An Electric Line To Manchester

An Electric Line To Manchester

One of the Greatest Needs of the Day

Trade Is Diverted

Which Naturally Belongs in Ann Arbor--The Booming Village of Manchester Needs an Outlet

Editor Argus: --I was reading, in your daily newspaper of June 25th, two articles that interested me--one headed, "Another New Electric Line Projected by Boston men;" the other "Wants Electric Line from South west." The latter article had the right ring for Manchester and the extreme southwest part of Washtenaw county. Manchester has reason to expect railroads to be built radiating in five directions. Manchester is "in the way," so to speak, as regards to the future building of railroads.

1st. A continuation of the Ypsi-Saline electric railroad to Manchester.

2d A continuation from Tecumseh of the electric railroad to be built from Adrian to Ann Arbor.

3d The link from Jackson to Manchester.

4th The railroad from Manchester to Iron Creek (now being built) to the marl and clay beds of the Toledo Portland Cement Co, (factory at Manchester), then it would be only about six miles more of building the road to extend it to the C., J. & M. R. R. at Tipton.

5th If built would seem to benefit more people of Washtenaw county than any, especially citizens of Ann Arbor and Manchester.

The people of Manchester do not like to go to Ann Arbor. Why? because it is so "inconvenient" to go there and get home again. Many do not like to stay away from home over night. If they go away from home on business that does not require their going to their county seat (Ann Arbor) they can go to other nearby towns on the railroads in four directions and return the same day. Many Manchester people are often heard to remark: "I would go to Ann Arbor today, but it is so inconvenient to go there and return, so I think I will take the train for Jackson," or mention some other town other than Ann Arbor. Naturally the county seat of a county where a person resides is the place where citizens of said county ought to feel the most interest in, excepting their home city or village. There has been much talk about an electric railroad from Manchester to Chelsea that would be a convenient thing, but a direct route of railway to our county seat would be preferable, would give better satisfaction. Now if Ann Arbor is deserving of the benefits of the "fertile valley of the River Raisin," (I think it is) the traffic of which now goes elsewhere on account of poor, yes, miserable way of getting to Ann Arbor by railroad, why not act and act at once, before a route is established elsewhere to connect with the M. C. and the electric lines paralleling it.

More than a year ago the writer wrote to Mr. W. A. Boland and also to his Michigan representative, Col. W. A. Foote, that Manchester would like some competition in railroads, an outlet somewhere, in some direction. One of the replies was to the effect that he had understood that Manchester did not care but only for an extension of the Ypsi-Saline electric railway. That when they had their main line completed Manchester would hear from them. Now as the electric cars have commenced to run this month from Jackson to Battle Creek, perhaps one of the motor roads are ready for a "feeder" to a town that is going to "boom" (already has commenced) on account of the pushing business men of Toledo and other places taking an active interest in building the $500,000 Toledo Portland Cement factory inside of the corporation of the beautiful village of Manchester. Other large industries are sure to follow in the wake of so many successful business men. It is my opinion if all the newspapers in Ann Arbor and Manchester would take the matter up of building an electric line between Ann Arbor and Manchester at once, simultaneously, it would be built before this year has expired.

N. V.

Manchester, June 26, 1903.