Macomb station
Macomb and Western Illinois Railway debacle
### Macomb and Western Illinois Railway debacle

In 1907, St. Paul's Catholic Church in Macomb filed a lawsuit to prevent the [Macomb and Western Illinois Railway](/wiki/Macomb_and_Western_Illinois_Railway "Macomb and Western Illinois Railway") (M\&WI), a small interurban railroad from Macomb to [Littleton, Illinois](/wiki/Littleton%2C_Illinois "Littleton, Illinois"), from operating steam engines on the streets in the city. This case would reach the [Illinois State Supreme Court](/wiki/Illinois_State_Supreme_Court "Illinois State Supreme Court") in [Springfield](/wiki/Springfield%2C_Illinois "Springfield, Illinois"). The court ruled in favor of the railroad, citing that the railroad was subject to property owners along the right\-of\-way, but not the church individually. A second lawsuit, filed by James W. Stuart in the McDonough County Circuit Court, went in favor of Stuart. Stuart requested that the railroad be forced out of the city limits. The judge stated that the M\&WI violated is charter by ending at the junction of Johnson and Jackson Streets in Macomb, not to Lafayette Street. This order resulted in a stipulation that the M\&WI would have to remove their tracks within the city limits within one year.

On June 8, 1907, a week after the Stuart ruling, courts forced C.V. Chandler \& Company, the operator, into involuntary bankruptcy at [Peoria](/wiki/Peoria%2C_Illinois "Peoria, Illinois"). Despite negotiations, the creditor stated they could no longer make a deal and on September 11, the court appointed Frank W. Brooks of [Blandinsville](/wiki/Blandinsville%2C_Illinois "Blandinsville, Illinois") to be the receiver of all Chandler properties. To make things worse, on June 28, Stuart filed another lawsuit. This lawsuit was to prevent the M\&WI from operating steam engines in the city of Macomb. The operation requested engines cease operating around the property of Maria Gamage, a local family, noting that the railroad's steam engines aggravating poor health conditions. While a local magistrate heard the case, Gamage died before any decisions could be made.

The deadline for the abandonment of all services in the city of Macomb was June 1, 1908\. That day, they notified the city that all passenger service would end at Macomb Yards south of the city on July 3, upsetting locals. A drop in passenger ridership came with the new terminus because of the inconvenient location. However, the changes resulted in a local operation to save the railroad. Local businessmen and the Macomb Commercial Association worked to find a new route for the passenger trains to operate in the city of Macomb. With influence of C.V. Chander, two proposals were drawn up. The first would build a new terminal on Chase Street following a new right\-of\-way between McArthur and Johnson Streets. The other would build a new right\-of\-way from Macomb Yards to near the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad near the Jackson Street or Carroll Street grade crossings.

Chandler represented the railroad in negotiations, but it was soon determined that the Chase Street option was impossible. The other option, which would parallel the Burlington, faced roadblocks. The railroad would need significant money to condemn and raze houses and other property along the Burlington right\-of\-way. As a result, they would need to get the land from the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad itself, which the latter refused to do. The Burlington proposed the M\&WI would pay for the rights to use Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad tracks to downtown Macomb, but the M\&WI rejected it due to operational issues that would come with such an agreement.

Entering October 1908, the railroad came up for sale by Brooks to find cash for Chandler's bankruptcy. William Compton, a former President of the M\&WI, offered to buy the railroad for $125,000 (1908 [USD](/wiki/USD "USD")), resigning as part of the effort. However, Compton could not raise necessary funds and his proposal failed. The [Corn Exchange Bank](/wiki/Corn_Exchange_Bank "Corn Exchange Bank") forced Brooks to find a seller in February 1909 and threatened to foreclosure on the railroad. The bank brought in outside experts who stated that the railroad was worth about $70,000 in scrap. In April 1909, Brooks started negotiations with the bank to purchase its ownership in the M\&WI and soon came to a deal. The new deal would result in Brooks acquiring the railroad's bonds for $20,000 and a property Chandler owned in the city of Chicago.

On December 22, 1909, the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad and the M\&WI came to an agreement allowing the M\&WI to move from their depot in the southern end of the city to the Burlington depot downtown. After years of failing to get a downtown depot of their own, including on three different attempts, the agreement ensured that passengers would have better access to the railroad. As part of the agreement, the Burlington would choose the times of trains operating on their property and no Macomb and Western Illinois Railroad tickets would be sold at the depot. All fares would instead be collected onboard trains. At the time of the agreement, the plans were only temporary, stating that patronage would determine if it continued, showing faith in the M\&WI's loyal ridership. 


How did locals respond to the new terminus of passenger service?