Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-05-21
Settling Tank Being Constructed in
Local Milwaukee Yards.
WORK ON THE lUSCATINE CUTOFF
Milwaukee System is Improving Yards
to be in Readiness for Increased
Traffic When New Line is Finished
Rock Island May Extend Line.

Work has commenced on the settling
and water tanks in the Milwaukee
yards in the West End that will give
the Milwaukee system the best facili-
ties for clearing water used in the en-
efnes on the Marion and Kansas City
branch and on the cutoff when COM
pleted. The two piers that will support
the large settling tanks are now being
built and two carpenter crews were,
this morning started on the work of
construction of the mammoth water
tank. The settling tank will be sit
uated at the west end of the sand
house in the yards The establishment
of this system will provide for clearing
the water as it will be first pumped in
to the settling tank and permitted to
settle before being turned into the
tank
The track laying gang on the Rut-
ledge end Of the Milwaukee cutoff
has now reached point near kichland
and the difference between this and the
Muscatine end of the line is being daily
lessened. 1t is thought that the OF
tumwa gang will reach Skunk river
before the gang from the other end
and commence the work on the steel
bridge which is to cross that stream
There will be no ballasting on this end
OF the line, however, until the track is
all down as the material to be used
is all at the Muscatine end, which is
!. being ballasted as the track is laid 1t
is thought that the two ends of the
track will be brought together and the
Skunk river bridge completed before
f,,cf Of T,,1r- l,1t
be ready for traffic by the middle of
Auguse.
At the Muscatne End.
The last spike was driven connect
ing the yard tracks at Washington
with the Chicago, Milwaukee & ST.
Paul system yesterday. In making the
connection about six feet had to be
cut off the last two rails to make them
fit. This work, as well as all the track
ing yesterday was witnessed by
large crowds of Washington people
who We're passing to and from the
scene of the work train.
The track layers are rapid workers.
Track two rail lengths ahead is laid at
time. The train is moved ahead to
dump the ties and rails which are car
ried and put in place by the workmen
in about FIVE minutes The train moves
forward again and the same work is
repeated. A big force of spikers and
workmen follow putting in more ties
and putting the track in more finished
shape
The steel used is very heavy. Until
within a mile of the city oak ties were
used. Beginning a mile east and for
a distance of five miles west of Wash
ington pine treated" ties will be used
1t is claimed that treated pine will last
longer than oak ties. Cedar ties will
be used on all switch and passing
tracks.
Ballasting is in progress three miles
east of Washington. One hundred men
are now employed on that part of the
work.
The fence crew composed of about
forty men is following the track layers
closely The fence is substantial
one made of wire. They have board
ing train
The telegraph crew has quit work
for few days because more rapid
progress can be made by these men
than by the track layers. They have
the line constructed to point between
Gladwin and Gone. This work will be
resumed soon again.
May Extend the Rock Island.
An effort is being made by the job
bling merchants along the Muscatine
and Montezuma branch Of the Rock
Island to have the company extend its
line to Reasnor, in Jasper county, where
1t will connect via Monroe with the
,Des Moines and Keokuk branch of the
road and give a short line between
Muscatine and Omaha through Des
Moines The initiative was taken by
the Montezuma Commercial club and
a monster petition was drawn up with
signers in nearly every city on the
branch. The Des Moines jobbers We're
interested in the scheme and a petit
ton with 300 jobbers, manufacturers
and shippers was added-to the requests