The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1902-01-16

" oiC proceedings uOW SOiuS I'll obO
which have resulted from the at
tempt of the receiver, A. G. Frost of
Chicago, to tear up the main line of
the road between this city and Iron
River. The road passed into the
hands of receiver in December,
1885, and has been operated since
1896. The receiver has taken up all
OF the branches, spurs and side tracks
of tsse road and has disposed of pract-
ically all of the rolling stock. In &C
cordance with the plan worked out
by the attorneys for Bayfield, county
and many business interests, resis-
lance was made when the first at
tempt was made to destroy the main
line of the road.
Tie irstattempt was made to take
up the main line last week
at which time Sheriff Lien of
Bayfield, county placed under arrest
General Manager 0. F. Clark of the
road and thirty-seven employees.
The men we're brought to this city
and arraigned the following day in
municipal court. The hearing has
been adjourned until Jan uary 30.
On Thursday United States Marshal
Charles Lewiston served an order to
show cause upon District Attorney
A. W. Mcleod, Sheriff L. H. Lien,
M. A. Sprague, d. M. Maxcy, John
A. Jacobs, W. Ell. Lemke and Carl
Hirsch. This order was made re-
turhable before Judge Bum in the
United States court at Madison on
Monday morning. On Tuesday
morning the attorneys submitted the
entire proceedings in connection
with the building, management, re-
ownership and the attempt to destroy
the main line, to the Supreme
court, and the proceedings ask
that the attorney general of
the state proceed to take such steps
as are necessary for the continuance
of ,She road.
Ever since the organization of the
company to build the railroad in 1895,
it's affairs have excited great deal of
attention. In that year the county
bonded itself for $245, 900 to aid in
the construction and maintaing of a
railroad that was to extend TO nearly
every portion of the county, ard
1856, 900 of these bonds were subse-
quently turned over to the company
upon completion of that part of the
road which is now sought to be de-
stroyed. Another installment of
$50, 0O0 of bonds is now in litigation
and the case was decided adversely to
the county by Judge Elliot of Mil
waukee. An appeal was taken from
the decision and the case will come
before the supreme court at the com
ing term, The legality of all the bonds
was passed upon by the supreme
court of the state and $215, 900 of
the bonds were declared to be legal
and $50, 900 illegal.
The first proposition to issue bonds
for this railroad was made by some OF
the leading citizens of this county.
In 1895, when this proposition was
submitted to the people, it was orig
inally intended only as measure to
head off every other proposition of a
similar character.
Elk Senator d. M. Sabin of Mime
sofa took hold of the project. Using
the bonds which would be due under
| the contract as a means Of securin g
capital, he very soon had crew of
workmen at work on the first sec
| ton Of the line. He was soon able
to claim the first instaIlment Of the
bonds, which were turned over to
him. He proceeded to build the en-
tire system, and the experiences
that he had would make small book.
The entire line was built substantial
ly on the moneys derived from the
bonds, and the finances Of the com
pany operating under Mr.. Sabin
were for the most part of the time
in dire distress. On Chris tmas eve,
1896, things had come to such a pass
among the laboring men, who had
received nopay to speak Of for sever
al months, that the entire crew OF
about one hundred men came in from
the lire to this city and demanded
their money.
The local representatives of the
! road we're unable TO furnish it, and