I posted these as a reply to a thread in the structures section. I thought I would also post them here.
Bloomington Evening World, December 14, 1906,
By February 1
Regular Trains Will Be Running on Monon's New Line
Chief Engineer Kemmer, of the Monon Route, was in Midland yesterday and he reported that the new line of the Monon from Linton to Quincy would be completed by February 1, and that both freight and passenger trains would be running then. The work of grading is almost completed between the two cities and the laying of steel is now being done. The new road goes through one of the best coal fields of Indiana. It touches several of the new Linton mines and is opening a ew coal field in Howesville, and also at Clay City.
At Quincy the new line meets the main line of the Monon and the trains will run over it to Indianapolis.
A large number of teams and men are now at work in that district pushing the work to completion and if they have good weather for a short time the grade work will soon be completed.
Bloomington Telephone April 5, 1907
The End of Midland
Town that Blomington Men Built Now a Deserted Village
The following from the Bedford Mail tells of the passing of Midland, a town which was founded and owned at one time by Bloomington business men. Several years ago a company of local business men put down two mines, one the Midland and the other the Tower Hill.
The Midland constructio company was also organized and plans for a model city were laid out and a good may houses, of which Nichols was the architect, were built. The two mines were on the Southern Indiana railroad and from the first the attitude of that road, which owned mines of its own, was hostile. Then John R. Walsh made his famous combine of of the mines of Southern Indiana and Tower Hill and Midland passed into his hands. It is generally understood that the Bloomington men lost money on Tower Hill mine and made some money on the Midland, coming out of the deal about even.
Here is the story of the deserted village: "Gloom is cast over the little town of Midland, a mile south of Jasonville. A year ago, when it was known that the Monon would build through the town, property went up, people ran over each other to get to the place, and not a vacant house was in town. Out-buildings were converted into business houses and a great number of new business enterprises were started, all of which were dependent upon the Midland mine for substance. Today the mine machinery is being moved, the railings in the mine will be torn up and brought out and the tipple will be torn down and moved away.
The miners have all gone, and the little village has only a few families who own property and have to stay. It is reported that the machinery will be moved from the Tower Hill mine also. This mine is a short distance south of Midland.
When the town of Midland was platted by the Southern Coal company is was beautifully laid up, substantial houses were built and shade trees planted.
The closing of these tow mines did not seem to worry the miners of the place until the company made known their intentions of quitting the mine entirely. Then a general exodus was in order. The town is deserted."
