The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1921-10-13
County Takes up Fight to
Retain Northern Pacific Ry.

presented before the Interstate
Commerce Commission when the
hearing is held
Application has been made through
the Wisconsin Railway Commission
that the hearing be held at Wash
burn, and the date and place will like
" be set in the near future.
Every member of the county board
of Bayfield, Co. whether hisstown was
directly served by the r Dad or not
felt that this was a fight in whcih
every citizen of the county should
interest himself and that the fight
should be carried to the last ditch
in order that the petition of the
railroad company be denied.
The Battle Axe" road, now own
ed by the Northern Pacific which
they seek to abandon, cost the tax
payers of Bayfield, county nearly
$4OO 100000 to build. Twenty thou
sand dollars of this amount, together
with interest, still remain to be paid
by Bayfield, county.
The road was originally built dur
ing 18SG-1S97 by the Washburn,
Bayfield, and Iron River Railway
Company with the aid of county
bonds The amount of bonds or
iginalIy issued was in the amount of
$240, 100000, but this was afterwards
reduced to $2I5, 100000. The older
residents of the county remember
the time the road was constructed.
Because of the way in which the pro-
moters handled things laborers had
difficulty in getting their money and
the road was nicknamed the Battle
Axe"
The road was originally built for
the benefit of the promoters and in
order to provide means for getting
out valuable timber which was sit
uated along the line.
After operating for a time the
company came into financial diff
culties and mortgage against the
road was given in order to provide
funds. This mortgage was finally
foreclosed and the United States
court ordered the road old in its
entirety, but the receiver failed to
dispose of the road and so reported
back. to the court and subsequent
order was issued providing for the
sale of the road by piece and parcel,
and an attempt was made at this
time to tear up the road on United
States Court order.
Citizens of the ounty to the
number of about fifty petitioned the
Circuit Court of Bayfield, county for
an injunctional order preventing the
receiver from carrying out the order
of the United States court, and this
injunction was issued by Presiding
Judge John K. Parish.
Sheriff Lever Lien and a crew of
deputies then attempted to carry
out the orders of the circuit court,
and when the men employed by the
receiver began the work of tearing
up the rails the heriffs crew placed
a target along the track and began
shooting at this target, and the work
men didn't like the idea of working
In this rain of bullets and work was
stopped.
The men signing the petition, to-
gether with the Sheriff Lien and Dis
trict Attorney A. w. Macleod were
then hailed before the United States
court to answer to contempt charges.
The men signing the petition were
ordered to pay fines of $4,000 and
costs, while the District Attorney and
Sheriff were given a fine of $1,000 and
ordered committed to the Dane coun-
ty jail for term of 80 days for their
nerve to thus defy the United States
court.
All dJpCdl was tc@hOA W eAAS 0AAAeSN
States courts of appeals an dthe men
were finally let off, but this was moi
until after the Northern Pacific
Railway company had stepped in and
purchased the line.
For a time the Northern Pacific
people endeavored to get business fol
the road ,and purchased block OF
lake frontage in this city, it being
supposed that it was their intention
to erect docks here, but after few
years what might have been their in
tentions were given up and the Rail
way Commission was asked for per.
mission to abandon The road. This
petition, we understand, was denied
The Northern Pacific then inau
| gurated three trains week service
which has since been maintained.
The people along the line of thi'
railroad feel that the Northern Pa
cifc people have made no effor