The Collapsed Branch

Charles S. Ashley, former attorney oí tbe T. A. A. & N. M. R. R., being in the city Tuesday, was interviewed by a Courier reporter, and the following inEormation was by hita given in respect to the tearing up of the track of the South Lyon branch last Saturday and Sunday. In gubstance Mr. Ashley said : "I see some people are claiming that the Ann Arbor road has taken up the rails from the South Lyons and Northern. Now as a matter of fact the management of the Ann Arbor road had very little knowledge of the matter, beyond what they might infer from the fact that an unusualnumberof cara were orderèd from Leiand last week. Not a single employé of the Ann Arbor road was present at the work, and those who came over its line paid their fare. Mr. J. C. Carland bas not been employed in the service of the T. & A. A. for more than a year. "The South Lyons and Northern people had a project which failed to weather the financial storm of last year. It was, to purchase the Pontiac, Oxford & Port Austin road, by leasing running rights over the T. & A., to make a line from Saginaw Bay to Toledo. They offered $40,000, as I am informed for the P. O. & P. A., but were unable toget it. Thereafter the S. Lyons and Northern was N. G. "I hear some people are kicking over an alleged bonus given for the construction of this piece of road. We know nothing about it. For several years we have been trying to lind out who gave any bonus, but without success. If anything beyond a little right of way was given I fear it neyer got beyond the pockets of the patriotic committee who were active in the matter. I hope this wil! be investigated. "Mr. Whitman is reported in this rnorning's Free Press to be meditating some proceeding against tlie Ann Arbor road, on a soit of conspiraey theory. I hope he will not be so abused. The sale of that line as duly made by authority of the laws of Michigan to a duly incorporated railroad coinpanv, whether it extended the road to the North Pole or Chicago, or tore it up was their own lookout. "If the railroad company gi ves back its right of way to the farmers no one will have reason to complain, for there are too many roads in this part of the state and this was not needed. I don't know what will be done in this regard. Perhaps a receiver will be appointed to dispose of the lands. The law against the abandonment of railroads is not thought to apply to this case, beause the road was built before the law was passed, and the act, if valid at all, may be said to take away a vested right. "Some of the rails taken up are being shipped to Cleveland and other points and some are given the T. fe A., in satisfaction of our claims against the 8. L.