Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-03-19
ANOTHER CUTOFF.
Talk in Burlington Circles of a Des
Moines- Chicago Line.
"A GREAT BENEFIT TO CAPITAL CITY
Would Not Affect This city-Propos-
ed Line Looks Practical-Buriing-
ton Strengthening Its Bridees-MiI-
Waukee Survey Nearly Completed.
From FRIDAYS Daily.

From Fridays Daily.
One of the latest cutoff stories is
that relative to new Des Moines- Chi
cago route for the Burlington. This
talk has been made before, but of late
it has been given new impetus by the
talk of the new railroads and shorten
ing of lines in this part of Iowa. 1t
is well known fact that the Burling-
ton has practically no Chicago bust
ness out of Des Moines, and that they
are making strenuous efforts to get
some. 1t is said now that the only
way to do this is to shorten it's line.
The plan proposed permits of but lit
tie building, and if the deal can go
thru it will give the Burlington di
rect line between the two great cen
tiers.
The Proposed Line.
1t is rumored from a reliable source
that the Burlington is contemplating
the purchase of part of the Iowa Cen
trail, or even their entire lines, and up
on this the new deal is based. The
Burlington's main line from Chicago
includes Galva, H., where the Keiths-
burg and Galya branch starts, and
which runs from Galva to Keithsburg,
where it meets the Iowa Central, which
runs direct to Oskaloosa, thru d good
Iowa territory. Now the rumor comes
to light that the purchase of that part
of the Iowa Central would enable the
Burlington to run their trains for Des
Moines to the latter city, from which
a short line OF about thirty miles
would be built, to either Tracey or
Knoxville, where it would tap their Al
blades MONIES branch, and run into
Des Moines, which would give them
practically a straight thru line from
Chicago TO that city. This would give
them a shorter mileage between the
two cities than any other road out of
Des Moines for Chicago.
The Chicago trains to Des Moipes
now run via Peoria, and thru this city
to Abba, where they meet the Abba
branch train from the capital city.
Widen Narrow Guaae.
Now if the Burlington cannot pur-
chase the Iowa Central, or lease their
road from keithsburg to Oskaloosa,
they will widen their narrow guage
branch which runs from New Boston,
Ill.,, via Burlington to Oskaloosa. The
Burlington would widen their bridge
CT ANC" Lo-loil, tltlSi tiitO ioOENo iSetSoii-
able if they are contemplating a
scheme for Chicago business out of
the Capital City.
Bridges Strengthened.
All the bridges of the Keithsburg
and Galva branch are being strength
ened heavier stringers, new bolts, etc,
are being placed in them This, of
course may be caused by the above
proposed object. as the monster Bur-
| lington engines could not run over
these bridges in their present condi-
ton.
1t would be an easy matter to bui d
/ a short line from New Boston to
Washington Ia, where it would con-
meet with the Burlington & Northwest
ern, and then run to Mahaska county's
| capitol.
New Line in Western Iowa.
Now it comes to light that if the
Abba branch is tapped at Knoxville
the Burlington could build practical
! ly straight line west to Council Bluffs.
1t first would pass thru indiana a,
where it would meet the Burlington's
! branch trains from Charlton, thence
to Greenfield, where it would meet
the Creston and Cumberland branch
4 trains, and farther west toward the
Bluffs would connect with the branch
trains of that road at Griswold and
Carson. There is good territory in
that part of the state and line in
4 that section would be a good paying
| investment.
Hutchison's New Position.
News has been received in this city
Of the appointment of G. D. Hutchinson
/ formerly superintendent of the Fort
Madison road to the position of Gen
eral Agent of the Sante Fe & Pacific
railroad branch of the Santa Re
lines at Barstow, Cal This is a very
responsible position, and Mr.. Hutchi
| his direct charge. Barstow is the
of that city Several former well
known railroad men from this city
have accepted positions with Mr.
Hutchinson. G. E. Redfield, for
merly auditor of the Fort Madison
road is Mr. Hutchison's new chief
clerk and cashier; Lloyd Moore form
erly operator in this city and agent al
Hillsboro for that road has charge OF
the night work, and Otto W. Donnell
for several years operator in this city
and of late baggageman on the pas
senger run between this city and Fort
i Madison is chief operator.
/ A New Bridge.
Three flat cars loaded heavily with
steel bridge girders were switched into
/ the yard room next to the Burlington
Routes ice houses between Fifth ant
Sixth streets at Burlington yesterday
The material is to be used in re
building the bridge beneath the com
pany's tracks over the Hawkeys
4 creek at a point between the Murray
Iron works and the Burlington. Pickle
words.
The new bridge is to be 43 feet lont
and work will be begun on it at ono,
under the direction of Bridge Fore
man A. Nellans. A part of his fore,
of bridge builders came yesterday ant
tackled the big job of unloading thu
immense steel shafts. A platform
was built of heavy timbers alongsid
the cars and the huge steel piece
We're laboriously shifted over to it.
The old bridge was seriously weak
| nnad hu tho food of Arp,,ct 1ooe