Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-06-10
COMMISSION HEARS
BRANCH ROAD GASES
M. 4 ST. L. OFFICIALS coMPRo.
MISE WITH MARIETTA clTi.
ZENs FOR DEPOT.
ENTERPRISE
WINS VILLAGE STATION
State Railroad Commission Hears
Complaint Of Story City Branch Pat
rons and Road Officials Make Reply
Poor Train Service Caused BY Sc
we're Winter Weather is Claim.

we're Winter Weather is Claim.
The state railroad commission and
the officials OF the N. & ST.. L. Rail
road Company today heard additional
complaints OF the patrons of the Story
City branch line. at a hearing held
this morning at the Marshalltown
Club, The complaint filed by the
residents of Story City mranch towns
covered poor train service, unsafe
tracks, insufficient depot and shipping
facilities and q number Of other things
Inc compliments were represented by
a delegation of citizens from the vari-
Gus towns, who plead their own case
not being represented by an attorney.
A number OF roal officials were pres
ent including George W. Sewer, gem
eral solicitor; w. q. Bierd, vice presi-
dent and general manager; A. B. Cults,
assistant traffic manager; and R. G.
kenly, chief engineer. Chairman y.
s. ketchum and Col D. j. Palmer, of
the commission, heard the cases.
Marietta Gas. Compromised.
The complaint of the citizens of
Marietta, a case independent of the
others. was first considered, and after
:;::s:soz. E2S Sce: taken from the
compromise was eff
fected by which Marietta was given
assurance that a station would be
built, provided certain business i'm
provements were carried thru.
William Harper presented the Mari
eta case. Mr.. Harper stated that the
station at Marietta had been
erected by popular subscription with
the understanding that the road was
to furnish heat and light This depot
was maintained until DESTROYED BIZ a
fire few years ago, together with the
Marietta elevator. Since that time the
town mas been without a station, box
car serving as waiting room. The
citizens protested against these incon-
venienceS and asked that a depot be
built and a billing agent be located
a, Marietta.
New Enterprise Dependant on Agent.
Mr.. Harper stated that Marietta had
an opportunity to secure an elevator
provided the road would make the i'm
provemenrs asked. The grain, cattle
and coal business, which Mr.. Harper
said should be carried on in Marietta,
vas now going 70 other towns and VIII
lagos. James McEwen. a merchant of
Marietta, substantiated the testimony
Of Ar. Harper.
Robinson Would Build Elevator.
c. A Robinson, of Albion, stated
that he would erect an elevator at
Marietta and conduct a general BUSH
ness there provided he had assure nee
that ne could get proper shipping
facilities. AS the situation now is the
billing has to be done thru Marshall
town or thru some of the other towns
on the branch. This has usually been
done thru Bromley, but that town is
now without telephone service Robin
son stated that he was ready to begin
work on an elevator if a billing agent
could be secured and new station
erected
eierd Offers Compromise.
Mr.. Bierd then offered a compro-
mise which was accepted by the Mari
eta citizens. He said that the pros
pectiVe new industry was new feat
ure IL the case and he suggested that
the citizens see that the new elevator
was assured before they carry the
complaint further
The business, he said. was insuffci-
enr to justify the employment of a
billing agent at the station. but he
promised a new depot as soon as the
elevator vas started, provided the citi-
zens would agree to do their billing by
telephone thru Albion or Marshalltown
With the establishment of an elevator
he said, Mr.. Robinson's manager a,
Marietta could easily attend to the
billing. having direct phone communi-
cation with both Albion and Marshall.
town. The compromise was agreed tc
by the committee
Severe Winter Blamed For Trouble.
Following the disposal of the Mari
eta case il was decided to take up the
other complaints together Mr. Bierc
stated his case briefly for the rail
roads. The train service turnout the
northwest during the past winter, h.
said. was demoralized by the severit,
Of the weather. This had caused If.
regularity Of train service and some o.
the big roads of the state had suffered
more from the weather than had tn,
N. & St. L. Under such conditions a.
were experienced the greater part O.
the winter, branch trains are natural,
the worst sufferers, the train schedules
OH branch lines being dependent or
movement Of trains on main lines.
Road Not Unsafe, Says eisrd.
One Of the complaints made was tina
the road was unsafe but Mr.. Bierd de
MED this The roadbed. he said. Il
what is commonly known as Iowa dir
road, and was ballasted from time {,
| time as trouble was reported. Fails o
from So to SO pounds are used. bu
| the rails are second handed, bein,
taken from the main line when replaced
! with new ones This method Of main
! tanning branch line was declared t,
be in general use turnout the county
| Thirty foot rails are used and eighteen
or nineteen ties are used to the raj
| Few lines, 1t was said, used this mum
Der of ties to the rail on branch road
thruout Iowa
| Mr.. Bierd believed the complaint
were due entirely to conditions result
| ing from the severe winter which wa
the most bothersome to roads OF an
winter in twenty years past, and h
declared that IT would be impossible
rebuild the line to meet an emergenc
which might arise once in twenty year.
i The complaints Of the Story Cit.
branch residents were contained In