Ashley Interviewed

"There has been a great deal of loose :alk about our linancial condition," said James M. Asliley, Jr., general manager sf the Toledo, Aun Albor & Xorth Michigan Railway Company, yesterday, "but ive have met the interest on our bonds svery time t has fallen due in the past, iind have the nioney in the bank to meet the next instullment. The nioney is all pledged for the completion of the road, but we have been slow and lenient about calling it in. The times have been hard up that way, and persons in moderate circumstances liave had uil they could possiblv do to make ends meet. During the four winter months I paid out to my workmen uncl for otlier expenses fully 120,000, and have 40 miles of road coinpleted. I sliall open it for trnfflc about the tirst ol July, running, for a time, one tra'm per day." "Wliat is the course of your road?" "Our branfh starts at South Lyon and strikes the lake at Frankfort. We are really a part of the Toledo, Ann Albor and Grand Tronk, althougli onder diit'urent management and run by an entirelj' distinct company. The latter runs from Toledo to South Lyon, and is under the management of my brother, Harry. A meeting will be held on June 24, to consider the feasibility of consolldatlng the the two ends of the system. I can't say just what will be accomplished, but I am in favor of adjouinment until the two sections are connected. There is still 40 miles between them which is uncompleted. This connection is certain to be made before the first of Januarv next It is so much to our interest to have tliis done that there will lie 110 delay in the matter. This company was organizcd by my father [the Hou. J. M. Ashley, of Toledo, O.] entirely by lus own eflbrts. Our outskle stockholders are principally in the east and iu England. Father nstituted the enterprise ín 1S76 with but $1,000 in lus pocket. He now owns half the stock of both ends of the road. Of course, we owe a good deal on it, but we are coming out all right. We shall have a hard struggle for the next five years, but alter that t will be easy Balling. The principal thing in the railroad business is to meet your indebtedness piomptly, and tb ns retaiu your credit.'' "What are your political views?" "I have been a Democrat, am a free trader, and it' our people put up a man who endorses my principáis I shall probably vote for hiiii. Otherwise I am an all-wool Blaine man. I have always liked Blaine and admire his fearless principies. I am against such a man as George ¦Villiam Curtís and bis dude, New York, man-milllner gang. lam also down on Cleveland, lle's a blank dude, toe. I think fatlier looks at the politica! situation just as I do, and will support Blaine." -