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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