Article - A Michigan Statute Was Violated - 1889

Last Friday evening the express train on the Michigan Central Railroad, bound to Detroit from Chicago, was considerably behind hand when it reached Ann Arbor. The conductor announced at the latter station that no stop would be made between Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti.

This was not regarded as unusual, but when, after leaving Ypsilanti, it was announced that no stop would be made before reaching Detroit there was much comment.

One passenger remarked to those near him: "I'll just wager a small amount of money that a stop is made before reaching Detroit, because we are to make two railroad crossings."

The train showed no sign of stopping at the signal west of the Flint & Pere Marquette Railroad crossing [at Wayne Jct.] and presently whizzed across these tracks at a high rate of speed and kept on for Detroit.

The same thing was repeated at the Grand Trunk crossing [West Detroit], except that the train stopped after it had crossed.

As this is against one of the statutes of Michigan, and one also which is very generally observed, it created much comment. The train at the time was a very long one and was crowded with passengers to such an extent that there was scarcely standing room. [DFP-1889-0630]