Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-03-13
Hard Luck Renders Muscatine
North & South Railroad I'm
able to Meet Large Bill
HAD MET MANY DIFFICULTIES
The M. N. & 8. Company Has Had a
Hard Proposition to Contend With
Ever Since it Was Built-Roadbed
Was Unsound-A History of the
Road.
Special to Times Republican.

Muscatine, March 13-The Musca-
tine North & South railroad has been
placed in the hands of a receiver as the
result Of a bill filed by the New York
a mortgage on the property amount
ing to $350,000. Attorney Henry Jayne
and Charles Howard, general manager
of the road were in Council Bluffs the
fore part of the week and secured the
appointment of the latter as receiver.
An officer of the road said today that
while it was true that the expenses
were rather high and the road had
never paid much, still Muscatine peo-
pie had never given it the support the
promoters had expected, and had they
done that. things might now be diff
ferent. He said the people wanted such
a road and after ii was built failed to
give 1t the proper support. Beside that
the company has been unfortunate be-
cause of the poor condition of the road
bed. and the frequent land slides oc-
curing where the road penetrates the
bluffs several miles below the city.
These difficulties added much expense
and as the company had not been in
a fourishing financial condition We're
especially trying on the treasury, and
on the funds which. under ordinary
circumstances. would have been APP
piled in another way.
r. ~, ,r.Sy h c
been appointed does away with the
idea that some other road will acquire
control of 1t, and certainly not the
Rock Island. because since that COM
pany has secured control of the g.. C..
r. & n. railway there is practically
no new territory that could be reached
by the acquisition of the M. N. e. >.
And is further stated that Ii the M. M
S. should change hands the terminal
ground would revert back to the city
The Journal. of this city, gives the
following history of the road
For several years preceding the
building of the road there was con-
siderable opposition to the Rock Island.
and ii is said by parties who are IN q
position to know that Mgscatine is one
of the most profitable points on the en-
tire Rock Island system, and was at
that time. And to secure competing
line the proposition of building the
short line TO Elrick. where the junction
could be made with the Iowa Central,
was started and met with hearty sup
port from many. of the heaviest ship
pers. Consequently outside capital was
interested and survey made ana the
cost ascertained "A cam
paign was then made thru the town-
ships that the road would Dement, Tor
the purpose of securing aid from the
residents and in many places TAX 10
assist the proposition was voted. IN
Muscatine special election was called
and after much campaigning the plan
of voting a 30-mill tax was success
fully voted upon and in short time
after work on the road was commenced,
Flick & Jahnson being the principal
After nearly years work
the road made it's way into the city
limits OF Muscatine and there was gen.
eral rejoicing among the citizens. II
was. however some time later before
trains We're regularly installed and run
on a schedule.
Roadbed Unsound.
u
trains began running much difficulty
was caused in the vicinity of the bluffs,
where high banks extended on either
side of the track, by the heavy rains in
the spring, and on numerous occasions
traffic was delayed on account of the
clay being washed down the bank and
the tracks. Even now the
roadbed is not in excellent condition.
4. IA iv,,y,
from time to time since its construc-
ton.
The NJ. N. & S. Company has had a
hard proposition to contend with ever
since it was built. When first COM
pieted trouble arose with the tracks
and roadbed and unfortunate delays
were thus occasioned, making 1t alike
announcement for the shippers and COM
pany. 1t was hard matter to secure
the business of the Muscatine shippers,
tho most of them endelvored to favor
the new road as much as possible.
agent A. L. Lindner since taking charge
of the local office has been quite sue
cessful in taking care OF the shipments
and it is said much is due to the little
road for preventing a coal famine In
Muscatine this winter. The greatest
trouble of late has been in trying to
Keep the road in good financial condi-
ton so that the bonds might eventually
be taken up and money made out of the
enterprise, but the trustees, the New
York Security and Trust Company,
have secured the appointment OF re-
ceiver and will have muen to say about
TIE property in the future. 1t is not
known at this time what changes, il
any, may be made, but The road for the
present will run as heretofore.
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