Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1902-02-27
NEW INTERURBAN SURVEY.
A Line From Des Moines to Harlan
Is Proposed.

The Interurban Railway company
will commence work in short time
on preliminary survey of another
electric line it proposes to build out OF
Des Moines. The survey will be run
as far west as Harlan, in Shelby county,
and it is probable that portion of the
road will be butt and put in operation
this year.
Instead of commencing the survey at
Valley Junction the line will be started
from Thirty fifth street and University
avenue and will follow the divide be-
tween Beaver and Walnut creek bot
tomslin northwest direction to Grimes,
distance of eight miles. From
Grimes the line will run due west ten
miles to Dallas Center. From Dallas
Center the route will be little north
of west and the next town of import
ance to be reached will be Panora on
the Milwaukee road, twenty-five miles
from Dallas Center. From Panora the
route will be due west to Guthrie Gen.
ter, distance of eight miles and then
little south of west to Audubon, a
distance of twenty three miles. This
course will be continued west from
Audubon to Harlan, eighteen miles.
The total distance will be about ninety
miles.
This route will afford an opportunity
for station between Des Moines and
Grimes that will be five miles distant
from the nearest railroad. Between
Grimes and Dallas station will be To-
Gated about midway. West of Dallas
towns will be established at Panther
and Greenvale post-oflices, each Of
which are distant about seven miles
from the nearest railroad points and
which are located in the center of ex-
cellent farming communities. One
station will be located midway between
Panora and Guthrie. Between Guth-
RE and Audubon stations will be To-
Gated in Union township, in Guthrie
county, and Melville township, in Aud
ubon county. These will be about
eight miles distant from Guthrie and
Audubon. Between Audubon and
Harlan one station will be located, at
Poplar post Office.
1t is the intention to build this road
with low grades and q minimum degree
of curvature, to lay the track on oak
hewn ties and with sixty-pound rail
road iron add to equip it for the oper-
alton of heavy freight motor cars as
we'll as for passenger traffic. 1t will
probably be necessary to establish at
least two power plants on the route.
About street car head quarters it has
leaked out that the sudden determine
of the electric people to commence
surveying this route and acquiring the
right of way is due to the incorporation
of the Des Moines Western railroad by
the Hubbells, the claim being made
that it is the intention of the Hubbells
to build a steam road through this ter
ritory. The charge is made that the
Hubbells were excited to activity by
the action Of the Interurban people In
submitting franchise propositions to
influential men in the towns along the
proposed route early in the winter and
requesting that they stir up sentiment
looking to the securing of favorable
action On the franchises. 1t is likely
that the work OF securing the fran
chises will be taken up very shortly,
with view of having them submitted
to vote of the people during the next
few months. -Des Moines Leader.