Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-01-19
Burlington Company to Expend
Nearly $40. 1000. 900 in
Improvements.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BRANCH
Peoria InstalIs Crossing Bells.
General Talk of the
Track.

Improving the roadbed west of the
Mississippi river and increasing the
terminal facilities in and around Chi
cago. About 81, 100000 will be
turned into the treasury of the Bur-
lington when the new issue of stock
shall have been paid for. OF this
amount 81, 325. 900 will be used in re-
funding the sinking funds due in
October.
/ Deducting the amount for refunding
leaves balance of nearly $40 900 600
to be used in exten sions and improve-
ments. just what the nature of bet
terments to cost this amount are, Off
GERS of the company decline to say.
Those close to the Burlington manage
ment, however, are of the opinion
4 that the road, which is now nearing
/ Ogden, Utah, will be extended to
southern California. either as an inde-
pendent line or in connection with the
Salt Lake and Los Angeles, the pro-
iected road of Senator Clark, of Mon
tana. 1t 10 also said that something
| ike 81, 600. 600 will be expended on
the roadbed and tracks of the system
in Iowa aud other Mississippi
river states.
1 1t is understood 81 200, 900 of the
amount will be used in construction
of transfer yards and the erection of
large grain elevators outside of Chi
cago to facilitate the handling of
through traffic and avoid the expen-
sive operation of bringing it into
Chicago for connection with eastern
roads.
Electric Alarm Bells.
The Peoria road is fitting up four
crossings at the west end of the city
with electric alarm bells, such as are
used all over the country in the more
thickly settled districts. The bell is
located at the crossing and has con.
nections by wire both ways. A train
approaching from either direction by
it's pressure upon the rails closes a
circuit and the bell rings till the last
car passes. This is an Improvement
that will be highly appreciated by
those using the crossings at Third,
Fourth. Fifth and Sixth avenues.
Good showing.
The statistical tables completed re-
Gently in the office of the Iowa rail
way commissioners for the annual re-
port of the board give evidence of the
fact the year 1900 was a prosperous
one for the railroad companies. The
tables arc for the annual period end
ing June 80, 1900. Oae of the inter
esting features of the tables is the
showing made by the Davenport.
Rock Island S Northwestern road.
1t had been in operation but six
months when the report was made to
the railway commissioners, yet il is
able to show gross earnings of $67.-
511.1S and net earnings of over SIS.
600, or about $4,000 per month, for
the time it had been in operation be-
fore reporting.
Gates Backed on the Board.
Pierpont Morgan's eastern syndi-
cate is said to have bought nearly all
of the stock of the American Steel and
Wire company. The latter concern
will be absorbed by the Federal Steel
company, and John w. Gates, head of
the American company. forced out of
the business The newspaper dis
patches say that Mr.. Gates retires
from the steel business in order to
give closer attentio to his railroad
properties. Mr.. Gates. in addition to
being interested in various other
roads. is president of the D., R. / &
N. w.
Reports From the Rock Island.
Conductor H. A. Nutting has been
away attending the funeral of q rela-
tive.
Brakeman Ben Els is Off duty.
Conductor George Mckinley is sick. |
Fireman w. L Hoare is absent from
duty.
Enn;naar nan Marana,, 81 To- ;np off
Fireman c. Kofer is sick.
Brakeman Kingsbury. is laying off.
Engineer W. Arnold is laid up.
Fireman G.. Weyreauch is reported
i'll.
Engineer j. Mansfield is absent
from duty.
Conductor Kline is chalked up sick.
brakeman Colburn is trou bled with
the fashionable malady.
Fireman j. Faircloth is sick.
Engineer G. Hotchkiss is unable to
attend to duty.
Briefs From the Darlington.
Brakeman A. l.. Brady is sick and
has gone TO Beardstown.
Baggageman G. w. DeGroot is i'll.
Conductor +. b. Heffner has had
touch of the grip.
Roundhouse Foreman G.. j. Demp-
sey has joined the ranks of the indis-
posed.
Fireman William Fitzsimmons is
in the grasp of the grip.
Engineer Ed Dempsey is OF sick.
Engineer John Norris has been
away during the past week looking
after his daughter, who has under
gone surgical operation.
Engineer Howard Dempsey is here
from Barstow running night switch
engine.
Coach Cleaner George Baker is back
from trip to Davis, III.