The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1898-01-27
BosToN, Mass, January "a b, 1898

NeSsrs NdJkham It Markham,
ManItowoc, Wisconsin
GENTLEMEN:-I notice that the Manito-
voc Pilot states, on January 20 last, that
all the Wisconsin Central lnes, 30 called,
are TO be sold under the decree of fore
closure entered by Judge Jenkins, on
December the 9th. 1897, and mentions
among the roads TO he sold under that
decree the Chicago, Wisconsin a. Mlune-
sofa and the Milwaukee and Lake Win
nebago Railroads, which extend from
Menasha southwark to Chicago and east
ward to ManItowoc.
This statement is absolutely erroneous.
The Wisconsin Central mortgage of 1887,
under which this decree is made, was
drawn so as to include the entire VISION
sin Central system of railroads Uhich 1t
lras then intended ultimately to byiag
uHder 1t as fast as they should be acquir-
ed, and therefore described every railroad
which was expected to be bought during
the next fifty Years. The decree EN-
braces only ''dU the estate and interest
of the defendant ID the railways franchise
and property therein described"
ii Now the defendant never had any
estate and interest,"" except lease hold
in the Chicago. Wisconsin and Minnesota
Railroad and in the Milwaukee and Lake
Winnebago Railroad. The defendant new
CT had any interest at all. except as the
owner of some of its stock. Both these
railroads sre prosperous; have always
pad their coupons; are earning dividends
on their stock, and are controlled by their
own officers.
The Milwaukee AID Lake WInnebago
Railroad Company which built into Man.
itowoc, Is an independent landlord cor
portion It's line southwark from Neenah
as we'll as It's extension into MauItowoc
Is absolutely free OF any claim on the
part of Wisconsin Central Company or its
Trustees. The original Winnebago lease
of its Southern Division, which was made
in 1882 to the old Wisconsin Central
Railroad Company, is not touched by
this decree.
The Manitownc extension and terminals
which are part of the Milwaukee and
Lake WinnebaQo Railroad, are leased
temporarily to Messrs, Whitcomb and
Morris. Receivers, under an agreement
terminable by either party on SIX months
notice. This extension is. Of course, in
no manner affected either by the original
decree of foreclosure entered in the East
ern District of Wisconsin or by the an
ciilary DEGREES entered, as matter OF form.
in Chicago, st. Paul, Boston ard New
York.
1t is unfortunate that the foreclosure
decree did not exactly define the exact
! ESTATE and interest" in theTe two prop
critics which 1t undertook to SELL Since,
however. this was not done. the misund-
erstandlng OF its effect has become so
widespread that the grave error publish
ed in The Manltowoc Pilot and not un-
naturally growing out OF the language OF
the decree can no longer be permitted to
go uncorrected. 1t is g-oundless at
tack upon this company's credit.
Manitowoc and her people must under,
stand that the Milwaukee and Lake
! Winnebago Railroad Company bought
and paid for and improved it's valuable
terminals in MapItowoc and built It's
/ ManitOwoc extension with its own funds
and is the absolute owner OF them and is
quite able to prstect itself In the manage
ment and en- oyment thereof, and to con-
time their improvement. 10 postpone
the PROMPT completion of the Manitowou
harbor or to delay the dredging Of the
| river bed single da-, on any supposl-
ton that the Winnebago Company can
/ not pay It's part OF the expense, Is intol-
/ erabie.
| Manitowoc people must understand
that the Winnebago Company which
! proved itself able in 1898, 1894 and 1895
10 spite of all opposition, to acquire these
! terminals and build tits extension, Is
also able as we'll as willing TO do it's full
| part IN conjunction with the City au-
| thorlties to complete the dredging and
| develop the harbor facilities to their Mt
most capacity. Let the work go ahead
| Every day is precious.
! Yours respectfully,
EDWIN H. ABBOT,
President