Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-10-02
RAIN CAUSES DELAY
Burlington Work Goes Slowly on
Account of Bad Weather.
WILL BE COMPLETED NEXT SUMNER
Construction Work Which Began
Some Years Ago Will Then Be Fin
ished and Traffic Over New Double
Tracks Will Commence.

Work on the Burlington grade east
of Ottumwa which promised to pro-
gress well this summer, has been go
| ing ON slowly of late on account OF
| the prolonged siege of wet weather
| 1t had been hoped to have trains run
ming over the new tracks in the East
End before the coming winter began,
| but this is now almost beyond thel
range OF possibility unless good wealth
! er begins soon and continues until
Christmas. However, there is a good
start for next year, and after the dump
| already made stands during the COM
i ing winter without being disturbed by
trains running over it it will be in bet
ter condition to stand the strain When
the track finally is laid next summer.
To Finish Next Year
Next summer will see the compile
ton of the construction work on the
/ Burlington as far as Ottumwa is con-
cerned. For nearly four years there
/ has been some work within at least
thirty miles of this city, and the Bur-
/ lington offices have had no end of ex-
ira work on that account. When the
new track between this city and.Street
is put into commission next year, how
along the main line of the Burlington
4 from Chicago to within a comparative
lily short distance from Council
Bluffs. which place will be reached be-
fore long. After that, as soon as the
roadbed becomes settled the Burling-
ton will not let any of the roads look
down upon it. This, in fact, owing to
the engineers on this line. is not being
done now, for Burlington engineers
have the reputation of going when and
where they intend to, in spite of slow
orders, rough tracks and new work.
4 In East ottunWa.
A representative of the Courier paid
visit yesterday to the new work in
the East End of the city. Franklin
park has become so deformed by the
changes in the track that the once
popular warm weather resort is hard
ly recognizable A graders camp
covers the old picnic, ground, or that
part which is not taken up with the
track. The big fill which was made
just east of the park last year has held
well during the summer and is becom-
T ing well settled but considerable trou--
BILE is being experienced in making the
fill between the park and the east emu
Of the new work, near Iowa avenue.
A Borrowing Pit.
The question of where to get dirt is
, not an easy one to answer, but bor--
rowing pit has been established just
west of the park, and here dirt is be-
ing obtained and this is being used on
5 the big dump which was so strenu--
1 ously objected to by the citizens living
Il of hn tra ,,,bo ,ifx
: council allowed the Burlington off
Gals the right to close Walnut avenue
in making the fill. This will not af--
ford sufficient soil, however, and next
year track will be laid along the new
Y fill and dirt from the cuts between OF
tumwa and Agency will be hauled
e down and dumped.
: Building Big Viaducts.
. Before this is done, however, the two
e big concrete viaduct must be finish
S ed, one of which will be at May street.
f where a passage under the track for
e wagons and foot passengers Is to be
s provided, and another near Evergreen
a street, where the Rock Island tracks
: which will also be changed considera--
S bly,, will pass under those of the Bur-
lington. This structure is being built
now and the stone work has almost
been flushed. The steel is being de.
livered now and will be put into place
] this fail. 1t is hardly probable that
the May street viaduct will be finished
a until next year, as concrete work is
: impossible during cold weather.
. Uses Burlington Tracks.
The Rock Island is now using the
Burlington tracks between a point
midway between Union and Vine
streets and the temporary telegraph
], Office at the end of the Burlington
double track a short distance east OF
f Morrell's packing house This is ne
q cessary on account of the fact that the
i new fill encroaches upon Rock Island
r property. This is the reason, also
why the Rock Island tracks must be
changed to position north of theil
present location and regain the OLD
roadbed near Evergreen street by
0 passing under the Burlington tracks.