Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-12-05

Empire Builders
Bv FRANCIS LYNDE
loosely Francis Lynde.

By FRANCIS LYNDE

= - W " ~ ~
extension; the most costly to build,
as it will be the most expensive to
maintain. But | guess Brandreth
knew what he was about when he sur
veyed it,
"Brandreth is a shortline man. He
wouldn't lsngthen his line ten miles
to dodge al earthquake Ford, we can
save a hundred thousand dollars on
that piece CT track in first cost - to
say nothing Of the future"
"How? IN always open to convic
| ton"
by leaving the s. L. & w. survey
at Horse Creek. following up the low
ditide at Emory's mine and crossing
to enter Copah from the southeast in
stead of from the northeast. | came
out that way from Copah five days
ago. It's perfectly feasible; straight.
away, easy earth work for the great
err part, ami the only objection is that
I! it adds about twelve running miles to
the length of the extension. It's for
you to say whether or not the added
idistance will be warranted by the
leSsened cost and the assurance Of
safety in operating. Il We cut through
that lower canyon cliff it will be only
question of time until we bury
somebody, no matter how closely it
is watched"
Ford took time to consider the pro
posal. There We're objections, and he
named one Of them.
THE McGorroghs have based their
bid on the present survey; they will
not want 10 let that piece of rock
work drop out OF sight
I'll have to think about it oyer
night was Ford's final answer. ear
range to give me an hour tomorrow
morning and we'll go over the maps
and your notes together"
Frisbie slept soundly on the gained
inch. hoping to make it the coveted
ell in the morning. He knew the chief
objection, which was that Ford, too.
was a "shot-line" engineer; man
who would lay down his railroad as
the Car Of Russia did the st. Peters.
burg Moscow line by placing ruler
on the map and drawing straight
mark beside it between the two cities
If that We're an American possibil-
lty. But he knew, too, that the safety
clause would weigh heavily with
Ford, and there was no minimizing
the danger to future traffic if the can
yon route should be retained
1t turned out finally as the first
assistant bad hoped and believed it
would. Ford spent a thoughtful hour
at his Office in the Guaranty Building
before FrjsOie came down the little
man being trail-weary enough TO
sleep late in the comfortable room at
the Brown Palace The slight change
of route was hardly a matter to be
carried III to the executive commit
tee, and Fords decision turned upon
quite another pivot the addition oe
Twelve miles OF distance. As against
this, safety and economy won the
day: and when Frisbie came in the
talk was n,erely of ways and means
Fix up The change with the Mac
Morroghs the best way you can was
Ford's concluding instruction to his
lieutenant. They will kick, of course
merely to be kicking at anything I
suggest. Put you can bring them t.
terms, | guess"
BY my lonesome? said Fr;sbie
Aren't YOU going over to see the new
route with Your own eyes?"
'.No. I'm perfectly willing to trust
your Judgment, Dick Besides, I've
got other fish to fry I'm going east
tonight to lave one more tussle witt,
the steel mills. We must have quicker
deliveries and more Of them. When |
get back. Well organize the track
layers and begin to make us a rail.
road
Good, said risbie. gathering up his
maps and sketches of the detous
country; and SO on in thewording of {.
brief sentence or two it came to pass
that Ford delivered himself bound
and unarmed into the hands of his
enemies.
A little light was thrown upon this
dark passage that night in the office
Of the general manager, after Ford.s
train had gone eastward, and Frisbie
was on his way back to the MacMor-
rogh headGnarters on the lower Panni-
kin. North was waiting when Eek.