Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-03-03
ARE LAYING TRACK
Work on Milwaukee Cutoff Be-
gins in Earnest.
FORCE OF EIGHTY AT RUILEDGE
OttumWa End of New Line Will Be
Pushed to Compietion-Bad Wealth
err Delays Work-Burlinston May
Build New Shops.

A force of eighty men was this morn
ing started upon the work of laying
the track on the Ottumwa end of the
Milwaukee cutoff, and RutIedge, three
miles north of the city, where the cut
off joins the tracks of the Marion &
Kansas City branch, today puts up a.
pusy appearance. Today was taken up
greatly with making preparations for
work, and consequently but little track
was laid. Tomorrow, however, the
work will commence in earnest, and
1T is thought that close to a mile of
steel will be laid every day, should the
weather remain favorable. The yards
at Rutledge We're completed several
months ago, the main track and three
side tracks having been laid for a dis
lance of half a mile from the junction
of the two branches.
Weather Delays Work.
The work has been greatly delay
ed by the rough weather of the past
few months, and it has been found that
it will be impossible to finish the cut.
off as soon as was expected. 1t was
thought that the work would be COM
pleted by spring. but one of the local
officials said today that it would be
well into the summer or early fall be-
fore the trains would be running from
Ottumwa to Davenport. All along the
line the weather has impeded the pro-
gress of the grading gangs, and many
cuts have been made only to be fol-
lowed by washouts and slides.
May Enlarge Local Shops.
The opening of the new Milwaukee
line to Muscatine and Davenport, open
ing as it does another short line to
Chicago, is being awaited anXiously
by Ottumwa travellers and freight ship
pers. 1t will open up a direct line
with many towns which it is impos-
sible now to reach without changes
and delays. 1t will also 'tcinch" this
city in its possession of the Milwau-
kee division headquarters, and it is
thought will result in the enlargement
of the local Milwaukee shops.
Rumors Of New Shops.
There are rumors out to the effect
that the Burlington will build large
shops at West Burlington for the pur-
pose of handling all the repair work of
the Illinois and Iowa divisions and of
building the greater number of it's To-
comotives. The local officials, how
ever, doubht the authenticity of the re-
ports. Burlington people have become
greatly worked up over the reports
which have gained wide circulation.
1t is stated by people who claim to
know whereof they speak, that the sur.
veys and plans have been made for a
new machine shop, which will be equal
to the old shop in size and which will
be n OF the most modern %up-to-date
shops in the world. Other extensive
Improvements are said to be under con-
temptation. 1t is related that work on
some Of these improvements is to be-
gin in the near future and is to be
pushed to completion with all posi-
BILE speed.
AS one put it who claimed to know:
1.-THE company intends making much
of it's machinery here, which heretofore
has been purchased at other points.
The repair work which has been dis
tributed at various points along the
line in Iowa and Illinois. will, SO far as
practicable, be concentrated here. The
company has met with delays and diff
culties in securing new engines. This
trouble will be obviated to a large ex-
ments shall have been completed; then
the Burlington route will build, if not
all, at least a large number of loco
motives, which she requires at Bur-
lington. The contemplated improve
ments include a number of new build
ings and eventually the addition of
some 600 to 800 men to the working
force at West Burlington"