Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-05-01
Track Elevation Contem-
plated in the East End by
the Big Road.
CONFERs WITH COUNCIL
Agreement Was Practically Reached
Between Burlington and City Faith.
ers With This End in View at Meet.
ing Held Last Evening.


According to plans which last even
Ing We're practically agreed to between
the members of the city council and e.
A. Howard, land agent for the Burling-
ton railroad, the coming summer will
see many changes made in the East
End, so far as some of the streets and
the tracks of the Burlington and Rock
Island railroad are concerned. At a
special meeting of the city
council last evening, Mr.. How
ard presented the proposition of
the railroad company and it
is looked upon by the city officials
with much favor. 1t contemplates the
closing of May street at the railroad
tracks, the abolition of the tower and
crossing of the Burlington and Rock
Island railroad tracks in the East End,
the establishment of viaduct cross
ing at Walnut street and the raising
OF the Burlington tracks from Iowa
avenue east to Franklin park. Anoth-
er important action was the agree
ment OF Mr.. Howard on the part of the
railroad company to grant the city
crossing where Blackhawk street in
tercepts the Burlington and Rock Is
land tracks in the West End. All
that now remains to block the extern
sion of Blackhawk street is permis-
sion from the Rock Island to cross its
tracks and the securing of lot 15 in
the northwestern addition.
Changes in the East End.
The plans as practically agreed to
last evening call for many changes in
the East End, some of which may not
meet with the approval of the resi-
dents of that part of the city, but all
of which are really necessary if the
Burlington is to enter Ottumwa in the
manner in which the railroad officials
have planned. The biggest change
will be the closing of May street at
the railroad tracks and the establish
ment of a crossing at Walnut avenue,
one block west, where there is at pres
ent no crossing.
Change Crossing.
The plans of the Burlington call for
raised track all along the line from
Iowa avenue to Franklin park. The
grade is to be at the rate of thirty-fve
feet to the mile and it is necessary in
order that the track may come from
the high level at which it comes
through Franklin park to the lower
one at which it enters the yards near
the round house at the foot of Birch
street. This will necessitate a change
in the tracks. At present these two
roads cross at the same level, having
an interlocking system established
near where the tracks are crossed by
May street.
AS the Burlington tracks will be
higher than the Rock Island at May
street after the change they cannot
cross on the same level at that place,
and an undercrossing cannot be es-
tablished there either because the Bur
lington tracks will not be high enough
there to clear trains on the Rock Is
Ian tracks Thus it becomes neces-
sary that the two roads cross at some
point east of May street, and the place
that has been selected is about 300
feet east of Vernon street where the
Burlington tracks will be high enough
to let the Rock Island run under them.
Here the Burlington will build an iron
span, supported at each end by con-
crete piers backing up the fill on which
the track will be built.
Rock Island Tracks to Change.
In order that the Rock Island will
not be inconvenienced by reason Of
the new order of things it has been ar
ranged for that company's tracks to be
hui nf bnir
from point between Walnut and May
streets, through the second addition
to Stiles place, SO that the curve will
not be great at the point where the
two roads will cross. The undercross-
ing will of course do away with the
interlocking tower at May street.
Al Walnut Street.
The Burlington company asks for
the closing of May street at the rail.
road tracks and agrees to open Walnut
street in return for this concession on
the Fart of the city. According to the
arrangements there will be twenty
six foot span on which the Burlington
tracks will cross this street. This
span will be supported by concrete
piers, or more properly abutments
similar to those which will support
the span on which the Burlington
tracks will cross those of the Rock Is.
LAID. The railroad company agrees to
pave Walnut street across the Bur-
Engson's right of way and also to con.
meet the sewers which drain the land
Oh either side of the tracks as they
are Now situated In addition to the
paving on Walnut street the place will
be well drained and a six-foot sidewalk
vii! be built. leaving a roadway OF
twerty feet. The tracks will clear the
road by twelve feet at this point and