Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-06-12
Iowa RalIroad..

Des Moines Correspondence of Chicago Tribune.
1t is rumored that important chang
es are to be made at once in the man.
agement Of the Keokuk & Des Moines
road. Much speculation is rite as to
what the Chicago & Rock Island will
do with the road when it passes into
their control. Naturally enough Ke-
okuk and other points where are now
located the shops and general offices
are anxious about the matter. 1t is
safe 10 assume that the lessees have
taken the road to make money. The
road does not pay the interest on its
debt. Any one familiar with the adj
ministration Of the affairs of the Rock
Island knows that economy is one of
its cardinal principles, and ii is reas-
enable to suppose that all needless ex-
pcnses will be curtailed. The large
retinue of officials and managers will
be dispensed with and the manage
ment vested in Mr.. Royce, superinten-
dent of the Iowa division. 1t is like
ly that the passenger depot here will
be abandoned and passenger trains
run into the depot on the main line.
This will do away with the expense
of ticket office. 1t is probable that
the freight depot of the Keokuk Il
Des Moines will be used as freight
depository for both roads on the west
side of Des Moines River, thus saving
the transportation of two-thirds of
the freight by transfer teams more
than mile.
| From this city to Altoona the two
roads run very near each other. tits
possible from Altoona the Keokuk
track will be laid alongside the main
track to Mitchclville, making double
track TO this city, and saving the ex-
pense of keeping up two road-beds
over an expensive section of road
1t is not likely the present shops on
the Keokuk line will be kept running,
when the company have two vastly
superior shops at Davenport and Stu
art, where the necessary work can be
done with only the additional expense
of hauling. 1t is rumored, and not
improbable, that at Mitchelville,
where land can be had cheap, shops
shops will be located, and the shops
from the Keokuk line and those on
the main line in this city removed
there. All things considered it is
safe to assume that radical and sweep
ing changes will be made in the man
agement of the Keokuk line on the LIST
of October, and that all above the
rank of merely local officers will re-
ceive ticket of leave and the offices
be abolished. The supposition that
the road will be run as distinct line,
that its accounts may be kept 'seper-
ate, is not in accordance with the man
ner in which the lessees do business,
and especially as the lease extends
during the life of the charter.
There has been strong conflicting
interests in relation to the Cedar
Rapids, Sigourney & Ottumwa road,
from Cedar Rapids to Ottumwa and
the southwest. The Cedar Rapids &
Southwestern Company has hitherto
been serious obstruction in the pro-
gress Of this new movement, but it
has now Withdrawn from the field
A few days ago a meeting was held
at Cedar Rapids, when General-So-
licitor Carey, of the Chicago, Mil
waukee Il ST. Paul Road, proposed to
the Cedar Rapids, Sigourney Il OF
tumwa Company that if the people
along the line would promise the
right of way and prepare the road
bed for the iron, his company would
advance $500 per mile, or sufficient
to iron and equip the road, aud would
operate it. A survey is being made
which will be concluded so that an
estimate of the cost and the whole
matter can be made to the meeting of
the directors Of the Milwaukee 4 st.
Paul, at Milwaukee, June 8.