Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-02-01
Milwaukee Connection With Des
Moines and it's z. q. Road.
IT MAY BUILD TO THIS CITY
Seymour Said to be Clamorlns After
tho Terminal = other Improve.
ments Contemplated the
Coming spfing.
From Wednesdays Daily,

Among the many Improvements as
sured and contemplated by the rail
roads of Iowa the coming spring wilS
be many OF Importance on the Milwau-
kee. Among the latest rumors to
which much credence is given in local
circles, is one that the above road will,
in the spring, begin the construction
Of a connecting line between Des
Moines and some point on it's Chicago
Kanscas City division, perhaps OF
tumwa. The route has not been de-
cided upon, neither has there been any
survey made, but it is reasonably GER
tain that the connecting link, as it
were, will be built. 1t has been ru-
mored for some time that Seymour,
on the Milwaukee, fifty miles south of
Ottumwa, would, some day, be made
junction point on that road, and since
the possibility of the connecting line
from Des Moines to the Kansas City
branch has been mentioned, the people of
cry inducement to secure the southern
terminal of the new line.
While Ottumwa would like to have
it, and can present some of the very
best argument why the line should be
built to this city instead of Seymour,
OF any other town on the Milwaukee
south of here, it is an acknowledge
ed fact that the latter place has some
very good claims for her argument.
For instance, one will see by referring
to Milwaukee railroad map, that Sey-
mour is almost directly south of Des
Moines, while Ottumwa is more to the
east, and line built from Des Moines
to Ottumwa would form more of a tri-
angular course than it would if built
to Seymour, or any other point south
of here. The line via Seymour would
lessen the distance from Des AIoines
to Kansas City a few miles from that
between Des Moines and Kansas City
via Ottumwa; but on the other hand
the argument is advanced that the
Milwaukee has long desired a Des
Moines connection direct with Ottum-
wa, and this is its opportunity.
w. H. Farnsworth, of Sioux City,
solicitor for the western Iowa and
south Dakota lines of the Milwaukee,
is quoted as having said the following
concerning the above matter:
Our company contemplates cut
off from some point near Des Moines
to point on its Kansas City branch
at or near Ottumwa, but the route has
not been decided upon, and no survey
has been made. / cannot say whether
this line will be built this year or not,
but think it will probably be delayed
another season The purpose is TO
build line that will give the ST. Paul
and Des Moines division, the western
Iowa divisions and the South Dakota
lines access to Kansas City by route
that will enable the company to COM
pete for north and south business on 4
basis somewhat equal to that OF other
Kansas City lines"
Other improvements.
The Milwaukee has looked with envy
on the completion of the Illinois Cen
trail TO Omaha, which gives an excel
lent service to Minnesota people, over
the NJ. & st. L. railroad. This new
connection with Omaha virtually cap
lures California and western business
in Minnesota and Wisconsin for the
NJ. & ST. L. and the c. G. w. This lat
ter road has been doing large west
ern business, and it has been the de-
Termination of the Milwaukee to get
into the race for the traffic.
1t would seem that the company in
tends to get into the field at an early
date for surveyors are now at work
between Boone and Lehigh. aud w. H.
Farnsworth is also authority for the
statement that the above engineering
party is now locating line Tor a pro
posed extension.
He is quoted as saying further: "The
Milwaukee people have an understand
ing as to terms on which they can
acquire the Mason City and Fort
Dodge road, and while l do not know
the terms it is very probable that the
option will be exercised within the
next year and the Boone and Lehigh
line built. thus providing direct line
from Des Moines to ST. Paul. The Mil
waukee will do considerable building
within the next year, but probably
most of it will be in South Dakota and
northwest from Storm Lake to Rock
Valley