Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1897-02-11
Milwaukee and the Michigan
Bell Line.
The Merchants Association Of that
Place Takes the Project in Hand.
Much Interest Taken in the New
Railway all Along the Line.

We take the following, bearing up
on the new line of railway which is
likely to strike Napoleon, from the
EUening Wisconsin,, of Milwaukee, of
Feb. Cd:
The annual meeting of the Merchants and
Manufacturers association, after Opposing
of the regular business, considered two new
railway ypropositions-one to secure belt
line and the other to establish a car fe rry
line from Grand Haven to Milwaukee. This
line is proposed to be operated in conjunc-
ton with the projected line of railroad from
Grand Haven to Napoleon, o., 235 miles.
The right of way has been secured for dis
tance of 200 miles, aud los miles of grading
has been done. The projectors of this road
desire to secure te minals in Milwaukee,
and 1t was reported at the meeting yesterday
that they are now negotiating with property
owners in this city for dock freight yard
facilities.
Mr.. Koch stated that he believed the time
had come for Milwaukee to take positive
and decisive action relative to the construc-
tion of belt line of railway. He referred
to the urgent need of such a road, and as he
hsd heard so much about a general desire in
Milwaukee to raise fund for the state semi
centennial celebration, he moved the matter
of a belt line, the construction of which
would mean 10000 times more for the i'll
terests and future of Milwaukee than forty
celebrations, be taken up by the Merchants
and Manufacturers association. Mr.. Koch
said: "I will embody my motion of tins
matter in the shape OF motion to the effect
that the president of this association select
a committee of five to carefully investigate
the matter of a belt line of railroad in Mil
vaukee, to report as to the feasibility of such
an undertaking and as to the building of
such line and the best way of raising funds
for the construction of the same"
This motion was unan 'mously adopted,
and President Spencer stated that as the
matter was one of the greatest Importance
to the association, as we'll as to the city
generally, he would ask for time in select
inr the committee.
Ii. NJ. Benjamin then addressed the meet
ing upon the car ferry project. He stated
that he had been in correspondence for some
weeks with j. W. B)ynton, president of a
company which has railway projected from
Napoleon, o., to Grand Haven, to connect
with the principal trunk lines of road run
ming east and south from Chicago. Mr.
Benjamin stated that Mr.. Boynton had come
to Milwaukee recently to discuss the project
with representative business men, and that
an attempt had been made to arrange q
meeting with the board of directors of the
Merchants and Manufacturers association
but the directors could not be got together
in time. During his stay, however. Mr.
Boynton had long conference with the
board of directors of the chamber of com.
merce and that body had selected j. W
Boss to go over the route of the proposed
road and report to the chamber of com
merte
II was moved that the board of directors
OF the Merch nts and Manufacturers asso,
citation act with the directors of the chamber
of commerce in regard to the matter, an6
that the proposed road be fully looked into
and report be made to the association al
soon as possible.
Secretary Wilkins said: "Six motnhs age
I warned this association regarding this
most important matter. It is absolutely
necessary that Milwaukee look after her in,
terests in this direction, as her interests
across the lake mean much. The day Mil.
waukee loses her across the lake lines, thai
day her fate is sealed. We must absolutely
have these lines in order to secure Eastern
seaboard rates."
Mr.. Benjamin added that he recently at
tended meeting of coal dealers and lead
ing transportation men, some of whom de
cared that the car ferries had come to stay
and the cities on the lakes which failed te
get them would not be in it in the future.