The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-02-28
IMPROVEMENTS ON THE K. & w.
A pipe Story from the Fertile Brain
of a Des Molnes Leader
Reporter.

Last Frldav's Des Moines Leader con-
tanned the following hot air story about
changes Oh the K.& w. the coming
summer. The statement in the first
part of the story about making the cut
off between st. Mary's and New Virginia
is probably true, but the balance of the
story is vino, pure and simple. and shows
a lack OF knowledge on the subject by.
the reporter who wrote the article. In
the first place Des Moines passengers for
ST. Joe and Kansas City do not change
at either Van Vert or Humeston, but
the transfer is made at Leon.
The Leader saysta new section of road
ten miles long will be built between
Decatur and Bethany and the road from
Decatur to Leon abandoned. If the
writer had taken the pains to examine
a map he would have seen that the dis
lance from Decatur to Bethany is at
least 40 miles and this line would have
to run parallel with the present road
running from Leon for at least 30 miles.
Leon is not worrying any about the X.
& w. abandoning this city, and when
through train service is put on between
Des Moines and st. Joe and Kansas City
the trains will run through Leon.
Here is what the Leader says:
DuTluS 1871 'Uuc SulCdSO, DutlluElou
& Quincy road, which recently acquired
the Keokuk & Western, will make some
Improvements to that property between
it in, first class shape and as soon as
these are completed will establish a
through train service between Des
Moines on the north and Kansas City
and ST. Joseph on the south, and posi-
blv, if an arrangement can be made here
with either the Northwestern or the
Minneapolis d st. Louis roads, will ar
range for a through sleeper and chair
car service between Kansas City and
st. Paul via Des Moines."
This statement was made yesterday
by a gentleman conversant with the at
fairs of the Burlington road and was
given out as authoritative.
He said that the so-called "Madison
county bend'' will be Gu out of the road
by the building of a cutoff from a point
a mile and q quarter south Of the town
of st. Mary's to a point about two miles
north OF New Virginia. This line will be
about six miles In length and will short
en- the distance between the two points
about twelve miles. He thought it quite
likely that the old road from st. Mary's
to Truro will be continued in operation
as a branch, but that several miles of
road south and east of Truro and be-
tween that point and New Virginia
would be abandoned.
Another new section of road about ten
miles long will be built between Decatur
and Bethany to connect the Keokuk 4
Western with the Charlton and Kansas
City branch and the road between De
catur and Leon abandoned. There are
no towns on this, division. Several miles
of road parallel to the Kansas City di-
vision and extending south from Leon
will also be abandoned and the Gains.
vile branch operated as a part of tine
Charlton division with a junction point
at the present crossing point of the two
roads.
BY the proposed changes about six.
teen miles of new road will be built and
nearly as much of the old road will be
abandoned. The changes will shorter
the distance by the proposed De:
Moihes and Kansas City line about
twenty-five miles and make of it, the
most direct route between the two points
At present the Kansas City service ii
operated in sections, 1T being necessary
J to change cars either at Van Vert o.
Humeston in order 10 get to Kansas
City, while with the new arrangement
through service will be established
The distance to Keokuk will also b.
shortened about twelve miles by thu
!, proposed changes.
' In addition to this work it is the in
. tention to %expendya considerable sun
| in carrying out the work Of ballastin'
the Keokuk & Western division and re
e placing the old bridges, which was com
/. menced last season, thus putting tn
road in first class condition.