MUSKEGON, GRAND RAPIDS & INDIANA R. R.

(Known as the Muskegon branch.)

This line extends from a point near Grand Rapids to Muskegon, a distance of about 41 miles. The road bed, ties and steel are in good condition and well maintained. The rail on this division is 60 lb. steel. The cattle guards are wood and steel surface. The right of way fence is in fair condition. However it was noted that the fence needs renewing in several places. The weeds on the right of way have not been cut, as required by law. Bridge structures have received general repairs. Highway crossings are in good repair. It is noted that several of the farm crossings and approaches are too narrow. Passenger stations small, but seem to be adequate for the amount of traffic presented. All main line switches provided with locks and lights. Switches and frogs generally blocked.

TRAVERSE CITY RAILROAD.

(Known as Traverse City branch.)

The rail on this division is 50, 56, 60 and 70 lb. steel, about four miles of 70 lb. rail having been laid this season, taking the place of 50 lb. rail; 56 and 60 lb. rail is in fair condition. All of the rail is held together with angle bars of suitable weight.

Considerable ballasting has been done and the surface and alignment of track is much improved. The right of way fence is in fair condition. It was noted that new fence is needed at several points. Cattle guards are wood and steel surface. Switches generally blocked. The ties on this division are generally supplied with tie plates. Station buildings seem to be sufficient to meet the requirements of the public. The main line switch stands are provided with lights and locks. Switches, frogs and guard rails are blocked as required by law.

TRAVERSE CITY, LEELANAU & MANISTIQUE.

This line of road extends from Hatches crossing, Lenawee county, a junction with the Manistee & Northeastern to Northport, a distance of about 23 miles. Train service is extended to Traverse City over the Manistee & Northeastern Railroad from the Hatches crossing. This line of road has been built about five years and was built with the intention of being operated by the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railway. A contract was made for five years' operation by the said company, and provided that the road should be completed and that it should be made satisfactory to the General Manager of the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railway Company. The road was not completed and made satisfactory to the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railway Company's manager and this company refused to operate it, according to the contract. The road was operated by the Construction Company for about two years, then it passed into the hands of the Union Trust Company of Detroit, they having operated it up to the present time, Mr. J. H. P. Hughart, General Manager of the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railway Company acting as their agent. The rail on this line is 60 lb. steel, in good condition. The road is well tied. The road bed is well drained. The surface and align

ment of track is good for the amount of traffic presented. There are very few stations on this line. The ones that are provided are small. The passenger business on this line is largely through business, going to Northport, the terminus of the road. This line is not generally fenced. Fencing is provided where requested. The highway crossings are in good condition and provided with highway crossing signs. Main line switches are provided with locks. Switches, frogs and guard rails blocked.

GRAND TRUNK RAILWAY SYSTEM.

Inspection made July 17, 18 and 19. Grand Trunk Railway Company, west of the St. Clair Tunnel, viz.: Grand Trunk Western Railway from Port Huron to Chicago, Detroit, Grand Haven & Milwaukee Railway from Detroit to Grand Haven, Cincinnati, Saginaw & Mackinaw Railway from Durand to West Bay City, Toledo, Saginaw & Muskegon Railway from Ashley to Muskegon, Michigan Air Line Railway from Lenox to Jackson, Chicago, Detroit & Canada Grand Trunk Junction Railroad from West Detroit to Port Huron.

The Grand Trunk Western Railway has 224 miles of main line in Michigan. This is a double track road and is laid with 80 lb. steel rail with the exception of three or four miles west of Battle Creek and the tracks in the yards at Port Huron, which are laid with 100 lb. steel rail. The rail is in good condition with the exception of about 40 miles. This is slightly worn and the company are now renewing it. The rails are connected with four bolt angle bars. Especial attention is given to the maintenance of rail joints. The surface and alignment of track is excellent. The company continues to use a good grade of ballast, 111,170 yards of ballast having been placed in the track this season. The tie renewals have been liberal, 53,776 having been renewed this season. The wing fences and cattle guards are in good condition, same being whitewashed. This makes a very desirable improvement and an additional safeguard to the public on the highway. The right of way is generally well maintained. The interlocking switch and signal systems at the several railroad crossings are in good serviceable condition and generally well maintained. Switches, guard rails and frogs in good order and generally provided with blocking. There are a number of different patterns in switch stands and targets. Main line switches provided with switch lights and locks. All bridge structures are in good condition and well maintained. Desirable improvements are being made in passenger and freight stations. At Flint there is under construction a new freight station, the same being 50 feet wide and 450 feet long. At Battle Creek a new, modern freight station has been completed. There is also under construction at this city, a new erecting shop, which will be equipped with the most modern machinery. Special attention is being given to the beautifying of station grounds, the most noticeable being at Durand and Battle Creek. Much improvement is noted in the general condition of the passenger stations. It was noted that the bulletining of passenger trains did not receive as careful attention as it should in order to comply with the law. The passenger train service is all that could be desired. Motive power, freight and passenger equipment as required by law.

DETROIT, GRAND HAVEN & MILWAUKEE.

Extensive renewals are being made on this road in the way of new steel bridge structures with concrete abutments. The bridges at Stoney Creek, Maple River, Prairie Creek, Grand River at Ionia, Thornapple River, Grand River at Grand Rapids, also three bridges between Grand Rapids and Fuller, have been renewed this year. There are five bridges between Fuller and Grand Haven that are reported to us as being on the list for renewals for next year. The construction of the bridges referred to is first class in every respect. There is 80 lb. steel rail between Durand and Detroit, all in good condition. The company expects within the next twelve months to have 80 lb. rail between Durand and Grand Haven. Considerable work has been done in the way of widening the roadbed and cuts and draining the same. A large amount of ballast has been placed in tracks this season. The tie renewals have been liberal, 53,787 ties having been placed in track this season. The surface and alignment of track is good, and equal to the traffic presented. Considerable attention is being given to the renewing of freight and passenger stations. New passenger stations have been built at Pontiac, Clarkston, Saranac and Grand Rapids. The company intends in the near future to build a new passenger station at Ionia. There should be a new station at this point as the station now in use is not sufficient for the traffic presented. The new passenger stations referred to are first class in every respect. New freight stations have been built at Grand Rapids and Fuller. The new terminals at Grand Rapids have been completed. This is a very desirable improvement. Passenger and freight stations are complete and convenient for the traveling public. A new twenty-five stall round house with machine shop 175 x 50 feet has been built at Milwaukee Junction, also a new twenty-eight stall round house and machine shop 175 x 50 feet, and new store room and office at Durand. The company intends building new coal sheds at Durand and Milwaukee Junction with a storage capacity of about 600 tons each. Open culverts are being replaced with iron pipe or concrete arches. Wing fences, cattle guards and cattle yards are in good condition, the same being whitewashed. Switch targets have been re-painted, switch stands provided with switch lights and locks; passenger stations provided with semaphore signal protection. Right of way fences generally in good condition. Highway and farm crossings, plank fairly well maintained. Interlockers in good serviceable condition. Frogs, guard rails and switches generally blocked as required by law. Train equipment as required by law. Passenger train service seems to meet the requirements of the public. At Grand Haven the company connects with a boat line for Chicago and Milwaukee. In addition to this they operate a car ferry between Grand Haven and Milwaukee.

CINCINNATI, SAGINAW & MACKINAW.

The track on this line of road is laid with 60 lb. rail, in good condition and well maintained. The line is equipped with split point switches and spring rail frogs. Switches are provided with switch lights and locks. Switches, guard rails and frogs generally blocked. Right of way is being cleaned of weeds. Wing fences, cattle guards, cattle

yards and overhead bridges in good condition, same being whitewashed. Ties in good condition, 7,638 ties having been renewed this season. Surface and alignment of track good. Track is being re-ballasted at several points along the line, 2,540 yards of ballast having been placed in track this season. A number of the company's wire crossings need re-constructing so as to comply with the specifications of the commission. The bridge structures have received all necessary repairs. Station semaphore protection provided where approaches to stations are on curves. Interlocking machinery in fair condition. Station facilities adequate for the traffic presented. Right of way fence generally in good repair. Train service seem to meet the requirements of the public. Highway and farm crossings well maintained. Crossings signs in fair condition.

TOLEDO, SAGINAW & MUSKEGON.

The right of way fence on this branch is in fair condition. It is noted that in several places new fence should be provided. Wing fences and cattle guards in fair condition. Crossing signs needed at several of the crossings. It is noted that several of the cattle guards are missing at several crossings. This line is generally equipped with stub switches and solid frogs. Same is generally blocked according to law. The rail in the track on this line is 60 lb. steel and in fair condition. Joints fairly well maintained. This line has been re-tied within the last four years, 5,902 ties having been renewed this season. The ties are generally cedar and are in good condition. The surface and alignment of track is generally fair. It was promised that it would be much improved within 90 days. Stations generally small, but seem to meet the requirements of the public. Interlocking machinery in fair condition. The weeds are being removed from the right of way. Bridge structures receive careful attention and necessary repairs. In a number of instances bridges have been filled with earth. The train service is extended to Owosso Junction, a connection with the Detroit, Grand Haven & Milwaukee branch over the Ann Arbor road from Ashley. The passenger and freight service seem to meet the requirements of the public. This line is safe for the traffic presented.

MICHIGAN AIR LINE.

Much improvement is noted on this line since the last inspection, the track being practically re-tied within the past three years, 23,539 ties having been renewed this season. The ties are cedar and oak and in good condition. A number of bridges are being renewed, or strengthened. Stub switches with solid frogs are generally provided. Switch stands provided with switch locks. Wing fences and cattle guards generally in good condition, the same being whitewashed. The surface and alignment of track is fair. The surface and alignment is expected to be much improved inside of 90 days. The station buildings are small but seem to meet the requirements of the public. Right of way fence in fair condition, considerable repairs having been made to same and three miles of new fence built. New crossing signs needed at several highway crossings along the line. The rail in the track on this line

is 67 lb. with the exception of the track between Stockbridge and Jackson, which is 60 lb. This eighteen miles of rail will be replaced with 67 lb. rail in 60 days. It was noted that considerable weeds had grown on the right of way and road bed. These weeds will all be disposed of inside of 90 days, the weeds on the road bed being taken care of when the track is being re-ballasted. The company has 97,590 yards of ballast distributed and a part of it in the track at the time of the inspection. The grades are being reduced at several places along the line and the material is being used for the widening of the banks.

CHICAGO, DETROIT & CANADA GRAND TRUNK JUNCTION.

The track of this line is laid mostly with 71 and 80 lb. rail. Rail joints fastened with four bolt angle bars of suitable weight and well maintained. All switches are equipped with split points and spring rail frogs, generally blocked as required by law. Switch stands are provided with locks and switch lights. Ties are in good condition, 21,427 having been renewed this season. The track is well ballasted. 22,860 yards of ballast having been placed in track this season. Right of way fence is well maintained and the right of way is neat and clean. Wing fences, cattle guards and highway crossings well maintained. Surface cattle guards, both of wood and metal construction are in use. Highway crossing signs generally well maintained. Passenger and freight stations generally well maintained and sufficient for the traffic presented. Surface and alignment of track good. New storage yard has been added, located about one and one-half miles east of Milwaukee Junction with connections with the Belt Line and Michigan Central Railroad. Switch targets, whistling posts and semaphores have been newly painted. Several new passing sidings have been added. Semaphores have been provided for station protection where approaches to station are on curve. Passenger train service satisfactory. Equipment as required by law. Inspection of this system shows that the property is much improved and that the general conditions are satisfactory. The property of the Grand Trunk system shows a decided improvement in the past year and is satisfactory to the department.

KALAMAZOO0, LAKE SHORE & CHICAGO RAILWAY.

This line of road extends from Kalamazoo to South Haven, with a branch line to Paw Paw Lake. This company secured the old main line of the Michigan Central Railroad Company between Kalamazoo and a point about one and one-half miles east of Lawton. At this point they pass under the tracks of the Michigan Central road and continue on to Lawton on a new road constructed by the K. L. S. & C. Ry. Co. This company constructed its line to Paw Paw. This line was operated but a short time when it was discontinued, and taken up. The company in the meantime having secured a lease of the South Haven & Eastern R. R. between Lawton and South Haven. When the road was completed to Paw Paw it was the intention of the company to operate it by electricity. The company seems to have abandoned this idea and are now operating by steam. The line between Kalamazoo and the point where it passes under the tracks of the Michigan Central