The T. & A. A. Railroad

Regarding the work of Ex-Gov. Ashley n building the T. & A. A. R. R. and making it a success after others had failed. and the prospecte of the road getting an entrance into Detroit, the Detroit Free Press, in an interview with President Ashley, says : "Ex-Gov. J. M. Ashley, of Toledo, the man who has reodered the Toledo, Ann Arbor & Northern Miehigan railroad an assured and profitable suecess during the ast decade, bustled into the Ruseell House obby yeRterday aiternoon just about six nches in advance oL the driving rain storm. He was all out of breath, as a very natural result of bis race with the elements. Gov. Ashley is in many important respects one of the most remarkable men of the age. In personal appearance he closely resembles the late Henry Ward Beecher, with the single exception that nature has been noticeably more generous with him, in a physical sense. He isa man who is bouná to attract attention in any crowd, and nis career is fully as conspicuous as is his personal appearance. Less than a score of years ago Gov. Asbey was among the most conspicuous figures in Miehigan and Ohio politics. He illed several high and important offices, aut was finally overtaken with financial reverses which left him practically bankrupt. Although then an oíd man- as age is reokoned by years- he began life anew with all the desperate energy which has ever rendered him a marked character in the public eye. Adopting Toledo as his borne, he began battling for the inauguratioD of the railway enterprise of which he is now the efficiënt head. It was up-hill work, few among the business men with whom Gov. Ashley assoeiated believing that a railroad through the portion of Michigan contemplated could ever be made a financial success. The incorporator believed otherwise, and stuck to his text with all the fortitude of a Spartan. He finally turned his broad back upon politics - his former evil genius - nothwithstanding numerous flattering propositions, and went to New York, where, after months of a'.most superhuman effort, he succeeded in raising sufficient capital to inaugúrate his pet railway scheme. The rest was comparatively easy. Step by step the road was worked through to its present important magnitude, and today, after a lapse of a decade of busy years, Gov. Ashley once more finds himself in possession of a fortune amounting to at least half a million of dollars. Two capable sons have been assoeiated with their now venerable father during all his efforts to build a railroad and repair his ruined fortunes, and now lift from his shoulders much of the active business in connection with the enterprise." " We are well satisfied with what we have accomplÍ8hed in connection with the Toledo & Ann Arbor Road," Gov. Ashley said yesterday. " It is at least an assured and profitable guceess, something of which any man may be excused for being a trifle proud. It is no simple matter to build a railroad for any considerable distance right in the face of popular prejudice. To a large extent, this is just what we nave accomplished. Few of the people who should naturally have been the most vitally interested in the enterprise believed that it could ever be made a success. I never for a moment agreed -with them in this theory. I was positivo that there was a field for the road. The result proves that my opinión was emphatically correct, notwithstanding the overwhelming odds against me. The road is doing a prosperous business and every passing month only serves to widen and deepen the circle of our influence in Michigan." " Are you thinking of running your road into Detroit ?" was asked. Gov. Ashley hesitated perceptibly before replying. Then he asked a qnestion which was, in itself, a pretty definite affirmative answer. " Where is Maj. Anderson, the right of way solioitor ?" he inquired. " Has he been in Detroit recently?" Being assured that but a day or two had elapsed since Maj. Anderson had been seen in Detroit, Q-ov. Ashley vouchsafed a more direct, though palpably evasive, reply. " I carne to Detroit from New York to 8ee Maj. Anderson on a little matter of business," he said. " Most of my time is spent in New York nowadays, you know. In regard to your question about extending our road to Detroit I can only repeat what I have of ten said on the subject. Just as soon as I can bring the Toledo & Ann Arbor Road into the city without making ruinous sacrifices to do so 1 will enter into the project most heartily. That is about all that can be said in regard to the matter at the present time." Prof. George W. Renwick has accepted a position as teacher of music in the public schools at Muskegon. A large increase in salary was the induoement for him to accept the offer. It is too bad that Ann Arbor cannot afford to pay as good salaries as other places in the state.