Private Railways

When the U. S. Steel Corporation acquired its own railroad lines to expedite the passage of its raw material and products from mine to mill, much comment was occasioned. In recent years, the example set by the Steel Corporation has been followed by Henry Ford in acquiring the Detroit, Toledo & Ironton Railroad.

Apparently the Willys-Overland interests have decided to emulate their great rival in Detroit. Together with the Wabash Railroad, Willys-Overland has just acquired the Toledo & Western Railroad, as well as several hundred acres of industrial sites in West Toledo. The joint owners have organized the Toledo & Western Railway Co. to operate the road and develop the new industrial acreage. The value of road and land is estimated at $2,000,000; in addition, $1,000,000 will be spent in modernizing the road and improving its terminal facilities in West Toledo. A spur line will very shortly be extended from West Toledo to the great Willys-Overland factory in Toledo.