The Minneapolis journal., 1903-03-30
IOWA
CHICAGO TO OMAHA
Movement On for the Union of -Four
Different Electric Interurban
Interests. .
Unbroken Trolley Service Is Per
fectly Feasible --Des Moines.
Indorses the Project. =.
Special to The Journal.

Special to The Journal. ,. 81. ..-. -.
Des Moines. Iowa, March 3O.-Startling
developments in interurban railway circles
in this state have compelled the conclu-
sion that a movement is on for the com
pletion of an electric line from Chicago to
Omaha, by the union of four different cleo
trio interurban interests. These interests
now center in Omaha, Des Moines, Dav
export apd Joliet. There is strong reason
for believing negotiations areez on looking
to the connecting up of these different
systems and the formation of a continu-
Gus line which Will make unbroken service
from Chicago to Omaha not only possible
but practicable. x
That large movements in the interurban
world we're being projected first became
suspected here last week, when Lyman
Waterman Of Omaha, who has projected
a limo from Omaha to Des Moines, was the
guest of President j. s. Polk and other
officials Of the Des Moines street railway
and interurban interests. In connection
with this fact, it became public that Pres
ident Polk had. spent a part of the week
in conference with the Tri-City company,
having control Of the electric lines 1Dand
about Davenport, Rock Island and Moline.
Perfectly Feasible. e:.-s-s
| None, of the Des Moines street railway
| officials will authorize a statement as to
what is projected. The situation, how
ever, is such that a glance at it makes it
| clear the Chicago Omaha line is feasible.
| way interests with Mr.. Waterman at the
! head have plans laid for a line from Om-
| aha to Creston and into Des Moines. The
| Des Moines interests have projected line
1 to Winterset in Madison county and there
has been talk of going to Greenfield. On
the east; the line is completed and cars
are running to Colfax. The line is pro-
| +ol -, ND ho
ing made for extensions! still further east
|. The Davenport interests have been fig
| uring on coming west as far as Iowa City
while one Of the best interurban systems
/ in the west is in operatio between Elgin
Joliet and neighboring Illinois towns. This
system has been SO successful that ex-
tensions to the west are said to be
planned. It requires no caluculation tt
see the inevitableness of a connection be
tween these systems. Local capitalists II
close touch with the street railway inter.
ests here believe the union must come ane
a few go further and take the view al
this is preliminary to the formation of I
great transcontinental interurban electric
! line. @=l >,.- .,> s-..,..ss
t The way for great interurban develop.
! ments was paved in Iowa last winter
when the legislature placed interurban:
on practically the same status as steam
SuDJSCL tlicESdINC laws ane
with practically the same powers.
In case the Chicago Omaha line goe.
through, the Importance of it would no
be lessened by the proposed continuou,
line from. Sioux City to Kansas City.
is said Standard Oil money will back tina
line and it is not at all impossible tha;
the Chicago Omaha line will be merged
into one, great system along with tn,
Sioux City Kansas City& &pxoiect,s
Hard Shedding for Hull.
4 The Story county republican, conven
tion unanimously indorsed W. P. Fitch
patrick for member Of the republican stat
: central committee from the seventh dis
trict. It is likely this Endorsement wi
cut much figure and give Fitchpatrick
fair lead for the place, though other can
didates are expected to develop. Severs
in Polk county are already casting abou
for 1t.
In Story county, the county central com
nittee stands twenty for Prouty to- fly
! for Hull. The Polk county central com
n1ittee, which has Just organized wit
: AWalter Irish as chairman, has about two
thirds of it's membership Prouty mel
i Altogether, it begins to look as If it woul
, be uphill work for Hull to secure a re
nomination next year. although he is al
Iready working assiduously.