Wikipedia:WikiProject Trains/ICC valuations/Detroit River Tunnel Company
Interstate Commerce Commission, Valuation Reports, Volume 28
Detroit River Tunnel Company
[edit]Introductory
[edit]The Detroit River Tunnel Company is a corporation of the State of Michigan and the Dominion of Canada, having its principal office at Detroit, Mich. It is controlled by the Michigan Central through ownership of a majority of the outstanding capital stock. On the other hand, the records reviewed do not indicate that this company, itself, controls any common-carrier corporation.
The property of the Detroit River Tunnel Company was operated, under lease, by the Michigan Central from the date it was placed in operation until December 31, 1917. On January 1, 1918, all the property of the Detroit River Tunnel Company, under contract with the Michigan Central, was taken over for operation by the United States Railroad Administration, which operates it on date of valuation.
Corporate History
[edit]The Detroit River Tunnel Company was incorporated under the general laws of the State of Michigan and the Dominion of Canada on December 13, 1905, and August 23, 1905, respectively, for the purpose of consolidating the property, rights and franchises of The Michigan & Canada Bridge & Tunnel Company and, the Canada and Michigan Bridge and Tunnel Company. Pursuant to the above purpose, the Detroit River Tunnel Company acquired at its organization the rights and franchises of the two companies named, and constructed the property specified in the articles of incorporation of the consolidating companies. The Detroit River Tunnel Company itself, and those corporations total three different corporations, of which two underwent a change of name, and comprise the line of corporate succession culminating in the Detroit River Tunnel Company as at present constituted. The following chart shows the names of the corporations, the respective dates of incorporation and for each predecessor the date of succession, the immediately succeeding corporation, and the manner of succession. Reference to each of these corporations is made in the last column by its respective number shown in the first column.
| No. | Name | Incorporation | Succession |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Detroit River Tunnel Company. | Under general laws of Michigan and the Dominion of Canada, through articles of consolidation, dated June 9, 1905; filed in Michigan, Dec. 13, 1905; Dominion of Canada, Aug. 23, 1905. | |
| 2 | The Michigan & Canada Bridge & Tunnel Company. | See 3. | Consolidated Dec. 13, 1905, with 5 to form 1. |
| 3 | Detroit River Bridge Company. | See 4. | Name changed to 2 on Apr. 5, 1905. |
| 4 | The Michigan Central Bridge Company. | Under general laws of Michigan, Jan. 23, 1896. | Name changed to 3 on Dec. 3, 1898. |
| 5 | Canada and Michigan Bridge and Tunnel Company. | See 6. | Consolidated Dec. 13, 1905, with 2 to form 1. |
| 6 | Canada Michigan Tunnel Company [sic]. | Under special act of Parliament of the Dominion of Canada, May 14, 1888. | Name changed to 5 on June 28, 1895. |
Development of Fixed Physical Property
[edit]The owned mileage of the Detroit River Tunnel Company, 3.265 miles, was all acquired by construction during the period 1900 to 1910. The construction work on the tunnel was performed by Butler Brothers-Hoff Company, contractors, who do not appear to have been affiliated with the company. The remainder of the construction work was performed by the forces of the Detroit River Tunnel Company under the supervision of the Michigan Central.
Leased Railway Property
[edit]The entire property of the Detroit River Tunnel Company is leased to the Michigan Central for a term of 999 years from January 1, 1907. The terms of the lease and the rental accrued for the year ending on date of valuation are given in the chapter on leased railway property in the report on the Michigan Central.