Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-10-28
The Des Moines, Iowa Falls 8
Northern May Win or Lose
the Sum of $4,000
MUST BE COMPLETED DEC. 81
In Order to Secure the Nevada Tax,
Amounting to $4,000, Trains Must
Be in Operation From Iowa Falls
to Des Moines by the First Of Next
Year.

Des Moines, Oct. 2s.-The manage
ment of the Des Moines. Iowa Falls &
Northern road and the contractors en-
ployed in its construction are engaged
IN a race against time with bad wealth
er as a handicap and $4,000 as a prize.
Under the terms governing the vot-
ing Of a tax on the assessable property
OF the town Of Nevada to aid in the
construction Of the road the company
must operate trains thru from Iowa
Falls to Des Moines by Dec. 81 of this
year or lose the tax. The tax Will
amount to between $4,000 and $4,000.
The company expected to have the
road completed and in operation to this
city by Nov. !. President Ellsworth
and his associates were not counting
at that time on encountering the rain
lest season the state has experienced
in fifty years, and neither were the
contractors who took the work from
him.
Because Of wet weather the track
laying has been completed but q short
distance south from Nevada, while the
grading between the Story county line
and this city Is but little over half
completed.
The first trouble was experienced at
the crossing of the Skunk river bottom.
The grade was completed early In the
season and to q height that 1T was
thought precluded all danger. When
the July floods came the water went
three feet over the embankment and lii
many places washed 1t out. 1t has
been necessary to raise this embank-
ment for a distance of two miles above
the high water mark and to repair q
great deal of damage. At other points
where entertainments are required the
burrowing pits have filled with water
and it has been found impossible
to drain them.
Despite the handicaps all efforts are
bending to complete the line to juno
ton with the Great Western at Ber-
wick by Dec 81. In many places four
horses are being used on scrapers IN
addition to snatch teams to move the
mud from cuts and place 1T on em-
bankments. greatly adding to the cost
OF the work. Fearful that bad weather
will continue and prevent the compile
ton of the road into this city by the
time specified for earning the Nevada
tax, the company has made arrange
nents so that upon the completion OF
the line to Berwick 1t can bring its
trains over the Great Western tracks
to its wards on the East SIDE.
which will be completed in ample time.
Hope of completing the new road into
the city in that time has practically
nd q ~
completion Of the road to Berwick the
company is banking to earn the $7S.O0O
Nevada tax.
A report was curient yesterday to
the effect that the Iowa & st. Louis
road, which Is now building from st.
Louis to Melrose and has made preltm-
mary surveys Of line into Des Moines
is figuring for the field notes. profiles,
ETC., of the surveys recently made north
from this city by the Des Moines, Iowa
Falls & Northern road.
This is the company that surveyed
line from East Third and Locust
streets north thru Union Park and
thence thru Boone, Webster City. Britt.
Wells and southern Minnesota to Min
neapolis and st. Paul. The report had
it that the Iowa & st. Louis. II the sur
yeys are practicable, would build thru
the city between East Eighteenth
street and the fair grounds to con-
nection with this survey near Saylor
end to use it north from Des Moines.
Representatives of the Des Moines.
Iowa Falls & Northern yesterday de-
MED all knowledge of the negotiations,
hut 1t was ascertained that representa-
tiyes of the Iowa & st. Louis road
were In Des Moines Saturday from st.
Louis and that they held conference
with some of the incorporators and Of
f1cers Of the Des Moines road at the
Slavery Hotel