Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1903-06-11
Directors Meeting of the Des Moines
Western Iowa Electric Ry Co.

The first regular meeting of the
directors of this proposed road met at
Atlantic, last Monday afternoon at the
parlors of the Windsor hotel. The
seven directors elected at the general
meeting held in Des Moines, May the
18th, representing the counties Of
Polk, Dallas, Guthrie, Audubon,
Shelby, Harrison and Pottawattamie
were each present, there being delega-
tions and interested parties in this
new enterprise from Audubon, Dallas,
Shelby, Pottawattamie and Harrison
in addition to the directors. Atlantic
is not interested in this road and was
selected as place of meeting, being
about centrally located with reference
to these seven counties.
Some changes were made in the
articles of incorporation, the meeting
for regular election of officers by the
stockholders will occur in September
instead of the third Monday in June;
also the capital stock was reduced to
one hundred thousand instead Of one
million. This change was made be-
cause it would save the company
nearly one thousand dollars in filing
fees, and the capital stock could be
increased at any time by amendment
A resolution was passed by the
board authorizing complete survey
of the route and the providing means
to defray all expenses incurred there
in; it was estimated that it would
require about seven thousand dollars
to make preliminary surveys. plats,
profiles and accurate estimates of the
route, which would be ready for con-
tracts; this would include all bridge
work culverts in fact everything COM
plete. Four of the counties promptly
subscribed for four thousand dollars of
stock and the others agreeing to
furnish their share.
The officers chosen at this meeting
were John A. Nash, Audubon, presi-
dent; Amor Stearn, vice president,
Logan; Clyde Brenton, Dallas Center,
treasurer; Rush Benedict, Shelby,
secretary, and H. III. Polk. general
manager, executive committee, Nash,
Cullison and Weeks. These officers
will hold office until September when
their successors will be elected by the
stockholders for one year from that
date.
During the meeting Mr.. Polk who
is president of the Des Moines & Col
fax Interurban line, gave a very
interesting talk on interurban rail
roads. He said in part, "all interurban
lines that have been built have paid.
There is a great future before them,
it's only question of time when all
local freight and passenger traffic will
be handled by them. The business of
these roads have all increased very
rapidly. He gave some interesting
figures in regard to freight receipts
here is an illustration of one little item
in his line showing growth" "The first
week we ran a combination express
and package car, the receipts the first
week were twelve dollars. We began
operating late last January, and now
have these cars make three trips day
and the receipts are now two hundred
dollars per week." He satisfied every
one that all kinds of freight can be
handled, says we can ship your cattle,
hogs or any thing you want, turn it
over to steam line you wish, or ship it
into Des Moines.
This enterprise is certainly starting
off in good shape. These men at the
head Of this are practical business
men and we feel sure Audubon county
will cooperate in this enterprise, that
means much to the entire county and
western Iowa. We take some pardon
able pride in the fact that an Audu-
bon county man is president of this
new company. Everybody in Audi
bon county knows John A. Nash. We
do not overlook the fact that he has
been ably helped by Mr.. Elliott, who
has given much time in getting the
enterprise started and been on the list
to see that Audubon had proper
recognition in this enterprise. We
shall watch this with much interest
and will keep the Journal readers
advised of its progress.