Wednesday, February 21, 2018

AA/M&LS - Northport Ferry

Taps Rich Ore Regions Of Upper Peninsula And Stops Competition.
ABANDONS NORTHPORT FERRY

Fight Between Roads For The Northern Business Stopped By This Purchase.

A deal is consummated, whereby the Ann Arbor Railroad company takes over the Manistique, Marquette & Northern railroad, which taps the rich ore regions of the Upper Peninsula. By this move the Ann Arbor practically closes the car ferry from Northport- to Manistique.  For a number of years the entire business of the Traverse City, Leelanau & Manistique railroad from the Upper Peninsula came by way of the M., M. & N. by way of these huge car ferries.  By this move the Ann Arbor taps the rich country not heretofore reached by any of the big lines.

For many years past the Ann Arbor has conducted a line from Frankfort to Manistique by means of a system of car ferries, which have received considerable patronage, but the leakage into the T. C, L. &M. line was very antagonistic to their business as offering a more direct line to the lower peninsula points and a consequent lowering of the tariffs. The purchase of the road throws the entire traffic in the Ann Arbor's hands.  There is no doubt but that this will deal a severe blow to Northport, depending as it does, largely on the northern system for work for its men.  This is a year round occupation, the big boats never stopping for ice or the elements. It will be some few days before the tariffs can be adjusted to suit the requirements of the new system, and it will also be necessary to allow an interim for the handling of the business which is now under contract to the T.C, L. & M. Just what will become of the road from Traverse City to Northport cannot be determined.

Alma Record (Alma MI) 8-12-1909

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