[?]

The Evening Argus Jan. 6, 1914
NEW INDUSTRY IN VIEW
Improvement Association May Land Ohio Concern For Reliance Factory
Various Matters of Interest Discussed at Weekly Meeting of Business Men Today

At the meeting of the Improvement association at the Y. W. C. A. rooms this noon, W. J. Blood, chairman of the transportation committee reported that the new schedule which went into effect Sunday on the Grand Trunk railway did not bring the hoped for early train from Durand. The committee will endeavor to interest the various boards of trade along the road and present a petition for such a train, to the railroad company.

E. O. Dewey read a communication from A. W. Towsley vice-pres. And general manager of the Ann Arbor, which thanking them for the deed which was recently turned over to the corporation.

Authority to provide special means of transportation to New Lothrop for the officials of the Ann Arbor railway upon their visit here on the tour of inspection with reference to the proposed railroad from Owosso to New Lothrop was voted.

The secretary read a report of a trip to Ohio in the interest of the association to secure a factory for Owosso. Two members of the association will make a trip for the same purpose some time next week. Photographs and floor plans of the Reliance Motor Truck factory were sent to this company today.

The Toledo News-Bee Jan. 17, 1914
Change In Time Ann Arbor Railroad

Commencing Sunday, Jan. 18, Motor Passenger Train No. 3 for Owosso will leave Toledo 10:10 a. m. instead of 10:54 a. m. This train will connect at Durand with Grand Trunk.

St. Joesph News-Press Jan. 22, 1914
ALLEGE PACKER TOOK $50,000 IN REBATES
CHICAGO GRAND JURY INVESTIGATING CHARGES AGAINST SWIFT & COMPANY
HEARING MAY LAST WEEK
Numerous Witness Subpoenaed to Give Testimony Regarding Existence of Reported Shipping Arrangement With Road

Chicago, Jan. 22 – Investigation of charges that Swift & Company, packers of Chicago profited to the extent of $50,000, by what is said to have been in effect a rebating arrangement with the Ann Arbor Railroad Company, was begun by the federal grand jury here today.

A dozen packing houses and railroad men were among the witnesses brought before the inquisitorial body today. The shipments involved in the inquiry are said to have been carried by other roads not involved in the charges to points on the Ann Arbor road, the main line of which runs from Toledo, Ohio, to Frankfort, Mich. This road is alleged to have hauled consignments of beef of less than a carload at carload rates. The beef was “peddled” from town to town along the line, it is alleged. Most of the beef was consigned to Saginaw Beef Company at Saginaw, Mich. One shipment to Owosso, Mich. Has been closely investigated by government agents.

Attorney Edward E. Gann of the interstate commerce commission is acting with District Attorney Wilkerson in the case. The inquiry may require a week or more.

John M. Lyon, auditor of freight rates and U. G. Kauffer, chief of rates bureau of the Pennsylvania lines west of Pittsburg, were subpoenaed to appear before the federal grand jury here with their records in connection with charges that the Pennsylvania system has been paying rebates on shipments of W. H. Merrit & Co. of Chicago.

The W. H. Merrit Grain Company has not been in the elevator business for a year. It was started by Mr. Merrit at the firm's offices in the board of trade building today. Mr. Merrit said that it was his impression that the firm had contracts on a legal basis with the Pennsylvania lines.

The Evening Argus Jan. 31, 1914
Charged That Shipments of Beef Were Handled by Railroad For Packing House Company Under Forbidden Conditions

By Associated Press to the Evening Argus

Chicago, Ill., Jan. 31 – The Ann Arbor Railroad company, of Michigan, was also indicated by the grand jury, which has been hearing evidence for several weeks from special agents of the interstate commerce commission.

Chicago, Ill., Jan. 31 – Indictments charging rebating were returned by the federal grand jury today against Swift & Company,the Pennsylvania railroad, the Panhandle lines and the Chicago & Northwestern railroad. Two true bills were returned against the Panhandle lines.

Swift & Company are charged with having had a rebating agreement with the Ann Arbor railroad by which cars of beef were shipped in less than carload lots but at carload rates and “peddled” at different places along the line. President Newman Erb of the Ann Arbor stated recently in New York city that if any such agreement existed it was before the present management assumed control of the Ann Arbor line.

The Evening Argus April 3, 1914
Master Mechanic Osmer, Back From Toledo, Says Considerable Curtailment Is Necessary

Mr. Osmer stated this afternoon that the Ann Arbor employes would work half time, half of the men working three days in the week and the others the remaining three days.

Master Mechanic Osmer, of the Ann Arbor railroad, who had been in Toledo for a couple of days conferring with other railroad officials, returned Thursday night. He stated Friday morning that very considerable reductions in the working hours of the men employed in the railroad shops would be necessary and that he is now working on a plan of curtailment that will inflict the least possible degree of hardship on the men.

The Ann Arbor railroad's business has been hurt considerably by the coal miners strike in Ohio as the carries thousands of tons of coal from the Ohio field. Mr. Osmer states that other freight business has also fallen off considerably. He expressed the hope that conditions could be restored to be normal.

The Toledo News-Bee May 25, 1914
ALL ARE SORRY TO HAVE KIRBY LEAVE RAILROAD

J. J. Kirby, an employe of the Ann Arbor railroad for the last 35 years and general passenger agent since Jan. 1, 1896, resigned on Monday. The resignation is effective on June 1. Mr. Kirby will take a long rest.

As a result of Mr. Kirby's resignation, the office of general passenger agent will be abolished and on June 1 the position of traffic manager will be created with H. S. Bradley, who has been general freight agent since Dec. 1, 1910, in charge of both passenger and freight.

G. A. Weller, assistant general freight agent, will be appointed assistant general freight and passenger agent, reporting to the new traffic manager.

Mr. Kirby commenced his railroad career an a messenger boy for the Pennsylvania and Ann Arbor railroads jointly. He has worked up through the various positions to the position which leaves on June 1.

General Manager A. W. Towsley, in an official statement, said: “Not only the vice-president, but all other employes of the company are exceedingly sorry to see him sever his connection with the company.”

The Evening Argus May 29, 1914
FREIGHT DITCHED
Twelve Ann Arbor Cars Leave Track West of Corunna
TRACK, ROADBED AND BRIDGES DAMAGED
Train Was Running at High Speed Down Grade When Rails Spread

Corunna, Mich., May 29 – Hundreds of Corunna and Owosso people have visited the scene of an Ann Arbor freight wreck that occurred about 4:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon one mile west of this city and near the place which is known as “tramps retreat.” A dozen cars were piled up, two small wooden bridges were demolished, the 70-pound steel were bent and twisted like wire for about 150 feet and ties for 600 feet were broken and cut in two when the rails spread under the fast extra freight.The freight of 50 cars, northbound from Durand to Owosso was being rushed to pass the southbound passenger train in Owosso. The train was making 20 miles an hour it is said when it struck the down-grade a mile east of this city and the momentum had increased to about 27 miles an hour when the accident happened. The engine, tender and one large steel gondola car, loaded with coal, became disconnected from the remainder of the train. The rear trucks of the gondola left the track and bumped along over the ties, splitting them in two for nearly 600 feet before the engine was stopped. Back where the pile-up came, an empty wooden gondola was hurled across the space between the Grand Trunk and the Ann Arbor tracks, nearly destroying a culvert. A tramp, sitting on the culvert, was almost struck but jumped in time. Eight gondolas, several of them of wooden construction, loaded with coal, were thrown into a heap. Several of the wooden cars were reduced to kindling and the steel cars were warped. Two box cars, one loaded with coal and the other empty, also left the track. Coal was well scattered over the landscape. No one was injured although the train crew received a shaking up. A brakeman, sitting in the top of the caboose was thrown to the floor below and another brakeman, sitting in the way car was dashed to the floor.

The wrecker worked all night last night picked up the wreckage. Ann Arbor trains are being detoured from Owosso to Durand over the Grand Trunk railroad with little lost time. The loss, however, is a heavy on for the railroad company.

Later – The wrecker was summoned from Dundee, the track was cleared and that portion of it which was destroyed was rebuilt by 11 o'clock this morning. The northbound passenger train, No. 51,passed over the track this morning, arriving in Owosso at 11:45o'clock, one-half hour late.

The Evening Argus June 19, 1914
MUST PROTECT REAR OF TRAINS
Ann Arbor Railroad Operates “Emergency” or “Special” With Short Crew – Commission Calls Halt

Lansing, Mich., June 19 – The Ann Arbor railroad, operating what are termed emergency steam passenger trains on the main line south of Owosso, will hereafter be compelled to provide a brakeman in addition to the regular conductor and baggageman carried now on an order of the state railroad commission given protection of the rear of such trains may be insured. This order following a hearing, was made despite the fact that representatives of the railroad asked that it not be made, in order to save what they admitted would be an additional expense of $50 per month to the road. Commissioner Cunningham, during the hearing, made this statement:

“The Ann Arbor appears to be the only railroad in Michigan that is attempting to operate a steam passenger train on its main line with a conductor and a baggageman as a train crew in addition to the engineer and fireman.”

It appears that the Ann Arbor operates gasoline motor cars over its lines south of Owosso and these trains and these trains, consisting of two coaches, are unable to handle the traffic on Sundays. The railroad installed what known as emergency trains, consisting of an engine, tender, baggage car and two coaches. Aside from the conductor only a baggageman, who does service as a brakeman is placed on such trains. This action brought complaints which resulted in the hearing today.

Representatives of the road claimed that proper protection could be given passengerss on an emergency, or special train, without a rear brakeman, and pleaded poverty in addition to the assertion that it would many times be impossible to pick up an extra brakeman. The railroad commission went on the assumption that the public must be protect financial condition of railroads.

A similar order may be made to apply on the gasoline trains of the Ann Arbor which are running without a second brakeman.

The Evening Argus June 22, 1914
Resort Business at Crystal Lake Going To Be Best Ever.

FRANKFORT, June 22 – Everything points to 1914 being the banner year of many good ones in the history of the resort business in Frankfort and Crystal Lake. The Ann Arbor railroad is a leader in advertising this section, huge posters being displayed in Toledo, Cincinnati and other cities, calling attention to the ideal location and the advantages of these towns as resorts. Also circulars are being distributed by the company containing scores of views of Frankfort and vicinity.

This year the Ann Arbor will furnish free camping grounds to all who come to camp, and tents ready to set up are being offered for 50 cents each for two weeks. Low rate excursions are to be run several times during the summer. Last week the company began selling round trip tickets from all stations south of Clare to Frankfort for fare and one third. These tickets are good for 30 days.

Thursday, June 25, 1914
R. R. WRECK THURSDAY
South Bound Passenger Train Derailed South of Shepherd

Passenger traffic was delayed a great deal on the Ann Arbor Thursday, the result of a wreck just south of Shepherd. As No. 54 south bound passenger train rounded the curve back of Salt River cemetery the tender climbed the rails. The engineer brought his train to a halt, but not until both the baggage and mail car had left the track. The tender tipped partly over on its side, but the other cars kept right side up and but for a slight shaking up no one was hurt. The track was torn up about twice the length of the train, but everything was cleared away at five o'clock in the afternoon and trains were running on schedule time Friday.

The Evening Argus Aug. 4, 1914
ANN ARBOR AGENT IS HELD UP – $300 TAKEN

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Aug. 4 – The Ann Arbor railroad station was robbed Monday of about $300 when two men evidently professionals, covered the agent Fran Maynard, and took every cent of cash in the place. This is the second robbery within two weeks, the first occurring two weeks ago, when Frank Miller, employed for some time at Durand and transferred to Ann Arbor 12 hours before, made away with $113 and has not been heard from since.

About 2 o'clock Monday morning Maynard was called to the ticket window, where he found himself covered by a revolver. The stranger demanded that he open the ticket office door, and Maynard unlocked it to find himself covered ny another robber.

Then the first man searched him and the cash drawer, took about $300 and backed away into the night keeping Maynard covered during the entire time.

The Evening Argus Nov. 7, 1914
George Corey, the Ann Arbor motor car engineer, who was seriously injured several weeks ago when he fell from is car near Milan and who has been confined to an Ann Arbor hospital since that time, will be brought home either Tuesday or Wednesday. His condition is greatly improved.