Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-10-25
TO TAKE IT IN NOV.2.
The Burlington Will Absorb the
B. & w.
HAS ORDERED NEW EQUIPMENT.
Thru Trains Will be Run From Chi
cago to Des Moines When the Ex-
tension to Tracey Is Completed
The Race for the Fast Mail.

Des Moines Capital: The merging
of the keokuk & Western and the Bur
lington & Western, heretofore indie
penoent railway systems, into the Chi
cago, Burlington & Quincy company,
will take place November 2. There
has been some doubt entertained whe-
Their the Burlington would be able to
control these roads absolutely this
year, but the information has been Civ
en- out that the two roads will come
into the possession of the Burlington
not later than the meeting of Novem-
Der 2 at Burlington. All branch
es heretofore operated under
different names but in reality own
ed by the Burlington, have been taken
in and their purchases ratified at a
meeting of the directors of the Bur-
| lington in Chicago.
| While the Burlington has owned a
controlling interest in the B. & w.
company, yet it has heen unable to go
ahead with improvements contemplate
| ed on account of not being absolute
owner of the property. The Burling-
ton & Western will be extended as
soon as the consolidation of the roads
take place, to Tracey from Oskaloosa.
| This will give that road a connection
with the Burlington at point just be-
low Knoxville, on the Abba branch.
| During the summer ne Burlington has
made extensive improvements on this
line, such as replacing all wooden
bridges with modern steel ones. The
old ties have been replaced with new
ones, and new steel has been laid the
entire distance of the road Every i'm
provement that could have been made
under the old management has been
done. 1t is stated that fast thru trains
! will be put on to run over this line
from Chicago to Des Moines as soon as
all improvements are completed
| When the turning over of the Bur-
lington & Western is complete, which
should be the day following the meet
ling on November 2, the Burlington will
commence at once to broaden the mar
row guage of this road to standard
guage. 1t is expected that the work
of extending the Burlington G. West
ern from Oskaloosa to Tracey will not
be commenced before spring.
! Another point with the Burlington
this week is the large order for new
equipment placed in the east. The
most of this equipment will be used in
the west, altho a portion of it will be
used on the new road Of the B. & w.
All the equipment of the Burlington &
Western will have to be thrown away
: on account of its being narrow guage
Most of the freight cars will be made
over into standard size.
A story going the round of railroad
Offices is to the effect that the Burling
ton and the Northwestern will engage
in battle royal for the fast mail con
} tract thru Iowa this winter. Both
roads are making ready for the fray
having ordered the finest and latest
, engines to be had for the race. Both
roads have improved their roadbeds
are getting better equipment, and vii
without doubt make some low records
| in their flight across Iowa for the fas
! mail contract The roads crossing
l Iowa are all aware of the fact tha
} they have strong competition, and the
only thing that gets business is quicl
time.