pushed forward to completion as fast as possible.
Farwell especially has our deepest sympathy for not securing this road for we know they have been very confident of getting it. But then seeing they have been so good to let us have it we will not object to their coming down and riding on it once in a while.
The exact position of the depot has yet been determined upon, but it will be between 5th and 6th streets.

H. H. Graves of Mt. Pleasant, the attorney for the T. & A. R. R. was in Clare on Sunday, having come in on a log train in the night from Saginaw. Leaving there at 8:20 p. m., he arrived in Clare at 4:15 Sunday morning, and had to drive home. Pretty soon it won't be so tedious a trip from Saginaw to Mt. Pleasant via Clare. Mr. Graves had been down to bay City concluding negotiation with Mr. McEwan for the right of way through this village and for depot grounds. Ample accommodations on the west side of the village plat were deeded to the company and the the depot will be located probably at the end of Sixth street.

Owosso The Times Apr. 22, 1887
James M. Ashley say the T. & N. M. railway will lay 200 miles of track before the end of 1887.

Railroad Gazette April 22, 1887

This company has made an offer to the Flint & Pere Marquette company for a purchase of 14 miles of its Harrison Branch line.


The Ann Arbor Courier April 27, 1887
At its recent annual meeting, Sedgwick Dean of this city, was elected a director of the T. A. A. & N. M. R. R. The annual report showed that this road last year earned $380, 251.01, of which $47,113.93 was profit. It built 45 miles of road and opened 71 miles giving it a line from Toledo to Mt. Pleasant, 171 miles.

Isabella County Enterprise April 29, 1887
H. H. Graves, the attorney for the T. & A. A. road, has been absent from home much of the time in the last few weeks looking after the interests of that road. He says the work which commenced on the road between here and Clare on Monday of this week, will be pushed forward at both ends of the line with all the rapidity possible, and we soon will be able to go to Clare on the cars.

Clare Democrat April 29, 1887
Saginaw Courier: The Cadillac people are now confident that the Toledo, Ann Arbor and Northern extension will reach their place by the fall. Work has begun at Clare and it is declared will be pushed steadily forward.
J. M. Ashley and John Carling were in town last evening. They drove north this morning toward Harrison in company with W. Chard. 'Tis stated that the object of going over the road is to see whether it would be cheaper to build than to buy the Harrison branch.

NO DOUBT OF IT NOW
Work on the extension of the T. A. A. & N. M. railroad between Mt. Pleasant and Clare was commenced Monday at both places. A gang of 29 men and three teams are at work in this village, grading and filling in the marsh near Boorn's mill. Marting Clone has the superintending and the work is being pushed. Iron will be laid and an engine and train put on this end before long. One of the heaviest grades on the line is near the above mill. It is a a ten foot fill and about 30 rods long.

Owosso The Times Apr. 29, 1887
Byron - Parties are surveying for side track on the T. & A. road four miles south of here and a wheat elevator is soon to erected there.

Railroad Gazette April 29, 1887

At the meeting in Toledo. O., last week, the following directors were elected J. M. Ashley, Toledo, O.; A. W. Wright, Alma, Mich.

An interesting experiment is to be tied by this company – a plan of profit sharing, of which the employees of the road will be beneficiaries. The details of the scheme were worked out by President Ashley. At the recent annual meeting the stockholders voted to give it a trail.


Owosso The Times May 6, 1887
The annual report of the T. A. A. & N. road shows the company to be in a flourishing condition. The gross earning for 1886 were $380,251.01; operating expenses, $222,074.52; interest of bonds, $145,600, leaving a net balance on hand of $47,113.98. During 1886 forty-five miles of new road was built and 71 miles opened for traffic, which gives the road a total of 171 miles. It is expected that before the close of the present year two new extensions, now in progress, will be completed and added to the road's mileage – the one one from Mt. Pleasant to Cadillac, 73 miles, and the other from Ashley to Muskegon, 95 miles.

The Ann Arbor Courier May 11, 1887
M. L. Jones is the new station agent at South Lyon of the T., A., A. & N. M. R. R. Co.

Dave Hitchcock, the Ashleys and the fellows now own the Toledo, Ann Arbor &Northern Michigan railroad. – Milan Leader

Pinckney Dispatch May 12, 1887
Mr. William Peters and William Mercer will meet Mr. Ashley of the T., A. A. & N. M. R. R. May 12, to arrange for a depot , side track and wheat house at this place.[Pettysville Correspondent]

Railroad Gazette May 13, 1887

Henry W. Ashley has been elected Second Vice-President and General Manager.


Pinckney Dispatch May 19, 1887
Mr. Ashley, Superintendent of the T., A. A. & N. M. R. R., met Mr. Wm. Petteys and Wm. Mercer last week and made arrangements for a side-track, depot buildings and freight house.[Pettysville Correspondent]

Isabella County Enterprise May 20, 1887 Wm. Pickard and Michael Garvin, of Mt. Pleasant, have taken the contract to grade two miles of the T. & A. A. road between Mt. Pleasant and Clare.

Isabella County Enterprise May 27, 1887 T. & A. A. R. R. are out with a new time card. Trains leave here at ^:30 a. m. and 1:30 p. m. Arrive at 10:30 p. m. and 12:30 p. m.

Railroad Gazette May 27, 1887

W. W. Belts has been appointed Traveling Agent, with headquarters at Toledo.


Isabella County Enterprise June 3, 1887
Grading on the T. & A. A. railroad, between here and Clare, is being rushed along in fine shape. Several gangs of men are at work. At Isabella City, better known as Indian Mills, a cut is being made to get over the hill which begins just out the “city limits” of that burg. A large supply of wheelbarrows have just been delivered.

Owosso The Times June 3, 1887
On Tuesday and Friday of each week, two refrigerator cars well iced, are over the T., A. A. & N. M. railroad from Mt. Pleasant to Detroit and eastward via Ann Arbor, for for the purpose of accommodating all shippers of butter, eggs, etc. Through rates will be given from all stations to Buffalo, Albany, New York, Boston and all other points, with the guarantee of promptness.
The road bed of the T. S. & M. railroad between Greenville and Ashley is now ready for ties and iron. President Robinson has ordered 3,000 tons of steel rails, to be delivered on the road bed by June 15, the laying of the same will commence on the 20th, and 40 days later will bring the iron to Greenville. The west end of the line is expected to be ready for the iron by the time the construction train reaches Greenville.

The Ann Arbor Courier June 8, 1887
Next Sunday the T. A. A. & N. R. R., will run a special train to Detroit by way of Milan.
Toledo, Ann Arbor Northern railway local officials are negotiating for a ball game between Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor, to be played at Whitmore Lake next Sunday.

Pinckney Dispatch June 9, 1887
The Toledo & Ann Arbor railroad makes Howell a division headquarters for freight trains.
Sunday excursions on the T. & A. A. R. R. are taking large crowds to Whitmore lake from both directions.
The T. & A. A. R. R. road will extend its line to Cadillac and that place will produce substantial aid to the tune of $30,000 bonds.

Owosso The Times June 10, 1887
The Toledo & Ann Arbor railroad has had its ears to the ground with results. All employes and officials, who shall have served five years, will receive a dividend based upon the amount of their salaries for the previous year. If any employe or officer is disabled in service and remains unfit for duty for six months, he will receive a certificate of stock to the amount of his previous year's wages. In case of death his heirs will be given a certificate of stock equal to five times the yearly salary.
A large crowd gathered at the T., A. A. & N. M. depot to see the “circus come in.”The headquarters of Ashley's engineers have been located at Cadillac and will remain there until the T., A. A. & C. R. R. is completed to that place. Work will be pushed from Cadillac southward and from Mt. Pleasant to the north. And supplies and steel rails will be brought in over the G. R. & I. R. R. The route adopted makes directly from Farwell to Cadillac, running through Clare and Wexford and the northeast corner of Osceola counties.

Railroad Gazette June 10, 1887

Work has begun on the extension of the road from Mount Pleasant to Cadillac, Mich., 55 miles. Trains are expected to be running about Nov. 1.


Owosso The Times June 24, 1887
C. H. Allen has accepted a position in the office of Supt. Carland of the T. & N. M. road at Mt. Pleasant.

Isabella County Enterprise July 1, 1887
Supt. Ashley, of of the T., A. A. & N. M. railroad, don't propose to employ unmarried man on that road if he can help it. He thinks married men are not so likely to engage in strikes.

Owosso The Times July 1, 1887
The T. & N. M. railroad loaded two cars of wool and on of hay for Boston market on Wednesday.

Isabella County Enterprise July 2, 1887
Tuesday 75 or 80 men left Mt. Pleasant for Farwell to work on the T. & A. railroad.
Monday, on the Cadillac section of the Toledo, Ann Arbor & Cadillac railroad, about thirty laborers threw down their shovels and demand an advance in wages of 15 cents per day. They gained their point and will hereafter receive $1.50 per day, which is from 7 to 10 cents more than is now paid in the mills here for the same class of help. Men with teams receive $3.50 per day, and an abundance of them are at work.

Isabella County Enterprise July 8, 1887
The T. & A. A. railroad have now commenced the grading between Clare and Farwell.
The T. & A. A. railroad have cut through the embankment to the flats in this city so as to get to their bridge crossing the Chippewa. The cut is some twelve feet below the present grade. When this completed the depot will be north to the flats near Broadway. Prince & Co's. Factory will have to be moved in order to give the right of way and still secure their power from the Harris Bros. Mill.

Owosso The Times July 8, 1887
The grounds of the Toledo and Ann Arbor road are being put in good shape. 75 car loads of gravel have been drawn in,and more is to be bought in and spread at the crossings.

Isabella County Enterprise July 15, 1887
The T. A. A. & C. railroad have brought an engine from the Fields logging road to assit in grading the fill near the river and help in laying the track.
Last Monday two men from Sault Ste Marie came to Mt. Pleasant to hire men. They offered 75 cent a day more than men were getting on the railroad and to pay their expenses to the “Soo.” The consequence was a strike among graders on the T. A. A. & C. R. R. One of the “Soo” men was struck by a contractor and put to flight. The other said they would have to “run him out of town a corpse, if they got rid of him so easy.” They secured and took away about forty men.
A company with $2,500,000 capital has been organized in East Saginaw to carry on the Durand railroad project. The following are the directors: A. W. Wright, W. R. Burt, P. H. Ketchum, W. C. Mc Clure, Charles W. Wells, F. C. Stone, Thos. Merrill, E. W. Knowlton, John A. Edgar and J. M. Ashley, Jr. All but Ashley are residents of Saginaw.

Pinckney Dispatch July 21, 1887
The Pettysville side track is down and Mr. Wm. Mercer is ready to build his elevator soon as the lumber comes.
A bee was made last week to level ground for the passenger and freight houses.
The section men moved their headquarters to Chilson last week.[Pettysville Correspondent]

Owosso The Times July 22, 1887
Thirty laborers employed on the T. & N. M. at Cadillac, struck for $1.50 a day on Monday – 15 cents more than they were getting—and the demand was granted.
Some 45 cars of iron have passed north on the T. & N. M. the past week for the road between Mt. Pleasant and Clare.

Isabella County Enterprise July 29, 1887
Forty five car loads of iron have been received at this of the T. & A. and much of it is piled up in the yards at Mt. Pleasant awaiting to be used.
The T. & A. have laid a 'Y' east of the river and north of Broadway to connect the new main line near the bridge with the portion lately vacated by the F. & P. M.
The T. & A. has laid the iron to their new bridge across the Chippewa. The ties for the road further north have been delayed in reaching this point, as they were to come down the river. They were expected last night and when they do arrive Clare people can soon come to Mt. Pleasant direct, for every preparation is made for pushing the track laying as rapidly as possible.

Owosso The Times July 29, 1887
Saginaw Herald: On Monday last when the surveyors of the Saginaw, Toledo & Mackinaw railway began their work, they started from it point west of Durand and close to that village. They kept at work on this line all Monday and part of Tuesday, when J. M. Ashley. Jr.. arrived on the scene and said that the surveyors had got on the wrong track. He hired a rig and started after them but failed to find them, and another man was sent out to hunt for them and he found them in a swamp near Flushing. The entire corps of surveyors were then brought back to Durand and started on a new line from a point two mites southeast of Durand, where the Toledo, Ann Arbor & Northern leaves the Detroit, Grand Haven & Milwaukee road. From this point the line runs to Duffield, four miles from Durand. where it crosses the Chicago it Grand Trunk. it crosses the Detroit. Grand Haven & Milwaukee road two miles cut of Durand. This survey leaves Durand out. On the new line the surveyors passed Flushing Thursday.
From Flushing to Duffield, the Grand Think crossing. the distance is 14 miles. When the second line was started Durand people began to grow uneasy, and when they saw their village passed two miles to the southeast, they put their heads together on Thursday and concluded to send Chat. H. DeCamp, one of their business men, to interview the Saginaw directors on the subject. Mr. DeCamp arrived' here Friday night and yesterday had an Inform talk with Mr. W. B. Burl but he evidently got but little satisfaction, and left for home last evening via Owosso. He believes the reason Mr. Ashley gave Durand the go-by was on account of a grudge he had against that place for not standing up to their agreement with the Toledo, Ann Arbor & Northern road. It didn't pay the notes given, and they are now In Garrison's bank at Vernon for collection. According to Mr. DeCamp, Ashley said he would some day get even with Durand, and he now believes that eventful period of time has arrived. Mr. Burt, however, disabused Mr. DeCamp's mind on that point. He said the new company had no old grudges against any place, and all they desired was to get the beat line. Durand, It was stated, had offered nothing as an inducement to cover the extra coat of the line to that point. The line from Saginaw to Flushing and then to Durand is no straighter than an elbow, and this doubtless is the reason for the change to route. On the other hand, a glance at the map will show that the new line from Flushing to Duffield, to a point where it forms a junction with the T., A. A. & N. road, Is perfectly straight, and shorten the distance some two miles. The expense of this two mile, and also the dis­ advantage of us crooked line, is undoubtedly the reason for going two miles to the southeast of Durand. Time connection at Duffield with the Chicago & Grand Trunk Is just as good as could be had at Durand, and with the Detroit, Grand Haven it Milwaukee road is more direct on the route to Detroit.
The Howell people are inviting the people along the T.,& A. A. R. R. to petition against the Sunday excursion business. We say amen to it. The influence of Sunday desecration will end disastrously-- its power for evil will be unlimited.

Isabella County Enterprise August 5, 1887 Next Monday August 8, the T. A. A. & N. M. railroad will run an excursion from Mt. Pleasant to Island Lake where the state troops will encamp. An opportunity will be given visitors to experience the excitement of a sham battle which will take place on that day. The train leaves Mt. Pleasant at 6:00 A. M. and arrive at Island Lake at 10:30. Fare for round trip from Mt. Pleasant and Shepherd is $2.50. A good chance for a days enjoyment.

The Ann Arbor Courier Aug. 10, 1887
The new depot of the T., A. A. & N. M R. R., Mr. Wales tells us, will be commenced very soon, and there will be a grand transformation scene in that section of the city.
It was rumored in the city yesterday that Richard McDonald, of Northfield, upon returning home from Whitmore Lake with his family Sunday, Found his house, barn and farm buildings burned to the ground. But as near as we can learn a passing engine set fire to some grass on the Toledo road about 1 ½ miles south of the Lake Sunday, and burned to within a few rods of the buildings of Patrick McDonald, and but for the quick work of a few neighbors would have burned said buildings down.
We understand that the farmers along the line of the T., A. A. & N. M. R. R. residing in the township of Pittsfield, who have suffered from the burning of fences, wood, etc., by by reason of passing trains, are to combine and bring suit against the company for the loss.
Station Agent O. G. Wales, of the T., A. A. & N.M. R. R., has rendered the Ann Arbor City Band free round trip tickets to Whitmore Lake for the great pioneer picnic, to take place next week Saturday. A very graceful thing in Mr. Wales, and one the boys will properly appreciates. The T. & A .A. is wide awake.
We understand that the farmers along the line of the T., A. A. & N. M. R. R. residing in the township of Pittsfield, who have suffered from the burning of fences, wood, etc., bu reason of passing trains, are to combine and bring suit against the company for the loss.

The Owosso American Aug. 10, 1887
Now is Owosso's Chance!
An Offer Made for the Location of the T., A. A. & N. M. Railway Shops
The Common Council Monday Evening by An Almost Unanimous Vote Decide to submit the Question to the people.
A BIG THING FOR OWOSSO. LET US HAVE THE SHOPS.
Supt. Ashley was in the city last week relative to the location of the shops of the T., A. A. & N. M. R'y. He said if the people of Owosso wanted the shops they could have them' what the company want is $25,000 and 20 acres of land; also they would like to locate them here very much, as it is so near the center of their road, and if not located here they will remain in Toledo, where they now are and the people of that city want them to remain there, but Mr. Ashley states that it is at one end of road it is not so convenient as it would be near the center.
They will have to know in a few weeks, as they would commence putting up the buildings this fall – all of which will be built of brick and the material as far as can be will be purchased here. It is understood that the land will be donated to the city for that purpose.
Just think what shops of this kind have done for other places where they are located. Jackson, the Mich. Central; Ionia, the Detroit, Lansing & Northern; Fort Gratiot, near Port Huron, the Grand Trunk; East Saginaw, the Flint & Pere Marquette, and others. Citizens of Owosso now have a chance to secure these shops. Now the question is “will they do it?”
Work will be commenced by Sept. 1, and the buildings pushed to an early completion. It will be necessary to vote on the question; we ought to give it a good round “yes” majority. Ann Arbor and Howell have offered great inducements, but the company prefer Owosso, and we can have the shops if the voters of this city will get to the front and vote the aid required to get them. At Ionia, where the shops of D., L. &N. R. R. R., are located, they pay out monthly to their employees alone, $13,000, and this road to-day has not so many miles of track as the T., A, A, & N. M. Ry. Now Owosso should have these shops. They would be of great value to the city, and be a permanent institution. It has been stated over and over again that Owosso is the best location on the entire line for them and the company know it.
The company offers everything that is fair. They do not ask a cent of this money only as the work progresses, and then through the hands of a committee of citizens appointed for that purpose. And then if the shops should ever be removed, the entire plant, lands, etc, revert back to the city.
The Common Council, Monday evening, voted, with but one dissenting voice to submit to the people the question of securing these shops, and on Monday, Aug. 22, a special election will take place. It cannot be that any opposition of any extent will be made to a project of such great benefit to all classes of Owosso to both the business and laboring element.
By all means let's have the shops.

The New York Times Aug. 11, 1887
ROBBED AND DROWNED
Sandusky, Ohio, Aug. 10 – The body of a man found floating in the bay here was today identified as that of Lewis E. Stowe, of Toledo, Assistant Auditor of the Toledo, Ann Arbor and Northern Michigan Railroad. He left Toledo last Saturday and Had $80 when he left. The Coroner found 48 cents on his person. It is supposed he was robbed and thrown into the water

Owosso The Times August 12, 1887
The T. S. & M. railroad is graded and ready for the rails for several miles beyond Cedar Springs.

Last Monday was pay day on the T. & A. and James Ashley was in some way detained so that he did not reach Mt. Pleasant with the money until Tuesday noon. When Tuesday morning came a number of men, instead of going to work came to town to get their pay. Besides losing their time they had a good walk to Mt. Pleasant and back without their money. Mr. Ashley, on his arrival immediately sent the cashier to pay off along the line, and those who came to town had to wait until last for their pay by not being at their post when the paymaster came along.

The Ann Arbor Courier Aug. 24, 1887
The T., A. A. & N. M. R. R. will put in a side track to the new boiler and engine works of Barclay & Reeves.

Isabella County Enterprise August 26, 1887
The iron is now down on the T. & A. beyond the half-way, or Calkinsville. It will be through in time for the people of Clare to attend the Isabella County fair at Mt. Pleasant.
The T. & A. being completed to Calkinsville of Half Way, the road will run an excursion both ways next Sunday to give people a chance to attend the Indian camp meeting.
The Toledo & Ann Arbor railroad will give half fare rates to all those who attend the Isabella County fair October 4, 5, 6, 7. It is to be hoped that the F. & P. M. may do the same.

Owosso The Times August 26, 1887
The following is the proposition made by H. 'W. Ashley to the city for the location of the T, A. A. & N. M. R. R. car shops in this city:
Toledo, Ohio, August 18th, 1887. V. C. Payne, Esq., Owosso, Mich.:
I have received copy of a notice of a public meeting to be held in your city to tomorrow; Friday evening, the l9th inst.
I understand that your committee, with whom I had conference some two weeks ago, propose to present at this public meeting the conditions and stipulations which this company will exact and offer, provided its shops and repair works are located in your city.
I wish to avoid the possibility of any misunderstanding between this company and your electors as to these term and conditions.
If these works are located in your city the company will require the transfer, free and unincumbered, land to the amount of fifteen or twenty acres and the payment of twenty-five thousand dollar in money.
If these conditions are complied with the company will locate and maintain perpetually its principal shops for the repairs of its engines, cars and road tools in your city.
The officers of the company will reserve the right to select the site of these works, regardless of any local prejudices that may exist among your citizens. This property will be selected with the. view of giving the company the best and most economical means of operating its works. The exact amount of land which it will be necessary to have for these purposes, cannot be stated until the site is selected, inasmuch as the location cf the buildings and the amount of ground necessary therefor will depend, in a great measure, upon the general contour of the land. We shall not, however, demand or ask your citizens to secure, property which Is of unusual value, on account of its location for business purposes, nor any land which by reason of the present improvements thereon would be more expensive than the land which usually lies adjacent to a city the size of Owosso.
Further, the company will require that twenty-five thousand dollars in money be deposited in the hands of Trustees, subject to be paid out under the provisions of a contract hereafter to be made between the authorities of your village and these of this company, in the event that, your citizens elect to enter into this arrangement.
I wish it distinctly understood that the company does not propose to handle any bonds, or securities of any kind, or to have anything to do, or any knowledge of the manner in which the money which it is proposed to give to this company for this purpose, is raised.
These are the terms and conditions which the company demand as a condition to the location, of its principal shops in your city.
If these conditions are complied with the company proposes to locate its principal repair and machine shop in your city. These shops will consist of an engine house, a machine shop, a car shop and a paint shop. the engine house will probably be built with five stalls, on a plan which will permit the company , to increase it to twenty stalls. The machine shops will be of size which will permit us to rebuild three or four engines at one time, and will contain the necessary machinery to maintain the fifty or more engines which will be in the service of the road and its branches. The car shop will be constructed in such manner as wilt permit the repairs of cars indoors and will contain necessary machinery for this purpose. The paint shop will be of size which will permit the painting of two or more passenger cars at one time, and will contain no machinery of any kind. The engine house and machine shop will be of brick; the car shop and paint shop will probably be frame structures.
From this description you will understand about the nature of the structures which the company considers, necessary for its present demands. These buildings and machinery will of necessity increases the lines of the company are extended, and as the machinery and cars, the property of the company, become older and from year to year need to have more expense in order to maintain them in suitable condition.
I propose that the authorities of your city and this company enter into a contract whereby the money which it is proposed that your citizens donate In cash shall all be used in the erection of the buildings above described; that none of this money shall be used for the purpose of buying machinery or for any other improvements; in other words we propose that the money which your citizens donate shall all be used for the construction of the buildings necessary for these work, and that the company provide the machinery which will be required to do these repair from time lo time as the work makes it necessary. I wish it distinctly understood that the company does not propose to place in these buildings any more machinery Immediately than is necessary for the repairs and renewals of the rolling stock which it now owns. This rolling stock is for the most part new, and it is not necessary to have many of the machines now which will he required in order to maintain this property as it prows older.
In order that there may be no conflict or subsequent difference between your citizens and officers of this company as to the manner in which this money is expended, I propose that the amount stipulated shall be placed in the hands of some trustee to be paid contractors on these buildings on the joint order of the officers of this Company and a committee of your citizens. If this plan is followed in good faith both by your committee and the officers of the company, both parties to the arrangement will have equal protection and guarantee that stipulations upon which the work is being done is fully complied with.
The inquiry has been made by several of your citizens as to the number of men which this arrangement would locate in your city and the amount of money which which men receive per month as wages from this company. You will see that it is possible for me to answer accurately these inquiries. the company now owns thirty-three engines and some five hundred cars; as this equipment grows older the amount of repairs and the number of men employed, to keep it in. order will be largely increased. You can obtain an approximate knowledge of the benefits which these work will be to your city by investigating the results of the location of similar shops in like cities both in your State and elsewhere your State and elsewhere. To understand what will he the intimate benefits to your city yon should ascertain what benefits such places as Ionia. Jackson, Grand Rapid and Battle Creek in your State and Norwalk, .Newark and other cities in Ohio have derived from the location of .similar works in these towns. In order , to secure the work of the Michigan Central road I understand that Jackson donated some fifty or sixty. acres of land find one hundred thousand dollar in money: that Battle Creek donated some thirty or forty acres of land and fifty thousand dollars in money; Norwalk donated some forty acres of land and fifty thousand dollars in money. These figures may not be exactly accurate but are approximately so and will indicate to you the efforts which other cities or like size with your own have put forth in order to secure similar works.
If these shops are located in your City it will be necessary to make Owosso the end of both the southern and northern divisions; if this is done your city will be the home of as many as seventy five per cent, of all the enginemen, firemen, conductors and brakemen as well as all of the men employed in the repair shops proper. The pay roll of these employees at present amounts to between seven and ten thousand dollars per month.
These men are well paid and can afford to buy property and undoubtedly will in most cases become permanent residents of your city.
I wish to call attention of your tax payers to the difference in the value of these works to your city as compared with any mercantile or general manufacturing works of like size and which employs a like number of men and paying the same amount of money on its pay roll. If you induce a manufacturing establishment to locate in your city it is not improbable that for some years or during the time that there is demand for his product in the market his location will bu of in much value to your community as the location of these works, but in the time of business depression t or want of demand for the particular articles which this manufacturer has to dispose of the number of men in his-employ necessarily decreases or his works are closed altogether; in either event your community loses u part or the whole or the benefit which you sought to derive from securing the location of this business. With railroad property the reverse of this principle is true; the repairs and renewals on engines and cars depend upon the number of miles it is necessary to run them and not on the amount of money which the company earns from the service. If the company is unable to meet its obligations it is not permitted to with draw its trains but is compelled to operate its road and to pay its labor, even when the capital invested does not obtain any returns; so that in a general decline of business or in case of financial failure on part of railroad company the benefits which a city obtains by reason of location of the repair shops continues.
I have been asked what security the company could offer that the works would continue to be operated as the principal repair works of the company in the event that the present ownership was transferred or that the bondholders take possession of the property on account of the inability of the present company to meet its obligations. I am authorized to make n contract with your city which will bind the company so long as the present organization is maintained. It does not affect your interests whether the present management operating the road so long as any future management under this Company is bound by any contract which I sign as its managing officer. In the event that a new organization is formed by reason of .the failure of the present company to meet its obligations, your attorney will advise you that the courts have decided in a number of cases that such a contract as the one which it is proposed . to make between your citizens and this company must be continued. If these works are located in your city under a contract, such as is outlined in this communication, they will be permanent and will be operated as the principal shops of this company, or its successors or lessor, regardless of the disposition or wishes of any future management.
I have today received a proposition from another city on this line similar to the one which it is proposed to accept from you. If there is any considerable opposition on the part of your taxpayers, or is likely to be any delay in getting to worn on these structures, the company will reserve the privilege of withdrawing the proposition after a reasonable time.
H. W. ASHLEY. .
General Manager,
The vote for the bond to support getting T., A. A. & N. M. shops was 648 for and 66 against it.

Pinckney Dispatch September 1, 1887 The Toledo, Saginaw & Muskegon road is to be completed to Muskegon by Nov. 15. The line commences at Ashley, where it connects with the Toledo, Ann Arbor & Northern, and passes through Perrinton, Carson, Vickeryville, Sheridan, Greenville, Cedar Springs and Sparta, the course being almost an air line from Ashley to Muskegon. At present it will be used as a feeder for the Toledo & Ann Arbor, but the owners expect to extend it eastward across the state to St. Clair or Port Huron during the coming year.

Isabella County Enterprise Sept. 2, 1887
The Toledo & Ann Arbor railroad company is having 14 new locomotives built.
Surveyor John White of the T. & A. makes his headquarters at Clare for two or three weeks.

James M. Ashley, Jr., of the Toledo, Ann Arbor & North Michigan, came down from Mt. Pleasant last evening. He says they are laying iron from both ends of the Cadillac division, and have about 25 miles already laid. The graders expect to complete their work as early as the 15th of next month, when it is proposed to bring the entire force here and commence the work of grading the Toledo, Saginaw & Mackinaw between this city city and Durand. [Saginaw Courier]

Railroad Gazette September 2, 1887

Thirty-one miles of track are laid on the extension of this road from Mt. Pleasant to Cadillac, and the road, which will be 68 long is to be opened for business on Nov. 15. A Line is also being built from Mt. Pleasant up the Chippewa Valley to Sherman City, 18 miles.


Pinckney Dispatch September 8, 1887
Rails are being laid on both ends of the Cadillac division of the Toledo & Ann Arbor road.

Owosso The Times September 16,1887
Owosso City Council Minutes for TAA&NM Bonus and land grant
To the Honorable Mayor and Common Council of the City of Owosso Gentlemen Your special committee appointed at a regular meeting of the Common Council, August 22d, 1887,, to whom was referred Ike negotiations pending between the city of Owosso and The-Toledo, Ann Arbor & North Michigan Railway Company, Mr, II. W. Ashley, General Manager, beg leave to report.
shops shall revert to the grantor for the me and benefit of said City, It is understood that if the City fails to perform and fulfill tho agreement and conditions on its part herein set forth within thirty (30) days from date, this agreement shall be null and void at option of the Company.
Toledo Ann Arbor & North Michigan R'y Co. by H. W. Ashley, General Manager.
The City of Owosso by its committee, viz:
James H. Calkins,
Oscar Wells,
Moses Keyte,
Julius Frieseke,
A. L. Williams.
Stearns F. Smith.
To the Mayor and Common Council of the City of Owosso, Michigan.
Gentleman: Henry W. Ashley. General Manager of this Company is authorized to act for the President and Board of Directors in all negotiations concerning tho location of the repair shops for this Company, and the agreement into with the authorities of Owosso, under date of Sept. 7th, 1887, is hereby approved.
By order of the Board of Directors,
J. M. Ashley, Pres,
D. F. Jeuvis, Sec. Pro-tern.

Superintendent Carland has been very busy lately rushing the T. & A. into Clare. The crossing of the F. & P. M. was affected Sunday and the remainder of the iron was laid later. So Clare has two railroads now, the T. & A. opening up the place to the south. The work between Clare and Cadillac is being pushed with the fullest force possible.
The Toledo, Saginaw & Muskegon railroad has reached Greenville and gone on toward Cedar Spring.

Railroad Gazette Sept. 16, 1887

Work is progressing on the extension of this road, from Mt. Pleasant, Mich. To Cadillac, 68 miles. More than 35 miles of track are now laid, and it is expected to have the road in operation by the last of November. A line is also being built from Mt. Pleasant to Sherman City, 18 miles.


The Democrat, Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., Thursday, Sept. 22, 1887

Owosso has signed the contract with Toledo & Ann Arbor railroad and will have the shops.


Railroad Gazette Sept. 28, 1887

This company will build shops at Owosso, Mich. Work will begin within 30 days.


Isabella County Enterprise Oct. 14, 1887
The T. & A. will probably in about ten days put on an accommodation train to run between Mt. Pleasant and Farwell in connection with the regular passenger and freight trains.

The iron has not yet been laid to Farwell on the T. & A., but will probably reach there in a few days. It is now down as far as Harrison Junction where a bridge is building which delays the iron laying.

The Ann Arbor Courier Oct. 19, 1887
Freights on the T. & A. A. R. R. are increasing so rapidly at this point, that nothing but a new freight house will ever answer the purpose. And when the T. & A. A. attempt anything they accomplish it usually.

Pinckney Dispatch October 20, 1887
(M. A. L.} Our section hands were called upon to aid in constructing the new side track at Hamburg last week and of course responded nobly. They did thee professional squinting to a charm as usual.

The state railroad crossing board have approved the map of the route of the Toledo, Saginaw & Mackinaw railroad through Genessee county.

Isabella County Enterprise Oct. 21, 1887
Work on the Toledo, Ann Arbor & Northern Michigan car shops at Owosso is to be commenced at once.

Railroad Gazette Oct. 21, 1887

Work was begun last week on the company's shops at Owosso, Mich. An engine-house, 80 by 200 ft., capable of accommodating 35 locomotives, will be erected.


Pinckney Dispatch October 27, 1887
The road bed of the Toledo, Ann Arbor and Cadillac railroad is nearly completed and there is only about 16 miles of track to lay.

Isabella County Enterprise Oct. 28, 1887
Work was begun last Friday on the Toledo, Saginaw & Mackinaw railroad between Durand and Saginaw.

Isabella County Enterprise Nov. 4, 1887
It is expect that regular trains on the Toledo road road will commence running by December 1st to Cadillac.
A mortgage representing $1,260,000 has been placed on record by Register Cassady. It is given by the T. & A. railroad to the Union Trust Company, and bearing 6 per cent. And securing thirty year gold bonds.

Courunna Journal 11-10-1887
The stockholders of the Toledo, Saginaw & Muskegon railroad will meet in Detroit N ovember 14, io increase the number of directors to 11, and to take into consideration the extension of the line from its present terminus at Ashley to Saginaw, To reach the city the road will pass through portions of the townships of Chapin, Brady, St. Charles, Spaulding and Bridgeport. It is stated that both this road and the Chicago, Kalamazoo & Saginaw will negotiate with the new Toledo, Saginaw & Mackinaw railroad company to use their terminal in Saginaw.—[Saginaw Herald].

Owosso The Times Nov. 11, 1887
It is expected that regular trains on the Toledo road will commence running Dec. 1st to Cadillac

Detroit, Nov. 15 – The stockholders of the Toledo, Saginaw and Muskegon Railway, a new line in this State, met in Detroit yesterday and elected as President David Robinson, Jr. of Toledo; Vice-President and Manager, W. V. McCracken, of New York; Secretary and Treasurer, William Baker, of Toledo; Auditor and Freight and Passenger Agent, I. K. McCracken, of Fort Wayne; Assistant Secretary, Joseph P. Pennington; Directors, David Robinson, Jr., James M. Ashley, William Baker, and John Cummings, of Toledo; W. V. McCracken and George T. Evans, of New York; E. Middleton, of Greenville, Mich.; L. G. Mason, of Muskegon, Mich,; I. K. McCracken and H. M. McCracken, of Fort Wayne, Ind.
Work has commenced on the Toledo, Ann Arbor & Cadillac round house at Cadillac.
General manager H. W. Ashley was in Mt. Pleasant Tuesday and viewed the new railroad from here north as far as Lake George in company with J. M. Ashley, Jr., and Superintendent J. C. Carland and surveyor John White.
The foundation of the Toledo & Ann Arbor round house at Owosso is completed. The round house will accommodate 36 locomotives.The stockholders of the Toledo, Saginaw & Muskegon railway met in Detroit recently and elected as president David Robinson, Jr., of Toledo; vice-president and manager, W. A. McCracken of New York; secretary and treasurer, Wm. Baker of Toledo; auditor and freight passenger agent; J. K. McCracken of Fort Wayne; assistant secretary, Joseph P. Pennington; directors, David Robinson, Jr., James Ashley, Wm. Baker and John Cummings of Toledo; W. V. McCracken and George A. Evens of new New York; E. Middleton of Greenville, L. G. Mason of Muskegon; I. K. McCracken and M. M. McCracken of Fort Wayne. The road is 96 miles in length, from Muskegon on Lake Michigan to Ashley, on the Toledo, Ann Arbor & North Michigan, making a direct road from Muskegon to Toledo, and good connections with Detroit. Work upon it has been actively pushed all summer, and the route will be opened for business by the middle of December it is expected.

Isabella County Enterprise Nov. 25, 1887
Agent McLennan of the T. & A. posted the following in the depot on Monday: “To employees: The pay car leaves Toledo, Tuesday, the 22nd at 6:30 a. m. H. W. Ashley, Gen. Manager.” We hope to report next week that our Vernon friends and all others have received their full pay. Agent McLannan says all contracted debts will be paid in full within three weeks as the company have begun to receive installments from the Union Trust Company on the large loan recently mentioned in the ENTERPRISE, and also the bonus due the road on the completion of the laying of the iron will be paid as soon as the two ends meet between Lake George and Marion.

Corunna Journal 11- - 1887
Ashley, with two railways, is threatened with third the Kalamazoo, Hasting & Saginaw. The village now boasts of 300 inhabitants for three years' growth.

Corunna Journal 11- - -1887
Marion, Oseola county, on the Toledo, Ann Arbor & North Michigan railroad, is the latest infant town. Christopher Clark is the founder and boomer.

Isabella County Enterprise Dec. 2, 1887
The T. & A. new combination bridge for crossing the Muskegon river passed through here yesterday. It will take about three days to effect the crossing.
The space between the two ends of the T. & A. construction is now only seven and before another week it will undoubtedly be closed. Regular trains to Cadillac about New Years is the latest guess. There is much ballasting to be done beyond Clare.
The T. & A. telegraph line is now in operation to the Muskegon river.
The memory of the famous “Howell Railroad War” is still green in the hearts of many Michigan people. The Toledo & Ann Arbor Co., cut under the track of the Detroit, Lansing & Northern near Howell, and as the work was not done to suit the latter company a row ensued that resulted in the stoppage of trains, tearing up the tracks, and lots of law suits. Later, the managers of the tow roads got to a better understanding of each other , and it was decided to put in a good bridge at the crossing. This work was begun this fall and was pushed to its fullest extent, at at great cost, but it has now been found that it is impossible to complete the work owing to water and quicksand. Now the Toledo & Ann Arbor folks has changed the route of their road and crosses the other road at a grade nearer to Howell. An Interlocking switch is to be put in so that trains can pass without stopping. It has been a costly bit of engineering.

Owosso The Times Dec. 2, 1887
C. L. Putt has returned to Banister and accepted the position of station agent on the T. & A. R. R. R. S. Knight takes Mr. Putt's position as baggage master at the junction.

The brick on the round house of the T. & A. A. shops will be completed this week. It would have been done were this but for the meanness of some one who cut off the the measuring poles, compelling the company to tear out a portion of the walls already laid. The trenches are being dug for the engine building, which will be 80x160 feet, with two wings, one 40x40 feet and the other 20x40 feet; stone work will be commenced for it to-day. The carpenter shop has been staked out and will also be a large building.

Pinckney Dispatch December 8, 1887
The memory of the famous “Howell Railroad war” is still green in the hearts of many Michigan people. The Toledo & Ann Arbor Co. cut under the track of the Detroit, Lansing & Northern near Howell and a the work was done to suit the latter company a row ensued that resulted in the stoppage of trains, tearing up the tracks and lots of lawsuits. Later, the managers of the two roads got to a better understanding of each other, and it was decided to put a good bridge at the crossing. This work was begun this fall and pushed to the fullest extent and at great cost, but it has now been found that it is impossible to complete the work owing to water and quicksand. Now the Toledo & Ann Arbor folks have changed the route of their road and cross the other road at grade nearer to Howell. An interlocking switch is to be put in so that trains can pass without stopping. It has been a costly bit of engineering.[Brighton Argus]

Isabella County Enterprise Dec. 9, 1887
At last reports the T. & A. Has not crossed the Muskegon, the bridge job occupying more time than was at first estimated. The iron laying is done all but the crossing above named.

Owosso The Times Dec. 9, 1887
The connecting rails on the Toledo and Muskegon railroads were laid at three p. m. Tuesday.

Newark Daily Advocate, Newark, Ohio, Dec. 10, 1887

A Farmer Obstructing a Railroad

Cadillac, Mich., Dec.10 – The Toledo, Ann Arbor and North Michigan railroad was surveyed through John Chapin's farm. Chapin swore that he would have no railroad running up his farm, and posted a notice warning trespassers that he would shoot the first railroader caught prowling on the premises. Yesterday track layers began work, and when Chapin's farm was reached he fired upon them, shooting John Thomas through the bowels and Fred Sabine through the head. They are dangerously hurt. Chapin has been arrested.


The Daily Argus News Dec. 12, 1887
A Fatal Shot
Cadillac, Mich., Dec. 11 – Gust Hebling, the victim of the shooting affray on the Toledo, Ann Arbor & North Michigan railroad yesterday, died last night. He was aged 25, and a married man. The prisoners, the Chapin brothers, were taken to Hersey, the county seat of Osceola county. The opinion is now general that the railroad employes were trespassers on Chapin's farm; that the railroad company had not procured the right of way, and that Chapin defended his property according to legal advice. The Chapins claim that they did not intend to do any shooting, but were driven to it by the railway foreman, Davis, who had his men surrounding the Chapins and then ordered them to fire on the Chapins. One of the latter fired one shot, which hit Hebling.

Corunna Journal December 15, 1887 The last rail of the Toledo, Saginaw and Muskegon railroad was laid on the 30th just east of Sparta, and though trains will be running on the line by Dec 20. This is the road that leads from Muskegon east on the T., A. A. & N. M.

Isabella County Enterprise Dec. 16, 1887
The F. & P. M. road are trying to keep the Toledo, Saginaw & Muskegon road from entering East Saginaw.

A dispute over the right of way of the Toledo, Ann Arbor & Cadillac road arose near Cadillac the other day. A regular battle with rifles, axes and clubs ensued. One man was shot, perhaps fatally, and several other were injured. A number of arrests were made.

Pinckney Dispatch December 22, 1887
The. T., A. A. & N. M. gravel train was pulled off until next spring.[Pettysville Correspondent]

Corunna Journal December 22,1887
Alex MeKercher of Vernon, was put off a T. & A. A. train recently while holding a return ticket, the time limit ot which had expired. He this week through his his attorney, John T. McCurdy, brought suit against the company for $5,000 damages.

Isabella County Enterprise Dec 23, 1887 Trains through to Cadillac have commenced running this week. Two trains a day leave here – an accommodation at 6:30 a. m. and a regular passenger train at 1 p. m. Trains from Cadillac arrive at Mt. Pleasant at 10:17 a. m. and 4:22 p. m.

The Ann Arbor Courier Dec. 26, 1887
New time table on the T. & A. A. R. R. Two through trains to East Saginaw now.
Hon. John T. Rich, state railroad commissioner, was in the city last Friday looking up the T. & A. A. street crossings.
Several elegant new $10,000 passenger coaches will be put on the T. & A. A. line between Toledo and East Saginaw.
Yesterday morning a stick of timber got out of place on a T. A. A. freight car, and managed to wiggle itself around in such a manner as to knock the car off the track, about 1 ½ miles east of this city, and scattered thing about promiscuously.
It is with pleasure and regret that we have to announce the promotion of A. J. Paisley of this city to be General Passenger and Ticket Agent of the T. & A. A. R. R., relieving W. H. Bennett, who will hereafter perform the duties of General Freight Agent only. It is a pleasure to note the advancement of so deserving a gentleman. We regret it because it will take from us one of the most genital and pleasant agents the T, & A. A. has ever stationed here. Mr. Paisley is one of the hustlers, and the authorities of the road have shown rare good judgment in his promotion. He will assume his new duties Jan. 1st, and his headquarters will be at Toledo.

Pinckney Dispatch December 29, 1887
The new passenger and freight depot at the junction of the T. & A. A. and D. L. & N. railroad, near Howell is to be complete Jan. 10.

Corunna Journal December 29, 1887
The last spike on the Toledo, Ann Arbor & -North Michigan road, between Toledo and Cadillac was driven near the last named place Tuesday. Excursions were run from Toledo and the two places united in celebrating the event.

Isabella County Enterprise Dec. 30, 1887
At the meeting of the Cadillac Business Men's Association, it was decided to celebrate the completion of the Toledo, Ann Arbor & Cadillac by a banquet. Excursion trains from Cadillac and from Toledo will meet at the Muskegon River, witness the driving of the last spike, and then got to Cadillac for a grand good time in the evening. A special meeting of the association will be held next Wednesday evening to arrange for the jubilee.

The T. A. A, & C. and the T. A. A. & N. railroads are to be consolidated February 29th unless some objection is made.

Wednesday was the day set for the banquet celebrating the driving of the golden spike and completion of the Toledo, Ann Arbor & Cadillac railroad. The Cadillac business men's association issued invitations to many prominent people along the line from Toledo to Cadillac to a feast at that place at 4 o'clock p. m. on the above day. Accordingly Mt. Pleasant guests to the number of fourteen went to the T. & A. depot to join the excursion from Toledo which was joined at dinner at Alma by about fifty excursionists from off the T. A. A. C. road. The Mt. Pleasant party were President Kane and councilmen Wetmore, Conlogue, Hicks, Clerk Dains, G. L. Granger, M. Deveraux, F. W. Carr, Wm. N. Brown, H. H. Graves, A. S. Coutant, Jnc. A. Harris and D. Redman. After waiting patiently for four hours expecting to hear the welcome sound of the whistle of the excursion train every minute, they were disappointed on receiving a telegram that the afternoon train south was off the track this side of Alma and that the excursion could not pass until the wreck was cleared up. A fierce wind had blown all day and the cuts were will filled with snow. The excursion left Alma at 9:30 in the evening and had processed north to near Calkinsville. Here a tree blown across the track caused another delay and several of the party roused the farmers in the vicinity who brought them back to Mt. Pleasant whence they took they took the early train south. It was near morning when the excursionists reached the upper end. H. H. Graves, we, hear is the only one of the Mt. Pleasant party who ventured the trip.