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Michigan Railroad Commissioner 1893

William R. Burt appointed receiver May 1893.

TOLEDO, ANN ARBOR & NORTH MICHIGAN

This line has passed through an eventful year. In March, a strike of the engine men was inaugurated, making the employment of new men was inaugurated, making the employment of new men for this duty necessary, which, with the condition of the road incident to a severe winter, a large number of washouts, etc., caused numerous accidents. Several complaints of unsafe track and structures and inefficient operation in train service were made to this department. Commencing on May 3, in company with the mechanical engineer of this department, a thorough and critical inspection on the entire property was made.

It was ascertained that the bulk of the accidents was not traceable to defective track, but was chargeable to the faulty performance of duty by engineers and conductors in charge of trains. In a special report to you, the following language was used, which recent events has substantiated: “ I cannot charge either engineers or conductors with gross negligence or general incompetency. But rather charge that the men employed were new and strangers to the road, and each other.

“The gravest difficulty existing which prevents the successful handling of trains is the disaffection between

the men in charge of them, which I consider fatal to good railroad service, and when this disaffection is removed, what now looks like gross negligence in the handling of trains will disappear.”

Expert examinations were ordered to locate the responsibility in cases of exploded locomotive boilers, a full report of which has been furnished. A number of bridge structures were found to be insufficient for the new heavy machinery and cars recently added to the equipment; also, that nearly the whole line needed ballast, and in many places the road bed needed raising two to five feet, to make drainage possible; that track openings should should be added and enlarged, and a large percentage of new ties was necessary.

A showing of the needs of the road was made to Hon. W. R. Burt, who had recently been appointed receiver, accompanied with a request that the necessary repairs be made and the road put in a safe condition. This met with a ready response, and much credit is due the receiver and his manager for the rapid and economical prosecution of the work.

The improvements made, as found on the inspection made October 30, were very satisfactory to this department.

The bridges (with two exceptions which were in process) were found to be repaired or replaced, some having been filled, and over 50 miles of track ballasted with gravel; a large amount of road bed was raised as necessity required; thirty miles of new fence was built, leaving only six miles on the entire line without fence; 149,038 ties were put in the tract; many grades have been reduced and embankments filled; new division terminal yards and engine houses have been constructed at cadillac and Mt. Pleasant. The station buildings have been generally improved, new train order signals and signs with name off station and distance from terminals have been added. Highway crossings have been provided with signs where necessary, and altogether the improvements made are of a permanent and artistic character. A compliance with the law relative to driver brakes is promised in the near future.

Two large freight boats, with a carrying capacity of 24 loaded cars each, are run in connection with this road from Frankfort across Lake Michigan.

DESCPRICTION OF ROAD

Date when the road was opened for use between it present termini:

From Toledo, Ohio, to Beecher, Michigan, November 17, 1889

MAIN LINE

BRANCHES

Proprietary or leased roads operated by this company.

Note:

1. Beecher is the east side of Thompsonville, the two merged as Thompsonville

2. Frankfort & Southeastern should be Frankfort & South Eastern