Railroad: Marquette, Houghton & Ontonagon railroad

This was a major road in the western Upper Peninsula from Marquette to L'Anse. The goal of this railroad was to extend from Marquette to Ontonagon, which was required to receive substantial land grants in the upper peninsula.

Various → Marquette Houghton & Ontonagon Railroad → DSS&A

Consolidated: 1872 - the Marquette & Ontonagon Railroad and Houghton & Ontonagon.

Operated for 18 years.

Opened line: 1872 - Champion to L'Anse.

Consolidated: 1883 - Houghton & L'Anse.

Leased: 1885 - the Marquette & Western.

Leased to: 1887 - to Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic.

Leased: 1888 - Negaunee & Palmer.

Sold to: 1890 - to Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic.

Reference: [MRRC]

Notes

Time Line

1870. The Houghton & Ontonagon was a construction railroad which built from the M&O in Champion towards L'Anse. They also began construction of an ore dock at L'Anse. For a time, James Joy of Detroit was an investor in this line. The H&O successfully asked the Michigan legislature to transfer the M&O land grant to the H&O after it appeared that the M&O would not reach Ontonagon. [DSS]

1872. The M&O and H&O board of directors agreed to merge on May 25. It was mostly funded by eastern capitalists, including Alexander Agassiz and Quincy Shaw who were principles in the Calumet & Hecla mining company. [DSS]

1873. A special meeting of the stockholders of the MH&O will be held at the office of the company, No. 51 Griswold street, in the City of Detroit at noon on October 9. [1873-0911]

1874. The statement that the names of the engines on the MH&O were selected from the Indian tongue is a mistake. It was done this way: Numbers from one to twenty were placed in one hat, and slips with letters in another. A number was then drawn and then enough letters to equal the number taken from the hat. The letters were put down in the order drawn, and when enough had been taken out the engine was named. Two. The company had one man who could pronounce most of the names but he was discharged as soon as the fact became known. From the Marquette Mining Journal. [DFP-1874-0607]

1877. July. President Samuel Sloan of the Michigan Central, left Chicago yesterday in a special car furnished him by the C&NW railway for the Lake Superior region. He will inspect the MH&O railroad of which he is also President, and perhaps remain for a time at Marquette recuperating in the invigorating atmosphere of that region. [DFP-1877-0719]

1878. The MH&O land grant from the state expires when the line failed to reach Ontonagon. [DSS]

1879. Samuel Sloan has resigned and J.L. Stackpole of Boston, MA has been chosen President of the MH&O. [DFP-1879-1104]

1881. May 26. The Senate extends the time for the completion of the MH&O until January, 1884. The grant has been kept alive by extensions from time to time and is likely to be continued. The company is reported to have recently sold in London a portion of its grant, fifteen miles in extent, for $2.5 million. [DFP-1881-0527]

1882. Leaders in Ontonagon pushed for the State Board of Control to order the Marquette, Houghton & Ontonagon to complete their route from approximately L'Anse to Ontonagon as required by their land grant. Apparently the entire land grant has been sold by the MH&O even though the line has been completed. [PHTH-1882-0420]

1883. February. The MH&O has ordered seven new and powerful locomotives which will be put on its road this coming summer. The company looks forward to a lively business in ore hauling and the many new mines opened along its route to to support such an idea. [DFP-1883-0206]

1883. June. The MH&O is now in such position that it is rapidly gaining upon the C&NW in the transportation of iron ore from the Marquette district. Formerly the two roads about divided the business. [DFP-1883-0617]

1885. The MH&O has agreed to a proposition that unless 10 miles of road shall be completed before January 1, 1887, its land grant shall be forfeited. [WEX-1885-0507]

1885. May 21. The MH&O railroad has assumed control of the Marquette and Western. The officers of the former road inspected the latter company's property and settled all details of the transfer. [LCS-1885-0521]

1887. May 16. James McMillan, president of the DSS&A gives notice that hereafter his company will control the DM&M and the MH&O railroads, and will operate them as one line from St. Ignace at the Straits of Mackinaw to Houghton. The following appointments have been made: Andrew Watson, general superintendent; E.W. Allen, auditor and general passenger and ticket agent; William Orr, general freight agent. [PHTH-1887-0516]

1888. February. The application for listing of the DSS&A has gone to the Stock Exchange, but the stock has already been traded in, among the enlisted securities. The road is fully described in the application. The new company is a consolidation of the:

• Sault Ste. Marie & Marquette
• Mackinaw & Marquette
• Wisconsin, Sault Ste. Marie & Mackinac
• Duluth, Superior & Michigan
• Detroit, Mackinac & Marquette (acquired by foreclosure)
• Marquette, Houghton & Ontonagon (leased)

The line is now in operation from St. Ignace to Marquette (152 miles) and from Marquette to Houghton (94 miles). A branch extends from Soo Junction to Sault Ste. Marie (47 miles) and the Marquette & Western with branches to iron mines (about 28 miles).

The road is all graded, and it is in operation from Marquette to Nestoria. From that point to a junction with the Northern Pacific rails will be laid in the spring, and in May the whole road will begin operation. The company is fairly well supplied with equipment and motive power now, but about half as many more engines and cars will be delivered under contract before July 1.

The road is bonded at $12,000 a mile in 50 year 5% first mortgage bonds. The common stock is $12 million and the preferred stock is $10 million. Although the road is now earning interest, the projectors have not yet seen a chance to get their money out. At current prices for the stock the 5% bonds stand them at over 90, and if they hold on to their securities they realize only 2 1/2% at present upon their original subscriptions. [DFP-1888-0226]