Electric Railroad, Interurban Railroad & Traction

There were rumors of Electric Railroad, Interurban Railroad and / or tractions coming to Culver and the lake.

A traction railroad is a general term referring to a railroad that uses traction power (electricity, diesel, or steam) to operate, but it often specifically refers to an electric interurban railroad or the technology itself. The term is also used for a railway that utilizes traction motors for propulsion


Electric Power:
Many traction railroads are powered by electricity, using systems like overhead catenary wires or third rails to supply current to the locomotives.

Interurban Railroads:
A significant type of traction railroad was the "interurban" system, which provided passenger and freight service between cities, often with more comfortable electric-powered cars.

1873 - June 19 Railroad Meeting.

MAXINKUCKEE, IND. June 16th 1873. The meeting was called to order by Mr. Wm. Shaw: E. Parker, Esq., was called to the chair, and Wm. Jackson, elected Secretary.

The chairman explained the object of the meeting.

Mr. Heimer of N. Manchester, introduced Mr. Faucet, chief engineer of the road, who gave it as his opinion that the chances were good for running the road through this place. If the stock is raised the road will be located and run on this line. That he should look no farther until the people along this line have time to raise the stock.

The road will be run on the shortest line possible, and this is the line. He asks for $75,000, and the right of way from the North line of Wabash County, to the West line of this township, and there is now about $60,000 of it raised. He stated that there is no swindle in this, and the company means business, and the road is being located and work commenced on it, as fast as possible.

Mr. Heimer followed stating the proposition of the company; which is that engineers will be put to work to survey, and to locate the : road on this line if practicable; and that the stockholders pay for the survey.

If the road is located on the line, the amount to be deducted from their stock. The reason that the company ask the stock holders to put on the engineers, is that their engineers are busy in Ohio, at present.

The engineers at work here will be under the Chief Engineer, and will have power to locate the road. The company ask that the townships be represented in a meeting at Bloomingburg to decide as to running the line, and he states that the proposition is favored all along the line.

Messrs Allman and Wells, of Silver Lake, addressed the meeting showing the benefits and advantages of the road.

Also, Messrs, Shaw, Parker and Vanschorach (sic Van Shoiach), spoke in brief, showing why the people are so backward about rail roads, and the benefits which will result from them. Mr. Shaw moved that this Township be represented at Bloomingburg; which was carried.

The chair was ordered to appoint a committee of three to visit the stockholders. Mr. Wm. Shaw, Dr. W. Jacksen, and Mr. Jas. Miller were appointed.

The meeting appointed Messrs Shaw, E. Parker, S. T. Vanschorach (sic Van Shoiach), W. Jackson, and J. C. Wells, as representatives to meet at Bloomingburg, June 22d, 1873.

On motion the meeting adjourned.

E. PARKER, Chairman.
W. JACKSON, Secretary
- - Weekly Republican, Plymouth

1873 - Jul 16 - Railroad News

A corps of engineers left this place last Monday for Muxinkukee Lake, where they propose commencing the final survey and location of C.& A. When they get to Silver Lake, which will take them about two weeks, they will then run to Manchester, provided the friends on this line will guarantee the required amount of stamps; otherwise, the road will go where there is the most money ready to be put into it. We hope our citizens see the necessity of immediate sotion, and that they Will cordially respond to the "last call" - North Manchester Republican, 10th. -- Indiana Herald, Huntington, Indiana

1873 - Jul 16 - Railroad News

We have been shown a letter from gentleman prominently connected with the Chicago & Atlantic Railroad enterprise, which contained some very interesting information concerning that projeot.

From it we learn that work was begun on the Ohio division last Thursday, in socordance with the terms of the contract recently let, mention of which has already been made in these colums; and that a locomotive and some cars have been purchased, and will be used for construction purposes. lo addition, we are told that at Kenton, Ohio, nearly $100,000 have been subscribed for the road.

At Marion Ohio, liberal subscriptions are being made, and the same may be said of intervening points. To the west of us, where there has been a great deal of shilly-shallying, the people are getting down to their work in earnest.

Two surveying parties are on the line-one in Objo, and the other in this State; the latter being now engaged in running a line from Lake Maxinkuckee to Silver Lake. -- Indiana Herald, Huntington, Indiana

1873 - Jul 24, The engineers are surveying the line of the A. & C. R. R., between here und Walnut. They expect to locate soon. -- Weekly Republican, Plymouth

1873 - Aug 6 - The Chicago & Atlantic Railcond Company have purchased a locomotive and a train of cars, for the construction of their road. Mr. Paul, the chief engineer of the A & C. road, will be in North Manchester on the 29th inst., and will pass over the line west from here, to Maxinkuckee, to inspect the line ran by W. F. Craig. W. F. Oraig and his party, will be far east as Silver Lake by next Friday. Wm. Miller, for the grading and bridging,iS At Keaton, Ohio, superinteading his work.-- The Indiana Herald, Huntington

The Argos Reflector Argos, Indiana Thu, Dec 9, 1897 Page 4

THAT ELECTRIC RAILROAD. Matters Progressing Fairly

Maxinkuckee Stirred Up

Want it to Come Their Way.

Maxinkuckee citizens are fully awake to the opportunity offered them to become a center of attraction prominence through the building the electric railroad around their way, and are going to give Culver a hard fight for it.

A committee of their citizens, including Dr. Caple, Jas. South, Harvey Morris, "Doc" Lake, Barnes and C. J. Loudon were in Argos Monday consulting with the Argos committee with regard to the preliminary survey.

Several routes are proposed after leaving Argos, and of course the Culverites are hot after the one reaching their town, which causes one interested in the Maxinkuckee route to give us the following communication:
Editor Reflector:
I see in a recent issue of the Culver Herald an inordinate desire manifested for the proposed electric railroad to pass thro' that place. The Herald sets forth "some of the principal points of interest" (to Culver) why the road must leave its most direct line and go by way of the military school around the edge of the lake in close proximity to the Vandalia hotel, and running on the Vandalia's ground, and thus competing with said road for space on the west side.- Owing to the close proximity of the Vandalia road to the lake, the electric road must keep a distance from the lake.


The Herald says, "Passing near by in easy access to the great ice plant owned by Sterling R. Holt of Indianapolis, who is the ice king of Indianapolis, and has proven himself a successful competitor at Logansport and South Bend." What incentive is this to any railroad except the Vandalia?

From the gist of the Herald's expression, this route would practically concede the ice trade to the Vandalia road. Sanitarily, the ice trade would be anullity on the north end, owing to the sewerage from the school which the Herald so glowingly mentioned.

It is well known by people who are acquainted with the lake, that the water at the north end is very shallow and would require a pier of about forty rods to reach navigable water.

We next view Culver as a trading point. It is surrounded by a barren country peopled with an indigent population.

It can very plainly be seen from the tenor of the Herald's article that Culver dreads the loss of the commercial utility of the east side of the lake, with its numerous cottages, wealth, prestige, and its sweeping agricultural radius of a dense, fertile soil.

These points, together with an easy access to the lake, to say nothing of the saving of three miles in construction and about $24,000, we think should be an incentive to bring the road to the east side, without further consideration on the part of the railroad syndicate. MINNIE-HAHA. We were just going to make some remarks anent the above when the following reached us, and seems to offer a possible solution:

Editor Reflector:
The controversy between Culver and Maxinkuckee about the location of the electric railroad, it seems to me, is uncalled for.

If the road is located on the south end of the lake, there is no doubt but what the company will build an electric trolley line around to the north side through Culver from the mainline, to be run for the accommodation of the thousands of visitors that will want to take a ride around the beautiful lake and get one of the grandest views of the most delightful body of water in Northern Indiana.

And when Culver has some great attraction to offer at the military academy or at the training pavilion excursion trains can be run direct to Culver.

Maxinkuckee lake is destined to become the leading summer resort of Northern Indiana, as the bathing facilities are almost equal to Atlantic City, Long Branch or Cape May, barring the salt water and breakers.

Any electric railroad that will miss Maxinkuckee lake will miss the greatest revenue producer of any place in Indiana. Let the north end and the south end workers agree to bury the the best hatchet location and for work the together through line, SO it reaches Maxinkuckee lake. It wont be many years until the lake will be surrounded and be consolidated into one grand summer resort, to be visited by thousands daily all through the outing season. B. F. ROSENBERRY

The Argos Reflector Thu, Oct 11, 1906 ·Page 1

MUCH TRACTION TALK

Northern Indiana Presents Field of Great Activity---New Company Organized.

The Winona & Maxinkuckee Railway Co., of South Bend recently filed articles of incorporation with the secretary of state, to operate a traction line between Culver and Warsaw through Argos.

The head quarters of the company are at South Bend and its directors are E. P. Taylor, S. I. Perley, A. C oquillard, V. Miar and T. P. Moredock.

Exchanges are accountable for a report that promoters are at work on a proposed line from Plymouth to White Pigeon Mich., by way of Bremen and Wakarusa. The proposed line is to be known as the Plymouth, Goshen and White Pigeon Railway, and the route has been inspected, a prospectus was issued, and preparations are being made to finance the enterprise.

The new road if built on this route would make direct connection with the St. Joseph Valley line at Middlebury, and the Grand Rapids division of the Lake Shore at White Pigeon, thus establishing direct communication between Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo and points in Northern Indiana.

In its total length of forty-seven miles the line would cross and connect with eleven steam roads and two electric systems, to say nothing of the intersection with various other proposed" lines.

The Bremen Enquire comments on the project as follows;
"Needless to say this proposition will "look good"' to Bremen people. In fact no better route could have been picked out if we had had it made to order." But let us remember that "training the hounds is not capturing the fox."

The Argos Reflector Thu, Jan 16, 1908 ·Page 1-

FORT WAYNE-WARSAW ARGOS, MAXINKUCKEE, VALPARAISO Winona laterurban Company Say Ft. Wayne, Valparaiso Line is Financed-- Above May be Route Chosen as it is Direct. The Winona Interurban Railroad company have for some time been figuring out plans for an east and west line, the real connection finally arrived at being Chicago, Maxinkuckee, Winona and Fort Wayne and officials of the company now claim the Fort Wayne-Valparaiso portion of the line is fully financed and will be built. In glancing over the map between the above named points you will find Argos directly on the line between Winona and Maxinkuckee and the route thus followed offers an excellent territory for interurban connection. It is logical that these two largest summer resorts in the central west be connected by interurban and the territory on a line running through Argos is the most available, shortest and level country over which to build a railroad..