The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1904-02-11
LIE BIG RUSH IS over.
Iowa Central Succeeds in Relieving
CONGESTION.

The congested traffic condition OF
the Iowa Central was practically :
cleared up Sunday, and nearly every
load of the great blockade Of freight
that has existed between Oskaloosa
and Albert Lea for several weeks will
be moved by this (Monday) evening,
Sunday was a very busy day with the
road Everything worked smoothly
and train after train of the freight
that has been standing upon every
available siding along the road was
pulled cut and disposed of. Last Sun
day there were two thousand cars
standing en- sidings waiting to be
moved
The conditions with which the Cen
trail was surrounded were somewhat
remarkable and will probably never
happen again in the history of the
road Inthe beginning the agents of
the road were successful in securing
for shipment over the Central large
consignmentsof flour, shingles and
many ether shipments of more or less
extent. Just at this time the power
began bothering the mechanical de,
partment, Engine after engine be-
came defective and had to be taken
into the shops for repairing of con-
siderable extent. The rapidly with
which the power became unfit for SER
vice was astonishing The mechan-
zeal department was working over
time but soon there were more en-
gines waiting for repairs than could
be placed in the Marshalltown shops.
The situation caused the superin-
tendents of the line much worry and
they did everything possible to meet
the emergency. Six powerful en-.
gines were borrowed from the Great
Northern Railway at st. Paul and
were brought to the relief Of the Cen
trail. These engines were bigger
heavier and more powerful than any.
thing owned by the Central and were
capable of moving a great tonnage
The engines were put into the service
several weeks ago and have been go
ing night and day ever since their ar
rival In the meantime some of the
Central's more powerful engines had
conyalesced to a sufficient degree to
enable them to take hold of a string
of cars. But the trouble did not
cease. 1t was like the old adage: ut
never rains but it pours" Because
the Central had about all it could
handle with the power at it's disposal,
business seemed to fall to it from
anywhere and everywhere. Great
contracts came from every direction
and more were in sight Superin-
tendent NJ. Sweeney, Of Minneapolis,
became concerned about the situa-
ton and came to Oskaloosa to make
his headquarters where he could be
in closest touch with the operating
department. He and Supt J. A.
Davis, of the road, nave been working
CONTINUOUSLY night and a a9jY almost
uring the pasr Two weeks Is bring
omething like order out of the reign
ne chaos.
The situation was serious and the
found themselves in
he position of having to refuse fur
her contracts until the situation was
and the freight that was on
he road at the time had been moved.
And this was done last week. Per
shable and time freight was, OF
course accepted from all lines and at
I'll times, and right here was one Of
ne sources Of trouble. This class OF
traffic became so great as to demand
almost the undivided attention of toe
operating department. They had lit
tie chance of caring for the other
The movement of fuel of
the northern markets required part
of the power all of the time and tne
problem that was before MessTs.
Sweeney and Davis was one of con-.
magnitude, The gentlemen
have become masters of the situation
however, and it is not likely that there
will be any repetition of the difficulty.
Mr.. Sweeney is authority for the
statement that the operating depart
ment will have no further use for Dor
rowed power, the six huge engines or
the Great Northern, and they will be
returned home during the week. Mr..
Sweeney will consume a part of the
week in clearing up business matters
in the city, and should the situation
continue to be better, as is now prom
Used, he will return to his Office in
Minneapolis toward the latter part of
the week.