Omaha daily bee., 1899-01-28
PLANS OF The ROCK ISLAND
Preparing to E1pend Large Sum Of Money
in Council Bluffs.
NEW PASSENGER DEPOT TO Be ERECTED
Construction of a ROundhouse and
Enlargement Of the switch Yards
Are Among the improvements
Contemplated.

The plans for the reconstruction and re-
arrangement OF the yards OF the Chicago,
Rock Island & Pacific railroad in Council
Bluffs have been drawn and approved and
work will be commenced as soon as the
frost Is out OF the ground. In recon-
structing its yards, erecting a new passen-
ger depot, building a new roundhouse and
replacing its present bridges over Indian
creek with steel structures, the Rock Island
road contemplates an expenditure of over
800, 900.
The plans which have been received show
that the reconstruction and rearrangement
Of the yards. with their network of tracks,
will be q decided improvement over the
present and will enable the company to
handle it's business, both freight and pas
senger, with greater dispatch and conven-
ience
The new passenger depot, which is to
replace the frame structure which has
hitherto done duty as such, will be erected
on the site Of the present building. The
plans show that 1t will be a handsome af
fair, substantial and roomy, while at the
same time ornamental 1t will be built of
stone and Clipped brick, with tile roof
Its estimated cost is between s25,O00 and
200. The depot In appearance will be
similar to the one at Iowa City, only larger
and consequently more commodous. For
the convenience Of passengers in rainy and
inclement weather. there will be vesti-
bule on the north side, enabling parties to
step direct from their carriages into the
depot without being exposed to the ele-
ments.
The present freight depot will still con-
tinue TO do service. but will be improved
in several respects
Ma ha t,l
Of Indian creek. In the corner between
Twelfth avenue and the creek 1t will con-
tain nineteen stalls. which will be eight
more than the present one. The round
house will be 50 constructed that it can be
enlarged at any time In the future II found
necessary.
The coal shutes will be remodeled and
removed to Twelfth avenue. between Elev-
enth and Twelfth streets.
Five New Bridges.
Five new bridges. constructed of steel and
resting on stone abuttments. will be erected
across Indian creek. replacing the present
trestle affair.
Not only will the yards be reconstructed
but they will be brought UP to grade This
in itself will be a big piece of work and
will involve the outlay Of a large sum Of
money. The company has bought ground
within convenient distar ce OF the yards
from which the dirt will be hauled and
the grading will be done with steam
shovel.
Under the rearrangement. all the work
ing yards will be west Of Ninth street. and
as the company owns all the land between
there end Fifteenth street on which its
tracks are the public will not be incon-
venienced In anyway. One great advantage
OF the new arrangement will be that it
will do away with practically all of the
switching over Ninth street. which is oc-
Cupied by the tracks Of the Lake Manawa
railway.
1t is the intention to have all trains maze
up In the yards west OF Ninth street and
the only switching east of there that will
be necessary will be for moving the trains
to and from the freight depot.
The main line track, which at present
runs through the middle OF the yards, will
be put on the south side, which will be a
great improvement. as it will prevent pas
senger trains being delayed or interfered
! with by freight trains at the switches.
| Another improvement that will be car
ried out in the yards will be the paving
of the approach to the freight depot from
Main street. The carrying out of these i'm
| provements will give employment to a large
| number OF men and teams this spring and
| summer.