Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-05-01
WORK ON CUTOFF
Sixty Men Making Splendid Pro
gross on New Line.

FEED YARD MAY BE ESTABLISHED
Company May Feed and Water Stock
on Land Bought From August john
son-Camp at Cedar Creek-RaiIs to
Be Laid Soon Near Muscatine.
[From Tuesdays Daily.]
| Work on the Milwaukee cutoff at
the west end of the proposed route is
progressing fast and Owen Bros. may
feel proud of the speed with which
they are preparing the right-of-way for
the steel. In both directions from
their camp, which is located at the
point where the new line crosses Little
Cedar Creek, about mile east OF Rut
ledge, men are working like ants with
wheel scrapers and ten-horse eXcavat-
ing machines, adding dirt to the big
fill at either side of the stream. bor-
rowing pit has been established on the
south side of the right-of-way and just
across the creek from the camp and it
is here that the wheel scrapers are
securing their dirt. The cuts are light
and there is not enough dirt taken
from the right-of-way to make the fill
at Cedar creek, where 10000 yards will
be used.
Employ Sixty Men.
About sixty men are employed on
the work which is being done by
Owen Bros. The majority are men
who are well acquainted with the class
of work that is being done, and this
aids in making the time required to
complete the job short They are
canped on the south side of the right,
of-way and on the east bank of Little
Cedar Creek, where their little town
of tents presents a pretty appearance
AS there is no need for hurry at this
time the men work only six days g
week, having Sunday for rest and re
creation. Unlike some camps that Of
Owen Eros is kept unusually clear
and there need be little Or no fear OF
disease. The fare is good and the mer
enjoy camping, as the conveniences af
forded ale of the best.
WIZ OTiuSS SeQaF Creek.
The fill on either side of Cedar
Creek is to be thirty-six feet deep an6
!. will soon be completed Already the
piles are driven for the false work
: which will be used in the construction
of the iron bridge over the creek
Charles Ream & Sons of this city are
3 constructing this false work and the
8 railroad companys bridgemen will pu
1 in the bridge.
), Thirteen Miles of Track.
y The work at Cedar Creek is the big
o gest piece of filing to be done on al
: of the thirteen miles of roadway TO
8 which Owen Bros. have the contract
). All of their work will be done witt
n wheel scrapers and excavators, N
q steam shovel work being necessary
v In fact, the work is too light to suit tn
g contractors, and they have to go owe
much more ground to get the sam
n amount of work than they would hav
d to go over IT they had a little roughe
v ground to work.
S A Feeding Ground.
Z 1t is the opinion of the farmers re
e siding in the vicinity of Rutledge tina
II the Milwaukee company intends to e.
', tab!ish feeding grounds on the Ian
Y bought from August Johnson, who's
d farm is crossed by the new line at
8 point between Rutledge and Ceda
II creek and a quarter of mile north c
y the Center school house on the Ere
le mont road. Mr.. Johnson sold fiftee
u acres of level land to the railroad con
y pany here, receiving a good price fC
u it. and although nothing was said b
~ the agent of the company as to whs
IL the land was to be used for it is col
5 sidered almost certain that it will b
y used for a feeding and waterin
y ground for stock which is being shil
ped to Chicago. If this is done shed
will no doubt be built and few sid
Tracks, so that the stock can be III
loaded, fed and watered, thus keepin
Of the animals in good condition for til
c. stock market.
IN If the plans of the Milwaukee RAJ
lg road do not miscarry, the work
III track laying on the Kansas City cut-o
tn will commence in close proximity
at Muscatine in about ten days TIL
Sc matter as to the time of getting til
as track in has been the subject of mo-
'e- or less discussion for some time, az
I'd a feeling of relief Games when it is u
al derstood that the actual work wi
ed shortly begin.
. Work at conesville.
III At Cone the track is laid east to IL
nj Cedar river The men are now
IN work laying it west to the Iowa rive
I'd AS soon as these two pieces of trac
of are in, this track-laying crew, whit
90 consists of about $50 men will
ed taken to Muscatine and the work
oh laying track from the lower limits
he the city to the southwest commence
The gang of men board and live in f
- teen boarding cars. which are now st
toned at Cone. The Rock Island no;
Twill give them room some place in Il
yards in Muscatine and these M
will live in those places during the
stay.
Grade Is Ready.
The grade for distance of abo
o. Of 1,