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The Argus Press [75 years ago Jan. 23, 1988]

ELSIE – A northbound through freight train on the Ann Arbor railroad, moving at a slow rate of speed, plowed into the rear end of of a local freight standing on the main track at a point just inside the east city limits, at 10:30 this morning, resulting in a pile-up that will delay traffic for several hours.

“The caboose of the local freight and one were telescoped and caught fire from the stove in the caboose. No one was injured.”

The Toledo News-Bee Jan. 30, 1913

Lawrence Romanski asks $15,000 damages from the Ann Arbor railroad. He was hurt when a loading gangplank gave way under him.

The Evening Argus Mar. 5, 1913

STALLED IN SNOW

Ann Arbor Motor Car Held Up For Six Hours Sunday

Stuck in the snow for nearly six hours at Brink's hill and three hours at Rosebush was the experience of over a score of passengers on the Ann Arbor motor car due here at noon Sunday. A balky engine was the cause of the delay at Rosebush. At Brink's hill the car ran into a snow drift nearly as big as the car itself. Conductor Shears called for volunteers and soon had a shovel crew at work. It was hard work, but the passengers stuck to the work like good fellows. After a few hours of hard work they managed to get the car clear and the run into Cadillac was completed without mishap. The car was nearly ten hours late here.

Conductor Charles Shears was in charge of the car, and the engineer was Johnny Scott. – Cadillac News

Boyle v. Waters, 199 Mich. 478, 166 N.W. 114 (Mich. 1917)

[Page 480]

On the 8th day of March, 1913, plaintiff became a passenger of the Ann Arbor Railroad at Cadillac with through transportation to Charlevoix via Pere Marquette from Thompsonville. She arrived at Thompsonville on the Ann Arbor train at 6:15 o'clock in the evening. It was dark, and, being unacquainted with the situation, she informed the agent that she was going to Charlevoix, and inquired where she would take the train. He stepped to the door, called her attention to a light observable through a window of the Pere Marquette station nearly opposite, and directed her to go over the crosswalk to the light. She [Page 481] went to the waiting room, secured her baggage, and followed the way pointed out. When within a few feet of the Pere Marquette station platform she was struck by a belated south-bound Pere Marquette passenger train and carried on the pilot beam of the locomotive for something like 100 feet finally falling to the ground just before the train stopped. Her left foot was severed at the ankle joint, and the bones of her leg were so badly crushed that amputation 4 inches above the knee was necessary, and she was otherwise seriously injured.
The negligence charged against the Ann Arbor Railroad was the failure of the agent to inform plaintiff that she would have to cross the Pere Marquette track before she reached the station, and its failure to warn her of the approaching south-bound train which was then standing north of the target. The Pere Marquette Railway was charged with negligence in running the south-bound train into the station without giving sufficient warning of the approach, and with failing to maintain a proper lookout as it approached the crosswalk to avoid colliding with persons thereon. The negligence charged against both defendants was their failure to properly light the passageway so as to make it safe. The trial resulted in a judgment for plaintiff, and both defendants assign error.
Dudley Waters was a Grand Rapids businessman of Waters Building and Waters Mansion/Apartment fame. He was the receiver for the PM.

The Evening Argus May 19, 1913

AFTER NEW TERMINUS

Ann Arbor R. R. Believed Negotiating For Log Road To Ice Free Harbor

Would Mean Manistee Instead of Frankfort and Would Tap Present Route At At Cadillac.

CADILLAC, Mich., May 18 – From a reliable source comes information of great interest to Cadillac and vicinity, to the effect that the Ann Arbor railroad is considering the purchase of R. G. Peters logging road, standard gauge, which extends from Manistee eastward 40 miles to a point in Cherry Grove township, one-half miles from the southwest shore of Lake Michigan.

The road has an unusually good roadbed, the steel is down and the Ann Arbor has long cherished the hope that some day it might have a terminal where during the winter months it would not have a frozen harbor.

Would Give Ice Free Harbor

The terminal at Manistee would be so far up the river that the channel could be kept free from ice and the big boats could run longer in the winter time to the northern Michigan and Wisconsin ports. This would be a big item with the Ann Arbor because of the heavy shipments it desires to make throughout the entire year.

There was some talk of the company's buying the Manistee & Grand Rapids road, which runs from Marion on the Ann Arbor to Manistee, but there are engineering difficulties on that road which are to overcome. Another reason for buying the Peter's road is because it runs through a much better agricultural country.

If bought the road would be extended to this city, the eastern terminus now being only seven miles from here.

Business men here and farmers along the route hope the rumor is well founder. The road is still in use by the Peters people for hauling logs, but the winter cut will soon be completed.

Ludington Record-Appeal May 22, 1913

ANN ARBOR PURCHASE NOW THE RUMOR

Talk of Purchase by that Road of the Peter's Road

Manistee, Mich., May 20 – A rumor current here is that the Ann Arbor Railroad is thinking of making use of the R. G. Peters' logging road, which runs from Manistee into Cherry Grove township of Wexford county, for a change of plans which will make Manistee and not Frankfort the terminal of the road. Considerate publicity has been given in the past to a proposed purchase of the Manistee and Grand Rapids road by the Ann Arbor road by the Ann Arbor road, a plan which would also make Manistee the terminus.

The manager of the R. G. Peters' Salt and Lumber, when called today, stated that he had heard nothing of the rumor and did not believe that there was anything to it. The following is taken from a Detroit paper under a Cadillac date line:

“From a reliable source comes information of great interest to Cadillac and vicinity, to the effect that the Ann Arbor railroad is considering the purchase of the R. G. Peters' logging road, which extends from Manistee eastward to a point in Cherry Grove township, one-half miles from the southwest shore of Lake Mitchell.

“The terminal at Manistee would be so far up the river that the channel could be kept free from ice and the big boats could run longer in the winter time to the northern Michigan and Wisconsin ports. This would be a big item with the Ann Arbor because of heavy shipments it desires to make throughout the entire year.”

Some feature of the newspaper story, not quoted above are erroneous. It is stated that the road is a standard guage, when it is actually narrow guage. It is believed locally that this is the strongest point arguing against the rumor. Local men doubt if the Ann Arbor road would make such a purchase when they would be required to lay new rails, Another irregularity to the story is the statement that “there are engineering difficulties” on the M. and G. R. which make the use of the road impracticable. Local men do know exactly what this ambiguous phrase means, but it is known that the M. & G. R. bed is in good shape.

The Peters' logging road reaches a point with in seven and a half miles of Cadillac, and it is believed that if any deal is made the road will be extended to meet the Ann Arbor at that city.

The Toledo News-Bee June 14, 1913

RAILROADS WAGE BATTLE TO KNOCK OUT 2-CENT RATE

The Ann Arbor and the Pere Marquette railroad companies are planning legal action to get relief from the two cent per mile rate law in Michigan, according to Wall st. advices. The Wall St. Journal of Friday says:

In view of the Minnesota rate case decision, interests connected with the Ann Arbor and Pere Marquette railroads are planning to attempt to get relief from Michigan's 2-cent fare law. Concerted action is likely to be taken in the courts of Michigan to obtain a higher rate.

A 3-cent rate would mean an increase of $600,000 annually for the Pere Marquette and $100,000 for Ann Arbor. Litigation will Probably be started to show that the 2-cent passenger rate is confiscatory in the case of these two Michigan roads at least. Pere Marquette being in the hands of receivers.

It is said that Michigan might compromise on a 2 ½-cent rate and that increase would benefit those roads.

The Evening Argus June 30, 1913

MANDAMUS PROCEEDINGS

Filed By City To Compel O. & C. Railway To Give Better Service

Mandamus proceedings were filed in the circuit court Saturday by City Attorney A. E. Richards, asking the court to compel the M. U. T. and the M. U. R. to place their tracks in good condition and to run to the old terminal, the Ann Arbor depot, besides living up up to other provisions which are set forth in the franchise which was given them by the city in the fall of the year of 1895.

It is thought by those who are interested in the case that it cannot be heard or decided for another year.

The Evening Argus July 21, 1913

THIS VILLAGE IS FAST VANISHING

Temple, Once Thrifty Lumber Center, Is Disappearing

TEMPLE. Mich., July 21-- The village of Temple, whose only industries were saw mills, is about to be erased from the map.

The “last cut” is nearly completed, and the families of the last dozen lumbermen, who five years ago numbered among the village's population of 1,000, are preparing to leave.

The village was named after W. M. Temple by the Ann Arbor railroad, which touches it. Mr. Temple conducted the Temple House for many years, where scores of lumberjacks and visitors have been guests. The village was founded on the bank of the Muskegon river 20years ago.

The Toledo News-Bee July 28, 1913

TWO BADLY INJURED

John Proks and Somos Gostaks,section hands for the Ann Arbor railway, were hurt Monday morning near the Wagon Works station when a load of ties fell on them. The were taken to St. Vincent's hospital.

The Evening Argus Oct. 30, 1913

The work on the actual construction of the coal dock, the first of buildings of the Ann Arbor railroad's new shops, was begun today. The company has employed several teams and a number of men for the past three weeks in grading for the necessary tracks. Their work of late has been delayed because of the weather.

The Toledo News-Bee Aug. 25, 1913

TOLEDO COLONY TO BE RESULT OF REALTY TRIP

A Toledo summer resort colony will be established on 160 acres of beautiful land owned by the Ann Arbor railroad on Crystal lake as a result of the two-day excursion of Toledo Real Estate board to northern Michigan on a special Ann Arbor train. The trip ended at 1 a. m. Monday morning, when the 150 excursionists reached Toledo.

The land is located at the highest point on Crystal lake, a wooded slope 155 feet high leading down to the lake shore. It has a lake frontage of 6,500 feet.

WILL BUILD BOULEVARD

The Buelah city council and Ann Arbor will build a boulevard around the lake. Work is to be started this fall. Driveways and other improvements will be put in the property and an effort will be made to have the 160 acres strictly a Toledo colony.

The excursion was the most successful in the history of the Toledo Real Estate board. All of the employes of the E. H. Close Realty company, I. B. Hiett & Co., B. B. Grantham and other Toledo real estate dealers were on the train and real estate offices in Toledo were closed Saturday.

At Durand, Cadillac, Ann Arbor, Buelah and Frankfort, Mich., the Toledoans were met by the city officials and members of chamber of commerce and taken on auto rides. At Cadillac the excursionists were guests of the Camber of Commerce at dinner following which an illustrated lecture on western Michigan was given.

ON LARGEST FERRY

One of the big features of the trip was a ride on Lake Michigan on Ann Arbor car ferry No. 5, the largest vessel of its kind in the world. Thanks to General Manager A. W. Towsley and General Passenger Agent J. J. Kirby of the Ann Arbor, who had charge of the tour, every want of the members of the members of the party was attended to and trip was the most enjoyable ever given by the real estate board.

A baggage car was attached to the train and a piano provide. In this car two vaudeville shows, with members of the real estate board furnishing the talent, were given and at every station where stops were made, Tom Davies, George Leibus and Miss Myrtle Streetman sang.

The Toledo News-Bee Sept. 26, 1913

TOLEDO TO BEBENEFITED BY RAILROAD DEAL

Three big deals involving the Ann Arbor railroad, and which will mean much to Toledo, were declared to be under was by General Manager A. W. Towsley at a dinner given in his honor at the Toledo Yacht club Thursday night by the members of the real estate board.

Mr. Towsley refused to disclose the details of the deals, but it is believed they will bring the Ann Arbor into a big railroad system and make that road on of the most important entering Toledo.

Other guests of honor were J. J. Kirby, general, general passenger agent of the Ann Arbor, who declared that a syndicate had been formed, and that the Royal Frontenac hotel at Frankfort, burned several years ago, probably would be rebuilt.

Mr. Kirby said his company had under way plans for greatly increased activity on the Ann Arbor. A new department of development will be added to the road and effort made to locate factories along the line.