The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-01-30


MAYOR j. F. Elder got down to real
business today when he announced I
,hat the ordinance having to do with,
=. M, RELOCATION Of the railroad yards,
~ electrotvpe showing the entire
trackage plan and statement from
rh;ef engineer Hugh l.. Cooper COW
vino what the Water Power company
eypects to do in return for the city,
will be published in the daily papers
within the next few days.
TODAY the copy is being received /
h. The Gate City and the mechanical
deuartment will prepare 1T for an ear
l. issue. An entire page will be oc-
cupied.
Mayor Elder is Of the opinion that
,so situation will be greatly clarified
~ the publication, and Keokuk peo-
Mo will see the benefits to be de-
rived therein.
The mayor issued formal state
ment in answer to communications
from II w. Green and John H. Cole,
which appeared yesterday. He calls
attention to the fact that II the ordi-
nance is turned down by the people
at special election it will be six
months before another one can be
held.
Mayor Elders statement follows:
4 copy of ordinance No. 3SS will
aupear in both papers that the citi-
zsns may Judge for themselves wheth-
er there is any foundation, in fact, for
the statements made by Messrs.
Green and Cole. Some of the state
ments they have made. as they appear
in the newspapers, or in Mr.. Green's
petition. which have no foundation In
fac, and which are made merely as a
subterfuge to cover up their real de-
sires which may be easily read be-
tween the lines, are as follows: That
the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy h.
R. has been given control of nearly
the entire railroad facilities of Keo-
kuk; that they control the gate ways
to the city of Keokuk; that the Wa
bash or T. P. & w. own facilities in
the city of keokuk, i. e., tracks or
sidings in addition to their ownership
in the Union Depot Co. Mr.. Cole
states correctly that the bridge COM
pany was given the right of a single
track from the bridge approach to the
foot of Main street, connecting with
the Des Moines Valley R. r.: further,
that the Des Moines Valley r. X. was
given the right of single track from
the south to point at the foot OF
Main street. These rights are in no
way disturbed under the present ordi-
nance. Mr. Cole was fully advised at
all times of the progress made with
the railroad officials in regard to this
ordinance and was present at almost
every meeting and was party to
nearly every conference held by the
railroad officials in this city. He was
told by the city council to make his
own terms with the railroads covering
those things pertaining to the bridge
Including its track facilities; that
nothing would be done except to his
satisfaction, that effected his rights
or interests. Full satisfaction was
given Mr.. Cole by the railroads and
ne advised me to this effect on two
different occasions, before the ordin
ance was passed. 1t must be re
membered that the Wabash and 7. p
". entrance to this city is simpl,
as tenants to the bridge company;
mat they have no rights on our levec
except as such tenants. or as stock
holders in the Union Depot Company
rurther Mr.. Cole, when Representing
'he Wabash with Mr. w. G. Maxwell
was told that any provision that wa'
AZ all reasonable would be embodied
N the ordinance, protecting in ever.
way the rights of the bridge company
VI It's tenants, or future tenants to thu
entrance to the union depot tracks.
MT Green asks what assurance W,
nave that freight switching between
niohdeau and Johnson streets, will b.
stopped under this new arrangement
MS switching has been a menace t
ou, traffic for years and must end
M. Cole wonders why it cannot b
uohe under the present laws. H
AioWs as well as do, that you car
Aot prohibit switching by anything Blu
mutual agreement under presen
conditions. Under the new arrange
iheht OF tracks, no switching can b
sone Tor the simple reason that Their
WI be no tracks to switch on.
Mr. Cole asks why the America
nlce & Cereal company has been give
preference in the retaining of a sid
rack. This side track was granite
.ne Cereal company by special ordil
allce and cannot be cancelled, withou
.nelr permission, or some remuner;
s,on. This is not true of any othe
''ae track located within the territor