March: The Michigan-Peninsular Car Company is acquired by the American Car & Foundry Company, headquartered in St. Louis, MO. [HWC]
May 1: Works begins on the Copper Range's Houghton Yard. A few scattered houses on the lake front were taken down. The main offices for the Copper Range Railroad were established at the east end of the yards, consisting of a rectangular two-story brick building. A 400 foot boardwalk was built around the station. [CRH]
May 20: Ypsilanti & Saline Electric Railway opens line from Ypsilanti to Saline. [MRRC]
July 11: Work begins on a new wye, which will allow LSMS trains to enter the Michigan Central yards at Kalamazoo. This was followed by a consolidation of forces at Kalamazoo and the ceasing of operations of the "decrepit" Lake Shore depot. [LS]
September 2: The interurban line from Ypsilanti to Saline begins operations. [EMR4]
September 8. Owning to the rapid growth of the electric railway system, the State railroad crossing board has decided to require a separation of grades at all crossings of steam tracks hereafter made. This is a measure of safety to the public and is necessary for the making of time, the law requiring a full stop to be made at all grade crossings. [UVC-18999-0908]
September 26: Rail is first laid on the Copper Range south from Houghton (75 lb.). Rail is also laid at Maas City. [CRH]
September 27: The first car of the Detroit, Rochester, Romeo and Lake Orion Railway reaches the Rochester bridge. [EMR4]
Fall: The main offices for the Copper Range Railroad were established at the east end of the Houghton yards, consisting of a rectangular two-story brick building. A 400 foot boardwalk was built around the station. [CRH]
November 11: The Detroit, Plymouth and Northville Railway is opened to Northville. [EMR4]
November 29: The Grand Rapids, Belding & Saginaw Ry. opens their line from Lowell to Belding. [L&H]
December 7: Copper Range Railroad opens line from Houghton to Winona. [MRRC]
December 27: Copper Range RR completed line from Houghton to /Mass/McKeever, 41.11 miles. [MDOT/CRAR/CRH]
December, 1899: A Copper Range train is operated for “trappers” between Houghton and Winona. [CRH]
Michigan Traction line completed from Kalamazoo to Battle Creek. [IT-12/79]
D&M reaches Onaway. [HI]
Menominee and St. Paul Railway opens line from Menominee to Wisconsin state line (10 miles). [MRRC]
The Grand Rapids, Belding & Saginaw Railroad builds from Lowell to Belding. becomes a part of the Pere Marquette. [PM45]
South Haven & Eastern is sold to the owners of the Milwaukee, Benton Harbor & Columbus and converted to standard gauge. [PMHS]
Frank Hecker and Charles Freer, who founded Peninsular Car Co. in 1885, retire, millionaires several times over. [DWS]
Ransom Olds opens the first Detroit automobile factory on East Jefferson Avenue, near Belle Isle. [BOM]
The only copper ore producing mine south of Portage Lake in Houghton County is the Atlantic Mine. [CRH]
The United Fruit Company is formed from seven independent companies that had been operating in Honduras in Central America. [SAM]
Time line Key:
The following sources are utilized in this website. [SOURCE-YEAR-MMDD-PG]:
