Sidetracking Whitmore Lake

The long talked of plan of the Toledo, Ann Arbor and Northern Michigan railwav to shorten its route is about to be put in practical form. The plan is a cornprehensive one. The grade north of the city of Ann Arbor is very steep ,and cannot be changed without a heavy expense. The grade is so steep that it has interfered with the inereasing freight trafflc. Either small trains had to be hauled or additional locomotives used to help the trains over the grade. Many preliminary surveys have been made. The result of this work lias been to show that the most feasible grade is a line commencing about half a mile north east of the city line running north west of Ernery about a mile three miles west of Whitmore Lake and across Strawberry Point between the two lakes striking the main line near Hamburg. The grade on this line would hardly be up to the average of the present main line and the heaviest freight train could be hauled without difficulty. At the present time the main line of the road lias the anomoly of being two parts, three miles of Grand Trunk track being used between AVhitmore Lake and Hamburg Junction. The conipahy proposes to make ducenients for people who desire to build cottages at the lakes. The new line will also aborten the distauce tliree miles. If another change oï line north ot Hamburg, whicb lias been considered, will be made, a number of very pretty lakes in Oakland county will be touched. It is tobe regretted that Whitmore Lake will be side tracked, as Anu Arbor people have learned to eonsider it almost as a part of the city. It will necessarily take a year to do the work. Everyone will therefore do well to visit Whitmore Lake tliis summer. 1!. D. Thompson, of the Ann Arbor road, is now engaged' in securing the right of way for the proposed change of route. - Argus. The above is not exactly correct. For instance, to touch the lakes in Oakland county the road would have to go several miles east. Then again the road has no design of, shutting out AVhitmore Lake, wc are informed, and will run two and one-half miles west of Etnery in' stead oi the distauce stated.