Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-04-02
To Change Yards to the South Side
Of the River,
A LARGE ROUNDHOUSE TO BE BUILT
This Strengthens the Theory Of the
Viaduct Over Second Street and the
Burlington and Milwaukee Tracks
Outline of Possible Plans.

Arrangements have been quietly
made by the Milwaukee officials
whereby a large round house will be
built south of the Des Moines river,
the yards will be moved over there
and the present yards, located on the
island, will be practically abandoned.
Ihls is not, as yet, officially announc-
ed, but there has been enough said by
officials of the company to warrant
the assertion
Several weeks ago surveyors were
| mere and staked out several tracks
south of the river, and the announce
ment was then made that they would
be used as extra tracks for storing
surplus cars. Now it appears, how.
ever, that the tracks which make up
the present yards will be used as ex-
ira, and the main yards will be re-
moved to the south side of the river.
A large round house will be built
there also, and the machine shops, etc
will also probably he located there.
The viaduct Theory.
This decision strengthens the the.
DRY that viaduct is to be built by the
Milwaukee in the west end of the city
BY taking the yards away from the
north side of the river and obviating
the necessity of a south bound trains
turning to the east before crossing
the river, it is made possible for a
Iviaduct to be built by the milwaukee
over Second street and the Burlington
and Rock Island tracks. This would
be possible because the track could be
brought down to grade, or nearly so
by the time the north end of the
bridge was reached
i This sounds like wild imagination
but when serious thought is. given the
matter the advisability of the plar
becomes greater to ones mind, ant
when everything is taken into con
federation it is easy to see that thu
building of such viaduct would bt
advantageous to the railroad compan,
as well as to the city.
Advantages of Viaduct.
The advantages of viaduct such al
the one above mentioned would b,
great, both for the city and for thu
railroad company There is no doub
that great many heavy trains will b,
pulled thru Ottumwa by the Milwau
kee after the Davenport cutoff ha
been built. For that matter, there ar
several of these at present, but TIL
business will be increased with tn
building of the cutoff. If the Milwau
kee track is allowed to remain as it i
. now all these trains will have to b
pushed and double-headed over the hill
just out of the city and between Yves
Second street and Phillips mines.
The expense of this work is yer
great A pusher engine is kept o
hand at all times, and there is othe
extra work entailed on account of tn
high hill, all of which would be don
, away with if the viaduct was built.
t The advantages to the city would b
/ great. The crossing as it exists noN
: on West Second street is very danger
: Gus. The Milwaukee trains, in comm
down the long hill, make but littl
noise and the warning given to peopl
, on Second street is but little. Nc
only this. but the crossing of the Mi
waukee with the Burlington and Roc
Island is thing which would be don
: away with by the viaduct. Alth
there is tower at that point, the dan
!, ger is still great, for there is alway
(, the possibility of an accident of som
! kind, and this would be obviated b
the building of viaduct.
Possible Route.
S The highest point of the hill whic
y the Milwaukee track begins to elm
e after crossing Second street, is jul!
|. beyond Phillips mines. The trac
e could be built from that point parall'
e with Harrows branch, and would thu
strike Second street at about the SAN
S point as now. but would be muc
f higher than now. There is where th
: viaduct could begin, and the trac
s co,,ld ipoljnn ora d,1a11y until If raa n