Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-28
Milwaukee Train Dispatchers
at Ottumwa Transfer
red to That City.
WHAT THE DEAL MEANS.
Change May Be Merely Temporary
and for the Purpose of Facilitating
the Handling of Business During the
Rush Season-Men Affected.

Like a thunderbolt from a clear sky
came an order late last evening that
beginning this morning trains on the
Kansas City division of the Milwau-
kee will be operated from Marion, in
stead of Ottumwa. The train dis
patchers at this place were instructed
to report at Marion at once. Accord
ingly w. e. LOOMS and ]. F. Ander-
son left on the early train this morn
ing, and T. E. Schick will go this eve
ming, as will also Chris Romes, who,
for the past nine years, has occupied
the position Of chief dispatcher for
the Milwaukee at 0ttumwa Junction.
There have been rumors current
for some time past that this change
would take place, but again it had
been so persistently denied, that even
the employees of the road supposed
that the idea had been abandoned.
Late yesterday afternoon word was
received by the Ottumwa dispatch
ers to be in readiness to move to
Marion on short notice, intimating
that the change would probably be
made about Monday of next week, or
as soon as desk room could be pr,-
vided for them at Marion. A little
later came an order to send two dis
patchers at once, and instructing the
others to follow today.
Among the Milwaukee employees
in Ottumwa the prevailing opinion is
that the change will not be perma-
nent. There is a possibility of it,
however, and thus the serious aspect
of the matter. The men affected by
the change who have families will not
move them to Marion, however, until
it is ascertained that the change is
permanent.
In local railroad circles it is said
that the freight traffic on the Milwau-
kee has been increasing SO rapidly
during the past few months, that the
company has found it necessary to
transfer the dispatchers from this city
to Marion, where there are already
two sets of dispatchers, and with
whom the former can operate the
business of the road to better ad.
vantage, by being located at the same
place. The dispatcherss already at
Marion operate trains east, west aud
north out of Marion, and the Ottum-
wa dispatchers, it is said, will be ell
abled to better handle the Kansas City
division by being where they can oper-
ate in conjunction with the c. & G.
B. division.
The mere fact that the dispatchers
at this office have been transferred to
Marion, it is said does not indicate
anything except that they will be re-
tanned there during the extremely
busy season. Dispatchers can be
transferred and re-transferred on
short notice. Should the Milwaukee,
build it's contemplated Davenport cut
off, it is said that that would create
another dispatchers office, which
would probably be established in OF
tumwa. For the time being, however,
the prevailing opinion among railroad
men is that the change which has
been made will not last longer than
the present rush of business which
may extend into the fall months.
During the month of July, or from
July Is to August Is, there were 49,
9S1 freight cars passed thru Ottumwa
yards, and from August Is to Septem-
Der Is it is said the number will 6 <
coed 10000. That gives one an idea
of the volume of business that is be-.
ing conducted on the Kansas City dl-
vision of the Milwaukee. Further
statistics show that some. days there
are forty-two freight trains over this
division.
F. D. Tucker, trainmaster, will re-
main here, and in fact there will be
no change in the service whatever
The Office at the Junction during the
day will be in charge of operator W.
G. Sharp, formerly at the freight Of
fee, and ]. S. Harmed, formerly of ST.
courtney, will have charge of the night
Office
By the removal of Mr.. Romes who
has heretofore had charge oil every
thing in the yards, it became neces-
sary to appoint a general yardmaste',
which honor fell to w. A. Parks, for
merly foreman of the yards. o. Ken
ney succeeds Mr.. Parks as foreman.
An additional switch engine has
been added in the Ottumwa yards, thus
giving them two during the day add
two at night. Frank Beekman is fore
man of the additional outside engine
during the day. and Charles Balm is
foreman of the new outside engine at
night. The new witchmen who have
been employed by means of the addi-