The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1914-06-19
RAILROAD MEETING
Great Success-owosso-New 10th
rop Line Meets With Favor-Pians
Made For Deta,ite Work.

rOp Line meets win r avOr-TIanS
Made FOR Defnite Work.
The first step taken by the Owosso
Improvement Association looking to-
ward the construction of railroad be-
tween this city and New Lothrop re-
suited in an enthusiastic meeting at
New Lothrop, Monday afternoon, the
attendance being large from the sur
rounding townships while Owosso citi.
zens turned out to the number of about
125. But for the busy season with the
farming community it is doubtful
whether the church would have held
even the people in the vicinity of New
Lothrop. Owosso citizens started over
shortly before nire O'Clock in ANTONIO
biles each bearing banner New
Lothrop Day." the last cars leaving
just before noon with General Manager
Towsley and four other officials of the
Ann Arbor railroad,
At p. m. the meeting wss called to
order by Washington Snyder, chairman
of the New Lothrop committee, and up
on his motion J. H. Clark was elected
to preside over the gathering Mr..
| Clark in concise manner told Of the
attempts to secure railroad connection
with the outer world, of the willing
ness of the people to aid and expressed
his qualification with the manner in
which Owosso citizens were taking hold
with them to secure the end both
wished for. He referred to the rich
ness of the farms in that portion of the
county, the abundant crops and the
tonnage of freight which would be
shipped over railroad, etc Follow
ing his talk nearly an hours time was
spent in ascertaining as definitely as
possible the acreage devoted to various
crops, where marketed, what per cent
would probably be sent out by rail and
various other items which could be
counted on as an inducement for the
Ann Arbor to extend its present line to
Six Mile Creek on to New Lothi op,
distance of little more than eleven
miles. Supervisor M. p. Ransom, r
w. Bailey, former supervisor, Wash
ington Snyder, e. Confer. Albert Todd,
L. G. Hall and several others took part
in this discussion. Speaking from
railroad point of view Mr.. Towsley
said the present was very inopportune
time to ask any railroad in the country
1
20 expend a dollar for any purpose,
particularly in building new lines
This, he said, was due to the general
business depression which affects the
railroads more directly than any other
one interest and had resulted in loss
in income amounting to $91, 900, 900 for
the past four months as compared with
the same period year ago. He spoke
of the evident prosperity of the farming
community through which he passed to
reach New Lothrop, of the evident fact
that there would be large tonnage of
freight to be handled, gave facts as to
the cost of railroad, and intimated
that with return of business pros
|
mend the extension. In this connec-
tion he suggested the naming Of a com.
mittee to gather certain facts which he
could present to the board of directors
Of the Ann Arbor for consideration
The meeting named Messrs. Snyder,
White and Ransom as committee to
select committee to represent Hazel
ton, New Haven and Maple Grove, the
Owcsso Improvement Association to
name a committee to work with them.
Speaking for the Consolidated Coal
Company, Harry Wickes said coal lands
estimated to contain a million tons of
coal were under lease, that the com.
pany would open mine if railroad
connection could be secured and would
ship from 20 to 30 cars of coal daily,
that the company stood ready to assist
in any way possible. Col John North.
wood, James Osburn and W. D. Burke
gave short talks, the former pledging
the township of Maple Grove to DO it's
part, while the others spoke of Owosso's
interest.
The joint committee will not allow
the interest aroused by this meeting to
lag and it is almost an assured thing
that railroad will be the ultimate out.
come of the meeting.
With the railroad discussion over,
Rev. G. II. Hanks was called upon to
speak Of the proposed county armory
for which the supervisors are asked to
vote IS, 500. Upon motion of DR.. H. T.
White, the tax payers present were
asked for an expression as to their will
lingness to have Supervisor Ransom
vote for the appropriation. The result