Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-06-11
ILLINOIS CENTRAL CAN NOT USE
ITS OWN TRACKS TO NEW
WAREHOUSE.
TRIED TO STEAL MARCH,
QuEEREp ITS. OWN GAME
Spur Laid in Night Time in Order to
Secure Right of Way Lacks Switch
And Matter is Now Tied Up in the
Courts for Indefinite Period-News
of the State.
Special to Times Republican

special 10 eS-RepuOllSdN.
Cedar Rapids, June l1.-Cedar Rap
ids is now the scene of one of the
most curious railroad tangles that ever
has been encountered in this portion
of the globe. The Illinois Central rail-
road, in endeavoring to swing all the
business in certain portion of the
city, which in a few years will be en-
tirely devoted TO manufacturing. over
| reached and queered the whole game
and crippled itself up in most
| ludicrous manner.
A short time ago the Illinois Central
Railroad Company made the prepara-
tions 20 build track down the alley
between First and Second streets, run
ming from Fifth to Ninth avenues, on
the strength of an ordinance granted
them by the city council a number of
years ago. 1t was found by the COM
pany, however, that the ordinance had
been revoked and when the time came
/ for it to build it had no authority 10
do so. The Central then applied to
the city council for another franchise
empowering i, 10 build thru this al
ley.
When the property owners heard
THAT the Central was planning 70 build
this track it filed petition for joint
Ownership for the Illinois and Mil
waukee in order 10 secure two lines
which would give them better ia
cilit!es for the handling of any prod
ucts 20 or from industries which might
De located on the property which the
track was 10 serve. About three OF
these property owners, however, re-
fused 10 sign this petition. owing TO
some negotiations which they had on
hand for the sale of the properly in
question and objected 10 having any
track laid for this reason. During all
mis- time, il is said, the Milwaukee
imagined the Central was willing tc
have This joint arrangement and sup
posed the TWO roads were working with
: q common object in view.
However. the Central. while appar-
/. entity working il conjunction with III
Milwaukee. had other plans and las
Sunday morning these became Yer.
evident
About o'clock the property owner
adjoining the much disputed ale
were aroused By the noise Of the ring
ing of hammers on steel and the talk
ing of a large bunch OF men. Lookin
out they saw a full gang Of track lay
ers busy at work laying track up tn
alley between First and Second street
from Fifth avenue.
The Central. thinking the propert
owners could not get an injunction o
Sunday, planned 10 have the track lai
and when things quoted down own tn
whole track, independent of the Mi
waukee. However, it figured wither
l. the abiding property owners. Thes
~ people not to be outdone hurrie
about, got a judge down TO his offie
r and about o'clock in the afternoo
= had an injunction ont making the Ger
tral cease work Now here is whel
z the Central in its haste TO get thr
put itself in one Of the queerest situe
: tons a railroad has ever had the mi;
o fortune 10 be in.
In laying this spur of track up IL
alley the warkmen disjoined the raj
B. Of the mai ntrack running TO the ware
houses and team tracks and in the
w haste forg7t to put a switch in. At Il
time the injunction was served. a
though the length Of track was pra
,s tically built, they had no switch al
further work being prohibited tn
= could not put one in. AS the matt
10 stands the railroad has its main war
:" house line connected UP with this sp
which is bur useless now as there a
no industries on the new track, al
z. the line which they have to use dai
is out of commission, the tracks bel,
cisjoined. and access to this track e
- tirely cut off.
Il Now the matter will have TO drag
i weary way thru the courts, and
the meantime the Central is guessil
1t is also Iaboring under most p
culiar and serious handicap.