Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-07-01


left Mediapolis and proceeded as far
west as Mt. Union.
Law at Winfield.
Robert Law, general manager of
llington & Northwestern, went to Win
field yesterday morning on his mar
row gauge special coach together with
E. Smith and son, George Law. Dur
ing the day he was stationed at Wind |
field where he received reports of the
progress of the work His special
car was transferred to broad gauge
trucks and he returned to Burlington
last night on the east bound train
from Oskaloosa to Burlington.
About o'clock last night the east
Coppack. At this station there had
the day With large force of men
from the trains in the darkness a sid
ing was hurriedly put in but owing
to the fact that it was impossible to
give the switch a long enough lead
rail one of the three wheel truck
coaches would not make the turn and
one end of it was derailed.
| After a delay of about two hours |
| the coach was gotten on the
! track and both trains proceeded to |
Brighton where a passage was effect
ed and the trains proceeded on their
way, both making the run last night
over the new road between the termi-
nails of the line.
The men taken from the Burlington
tt.
to their homes by special, which left
Burlington at 3:45 this morning and
passing through this city about $50
o'clock.
Important to Southeastern Iowa.
| The completion of the work on the
B. e w. and the B. & N w. railways
yesterday, making them standard
gauge lines is considered by RAILROAD
men as one of the most important
events that has occurred in southeast
ern Iowa for several years. Though !
for considerable distance this line
runs parallel with the Iowa Central
road, yet it is stated that this change
will open new outlet from this part
of the state for considerable new bus
mess. For the present it is stated
that the trains on this road will be
run the same as before the change, 1
two passengers and one freight each |
way every day. ~
| The equipment of the new road will
be entirely new and the passenger
trains will be fitted in manner sel-f
dom equaled by branch lines. Pas
senger trains Nos. 81 and % leaving
Burlington at 1880 in the morning and |
returning at 6:15 in the evening will
carry an equipment of a combinationE
mail, baggage and express car, one
straight coach for smoker and one
chair car, while trains Nos. % and "a |
from Oskaloosa to Burlington and re-
turn will have the service of one COM
bination mail, baggage, express and
smoking car and one passenger coach. |
Built Twenty Years Ago.
| The work of construction of the
Burlington & Western railroad was
begun in 1882 and was completed
about year later. Originally the
stockholders in both this line and the
i Burlington & Northwestern were for
the most part private individuals.
During all this time the road has had
4 a most remarkable business and the
manner it has handled the large traffic
with its small equipment has been
satisfactory to all its patrons. During
this time this road has used the B.,
| c. r. & N. tracks from Mediapolis to
Burlington. For the amount of traffic
hauled and the speed made on mar
row gauge road the work of this line
has been phenomenal, some Of the
trains making rate of fifty miles
per hour.
/ Robert Law. 4g8f
For the past eight years Robert Law
has served in the capacity of general
manager of this road. Ever since the
time he took chargeaof this work the
road has made steady advancement.
During this time the practice of trans
ferring broad gauge cars to narrow
gauge trucks has been in use Previ-
GUS to this time Mr.. Law was connect
ed with the Union Stock Yards Transit
a Co. in Chicago as general manager and
\ came to the duties in connection with
the B. & w. with the experience and
training that ably qualified him for
4 this position. During the years of his
l regime the repairs that have been
made along the road have been done
4 with the view to the eventual stand.
! ardizing of the gauge. Standard ties
! have replaced those worn out and
4 few years ago the track was relaid
with standard rails of fifty-six and
i sixty pound steel
E. G. Goodspeed, trainmaster, has
been in the service of the company
Il for many years and is recognized as
!, one of the most efficient men on the
4 road.
F. S. Fear, purchasing and claim
NJ agent, has been with the road for the
past fifteen years.
L J. T. Sheahan has been in the en-
, ploy of the B. & W. for the past
J, twelve years and as roadmaster and
superintendent of bridges and build
ings has served the road most ably
and the successful accomplishment of
this last effort in widening the track.
has been most ably performed.
Morell Law, son of Robert Law has
/ been connected with the road in diff
ferent capacities for number of
t years and is now serving in the ca
y pacity of assistant freight and mas