Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-01-22
ELDON'S VIEW POINT
Anent That Railroad Which May
Come to Ottumwa.
ELDON PEOPLE WILL TAKE ACTION
Mass Meeting viii Be Held Next
Week to Determine What Will Be
Done in Regard to the St. Louis,
Iowa & Northern.

Eldon, Jan. 1S.-(Special.)- Will FL
don get the terminus of the new ST.
Louis, Iowa e Northern railway or
not, is the question that is attracting
the attention of our citizens now, and
from the amount of energy being
shown, Edon stands a good chance of
taking the prize. Looking after FL
don's interests in this matter is the
citizens committee, composed of Ell
don's wide awake men who are work
ing for Eldon's interest, and that alone.
While the officials of the road are men
who, altho, of course, they are looking
after the interests of the railroad COM
pany, have kindly feeling toward
the town and will do all in their pow
.er to give Eldon show.
The citizens committee. composed
of M. Hilles, w. H. Stauffer, H. r.
Baker and Ed. j. Bradley, has had
several joint meetings with the rail
way officials and each side has pre-.
scented a proposition. The railway
Icompany's offer was not considered
as they wanted a per cent tax and
were to simply run their trains in here
without division point, and this was
not what was wanted.
Neither side will make the citizens
proposition a public matter, but as
they have the refusal of land on both
sides of the river, it is thought that
they intend giving them good termin-
al facilities, besides cash bonus.
This will not be made known as a
certainty, however for few days.
| There will be large public meet
ing next week some time when the
matter will be placed before the citi-
lZens. Nothing will be done, however,
or made public until the contract is
| signed or refused.
The st. Louis, Iowa & Northern rail-
road, or as it was originally named.
| the Eldon & ST. Louis railroad, is the
idea of Eldon men, who, with the aid
of outside capital, intend building a
line of road from this place to St.
Louis. The line runs thru very rich
country and thru one that has no rail-
way facilities in the least. so when
the original survey was made, land
was freely given and great enthusi-
assn shown by the people along the
route.
The details are now nearly all COM
pleted and the matter has come up for
final action as far as Eldon is con.
cerned.
Mr. Mitchell, general manager, has
had late survey made and obtained
new options on the land along tie
route, SO work will commence in a
very short time. If Eldon people
think this would help the town and de
sire to help it, now is the time to act
AS Told in centerviIIe.
Centerville, Jan. 1S.-A gentleman
from Eldon closely identified with
the progress of the ST. Louis & North
ern railroad stated yesterday thai
work would be begun on the same al
some point in Missouri sometime dur
ing March.
He further stated that the officials
of the road, in company with
a committee of citizens from Ell
don appointed at recent mas!
meeting, were out Wednesda,
viewing proposed sites for rount
house, machine shops and yart
room. The site contemplated is 10
Gated on the opposite side of the riv
by 800 feet wide. 1t joins the Rocl
Island right-of-way. This piece o
property the city of Eldon has agreed
to donate to the ST. Louis & Northern
railroad besides providing for 5 pc
cent tax to be used in defraying tn,
expense of conducting the road int,
Eldon.
From the above indications it i
apparent that Eldon is to secure tn
northern terminal of this road Tha
it will be built is certain, as there i
ample capital back of the enterprise