The Toledo
Bee Jan. 2, 1900
The New Year Started Off With Four Fires, None
Very Serious
At 9:30 last night a frame oil house and a box
car at Manhattan belonging to the Ann Arbor railway were burned. The
loss is $500, mostly on the car. The blaze started from an overheated
stove in the oil house. The round house was threatened for a time,
but the department confined the flames to the oil house and car. The
oil made a brilliant fire and lighted up the skies for some distance,
attracting many people.
The Evening Argus Jan. 2,
1900
Algoma, under lease of the Ann Arbor road, has arrived at
Menominee in command of Commodore Robinson. She will make daily trips
to Sturgeon Bay, Wis., to keep the channel in Green Bay open all
winter. The bay is entirely frozen over and car ferry Ann Arbor No. 1
encountered eight inches of ice off Sherwood point.
The Evening Argus Jan. 12, 1900
Ann
Arbor ferry No. 2 had a bad accident while crossing Lake Michigan a
few days ago. Ice stove a hole in the boat and water stood several
feet in the hold. Hard at the pumps prevented any fatalities.
The Evening Argus Jan. 16, 1900
H.
R. Looker, foreman of the blacksmith department at the Ann Arbor
shops, today finished the forging of a 1700 pound anchor for one of
the company's boats. It was the first large anchor made in the Owosso
shops.
The Toledo Bee Jan. 25, 1900
Railroad
Commissioner Kayler was busy yesterday in Columbus hearing the matter
on the Toledo & Monroe Electric railway, which seeks to under the
tracks of the Michigan, the Lake Shore and the Ann Arbor railways by
means of sub-ways. It appears that all the roads except the Ann Arbor
have granted the request.
The Owosso Times Feb. 23, 1900
The
Ann Arbor passenger train south was over an hour late Tuesday morning
because of a slight accident at Ashley.
The Owosso Times Feb. 23, 1900
From
present indications a new brick passenger station for the Ann Arbor
road is among the possibilities for the coming season, while it is
still more likely that the grades will be separated at the Main
street cross road.
The Owosso Times March 23, 1900
An
Ann Arbor freight was ditched near Carland by spreading rail Sunday.
Ludington Daily News April 12,
1900
The car ferry, Ann Arbor No. 1 arrived at Sturgeon Bay Monday
with the Algoma in tow. The Nos. 2 and 3 continued on to Menominee to
load cars after releasing these steamers. While entering Sturgeon Bay
the No. 1 lost her port shaft and wheel and was compelled to make her
way to with one wheel. The steamer has been in the ice nearly two
months.
The Evening Argus April 16, 1900
W.
L. Fauser, foreman painter at the Ann Arbor shops, with a force of
six men, leaves for Milwaukee tomorrow, where they will paint car
ferry No. 1. The men will be gone about ten days.
The Evening Argus April 16, 1900
Excellent sport is reported from all along the Ann Arbor road. Major Letiet's minnow farm on Ten-Mile creek is repeating a harvest as the result. Every morning wagon loads of minnows are shipped down the Ann Arbor to various points along the road. Major Lefoet estimate that he has two million minnows in his big pond. Fishing is fine in Zuke and Crystal Lakes and will be until about June 1, when the fish take a vacation for several weeks.
The Evening Argus June 1, 1900
A
washout on the Ann Arbor road, near Ann Arbor, yesterday afternoon
delayed for over two hours the train which usually arrives here at
7:20 in the evening.
The Evening Argus June 1, 1900
The
gang of men men working on the Ann Arbor steam-shovel expects to
finish up tomorrow and will take the outfit into the shops at once
for repairs. The men will then go to Chilson and draw gravel to this
city, grading up the big cut they have made beyond the West Main
street crossing. Eighteen inches of gravel will be laid. The grade
has been lowered from a point one half mile northwest of the
crossing, extending east to a point about 175 feet from the crossing.
The improvement is a good one.
The Owosso Times June 1, 1900
The
Ann Arbor Ry. Has been improving the appearance of its station
platform and walks recently and now plans to fill in the space
between the passenger station and the freight house and beautify the
same wit flower beds, etc.
The Owosso Times June 8, 1900
The
steam shovel which the Ann Arbor Company has had at work cutting down
the heavy grade running out of the city to the north has finished its
part of the work at this place and been run into the shops here for
repairs. The cut has still to be graveled, and as soon as the shovel
receives some needed repairs it will be taken to Chilson from which
place gravel will be drawn to this city to be used in ballasting the
new roadbed.
The Evening Argus June 20, 1900
About
120 cars of gravel pass through this city daily from Chilson to
points north on the Ann Arbor road, where the road bed is being
improved.
The Evening Argus June 20, 1900
An all night office is being
maintained at Elsie during the weeks while the gravel train is being
worked on the Ann Arbor road. Will Delong, night operator, was in the
city last evening.
The Evening Argus July 5, 1900
Friday
evening Ann Arbor train No. 3, engine No. 7, was derailed at Shepherd
by a tree fallen across the track. The engine, tender, mail car and
one day coach were badly wrecked. The were brought to the shops
today.
The Owosso Times July 13, 1900
Floyd
Bailey has been transferred from the position of operator at Cadillac
for the Ann Arbor Ry. to the Owosso station station and Victor
Allmandinger takes the former's place at Cadillac.
The Owosso Times July 13, 1900
Miles
Trumble is back at his post in the Ann Arbor freight office and is
able to perform the greater part of his duties in spite of the loss
of his right hand.
The Toledo Bee Aug. 7, 1900
Fred
Basey, of the Ann Arbor auditor's office will leave soon to spend a
few weeks in Chicago.
The Toledo Bee Aug. 7, 1900
The Ann Arbor freight house men are laying a home made pavement at the side of the house, for the benefit of the heavy trucks.
The Toledo Bee Aug. 7, 1900
Business in the freight house occupied by the Ann Arbor, Cincinnati Northern and Pere Marquette roads, is keeping the men, both clerks and handlers, as busy as they care to be kept.
The Toledo Bee Aug. 7, 1900
Herman Duvendack of the Ann Arbor spent Sunday at Clark's Lake.
The Toledo Bee Aug. 7, 1900
Charles Slapman of the the Ann Arbor, who has been ill for the past eight weeks, will return to work next Monday.
Courier-Register Aug. 15, 1900
Every gravel train owned by the Ann Arbor railroad is now employed on the 100-mile stretch between Mt. Pleasant and Copemish in the work in the work of re-ballasting the roadbed with gravel. This is but one feature on the many improvements that are constantly being pushed forward by the management of that prosperous road. The work of placing gravel ballast is not to stop with the section referred to, but will kept up until the entire roadbed from Toledo to Frankfort has been treated in like manner, and when the task is completed, the Ann Arbor will will have a roadbed equal to the best line in the United States.
The Evening Argus Aug. 13, 1900
Will
Comstock, of this city, brakeman on the Ann Arbor road, had a finger
on his left hand cut off yesterday while coupling cars at McBain. He
is now at home waiting for his injuries to heal.
Escanaba The Iron Port August
18, 1900
Wednesday, August 29th, the Ann Arbor Car R.
R. wil1 sell excursion tickets from Menominee to Toledo and return at
$8.00 for round trip. Ann Arbor Ferry No. 3 will leave Menominee at
11:30 p. m. connecting at Frankfort with Ann Arbor train for Toledo.
Tickets will be good for return until Sept. 14th.
Escanaba The Iron Port August 30, 1900
Thursday, August 30th, the Ann Arbor Car R. R. wil1 sell excursion tickets from Gladstone to Toledo and return at $8.00 for round trip. Ann Arbor Ferry No. 3 will leave Central Ave. dock at for round trip connecting at Frankfort with Ann Arbor train for Toledo. Tickets will be good for return until Sept. 15th.
Escanaba The Iron Port
September 1, 1900
A party of about twenty-five business men of
Menominee made a trip on the Ann Arbor car ferry No. 3 last week,
touching at Frankfort and Gladstone, and returning home Sunday
morning.
The Owosso Times Sept. 7, 1900
Byron
– Mr. R. E. Smith, station agent, has received a position which
brings a larger salary and Mr. Occambough, of Ann Arbor, succeeds him
in the depot and telegraph office here.
The Owosso Times Sept. 21, 1900
Chas.
D. Stewart was on Friday elected one of the directors of the Ann
Arbor Ry., to succeed William McClure, of New York City.
The Toledo Bee Sept. 26, 1900
Annual
Report of the Ann Arbor Given Out
MAKES GOOD SHOWING
Gross
Revenue Shows an Increase of Over 13 per cent Over That of 1898
The
annual report of the Ann Arbor railroad company has just been issued
and the history of the road for the year of 1900 is faithfully given,
together with comparisons with statics of 1899.
The earnings for
the year 1900 are $1,721,453.91, and operating expenses were
$1,047,159.47, leaving an operating income of $674,294.44. Deducting
from the operating expenses the amounts expended for new and
additional property and the sum of $67,024.52 remains as the new
income for the year.
The gross revenue as compared with the
previous fiscal year shows an increase of $202,120 or 13.3 per
cent.
During the year many new appliances have been added to the
equipment of the road. There has been 5.47 miles of new main line
constructed and 5.5 miles of siding.
The company's freight
equipment of 2,035 cars has been replaced and maintained by an
expenditure of $60,007.65 and the road has added 226 226 new 40-ton
freight cars, at a cost of about $180,000.
The locomotive
department has also been improved and two new freight engines have
been placed in service.
The employes of the road have voluntarily
organized the Ann Arbor Railroad and Steamship Employes' Relief
association, and have entire control of it.
The property of the
road is now in a condition which compares favorably, as to means of
economical operation with competitors throughout the whole territory,
and the road is in a state to begin a new year, with the brightest of
prospects.
The Toledo Bee Sept. 29, 1900
ANN
ARBOR TRACKS
Mr. Jermain Says the Manufacturer's Road Could Use
Them
President S. P. Jermain of the park board in a
communication to The Bee says that it is not necessary
that the manufacturers' railway should be given additional right of
way through Riverside park and adjoining the Ann Arbor railway track
for the reason that the “State Line railway” franchise
under the Ann Arbor operates provides that other roads may operate
over the Ann Arbor tracks for fair compensation. The grant is 60 to
80 feet wide and gives room for additional trackage. Mr. Jermain says
further:
“as a matter of bald fact the so called Manufacturers' Railroad company is not being blocked at all. They have, upon two occasions, been prevented
from doing work which was a trepass and would have ruined the park, but the legitimate and old establish highway has always remained open to them. This is the franchise which the Ann Arbor railway is operating under and is ample to accommodate all of the future railroad business coming that way. With reasonable effort they could have placed themselves in position to do business to a good advantage. As it is they have started 'a train of evil, freighted with crippled public honor and distorted ideas, the destination of which is all in the wrong direction. So much for starting on the wrong track. And why? Because they want an independent right of way, one which they own exclusively. They could not sell the other as private property. Neither could David Robinson sell the right which courts gave him to run his cars through Summit street over the Traction company tracks. But he 'did business' just the same and an immense amount of it, and helped Toledo so much that if these people do one fourth as much they will have done well.
“Every citizen should make it an important duty to see the councilmen from his ward between now and next Monday evening and and a good square talk with them. The parks belong to the people, purchased by their vote, and should never be sold unless the people vote to do so.”
The Owosso Times Oct. 19, 1900
An
alarm of firs was given Thursday morning about two o'clock, caused by
a slight blaze in the roof of a coke shed at the Ann Arbor car shops.
The fire department responded at once and the fire fire was put out
before any serious damage was done.
The Owosso Times Oct. 19, 1900
The
Ann Arbor railway has placed a nice fountain in the entree of the
lawn between the ticket office and freight office, adding much to the
looks of the surroundings.
The Evening Argus Oct. 23, 1900
The
new Ann Arbor engines Nos. 45 and 46 will arrive here today. Charles
Pillans, of Durand, formerly of this city, will run one of them.
The Toledo Bee Nov. 1, 1900
The
Toledo R. R. Sunday Train
Taking effect Sunday, November 4th,
Ann Arbor railroad Sunday train will run between Toledo and Lakeland
only, leaving Toledo 7:35 a. m., and leave Lakeland 5:25 p. m.,
arriving in Toledo 7:30 p. m., two hours earlier than at present.
Fare 75 cents round trip.
The Owosso Times Dec. 14, 1900
Ann
Arbor engine No. 21 was brought into the shops this week for repairs,
the result of being run into by several cars pushed by a Grand Trunk
engine in Durand Sunday.
The Toledo Bee Dec 17, 1900
Six
Men Injured in the Ann Yards This Morning
HEAD END COLLISION
Both
Stuck to Their Posts and Faced Death Unflinchingly – Property
Loss Heavy
The Frankfort mail, train No. 1, of the Ann Arbor
railroad, collided with a Pere Marquette freight engine this morning
at 7:50 o'clock on the embankment of the Ann Arbor tracks near Ten
Mile creek. The injured are:
George Pulcipher, engineer of the
Ann Arbor, shoulder dislocated, head smashed, hip bruised, and
injured internally.
Thomas Elsworth, fireman, Ann Arbor, head
bruised, nose broken.
William Troy, engineer, Pere Marquette, back
broken, body badly crushed; not expected to live.
Arthur Marion,
fireman, Pere Marquette, slight injuries sustained by jumping.
Daniel
Pendregast, engineer, injuries sustained by jumping.
Fred
Reinhart, brakeman, Ann Arbor, arm sprained.
W. Von Behren,
Toledo, passenger, injuries of a minor nature.
The accident occurred within a few feet
of the trestle over the Ten Mile creek, a short distance to the north
of the Ottawa river yards. The Ann Arbor train left the Cherry street
station exactly on time. It was proceeding at a rate of about 25
miles per hour, which is the usual speed in that vicinity, and had
passed the tower, which is a half mile south of where the Ann Arbor
track joins the main line, when the engineer, George Puicipher, first
perceived the Pere Marquette engine.
The Pere Marquette engine No.
171, which belongs to the heaviest type on the road, was attempting
to back from the main into a switch, where its train was awaiting it.
Engineer Troy seeing instantly that he could not make the switch in
time to clear the oncoming passenger train threw the throttle wide
open he attempted to run away from the rushing passenger train. The
attempt was in vain.
The heavy freight engine's wheels slipped
under her and before she had attained a momentum of five miles per
hour, the passenger train crashed into the rear left end of the Pere
Marquette engine. The force of the collision was terrific. The tender
of engine 171 of the Pere Marquette was hurled high in the air and
struck the ground at the edge of the ice which covered the creek.
Engine No. 7 of the Ann Arbor rebounded and with a mighty roar it
twisted itself over and rolled down the steep bank to the ice below.
The tender of the Pere Marquette engine became detached from the
trucks, which sloughed into the ground, and the big mogul dug its
tender out of sight in the ground and remained leaning over the creek
at an angle of 45 degrees.
The Ann Arbor train was composed of
four coaches. They were first class coach, No. 20; combination mail
and smoking car, No. 202; baggage coach, No. 101, and chair car, No.
302.
The baggage car was attached to the engine and followed it in
its mad flight down the perpendicular embankment. The combination
mail and smoking car was also badly damaged. The other two coaches
were uninjured, but the shaking up the passengers received was
something terrible.
The trucks of the tender belonging to the Ann
Arbor engine remained at the top of the hill, while the baggage car
trucks lie half way down. The baggage car is almost totally wrecked,
as the end is completely knocked out and the floor badly damaged. The
air was filled with flying debris at the time and portions of iron
and wood strewed the ice around the scene of the accident.
The
tracks, which belong to the Ann Arbor, are torn up and twisted into a
hundred shapes for 70 feet and the top of the embankment is filled
with deep gashes where engines and coaches had ploughed.
The
tender of the Pere Marquette engine is totally destroyed. The end is
battered beyond recognition and the trucks which remained attached to
the engine proper were one mass of twisted, broken steel.
The
suddenness with which the entire occurrence was attended may be
imagined from the fact that the throttle of the Ann Arbor engine was
in a reversed position and the brake shoes tightly clasped the bent
and battered driving wheels.
The trestle over the creek was
removed but a few feet and it was very fortunate that the train did
not jump the track at the point for in all probability every coach
would have plunged into the creek and many lives would have been
lost.
There are several versions of the affair. The brakeman on
the Ann Arbor train, Fred Reinhart, who was injured about the
shoulder, says that the train was proceeding at its usual speed and
that the engineer of the Pere Marquette engine was well aware of the
fact that the fast train was due at that time.
Other trainmen and
employees who were about the place when the accident occurred say
that Pulcipher, the Ann Arbor engineer, whistled four times.
The
escape of Arthur Marion, the fireman of the Pere Marquette engine,
was most wonderful. He says he saw that a collision was inevitable,
and that he could do no good by remaining on his engine. It had just
begun to gather headway to escape the passenger train when he jumped
and rolled down the bank to the ice. The bank at the point of the
accident is practically a sheer precipice and his descent was descent
was in the nature of a fall.
George Pulcipher, the Ann Arbor
engineer, is the oldest engineer on the road, and is considered as
being careful and prudent in his business. He was scalded by the
escaping steam and when found by the searchers he was half buried in
the icy water. The man could not talk, and he was placed on board an
engine and a number of his friends carried him to his home. It is
thought that he will recover.
The Pere Marquette engine was
attempting to hook onto its train, which is an extra train called the
Plymouth extra.
Speaking of the latter train, one of the men who
is employed in the Ottawa river yards says that the engineer of the
Pere Marquette engine had no earthly reason for being where he was.
There was no uncertainty about the matter, says this man. The train
was due and on time, and the fact that the Pere Marquette was on the
main line shows, it is claimed, that a grave mistake has been
committed.
The two railroads connected with the affair at once
wired for their wrecking trains. The one belonging to the Pere
Marquette road will have to come from Saginaw, and the Ann Arbor
train left Owosso. The trains were expected to arrive today but it is
doubtful whether any trains will leave over the line before tomorrow
noon. They will go out over other roads.
The passengers who were
on the train when the accident happened were: Mrs. Ratliffe, Mt.
Pleasant, Mich.; Alexander McConnel, Columbus; E. D. Jacobs, Byran;
L. Litman, Toledo; J. P. Schlachter, W. H. Roberts, C. J. Sievert,
all of Toledo; Fannie Paul, Dundee; E. E. Petery, Cleveland; Harriet
Davis, Saginaw; J. V. Howers, Middleton; Burt Karr, Akron; B. S.
Berry and Charles E. W. Von Behren of Toledo.
The Ann Arbor train
was in charge of Conductor Charles E. Holden.
A curious fact in
connection with the case is the fact that the men in the shops were
forced to work all day yesterday putting new wheels under the baggage
coach. The men objected strenuously to the work, and today a number
were ruefully gazing at their work, tangled up in an indescribable
mass of steel.
The passenger were immediately taken to the
roundhouse of the company and remained about three hours in the
coaches. There was much quiet talk when the passengers had regained
their equanimity, and all were pleased when it was determined to send
them on their journey over the Michigan Central belt as far as
Alexis. There they regained the Ann Arbor tracks and left the city
about noon. The total estimate of the loss can not be determined
until the engine and coaches have been examined which is impossible
under the existing circumstances. Conservative figures place the loss
at about $5,000 including the cost of replacing the engines,
repairing coaches, locomotives and track, and incidentals which may
accrue.
The scene of the wreck presents and interesting spectacle.
The big Pere Marquette engine is fasten to the ground by 10-inch
hawser, and is constantly sinking towards the creek. The trucks of
the locomotive are anchored in the ground, but the heavy engine will
most likely uproot then as she falls.
The Ann Arbor locomotive
lies at the bottom of the incline with her drivers stuck up in the
air, and the cab, and other outer works smashed to splinters. The two
engines present a picture much like that of two old gladiators, the
one victorious at the top of the hill and the other buried in
defeat.
Coal and small articles are scattered over the white
surface of the creek for yards around. Splinters from the coaches are
buried in the ground and the rails are torn up and cut into small
sections as with a knife.
It is presumed that the tracks will be
repaired as the wrecking crew arrives. During the meanwhile all the
traffic will be forced to go round by way of the M. C. belt, and it
was said that the trains would leave from the Union depot until
tomorrow.
MR. ASHLEY'S STATEMENT
General Manager Harry W. Ashley
of the Ann Arbor made the following statement relative to the wreck
to a reporter for the Bee:
“Our Ann Arbor mail
train No. 1 left the depot on schedule time this morning. At the
north end of the Ottawa River yards a Pere Marquette engine was out
on the main line where it had no business to be. Our train came into
collision with the Pere Marquette engine about 100 feet north of the
yards and both engines were badly damaged.
“The Ann Arbor
engineer, George Pulcipher, the oldest engineer on the road, was
badly injured. I Understand, through I do not know, that the Pere
Marquette engineer also was injured. One passenger, whose name I do
not know, also claims to have been hurt. Our train was badly delayed,
but not seriously wrecked, and the passengers were taken north by
another route.”