The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-03-11

10 railroad history, SO far a. it Affects Paw
Paw. We need not dwell upon the location
OF tAe line of the Central, as Paw Paws opina
ions and wishes were little consulted in re-
gard to that; for there is little doubt now
that when that unfinished road was bought
| from the state the purchasers intended "a
push IT through TO Chicago, though they kept
their purpose secret as long as possible, and
from Kalamazoo west, selected "a line that
would best enable them 10 accomplish the
ultimate end designed. Consequently Paw
Paw, Lawrence, Watervleit and St. Joseph
were left to the north, as the route bore
southwark to make a harbor-not an availa-
BILE one at the mouth of tho st. Joseph
River-but an impracticableo one between the
sand dunes of New Buffalo, as near as posi-
BILE TO the south end of the Lake, around
which they must carry the line into Chicago.
Nor need we dwell upon the thousands of
dollars spent to bring the Grand Trunk
through TO Paw Paw. line which all can
now see would have been of immense benefit
to the country; but we will turn our atten-
ton to the Plug" And here, too, we rele-
gate to the dimmest shades of the past the
"calico" branch OF that institution, which
started somewhere near the big mill and
trenied to the southeast of the territorial
road and disappeared, SO tradition has it, near
the boundaries of Orrin Bucks farm, though
it may require the assistance of Schiemann's
industrious explorers for lost Troy to deter
mine Just where.
But we will devote our attention TO the
materialized "Plug", which, like Hoover's
oldest boy has "grew mighty lengthing
but no deal of broad" Ii is now about
twenty years since the whistle OF the old
Vulcan, the first locomotive, was heard
coming up Kalamazoo Street, and with pro-
found regret we have TO record that his mel
odious note is forever silenced, and the fore
runner of "round houses," scar shops and
"eating houses" at Paw Paw has been un.
gratefully shunted aside to rust away in
ignominy. And with the Vulcan has gone,
too, that dear old yellow "caboose" facetious-
~ called the "coach," which the Vulcan
used to draw, with its tender end ahead, TO
Lawton, in order 10 deliver our wives and
trembling babies TO the care of tho Central.
Our railroad growth had not evolved into
the era of turntables then, il will be remem-
bered. But there was some compensation,
however, on the return, when the VULGAR,
with preliminary snort or two, warning ali
careless ones TO get speedily out OF the way,
would sweep beautifully around the curve,
ont Of Lawton and away over the big hill,
through the deep cut and down along TO
dash over the long trestle and fetch up, pant
ing with the exertion, at the cream tinted
depot that stood about where the aforetime
calico branch is supposed 10 have started.
Then We would Issue from the coach
congratulate "Biglow" on the safe run and
time made, and proudly reply to all dubious
inquiries that we had come into Paw Paw 6y
rdtG. Yet we lived constantly in hopes of
better things-whon the road paid. etc.
until we saw the material" grow old, the
fences, ties, trestle, etc., getting the worse
for age. and the Vulcan becoming more
wheezy and leaky, then doubts began to
trouble as. There were no dividends to the
stockholders of the road, there was imminent
danger, foreshadowed by some experience,
that the Vulcan would, on some of its rear
-the-front trips, go to pieces like the
"onehorse shay" il the Autocrat, or that the
trestle would careen ovor and let us into the
riyer-and not a cent to be had to avert
these or other disasters. In very truth it
seemed that the evolution was backward and
that before the guaranteed twenty years had
run, Paw Paw would be back to stage
coach times. The unwise failure to extend
the "Plug" to South Haven had made an
opening for the line from Kalamazoo TO that
place, which took away 30 much Of the bust
ness from the northern towns that the earnings
of the "Plug" fell below legitimate expenses.
Not only that, but the money due the Central
unpaid, while the interest even
was not provided for. Then, to add to the
discomfort of things, the Central demanded
it's claim should be paid,
and in default thereof took up the "frog" at
Lawton and cut of all communication with
10 Eva;r ko6 20 no nI Hao k<1xl
over to the sole freight car OF the "Plug."
None would be billed to or from Paw Paw
only to and from Lawton. The days of the |
usefulness of the "Plug" seemed about num- |
bered. The doctors were summoned A |
funeral or an infusion of fresh blood must |
be provided for Immediately; that was clear. |
With hushed voice they approached the |
Central and ssAed, us there any hope2 How |
long will il last?" and the curt reply was re- |
turned, "Buy out lsmon, and pay us what |
you owe u.s." That was the alternative. A |
friendly hand was reached for and "John"
came TO the front. Ismon was bought ont, |
the Central was paid of, the frog was put |
back, goods began to be billed through to |
Paw Paw, and the "Plug" began 10 pant.
This was in 1876. Much lumber was then |
carried from Paw Paw, also considerable |
aour the freight rates were high, but Paw
Paw bore it without murmuring, because it |
would save the "Plug." We need not discuss
al the changes that have taken place since
1876. 1t is sufficient to recall that Lawrence |
was bound to have O railroad communication,
either from Paw Paw or Decatur. The les
son of the neglect of the South Haven con-
nection was not to be repeated with Law
renee. A line from Decatur 10 Allegan, ga |
Lawrence, Bangor and Breedsville, would |
force even "John" TO discontinue the trips |
Of the Vulcan between L,awton and Paw
Paw, and this impending disaster could only
be prevented by the construction of a line
from Paw Paw to Lawrence. But what
would build it2 How much would it coet2
Well, briefly, "John" sized mp the pile, then
The cost, and figured cut the marrow gauge"
So we have got, instead of the old yellow
caboose and the wheeling Vulcan, cars Of
modern nestness and convenience, three re-
liable locomotives, turntables, dispatch,
and railroad character. But
you say, all this on the narrow gauge pat
tern. True, but let US rejoice and Be glad.
While there were certain ones lively In their
opposition 10 the extension TO Lawrence and
70 the change from the standard 70 the