Manistique & Northwestern Railway – 1897 Michigan Railroad Commissioner Reports
Chartered April 25, 1891
The Manistique & Northwestern Railway Company, was surveyed in 1892-93, Manistique, Michigan, to Negaunee, Michigan (about 90 miles). About 21 miles of grading was done in 1895 and 1896, 11 miles of rail has been laid and ballasting will be done the coming year. The stockholders have advanced the necessary funds for construction expense.
Commenced to build road, Sept., 1895
Rolling stock;
One locomotive, 20 to 30 tons
One locomotive, 10 to 20 tons
Thirty platform cars, thirty logging
cars, and three boarding cars
South Manistique to Steuben 8-2-1897
Steuben to McNeils 12-16-1897
Scotts to Singleton 12-31-1898 11.5
miles
Manistique & Northwestern
Railway – 1901 Michigan Railroad Commissioner Reports
This road was constructed for the
purpose of handling forest products, but has added a passenger
service between Manistique and Singleton, a junction with the Duluth,
South Shore & Atlantic Railway. This passenger service consists
of a mixed train run daily except Sundays, and is adequate for the
traffic presented. The company has improved the line the past year
by renewing 500 ties and laying 475 tons of new rail, 60 pounds per
yard. This company has now 32 miles of 60 pound, 22 miles of
35-pound, and 8 miles of 40-pound rail. The surface and alignment of
track is fair. Considering the schedule time of trains and the
traffic, and the light equipment and the general necessities, the
road is adequate for the requirements in point of safety. This
company owns 199 freight cars, 173 of which are for logging purposes.
Company reports that have couplers purchased for same, but cars are
not equipped with couplers or air brakes. Their engines and coaches
are equipped as required by law. The company has also constructed a
new bridge across the Manistique river, 240 feet in length.
MANISTIQUE, MARQUETTE & NORTHERN
RAILROAD CO.
A corporation formed under the laws of
Michigan, April 1, 1902. The company is the successor of the
Manistique & Northwestern Railway Co., the property of which was
foreclosed and acquired by this company in pursuance of a
reorganization plan. Road owned, South Manistique, Mich., to
Singleton, Mich., 41 ˝ miles; Scott, Mich., to McNeils, 11 ˝
miles; total operated, 53 miles. Locomotives, 5; passenger cars, 2;
freight cars, 273.
Stock – Par $100 –
Authorized, $2,000,000 – Issued $2,000,000
FUNDED DEBT
1st mort., 5 per cent., due
May, 1952, May and Nov. - $1,100,000
The authorized amount of the mortgage
is $1,500,000. Trustee and agent for the payment of interest, Union
Trust Co., Detroit.
EARNINGS
Year ending December 31
Year |
Gross |
Net |
Charges |
Surplus |
---|---|---|---|---|
1902 (8 months ending December 31) |
$77,441.00 |
$26,492.00 |
$15,000.00 |
$11,492.00 |
1903 |
$130,936.00 |
$1,890.00 |
$51,667.00 |
Def. 49,777.00 |
1904 |
$168,284.00 |
$75,262.00 |
$55,000.00 |
Def. 20.262.00 |
President, Treasurer and General
Manager, E. F. Blomeyer, Milwaukee. D. W. Kaufman, Chicago. R. R.
Metheney, Grand Rapids, Mich. J. G. Pilger, Milwaukee.
Directors – E. F. Blomeyer,
Milwaukee. Joseph Goldbaum, Milwaukee. D. W. Kaufman, Chicago. R.
R. Metheney, Grand Rapids, Mich. J. G. Oilger, Milwaukee.
Main office, Milwaukee. Operating
office, Manistique, Mich. Annual meeting, first Wednesday in May, at
Grand Rapids.
1903 Poors Manual of Railroads – page
454
Manistique, Marquette and Northern
RR.-- Manistique to Shingleton, Mich., 41.5 m.; Scotts's Camp to
McNeil's, 11.5 m.; spurs, 15 m. – total 68 miles. Gauge, 4 ft. 8 ˝
in. Rail (steel), 40 and 60 lbs. Chartered April, 1902, and
purchased the Manistique and Northwestern Ry., taking possession
thereof on May 1, 1902. The M. & N. W. Ry. Co. was chartered
April 25, 1891; road opened, 36 miles, Aug. 2, 1897; from Manistique
to Shingleton, Jan. 2, 1899; branch and spurs added during the years
1898, 1900, and 1902. Locomotives, 5. Cars—passenger,2; freight
(box, 3; flat, 64; logging, 198), 265; service, 8—total cars 275.
Operations, 8 months ending Dec. 31,
1902—Earnings (passenger, $7,455; freight, $68,837; other, $1,149),
$77,441.
Operating expenses, $48,451. Net earnings, $28,990.
Payments: Interest on bonds, $15,000; taxes, $2,497—total,
$17,497. Surplus, $11,493.
General Balance Sheet, Dec. 31,
1902—Capital stock ($100 shares), $2,000,000; funded debt (1st
gold 5s of May 1, 1952, $1,500,000 auth.), $1,100,000; current
liabilities, $41,885; profit and loss, $11,493—total, $3,153,378.
Contra: Cost of road and equipment, $2,824,217; materials, etc.,
$1,265; cash and current assets, $327,896—total $3,153,378.
Directors (elected April 29, 1902).--R.
R. Metheany, D. W. Kaufman, Grand Rapids, Mich.; B. B. Metheany,
Manistique, Mich.; N. M. Kaufman, S. R. Kaufman, Marquette, Mich.
Officers: R. R. Metheany, Pres.; D. W. Kaufman, Vice-Pres. &
Treas., Grand Rapids, Mich.; B. B. Metheany, Sec. & Gen. Mgr.,
Manistique, Mich. General Office, Grand Rapids, Mich.
WEDDING OF A DAY
Kaufman – Kerr
Washington, March 14 – Miss Lulu
B. Kerr of Chicago and Daniel W. Kaufman of Grand Rapids, Mich.,
Vice-President of the Manistique, Marquette and Northern Railroad and
Steamship Line, were married here at noon to-day by the Rev. Roland
Cotton Smith, Rector of St. John's Episcopal Church.
Manistique & L. S. R. Co. C-8007-11, March 10, 1919, order granting permission to the general manager of the Manistique & Lake Superior Railroad to install a crossing of tracks of the Manistique Pulp & Paper Company's private railroad with the tracks of the Manistique & Lake Superior Railroad in Manistique.
Ludington Daily News March 16, 1904
A TEDIOUS TRIP
The Manistique, Marquette and Northern
carferry No. 1 was from February 14 until March 5 in making the run
from Northport to Manistique. Capt. Robertson pronounced it the
worst experience he ever had on the lakes.
MANISTIQE, MARQUETTE & NORTHERN
RAILROAD COMPANY
Milwaukee, Wis., May 16, 1904
The following Officers of this Company
have been elected by the Board of Directors: E. F. Blomeyer,
President and Treasurer, Herman Building, Milwaukee, Wis., and
Manistique, Mich. D. K. Kaufman, Vice-President, Chicago, Ill. Jos.
Goldoanm. Secretary, Milwaukee, Wis. By order of the Board of
Directors.
Milwaukee, Wis., May 16, 1904
The following appointments are
effective at once: J. A. Robanson, Superintendent, Manistique, Mich.
C. J. Wilson, Auditor, Manistique, Mich. W. L. Mercereau, Marine
Superintendent. Ludington, Mich. President and General Manager may
be addressed Herman Building, Milwaukee, Wis., or Manistique, Mich.
Ann Arbor's Purchase
President Eugene Zimmerman, of the Ann
Arbor Railroad, has announced the purchase by that road of the
Manistique & Lake Superior Railroad, which extends from
Manistique to Munising, Mich. Car ferries operating between
Frankfort and Manistique will connect the two lines.
The New York Times Aug. 8, 1909
ABSORBS COPPER RAILROAD
Ann Arbor Company to Develop Upper
Peninsula Business
MANISTIQE, Mich., Aug. 7. – By a
deal which has been practically closed in the past few days, the Ann
Arbor Railroad Company has gained control of the Manistique,
Marquette & Northern Railroad, which extends from this place to
Shingleton, forty-five miles, and connects there with the Duluth,
South Shore & Atlantic.
This line, which will be made an
extension of the Ann Arbor from here, will give that road a large
percentage of the vast timber and copper business of the upper
peninsula. The timber and ore will be carried from Manistique to
Frankfort by the railroad's car ferry and shipped from there to
Toledo by rail, making the latter city the distributing point for
shipments to the East and South.
Ludington Daily News Aug. 11, 1909
ABANDON ROUTE
Ann Arbor Road Buys M. M. & N.
Line and Means Closing of Carferry Service From Northport
A deal has just been consummated, where
the Ann Arbor Railroad company takes over the Manistique, Marquette &
Northern railroad, which taps the rich ore regions of the Upper
Peninsula not heretofore reached by any of the big lines. By this
move the Ann Arbor practically closes the carferry service from
Northport to Manistique. For a number of years the entire business
of the Traverse City, Leelanau & Manistique railroad from the
Upper Peninsula came by way of the M., M. & N. by way of these
huge car ferries.
For many years past the Ann Arbor has
conducted a line from Frankfort to Manistique by means of a system of
car ferries, which have received considerable patronage, but the
leakage into the T. C. L. & M. line was very antagonistic to
their business, as offering a more direct line to the lower peninsula
point and a consequent lowering of the tariffs
There is no doubt that this will deal a
severe blow to Northport, depending as it does, largely on the
northern system for work for its men. This is the year round
occupation, the big boats never stopping for ice or the elements.
The Evening Argus April 18, 1911
ADD 65 MILES TO ANN ARBOR ROAD
Acquires the Manistique & Superior Railroad Company
TOLEDO, OHIO, April 18. - Through the acquistion of the Manistique & Lake Superior Railroad company which was officially announced in Toledo Saturaday afternoon, the Ann Arbor adds 65 miles to its mileage and becomes a strong factor in the transportation world of the upper peninsula.
The Manistique & Lake Superior was purchased less than two years ago by the Hollins interets in New York, then then in control of the Ann Arbor but no effort was made at the time to connect the two systems with other than traffic arrangemements. Later on the Ann Arbor passed to the control of what is known as the Ramsey committee and a short time ago arrangements were made to put the operation of the Manistique & Lake Superior in the hands of the Ann Arbor.
Web page Henry F. Burger 9/30/2016