Mr. Ashley Tells Of An Arbor Railroad Plans

The following letter is self-explanatory: St. Louis, April 2nd, 1903. A. J. Sawyer, Esq., Attorney, Ann Arbor, Mich.

Dear Sir:  - The public statements concerning the plans for the separation of the Ann Arbor Company's tracks and Felch, Miller, Huron, Washington and Liberty streets in your city, are misleading - some of them malicious. The ordinance permits a side track on the present grade of Washington and Felch streets; the one for the former (Washington) is solely and entirely for the benefit of the Michigan Milling Company property, the one on the latter (Felch) for the accommodation of large commercial interests on Miller avenue. The switch engine only could use either of them and would seldom do so more than once in each twenty-four hours. If the interests to be served (Dean & Company) do not want these tracls on the grade of these streets, the company will not lay them. The viaduct at Ann street was required by friends of the Boland company and was made a part of the ordinance against my protest. We will not build it unless required to do so by order of court. When plans for grade separation were developed, we found that water conditions and the relative grades of William and other streets to the south, would not permit a separation of First street by more than nine (9) feet of head-room. It was necessary, therefore, either to divert the street, as contemplated by the ordinance, or raise the grade some eleven (11) or twelve (12) feet and make the approaches, commencing some three hundred (300) feet from the center of the track. This situation presented no choice - by the diversion much damage to adjacent property would be saved and the general public better served. The company will provide all the gravel necessary to construct suitable approaches to the track wherever the grade of the street must be changed to accommodate the approaches to the company's track laid on the grade by the separation ordinance. If the citizens of Ann Arbor wish, we will not build the viaduct at Ann street; and will not insist or ask that First street be diverted. If this viaduct is not built, First street not diverted and all the material necessary for making the new approaches delivered on the several streets, the separation of Felch, Miller, Huron, Washington and Liberty street, can be accomplished without any obligation or any expenditure by your city. The malevolent public statements made by persons who imagine their property will be damaged, is my excuse for repeating in this communication what I have often already verbally stated in public and reiterated in correspondence. Respectfully, H. W. Ashley.