Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-10-06
DENIES RU NOR
SUPERINTENDENT E. LAAs SAYS
MILWAUKEE WILL NOT
CHANGE ITS ROUTE.

Altona-BeIieved That Rock Island
Has Abandoned Proposed Eldon
Cut-off-Rairoad Notes.
There is not a thing 1t It," said
Superintendent Elias when question
ed this morning regarding the rumor
mat the Milwaukee had purchased a
large tract of land on the South Side
and was contemplating moving the
Des Molnes river bridge and changing
the route of the main line through OF
tumwa. I'VE have too much money in
vested to abandon the present line"
said Mr.. Laas. "and even if we adopt
ed the plan as rumored we would still
have heavy grade out of the city and
the line would not be shortened to any
great extent"
according to the rumors among rail-
road men, the company had purchased
large tract of land adjoining the
present yards on the south side of the
river and expected to move the yards
and round house at the junction. By
building the bridge across the river
north of Turkey island the company
| would have straight line from the
South Side yards to the main line
near Phillips mines. This it was be-
lleved would save considerable dis
lance for through Chicago and Kansas
City trains and would do away with
the heavy grade Just north of Second
street. The South Side yards are
above the high water mark. A stub
line would be run to the Jefferson
street depot. as at present for the &C
commodation of passenger trains.
Plan Impracticable.
Mr.. Laas stated that the plan was
impracticable for the reason that the
proposed radical change would not dc
away with the heavy grade to Rut
4 ledge, and that besides the company
had too much money invested to
abandon it's present right of way and
/ equipment. He said that no farm had
1 been bought but that an effort was be
\ ing made to secure strip of land tc
enlarge the South Side yards.
i The railroad commissioners were in
the city last week for the purpose OF
looking over the ground with a view
to condemning the necessary land pro.
vided satisfactory terms could not be
arranged. The tracks are above the
high water mark and were built on
account Of the present yards at the
junction being insufficient with nc
room for extension. The tracks in the
junction yards have been raised and
protected by dykes so as to make
them and the round house practically
: free from danger from flood and it is
believed will not be moved for some
time at least
No EIdon Cutoff.
:, It is believed that the Rock Island
has abandoned the plan of building
the long talked of Eldon cutoff as the
company is expanding nearly $1,000,
900 on the present roadbed and accord
ing to advices from Trenton has giver
the engineers in charge of the work
the order to quit when the roadbed is
in first class shape.
Over twenty work trains with crews
of from rs to 100 men each, are a
work between Cameron, Mo-, and Ell
don, Ia, and large increase in the
shop force and train crews at Trenton
: is correspondingly made. The grave
for the roadbed is being taken from
pits at Eldon, and Muscatine and 9th
er points along the line The gravel i!
said to be of the best grade, heavy ant
coarse, mixed with shale which packs
like rock after while.
!, Fast Mail Wrecked.
Burlington fast mail train No. S
eastbcund, was deralled yesterda,
> morning near Altoona, Ill. The engin
and entire train were overturned an
two of the crew injured, but not ser
: ously.
Engineer Charles Smith of Gales
) burg, ILL.,, and Mail Clerk Andrews G
! Charlton, each had an arm broken. TIL
| mail is the fastest train on the Burlins
ton and it is considered almost a mil
, acle that the accident did lot resul
3 more seriously. The wreck was cause
by freight car door on the track.
Crash Terrific.
Regarding the wreck the Galesbur
7 Mail has the following:
The high speed at which the trail
a was running made the crash terrifi
t one. Both tracks We're torn up for
!, distance Of 100 yards, and it will re
quire time in the neighborhood c
Twelve hours TO repair the QanlaS
n done. The wreckage was strewn on a
sides.
S The monster engine No. 1890. one c
!, the giants recently placed in the ser
vice, lies in the ditch upside down an
Y headed in the opposite direction frol
d which it was speeding when it took il
). plunge from the rails and down tn
y slight embankment. Scarcely a yes
), tige of the cab or trimmings remain
and it looks but badly battere
y boiler and running gear.
5 Cars in the Ditch.
, The tender was loft on the right
h way and extended across both tn
tracks, completely blocking them.Th
J four cars are all in the ditch, two {
! them being badly smashed. All al
: sheared of their running gear, viii
& in the case of the badly damaged cal
their contents were scattered all owe
:, the vicinity.
The car door which caused all til
damage had been dropped from
r freight train which preceded the ma
$ shortly before and laid so fiat on tt
rails that Engineer Smith could not Sc
; the obstruction before it was too lai
. to avoid the collision. Neither had TT
enginemen time to jump.