Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-07-01
stupendous Piece of Work
Done by the Burlington
Yesterday.
WIDEN GAUGE OF ROAD
line Between MediapoIs and oskaloo-
sa Takes Its Place as One of the
Important Arteries of Commerce in
This Section. =. tg-..,

In accordance with the plans OF
Roadmaster John 7. Sheahan of the
Burlington G. Western railway, and as
the result of his careful and efficient
arrangement of the details of the
work, the narrow gauge railroad run
ming between Oskaloosa and Burling-
ton, distance of 105 miles, was
transformed into track of standard
gauge yesterday between the hours OF
daylight and dark and the first broad
gauge train passed over the line ar
irving in Burligton from Oskaloosa at
about 3 o'clock this morning. Be
tween 400 and 500 men gathered from
the forces of the B. & W., c., B. & O.,
B., C. R. & N, and C. r. l. & P. rail
roads, were employed in this under
taking and the rapidity with which
the rails of the narrow gauge We're
spread and spiked fast to the ties
was a sight that is seldom to be wit
messed and as the result of yester-
days work the trains over the B. &
Nv. are running as usual today.
Began at 4 O'clock.
At o'clock yesterday morning
narrow gauge trains started from each
terminal Of the road distributing the
workmen who were to take part in the
work along the line Within few
minutes thereafter the first spike had
been drawn and the beginning of the
end of the B. & w. as narrow gauge
road, and the commencement of one
of the most extensive and important
feats OF railroad engineering ever wit
messed in the history of railroading
in Iowa had begun. Throughout the
day, amid the almost constant down.
pour of a cold and drizzling rain the
work was pushed to successful COM
pletion and the progress of the broad
gauge train as it made its first trip
over the line was watched by thou
sands of people and at each town and
hamlet the inhabitants turned out en-
masse and greeted it's coming with
loud and prolonged cheers.
Nearly Completed at O'clock.
The greater part of this immense
undertaking was completed by 1
o'clock in the afternoon and with the
exception of the putting in of cross
ing at Starks over the Northwestern
and the widening of about one mile of
track just west of Coppack delayed
by the demand of some of the Rock
Island men for an increase in pay be-
fore they would work in the rain the
main line of the narrow gauge and
enough of the sidetrack at the sta
tions had been widened to fit the line
for practical use today.
Preparation Was Complete.
During the past six weeks the work
of preparation for yesterdays under
taking his been going ON and underl
the direction of Roadmaster John T.
Sheahan each and every detail of the
work was arranged with such acc,ra-
cy that the highest praise was elected
on the part of the Burlington and 9TH
er officials, who assisted in the work,
for the completeness of his foresight
in the arrangement of the plans and
their successful conSummation.
Men MobiIized.
Saturday afternoon and night the
men were gathered up from their diff
ferent homes and modified at the va
rious points designated by Roadmas-
ter Sheahan. w. J.FCalvin of this
city, roadmaster on the Ottumwa diyi-
sion of the Burlington, who had
charge of the west twenty miles of the
Oh y, 4
from Ottumwa and various towns be-
tween this city and Charlton These
men were sent from Ottumwa late Sat
urday night on special over the Rock
Island to Oskaloosa from which point
they were distributed over the line.
Where Men Were Stationed.
Just east of Hedrick B. & w. men
were employed and on the eastern
part of the road the c., B. & O., Rock
Island and B., G. R. & N. were used.
Roadmaster George Double of the Bur-
lington division and Roadmastec b. F.
Beckman, of the FIT. Madison and
Quincy branches, of the Burlington,
had charge of the men picked up along
the Burlington division These to.
gether with the men from the other
TOduS WSlS lol llS luOSL pdIl dSSGul'
,bled at Mediapolis Saturday night.
Forces Distributed.
At A o'clock Sunday morning Road.
master w. ]. Calvin had his men trans
ferred from the special train to the
narrow gauge train, which was in wait
ing at the Rock Island transfer. A
few minutes later this train, in charge
IN.
gIneer L. Beuthel, left Oskaloosa or
Its last trip. At the first stop, mile
post 1903, eighteen men were let off and
Continued on Page Four.)