The Oskaloosa herald., 1904-09-01
GREAT RAILROAD
SYSTEM PLANNED
-FOUR BIG IOWA LINES MAY BE
CONSOLIDATED.
HUNTINGTON TO HAVE CHARGE
Iowa Central, Minneapolis G. St.Louis,
Great Western and Des Molnese&
Fort Doc Mentioned in
the Deal.

Numerous persistent rumors con-
corning railway. people and properties
are current here. One story has it
that Superintendent G. w. Hunting
ton, of the Jersey Central, is to come
west again, and is to supercede M.
Sweeney in the general superintend-
ency of the Minneapolis & st. Louis
and Iowa Central 1t is said that the
Hawley interests. have secured a
great block of the stock OF the Great
Western or Stickney property. This
read with its terminus in Chicago and
the southwest together with the Iowa
Central, M. G. st. L., and the Des
Moines &c Fort Dodge are to be leased
to transportation company of which
Mr.. Hawley is to be president, and
they will be operated jointly as one
system, with Mr.. Huntington as gen.
eral superintendent.
The recent visit Of Mr.. Huntington
to Iowa is taken by some as giving
color to the statements OF the rumor.
Mr.. Huntington was in Oskaloosa a
number of days with his wife, and
called among friends here and at Mar
shalltown. Those in position to know
having been in close touch with the
gentleman, assert that the stories
concerning Mr. Huntington's return to
the west are, so far as they know,
without the semblance of fact. Ru-
mors of Mr. Sweney's resignation have
been in the air, for some time but they
are denied by those who are in posi-
ton to know.
Another rumor makes the Iowa
Central and the Minneapolis figure as
a part of new Milwaukee system. 1t
is claimed that the Milwaukee people
have secured control of the lines and
will make the property part of their
holdings and operate it in connection
with their other properties. This
story is talked but is not believed.
The Burlington is Busy.
The biggest dream is that concern
ing the Burlington. 1t is said that
Oskaloosa is to figure as station on
a great trunk line that will be direct
route from Chicago to Council Bluffs
and Omaha The rumor has it that
negotiations are now pending for the
securing of trackage rights by the
Burlington between Keithsburg and
Winfield where the company will
again take it's own line en- route to
Des Moines.
There is line of road from the sta.
ton of Galva, ILL.,, to New Boston, on
the Mississippi, a distance OF about
thirty-five miles. This road was con.
structed as a part of the American
Central" a corporation that was
stopped in its western flight by the
great river. The line was afterwards
secured by the Burlington system and
is now operated by them. This line
is direct line from Chicago and is to
be made part of the new line west
The plan of the road is said to be the
erecting of new bridge across the
river at New Boston and the construc,
ton of about twenty-five miles OF
road from the river west to Winfield
where the Burlington line would con
meet. The new service it is said is
to be put On from Chicago to Des
Moines soon after the first of the
year,and until the line and the bridge
connecting Winfield and New Boston
are completed the trains will run from
Keithsburg Junction to Keithsburg
where the trains will take the Iowa
Tapfra1 tronlyS IN Winfield
The ultimate intention of the Bur
lington people, so it is claimed, is the
completion of an air line between Chi
cago and Omaha in place of the round
about and long distance line by which
traffic is now carried on between
these points. 1t is said that the com
pany has been at work upon surveys
in the counties west of Mahaska and
that their surveyors have found q
path across the state through Marion
Warren. Madison. Adams, Cass and
Pottawattamie counties and the
ground has for long time been Gag
erly watched by both the Rock Island
and the Burlington arrangements
The story goes on to Hate that the
Burlington would be great saver OF
time and expense in the operation Of
this line between the east and west
for its through business. Claim /:
made that the necessary changes al
Keithsburg in tracks and switches are
now being planned and that the star
OF this great improvement will be Wit
messed some time soon after the frs
OF the year.
If such things are worked out i
. will be directly to the advantage O
oskaloosa, placing the city on grea
trunk line of railway.
Replace Sleeper Service.
The Rock Island is contemplating
replacing the Pullman sleeper servic,
on its train leaving this city for Chi
cago at 6:15 p. m.
The Iowa Central has started upol
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