The Oskaloosa herald., 1901-01-31


Harrison townships to where the COM
Bluff Creek postoffice in Bluff Greek
township, Monroe county, in order to
tap the rich veins of coal there. Inn
portant facts connected with the
building of this branch follow:
February 6 1905 rough survey was
made through the township. This
survey was continually improved till
two or three different lines or routes
had been surveyed during the next
two or three months. About the first
of April it became pretty well set
tied fact that the branch would be
built, for it was then reported that
the contract for the building of the
line had been let. The railway au-
thorities, for reasons best known to
themselves, chose to call the new line
the Southern Iowa, while in reality 1t
is a branch of the Northwestern. 1t
was also reported at this time that
the authorities had been purchasing
right-of-way out toward the eastern
end of the line.
Mays, first right-of-way purchased
in the township.
May "a, the first work began about
this time on some of the lower bridges.
May %, the first grading of any i'm
portance began.
July 9, a squad of men began set
ting telegraph poles.
August IS, the linemen began string
ing telegraph wires.
October 1, grade completed entirely
through the township about this time.
October Ia, the temporary bridge
across the Des Moines completed.
October Is, the first steel was laid
here by the steel gang under John
Shea, of Eddyville.
October Is, the fence gang, under
Mr. Misback, began work.
October IS, first passenger train was
seen, being a special of two cars with
number of the officers of the road
on board.
November l., sand trains and sand
gang put to work here.
November 4, first switch laid at
Lakonta.
November 10, track completed
through township about this time.
Novem 7er Is, fence completed as
far az Lakonta about this time.
December 1, first coal shipped out
ov-r the line.
December s, work on the perma-
nent bridge across Des Moines begun.
December 81, sanding and leveling
up of the track completed and rail
road turned over TO the company by
the coDtr actors about this time.
January 5, 1901, bridge across the
Des Moines completed.
1t is now generally understood that
this branch will eventually be built to
Kansas City. From Stark to the shaft
the distance it is now built, is about
twenty-five miles.
We will next take up fires and dis
rurb ances of the elements:
July barn of ] H. England struck
by lightning and burned o the ground.
Loss partially covered by insurance.
July 10, residence of George o.
borne struck by lightning and some
what damaged.
SICKNESS AND ACCIDENTS.
The people as a rule enjoyed good
health with but a few exceptions,
which we here note:
Misses Cora and Dora Hohl we're
quite sick during most of the year,
but Cora is now enjoying good health
and Dora is much improved.
George N. Berry was quite i'll last
April anu may.
Mrs. J. w. Cox suffered fracture
of the bones of the right forearm by
fall last June, which rendered her
unable 10 attend to her household du-
ties for some time.
October 30-Carl l.. Odem was at
tackled about this time with severe
gathering in the throat which proved
quite painful.
November Dr.F. E. Vance, of Ed
dyville, was called to attend Carl
Rhoads, the Swear old son of Mr. and
Mrs. EdwinN Rhoads, and pronounced
him suffering from diphtheria, which
was promptly put under quarantine,
| and the patient recovered after a
short illness. Barring mumps and
whooping cough, this was the only
contagious disease and was in a mild
form
December 28-Mrs. David Moran
was taken quite i'll about this time.
E. F. Hall and o. w. McCrea were
sick for some days last summer.
STOCK AND CROPS.
The farmers have had good success
in their stock-raising, and their lands
have yielded them a bountiful crop
with which to feed their herds and
flocks. horses, cattle, hogs, sheep,
chickens, turkeys, ducks and geese
are all raised here in more or less
profusion.
MIGRATION.
Not much moving has taken place
during the past year. We have, how
ever, had quite large transient pop
ulation during the period the grade
of the new railway was under con-
struction, but all of these have de-
parted. We shall probably have con-
siderable increase in population when
the new town, Lakonta, gets fairly
started. Those who migrated from
our township were Wylie Berry and
family, George w. MiddlecoE, jeff
N Hoyt and Miss Florence Jonea
Those who have moved to this place
are James L. Myrick and family, and
j. B. Lee and family. A family by
the name of Royce occupied the Marsh
Underwood place (, r time last sum-
mer, but we understand have depart
ed. Those who will soon move away
are Daniel May and family and John
Emanuel and family. Mr.. Emanuel
will move back to his property in Ed
dyville, and Wylie Berry and family,
who have resided on Sand Ridge dur
ing the past year, will succeed Mr..
Emanuel on the Bennett tenant farm.
We gladly welcome this estimable
family back to West Des Moines. We
have not learned where Mr.. May will
move to.
SCHOOLS.
Our centers of learning, four in