Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-02-28
\ NEW RAILROAD.
Line Will be Built Between Eldon
and Trenton, Mo.
WORK WILL BEGIN IN THE SPRING

Many Cities viii be Left out-BIoom.
field and MouIton on New Route
Shorten Distance Between Chicago
and Kansas City 80 Miles.
1t has been practically decided that
The chicago, Rock Island G Pacific
railroad will begin the construction of
a new line between 'Eldon and Tren-
Ton, MO-, as soon as spring opens.
The purpose of this new line is to
shorten its Chicago-Kansas City route
to an extent where they can success
fully compete with other lines. When
this cutoff is completed the Rock Is
land Will have as short line between
the Two commercial centers as any,
with the exception of the Santa Fe.
FOR the past year engineers have
been at work between Eldon and Tren-
ton surveying proposed new line,
ana now 1t is stated they have prac-
ucally decided upon a route. The
new line will branch off from the pres
ent road at Eldon, running in south
westerly direction, taking in Bloom
iASio dAu Afiouitoll, III low d anu
vile and Harris in Missouri. The new
line will reduce the mileage about
thirty miles, and this is a great fac
tor when the time of getting a train
over the road means many thousands
of dollars.
Going Over the Route.
As spring approaches there are still
further signs of the building of the
cutoff. o. E. Wickham, general road
master for the Rock Island, in compa-
ny with other officials have gone over
the line several times within the past
few days, and it has just leaked out
that their visits to Trenton and Eldon
We're IN connection with the planning
of the new road. The exact plan of
the cutoff, with established grades.
and the most minute details are now
on file in the office of the general en-
gineer of the company in Chicago
awaiting approval. 1t is announced
that another party of engineers will
soon be sent over the proposed new
route getting further information and
accurate figures of the lay of the land
thru which the cutoff will extend.
Many Cities Left Out.
The building of this cutoff, which
is now conceded, is one of the most
Improvements which the
Rock Island road has planned in a
long time. There will be many Iowa
people who will be sorry to hear that
the short line is to be built for the
reason that several important towns
will be left on the main line of the
road. Among the places which will
be affected are the cities of Center
vile, Allerton, Lineville, Seymour,
and the villages of KNOXVILLE, Belk-
nap, Clio, Harvard, Kniffin, Numa and
Udell, all in Iowa, and Princeton,
Spickard, Mill Grove, and Mercer, in
northern Missouri. Centerville, the
most important place on the line, is
city of 1000 people, and Seymour,
Lineville, Allerton and Princeton are
from 1000 to 1000 each.
junction at EIdon.
Just what point will be the juno
ton of this short line and the old main
line on the north is not certain, but it
is supposed that it will be Eldon, the
division point. BY an examination of
the map, however, it will be seen that
but little would be lost in departing
from the main line at Belknap, the
second station west of Eldon, and it
is rumored that the survey will start
from that point.
The Original Intention.
1t was the original intention of the
Rock Island, when the road was built,
to pass to the east of the present line,
but Grundy and Mercer counties, in
offered a roadbed along the
Grand river valley which was accept
ed and has been used ever since. The
Rock Island has, however, been han
dicapped in the fight fer Chicago-Kan-
sas City business, especially the pas
senger traffic, being about one hour
longer making the run than are other
roads. With the cutoff in operation
the run could be made in as good
time as either Burlington, Alton or
Wabash, and in less than the Milwau-
kee. The Santa Fe would still be
twenty or twenty-five miles the short
est route.
Not to Abandon Old Route.
1t is not the intention of the Rock
Island, by any means, to abandon the
old road from Trenton to Eldon, and
it is stated that at least one thru Chi
cago train would be run over that line
each day. The fast trains, however,
would be run over the new road and
fast freight would be handled exclu-
sively on the short line. The Rock
Island has an extensive stock bust
ness in southern Iowa and northern
Missouri, which it can i'll afford to
lose, and it is certain that the towns
which may be deprived of the fast
service will be well taken care Of.
Good for Two Towns.
The building of the cutoff will make
both Centerville and Eldon double
division and increase the force of
trainmen at each place. AS an earn
est of the intentions of the road to
carry out the cutoff plans, extensive
plans are being made for the enlarge
ment of the shops both at Centerville
and at Eldon. 1t is figured that the
business of the southwestern division
will be greatly increased with the
shortened road.
Another indication which gives
foundation for the above report is the
stopping of improvements in the road
bed over the old road, between this
point and Eldon. Improvements are
constantly being made between Cen
terville and Kansas City, and east of
Eldon.
Enoineer Talks