Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-11-28
RAILROAD WAR OVER
CENTRAL BRANCH
NEW OWNERS OF ALBA 4 CEN
TERVlllE LINE TAKE FORC-
IDLE POSSESSION.
IOWA CENTRAL OFFICIALS
BLOCK ENTRANCE TO CITY
owner. Claim Contract Under Which
Central Operated Limo Has Been
Unprofitabie Company Wants
Large Sum Due-Both Sides to Con-
troversy Appeal to Police.
Special to Tlmes-Republican

Special to Times Republican.
Abba Nov. 2s.-Claiming TO have
purchased and now being the owners OF
the road. local capitalists. representing
the Southern Iowa Traction Company.
OF this place. Saturday served notice
of their ownership of the Abba & Gem
tervilie railroad on officials OF the Iowa
Central, which has been operating the
line for years. then took forcible pos
session OF the property.
Placing n small engine. which the
new owners recently purchased. on the
line. they employed the single Iowa
Central crew that has operated on the
line and began to operate 1t themselves.
Police Guard Property.
Sunday police were summoned by
the n ew owners, also by the Iowa Gem
trail, to guard their respective proper
ties. The recent purchasers Of the
Abba and Centerville asked for police
protection to proven, the Central from
retaking possession and the Central
asked for police protection so that Its
property in Abba and its connecting
line with the Abba and Centervile
might nc lell uHuAStu1 De.i.
Central Officials Arrive.
A party OF Iowa Central officials.
consisting OF General Manager w. G..
Bierd. General Solicitor George w.
Sewers, Superintendent w. G. kruse
and General Roadmaster NJ. II. Sheeley
arrived here this morning. 1t was
rumored that the Iowa Central officials
proposed to take up a section of their
connecting track. which would leave
the A. and G. without n terminal In
Abba. The Central owns its line for
a quarter OF mile south of the pas
senger station. where 1t connects with
the Abba and Centerville.
New owners Announce Purchase.
The forcible possession OF the Abba
g. Centerville followed soon after the
arrival here Saturday OF DR.. J. l.. Saw.
yer. Of Centervllle. and w. A. Boand
Of New York, who came in a G. B. & @
special from Chicago. They made
public that they had purchased con
trolling interest in the road.
Just what is to be done with the
property has not been disclosed yet.
1t is generally believed that it will be
electrified and made part OF the cleo
trio traction system that has recently
been built here and to adjoining towns
Another report Is common that the new
owners are acting In the interest and
for the Burlington. which has an eye
on the property for a coal feeder.
Road Sold BY Shonts.
The Abba & Ccnterville was. until q
short time ago, an Independent corpor-
alton 1t was financed by Russell
Sage and Abba capitalists. For many
years 1t has been operated by the Iowa
Central for the real owners. 1t Is claim
ed that the owners owe the Iowa Cen
trail a considerable sum for its opera
ton that the Central Is desirous of coll
lecting.
Within the last year the controlling
interest in the road was sold by T. p.
Shonts. who represented the Sage and
other interests. The sale was negotiat-
ed quietly and 1t was not known mere
that the controlling interest had been
taken over until 1t was recently an
nounced.
The Abba & Centerviile has twenty
four miles OF track. Aside from Abba
it has but two stations, Moravia and
Centerville. the latter the southern
terminal The result OF It's business has
been coal tonnage from the Centerville
and Moravia mines.