Railroad: Bay City and Battle Creek Railway Company

Built → Bay City and Battle Creek Railway → MCRR

The Bay City and Battle Creek railway was a speculative railroad proposed in 1887 to run between it's namesake cities as well as southwest of Battle Creek towards the Wabash Railroad in Indiana. On the north end, the road was proposed to run through Midland, Alma, and Ionia. Funds were raised from communities along the proposed route.

It appears that initial funding was given to the lead directors who owned the construction company which built the railroad. By the time the railroad was declared in financial trouble in 1889, other stockholders were not well protected.

On the north end, this railroad was opened and operated between West Bay City (a connection on the Grand Trunk's TS&M) and Midland, a total of 18 miles along with another 10 miles of sidings and spurs. It was standard gauge. On the south end, the line was completed between the Grand Trunk in Battle Creek, to Goshen, IN via Sturgis.

Chartered: 1889.

Built: 1889 from the GT in West Bay City to Midland.

Operated: Less than 1 Year

Leased to: Michigan Central RR in 1890. The south segment was also leased to the Michigan Central and Lake Shore railroads. Acquired in 1916.

Acquired: The BC&BC acquired the Hecla Belt Line in 1912.

Reference: [MRRC]

Notes

The junction for this line in west Bay city was completed to the MC and referred to as "B,.C. and B.C. Junction", named after the official name of the railroad. Today, the junction is referred to by the Huron & Eastern as Midland Junction.

Time Line

1887. December. The new line from Battle Creek to Bay City, via Ionia and Alma to connect the road which will be built from Grand Rapids via Greenville. [SWC-1887-1229]

1888. January. A.W. Wright of Alma; H.R. Wagon of Ionia, W.H. Tousey of Bay City, George E. Howes, of Battle Creek, and Wm. Reardon of Midland, met in Lansing last night and decided upon building the proposed new railroad between Bay City and Battle Creek via Ionia, Midland, Nashville and Alma. The sum of $65,000 will be raised immediately and a company formed. This is in accordance with decisions of citizen meetings held along the route. [SAG-1888-0106]

1888. March. The civil engineer, with a large corps of assistants, began in Battle Creek this morning to make the survey for the new BC&BC railroad. [SAG-0320] May: The contract for grading the new road has been let and work will soon be commenced. [AR-1888-0525]

1888. July. A meeting of the Bay City Business Men's Association was held. Terms on which the BC&BC railroad will build their road between Bay City and Midland were made known. The company asks of a donation in aid of the construction of the road of $30,000; from West Bay City $10,000 and right of way through the city to the river, and suitable depot grounds; from Midland $10,000 and right of way through the city to the river and suitable depot grounds; from Midland $10,000 right of way from the east line of Midland county through Midland City to the west or south line of Homer Township and suitable depot grounds in the city. It also asks Bay City, West Bay City and Midland that they secure the transfer of all the right, title and interest of the Grand Rapids & Bay City railroad company, and of the Bay City & Midland Railroad Company, and proper conveyances from the land owners to be made to the BC&BC railroad company where necessary to secure a good title to the right of way on any portion of the line between Midland and West Bay City. Once conveyed, the road will commence at once, to be completed between Bay City and Midland by June 1, 1889. The Business Men's Association voted to accept the proposition and appointed a large committee to raise funds. [SAG-1888-0716]

1888. August. The BC&BC stockholders met today and voted to mortgage the road to the Farmers' Loan and Trust Company of New York as trustees to carry out the terms of the contract to build and equip the line. J.J. Burns, the contractor, and John Fitzgerald of Lincoln, Neb. the sub-contractor, who have contracts from Bay City to Danville, IL were present and were instructed to build at once from Bay City to Midland, and from Battle Creek to Athens. The intention is to have the road completed by the close of the season. [SAG-1888-0808]

1888. November. The only point between Midland and Bay City that is not ready for the steel is where the line crosses Capt. Powell's farm. He has served notice for the company to keep off. His land will probably be condemned where the road wishes right of way. [SAG-1888-1120]

1889. January. The J.J. Burns Construction Co., which assigned a few days ago, is found to have liabilities of a clear $1,000,000 and bonds of the new BC&BC railroad and Battle Creek & Goshen railroad, with a face value of $1,500,000. The creditors are looking up the matter now, and find that the assignment has a suspicious look. It was made to a young lawyer, who is a director of the company, and who had only $100 worth of stock in the concern. [BSE-1889-0130]

1889. January 31. A Million Dollar Crash. The BC&BC Failure a Whopper. Creditors stuck for hundreds of thousands of dollars. The J.J. Burns & Co. assignment begins to assume a new phase as more facts become public. It now appears that the liabilities of the company will approximate a cool million dollars, while the assets are its capital stock of $100,000, and the stock of the new BC&BC and the BC & Goshen roads, amounting on its face value of about $1.5 million but which has an unknown market value.

The heaviest creditors are John Fitzgerald of Lincoln, Neb. for $425,000; E.C. Nichols of Saginaw who is also president for $85,000; the Joliet Steel Co. for $225,000 and floating debts of over $150,000.

One peculiar thing is that some of the officers of the railroad are also members of the Burns company, the construction contractor, on such liberal terms that there is thought to be a job of "financiering" in the failure of the company. [SWC-1889-0131]

1889. The construction gang of the Toledo, Saginaw & Mackinaw railroad created quite a sensation in West Bay City by beginning early in the morning on a bold proceeding. Since the road reached West Bay City it has used the track of the Battle Creek & Bay City railroad for a distance of about five blocks. The latter road, which has been idle for six months, had a track upon the street which was afterward granted to the use of the TS&M. At the last meeting of the Common Council of West Bay City a resolution was passed instructing the marshal to tear up the tracks of the BC&BC and place the streets which it crossed in passable condition. 

Yesterday the construction gang of the other road did the business. They tore up the rails, ties, planking and everything except the roadbed. Then they proceeded to put down new ties, rails and planking in exactly the same place. This was completed before dusk. The track of the BC&BC was thrown alongside the roadbed. The superintendent of construction to-day had nothing to say about the proceeding except that he was acting under instructions. He says that the Battle Creek & Bay City road may use his track if it so desires. [DFP-1889-1231]

1891. The Michigan Central purchased the Bay City & Battle Creek railroad some time ago, and now invites the West Bay City people who gave notes to the new road by way of a bonus to step up and settle. A considerable number have paid. [NDS-1891-1007]