Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-02-27
INDIANA CAPITALISTS FORM COM
PANY TO DEVELOP THE IOWA
TRACTION FIELD
c. E. COFFIN PRESIDENT

~. ". CUEtlN PRESlUENsI
Charles A. Walsh Of ottumwa One Of
the Dlrectors-lndIan Men to Con-
for With Local Citizens soon-Have
Necessary Capital to BuiId-other
Lines Contemplated.
From Mondays Daily
An interurban line from Ottumwa
to Des Moines is the first construction
work contemplated by company OF
Indiana capitalists formed for the pur-
pose OF developing the Iowa traction
Held. The company has immense
financial resources and it is said that
II the residents of the cities along the
proposed route show desire for the
interurban there is no doubt but that
the line will be built at once.
It is the intention to build from OF
tumwa to Des Moines via Oskaloosasor
Abba, Knoxville and Indfanola.
Whether the Oskaloosa or Abba route
Is decided upon connections will
eventually be made with the other
city. An extension east to Burling-
ton and line from Ottumwa to Cedar
Rapids and Dubuque are future possi-
bilitfes, but G. A. Walsh, who Is to one
OF the directors. induced the company
to consider the question Of building
the line from his home town, Ottum-
wa, to DeS Moines, as the first work
IN Iowa
Officers Of the Company.
The company comprises some OF the
best known capitalists and e1ectic
railway builders Of the country The
president will be Charles e.. CONN, Of
Indianap0lis a. prominent. capitalist
vho has had large experience fn rail-
B way building Mr.. Coffin is president
OF the Central Trust Co., Of Indian.
apolis, president OF the indianapolis
SAVINGS and Investment Co.,, vice
president Of the Indianapolis Fire In
surance Co., vice president of the Lay
cock Manufacturing Co, of Indian
apolfs, vice president and builder of
the Indianapolis and Eastern Electric
railway, line seventy miles long and
builder Of the indianapolis and North
western electric railway, line over
100 miles long. Mr.. Coffin Is also a
director of the Union National bank,
the Columbia National bank and the
Chicago, Indianapolis and Evansville
railway
Senator Lew v. Ulrey, a Ft. Wayne
capitalist who has been very success
ful in his investments in the Indiana
oil fields, is to be the vice president
of the company and manager Of the
Iowa lines.
"A number Of other Indiana capitalists
are interested in the company and
Fetzer and Peters Of Chicago will
be the fiscal agents. John c. Fetzer is
one Of the most prominent capitalists
of Chicago and a former resident Of
Ottumwa.
C. A. Walsh Of Ottumwa who has
Interested the eastern men, in the
development of the Iowa traction field,
will be one of the directors.
It Is probable that H. ]. Ostdiek Of
Ft. Wayne, formerly OF Ottumwa. will
have charge Of the securing of the
right Of way.
To Visit ottumwa.
Mr.. Coffin and Mr.. Ulrev with
other Interested capitalists will be in
Ottumwa in about two weeks to CON
fer with all commercial bodies of the
city. citizens. city officials. etc, regard
dng the proposed line. 1t is expected
that a public meeting will be held the
time and place to be announced later,
by g. F. Heindel. secretary of the OF
tumwa Commercial association In
speaking of the plans this morning Mr..
Walsh said that much depends on the
spirit shown by the citizens. but If that
\ Is good and the necessary material as
sistance granted the line will be built
at once as there is no doubt as to the
company's ability or desire. After
the Ottumwa meeting the Indiana men
will go to Oskaloosa and Abba to
confer with the citizens of those
places
Have Necessary Capital.
The men connected with the com
Dany are not only electic railway
builders Of experience but control all
the necessary capital to build the line.
In Indiana ten electric lines radiat-
ing over the state center at great
union station in Indianapclis. which
is said to be larger. finer and more
centrally located than the union
station of the steam railways in that
city.
"The building of these lines has
& proven to be a tremendous factor Il,
the growth and development of all
their cities" said Mr. Walsh land
experience in Indiana, has demon
strated that the number of people
brought into the cities bv reason OF
their hourly service. surerior facilities
and cheaper TRANSPORTATION has more
than trebled the number carried by
the steam railroads.
The ottunws-Des Mcines Lines.
The proposed line from Cttumwa to
. Des Moines woVld be of great bene.
y fit to the industrial prosperity of OF
tuInwa besides giving the farmers
convenient and rapid facilities for
reaching the maekr irorir diltdorido
reaching the markets.
z 81 IS
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