Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-09-26
The Work Will be Com
menced in the Near
Future.
COMPANY is IN EARNEST
The West End Line Will Probably Be
Extended First-PIans On Foot for
New Lines on South Side and on
Jefferson Street.


According to J. w. Garner of the Or
tumwa Electric & Steam company,
there will be within year extensions
on three OF the four lines OF street rail-
way in this city, and the plant and en-
tire system of the company will be
improved until it ranks among the best
in the country. considering the rela-
tive size of the city.
Mr.. Garner stated to a Courier re-
porter today that tie three proposed
extensions to the street car line are to
the old fair ground on the West End
line, two extensions on the South Side
line and new line out Jefferson
street. The exact location and extent
of the South Side and Jefferson street
lines are as yet unknown and will not
be fixed until engineers have gone ov-
er the ground, but it has been def
nitely decided to make these extern
sions at the earliest possible date.
West End First.
Mr. Garner said that in all probable.
ity the West End extension will be the
first one on which work will be done.
1t is thought that the line will be
built to the old fair ground. or, as it
is now designated, the driving park.
This will take it some distance outside
of the city limits, but it is not thought
that trouble will be met in obtaining
permission from the board of supervis-
ors to make such an extension, espec-
tally since the people in the vicinity
lare very DESTROYS of having the COM
pany build their line there.
The company will begin to operate
under the new regime October /, and
mot until then will the formal work be
done but expressions from the officers
Iof the new organization insure the
carrying out of the course above out
lined. There will still be some little
matters to be settled but it is conf
GLnt'v expected thu. If stGo! car he
secured III time. the wn:k on the West
Ert cAtcnsion will be commenced this
fall.
Lack Of Steel.
The trouble in getting steel is about
the nose formidable obstacle to op-
pose the successful carrying out of the
proposed improvements. The big steel
strike which has just been settled and
called off put the companies far be-
hind with their orders. and it is looked
upon as extremely probable that cold
weather will be here before rails can
be obtained TO start the new line.
However, early si'ring at tho latest,
will ia all probability sec WORK being
done in earnest. asd Mi. Garner stated
very positively t!lat 20 delay would pc
made when once the work is begun.
The South Side Lines.
For some time the residents of the
! South Side have becn asking for more
! track, ana it seems that the new COM
lpaEy is about 10 respond satisfactorily
/ AS yet no decision has been made rs
10 tho location OF the two proposed
extensions south of the river. but it is
4 acil to be the intention Of the com
pany to- build considerable new track
there in the near future. One plan
4 said to he undo. consideration is to
il'un line through tho Dain addition
and. the part OF the South Side the
residents of which cross the Vine
street bridge in coming to the princi-
/ pal part OF the city. Whether it is
| planned to cross That bridge with the
line is not known.
Another rumor is to the effect that
a line is to be built out Richmond ave-
nue. from the present line along
| Church street, and still another report
has it that the plan is to run an ex-
/ tension out Chester avenue. Mr.. Car
ncr refused to say anything definite
! III regard to this matter stating that
nothing had been decided upon as yet.
On Jefferson Street.
The camoring for line out Jeffcr-
son street dates hack several years,
and there is much territory which
would be benefited by such an extern
sion. The part of the city through
which this line will pass is very billy
and walking is tircsoms there. 1t is
/ thought that line in thai part of town
would pay the owners well. and one of
4 the extensions under consideration by
the company is that out Jefferson
street. Like the South Side lines pro-
posed, no decision has been made in
regard to the exact location OF the line.
Will Be Well Equipped.
With these three extensions il oper-
alton Ottumwa will be oxcclcnlly
Equipped as far as street csr service
!. is concerned, and Mr.. Garner gives the
residents o: the parts OF tn" cit? to be
: directly affected much announcement
by saying TIA. work will be conmenc-
ed on at lcas. one OF tho asw lines
. as soon as possible. The spirit of The
new company Ii commemorative. and is
much admired by me citizens.