Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-11-16
Will Probably Begin Use of Abba
Moulton Cut-of Sunday.
Observation-Disclosures
officials in This City Anxiously Await.
lug Arrival of New Schedule
The Des NIoines Leaders,
version of IL

The Des Moines Leader this morning
prints story to the effect that the
Wabash has completed the Albia-Moul-
ton cutoff and will beginning running
trains from ST. Louis to Des Moines
next Sunday, leaving Ortumwa in the
cold as far as Wabash traffic destined
for northern points Is concerned. Of
ticials of that road IN this city were
seen today and say they have heard ru-
mors to the effect that the through
train service would be inaugurated
next Sunday, but have received no Of
fetal notification OF it and were anN-
iously awaiting the arrival of the new
time card. They also said that in all
probability the train service south from
this point would remain unchanged.
The statement made in the Leader to
the effect that freight hitherto carried
over the Wabash into Des Moires would
be diverted to the Rock Island and
Burlington is slightly erroneous. The
fact of the matter is that the Wabash
lease of Rock Island track permitted
passenger traffic only apdtno freight
has ever been carried into Des Moines
from this point in Wabash cars under
the gtrackage rights granted that COM
pany by the Rock Island.
The followingis the Leaders version
of it:
.'The Wabash has completed the re-
construction of the old track from a
connection with its present Des Moines
line at Harvey to Abba and finished
the grading and ironing of the cutoff
between Abba and Moulton, and next
Sunday will begin running trains
through from this city to st. Louis by
the new and short route via Abba and
Moulton. The completion of the new
line will mark new era in the opera
ton of the Wabash, which, with short
ened time and mileage, will become a
greater factor in the freight and pas
senger traffic in and out of Des Moines
and, in SO far as the traffic to and from
ST. Louis is concerned, will be domi-
nant factor, being by far the shortest
and most direct route to the southern
metropolis. With the opening of the
line the Wabash will double its freight
and passenger service in and out of
Des Moines. Two passenger trains each
way will arrive and depart daily. One
of these trains will arrive at S. 30 a. M,
and the other at 9:15 p. m. Departing
they will leave for Abba, Mouiton and
st. Louis at $3.50 a. M, and q o'clock
p. m. After Sunday next the company
will cease to run trains from Des
Moines via Ottumwa and the traffic
heretofore carried between these points,
9th passenger and freight, will be di-
+rted to the Burlington and Rock ISL
and
1.-TWO way freight trains, designed to
accommodate business consigned to
points intermediate from Des Moines
and Moulton, will be run out and into
the city every day except Sunday. A
train intended Tor the carrying of
through freight only from st, Louis
and Des Moines will be put on next
Sunday. The local freight trains will
arrive in the city at 5 p. m. and de-
parting, leave at 1870 o'clock a. m. The
/ through freight will depart at 4 p. M,
and arriving reach the city at 5 p. m.
The local freight trains will run from
Des Moines to Moulton and return, the
through train taking care of traffic
south of the latter point. The opening
of the new route will give the Wabash
the shortest line to ST. Louis and place
| it on even terms with the most favored
of its competitors for Kansas City
business in either direction"