Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-05-27
is INTERVIEWED BY A REPORTER
Says There Is No Truth in the Report
That the Burlington viii Build a
Line Through the Northern Tier of
Counties.
from Tuesdays DaiIv.]

e'SiSoo tAS .Sldte VI iowa III the Ller OIL
counties just north of Wapello, is en-
tirely without foundation" said ]. j.
Hill, multi-millionaire, flnancier, head
of the Northern Securities Co. and
controller of the destinies of the Bur-
llngton railroad when questioned by a
Courier representative this morning
with regard to the intentions of the Of
ficials of that road in this matter.
]. ]. Hill and George B. Harris, to-
gether with large number of other
prominent officials of the road passed
through this city going west this
morning on a special train on tour
of inspection of the Iowa lines of the
Burlington. It was stated by Mr.. Har-
ris that there were to be some changes
in the BE- w. between Burlington and
Oskaloosa, in the way of making it a
standard gauge track, but that any re-
port that implicated any other line
with the Burlington in this part of the
state or that stated that it was the
object to construct an extension from
Oskaloosa into Council Bluffs and
Omaha was entirely out of harmony
with the present plans of the man
agement.
Inc dikeQ OF fldns
The plan as given few days ago by
those INDUCING in mere speculation
with regard to the matter had it
that the Burlington had purchased the
Iowa Central lines and that this road
bed would be utilized together with the
B. C w. for the new main line between
Keithsburg and Oskaloosa. It was al
SO stated that this road would cross
the Mississippi river at Keithsburg on
a double track bridge and be connected
with the present main line of the Bur-
lington at Galva, Ill. West of Oskaloo-
sa, it was claimed that new line
would be built to Harvey and Knox.
vile, thence to Greenfield, from Green
field over the line of the Burlington to
Cumberland and thence through Girls.
void and Carson into Council Bluffs.
No Connection With Iowa Central.
1.-THE Burlington has not bought the
Iowa Central lines" This was the
statement made this morning by Pres
ident George B. Harris when question
ed with regard to this part of the plan.
Mr. Harris further stated that the Bur-
lfngton had at present no connection
with the Central lines and as to the
statement that these lines had come
under the control of the Burlington he
stated that there was nothing whatev-
|er Init. 3 n az,
Will Widen 3. & w. Track.
President Harris stated that it is
the intention of the management of the
Burlington to widen the B. & w. track
between Burlington and Oskaloosa and
that when the management of the road
is prepared this will be done. In fact,
the authorities have been preparing
for this for considerable time in the
way of putting in standard guage ties
and 1t Is probable that this work will
be accomplished within short time.
Mr. Harris stated that the expense of
running this branch is much greater
under the present arrangement than
1t would be with standard guage
track and equipment. From Oskaloosa
there will be line run by the Bur
lington to Tracey connecting with the
Abba and Des Moines branch. Ar
rangements for this extension have al
ready been begun and it is probable
that this entire Improvement will be
made about the same time.
On an Inspection Tour.
The special train bearing James j.
Hill and the general officials Of the
Burlington road passed through this
city shortly before 10 o'clock this
morning. Ever since the control of
the Burlington passed into the hands
of Mr. Hill it has been the desire Of
the officials to have him make tour
over the various lines of the road, but
not until now has Mr.. Hill decided to
make such a trip.
He was accompanied by several of
the prominent officials of the road
among whom were: c. e. Perkins, of
Burlington, chairman of the board of
directors; President George B. Harris,
of Chicago; First Vice President Dari-
us Miller of Chicago; Second Vice
President Howard Elliott. of Chicago;
General Manager F. A. Delano of Chi
cago; Superintendent of Iowa Lines H.
C.. Mutt, of Burlington; f. j. Blake, OF
Chicago, consulting engineer; j. H
Duggan. superintendent of the Burling-
ton division, and J. F. Stevens, of Chi
cago. chief engineer of the Great
Northern.
Superintendent Duggan left the spe-
cial at this city and returned to Bur,
lington on No. 10 and Superintendent
F. w. Fabens, of the Ottumwa division
accompanied the party as far west as
Creston.
Was Wind Splitter.
The train bearing the party of In
speeding officials over the Burlington
this morning was one of the fastest
specials that ever passed through this
city. The, train was composed of four
cars, Lycoming, No. 100, belonging to
George B. Harris and Delano's car No.
90, were in the train. 1t was in
charge of Conductor F. H. Clark, for
it's run from Burlington to Creston
and with engine No. 1859 and Engineer
|C. Hewitt, at the throttle, Mr.. Hill and
his party were given a swift ride
through Iowa. The train left Burling.
tho this morning at o'clock and af-
ter a few minutes stop in this city
pulled out of the station at 9:57
o'clock having made the distance OF