Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-04-03
CENTERVILLE HAPPY
The Appanoose County Seat is
Assured of the New Road.
WILL BE THE NORTHERN TERMINUS
President Reddig of the Iowa & ST.
Louis Railroad Co., Is Interviewed
Regarding His Concern and Its In.
tentions-WiII Begin Work Soon.

President Reddig of the new Iowa &
st. Louis Railroad Co.. has made Cen
terville citizens happy by giving them
the positive assurance that their little
city will be the terminus of the new
road, and that the latter will be built
beyond a doubt. He said that an en-
gineers corps commenced on the per-
manent survey between Centerville
and Sedan yesterday morning and that
as soon as this permanent survey was
completed the work of cross-section-
ing the survey and purchase of right
of-way would commence. He said
that three grading camps would be es-
tablished between Centerville and Sc
dan and that the work of grading
would comence this week. The bring
ing of the road on into Centerville has
been definitely decided upon only dur
ing the last few days, and that which
has been subject of much conjecture
and doubt for the past two weeks, is
now settled fact Centerville will
get the new road and will get it at
once.
CenterviIIe Headquarters.
Ce1terville will be the headquarters
of the road said Mr.. Reddig in the
conversation yesterday morning. 1t
will also be the headquarters for the
construction of the road and all bust
ness will be done from this point.
Permanent Headquarters.
President Reddig was asked if
headquarters would be established in
Centerviilc during the construction of
the road only or If it would make Cen
terville the permanent home of the Of
ficials of the road He replied that it
was intended to make Centerville the
permanent headquarters, of the road.
He said the road was being built by
the Gates-Lambert-M Mitchell interests
for the development, primarily, of the
coal fields through which it passes and
that all of the business transactions
relating to the mining and selling of
the coal would be done through the
offices in Centerviile
No Northern Connections.
President Reddig was also asked
about the report that the road was to
have connections with the Central
here and then with the Northwestern
at Buxton. He said he could give out
nothing regarding such an arrange,
ment now. Nothing of the kind has
been arranged for or even thought of,
| he said. OF course what the future
may bring forth, can not be safely pre-.
dicted at this time. To sum it all ur
that the Iowa and st. Louis railroad
is line that is being constructed from
Centerville to Elmer, Mo-, for the pur
| nf tho Oo1 L., L.
heretofore stated. He said the coun
try through which the road passes
needs railroad and will get this one
Buys Right of Way.
Yesterday morning President Red
dig and T. w. Meers closed contract
with D. c. Bradley for between three
and four miles of right of way over
the Bradley farms between here and
Sedan thereby sealing the purchase
of nearly half of the right of way be
| tween Centerville and Sedan. The
contract was made without any long
wrangle or mincing of words and was
a satisfactory one to all parties. The
| deeds are being drawn in Frank S
Payne's office and will provide for the
transfer in fee simple Of one hun
dred foot strip across all of the Brad
ley farms through which the survey
runs, certain provisions being made
regarding underground stock cross
/ ings on each farm and protection tt
the land from water overflows alonE
Charlton river.
Employing Men.
The engineer corps that is makins
the permanent survey from Center
vile to Sedan arrived in Centervillt
Saturday. Saturday evening they EN-
ployed a number of assistants who
went out with them. The construct
ors of the road are hunting men anC
teams and are advertising for 500 mel
to work on the grade.
Rented Offices.
Late yesterday afternoon A. A
Carr, representing Mr.. Kenefck, tn,
contractor, and President Reddig O
the road, inspected the rooms in tn,
Citizen block in the rear of the Cit
zen editorial rooms and closed con
tract to lease them, to take charge a
once and in these rooms will be Pres
ident Reddig's office and the contrac
tors, Mr.. Kenefick, offices. This give
them ample room, well lighted heat
ed and conveniently located. At pres
ent they will occupy but two of tn