The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-09-08
From the Worry and Financial Loss
Sustained by the City on Ac-
count Of the Late
Trains.
THE MATTER TAKEN UP
BY Postmaster Moorhead With the
Second Assistant Postmaster
General at the National
Capital.

For long time Keokuk suffered
patiently with the irregularity OF the
arrival Of the south-bound Kline
trains, then for another long time
she has complained of these irregu-
larities with no avail. Promises were
made of change for the better but
the change never came, except for
very short periods, followed by a
lapse into the vexatious old methods
OF belated trains, worry and disorgan-
lied and serious business conditions
and inconvenient and disappointing
to possess its vfrtuous attribute. Bust,
ness men of every class were vexed
at the inconvenience and financial
losses sustained by these late trains.
Their protests, If received courteous
ly, We're treated contemptuously in
no apparent effort being made to
remedy the evil, which has become
almost an outrage, not only upon
Keokuk. but the surrounding country
depending upon the mail facilities OF
Keokuk for their newspaper and let
ter conveniences.
1t cannot be estimated how much
Keokuk business men have lost in the
past by these belated trains, gone
without the slightest hope of recov-
cry. 1t cannot be estimated how much
Inconvenience and worry with occa-
sional financial loss have been suf-
fered by private citizens caused by
these delayed trains, yet the aggraya,
ton still continues.
A new method has been Inaugural
| ted, not at all drastic, but in the reg
ular business way, that may result in
ending the trouble or in great meas
IRE ending condition which has
continued for 10, these many months,
even years. The excuse of the X
lime has been that their trains We're
delayed at Burlington waiting for late
Rock Island trains and this was &C
cepted as an absolute fact, but Keo-
kuk people contended that this ex-
cuse could not exoncrate in full meas
ure for the continual arrivals of the
Kline trains in Keokuk hours after
they we're due here. There must be
some remedy. For a time when the
Rock Island was known to be an hour
late coming down to Burlington, the
Kline from Burlington was divided
into two sections, one coming ahead
with the mail and the other awaiting
~, 80 hn Tc1o nd troll
This was an expensive arrangement
for the Kline as the delayed trains
are very expensive to Keokuk people.
Matter Taken to Uncle Sam.
|. DR.. S. W. Moorehead postmaster at
Keokuk has taken UP the matter with
the second assistant postmaster gen
eral, the official of the postoffice de-
partment who has in charge the
transportation of mails. In his pre-
liminary presentation of the case the
postmaster forwarded to that Off
cial strong letters from business men
of the city pointing out clearly the
great injuries caused by these irregu-
larity of trains to the commercial in
terests of Keokuk and urging that
this injustice be corrected, just as
early as possible.
It is thought that great good will
be accomplished by this action of DR..
Moorehead and that soon the federal
department that regulates these mat
tiers will be able to devise some plan
by which the great evil will be over
come and that Keokuk will be no
longer forced to suffer this great in
convenience and financial loss. Some
remedy can be afforded and the soon
er it is done the better.