Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-01-18
SHORT LINE EXTENSION FROM
DIES MONIES TO BLUFFS
STARTS SPECULATION.
WOULD SHORTEN CONNECTIONS
BETWEEN IMPORTANT CITIES
Chicago and Council Bluffs and Mime
apolis and Iowa Points Would Be
Brought Closer BY Connecting Links
With Present Lines Of Great West.
ern-WeuId Be Great Advantage.

Council Bluffs. Jan. 1S.-That the
same interests may be back of the pro-
posed extension of the Iowa & Omaha
Short Line as now control the Chicago
Great Western railway is the belief OF
men in Council Bluffs whose knowledge
and experience would lend cre6ence to
their suggestion True, the Great West
err is just al present under fDanciai
cloud. but the vsciest novice IN the
matter of financing 3 big business en-
terp-ise would understand that the hes;
and surest method OF retrieving a bad
business venture would he 10 make
such changes in the form OF the enter
prise, with such additional capital as
might be necessary. In order TO make
the falling enterprise a success.
The Great Western road. 1t IS no Sc
c-et- is backed by English capital. ard
it IS calmly announced that it is q Lon
don syndicate that has accepted =
chance TO finance q bond issue OF So
Trsyro-, the extension OF the Short
Line. providing funds for TIE pu-chas~
O. the small portion Of the Short Line
aIrea6y built, from Council Bluffs to
Trey.o-. the sS,eEtiou OF the Short
Line or half way across the state to
Des Moines, the acquisition OF the At
lant;c Northern & Southern. now in
operation from V2llisca via Atlantic &c
k:uballsoa, and the extension OF tie
OLD 4. y & s. north from Kialbamton
10 Manning
The Great Western road as now op-
Grated consists OF 2 small triangle, with
the points" extended far into the
country 10 the north. ease and south
west The ends Of the prolonged
points Of the triangle lie il the cities
% Minneapolis and St Paul on the
north. Chicago on the east and Council
Bluffs ard Omaha on the west. The
road as whole connects the three
groups OF cities more directly than any
existing lire.
Needs Shorter Line.
But the fact remains that OF Omaha
Minneapolis business there are shorter
lines: OF. Council Bluffs Chicago bust
ness there are several lines OF less
mileage: On Chicago-S1. Paul business
there ara q number Of lines that run
in more direct manner. Because OF
that fact, il large measure, the Great
Western, has never beer able to corral
the passenger business nor the more
advantageous portion Of the freigh.
business.
Because Of the inability 70 compete
advanta geouely with rhe older and
mora established ra:l-oads operating
between these cities the Great West
ern IS in difficulties. What is 70 be
done about il? Throw the line away ?
No. indeed The solution would seem
10 be. according 10 the reasoning of
The men who breach the idea. 70 cor
rec- The condition. and get such a short
linz between me cities tina, the other
leads Will themselves De placed a.
disadvantage.
WouId Fern, Connecting Link.
The construction Of the Iowa &
Omaha Short Line from Council Bluffs
10 Des Moines would form the connect
ing link for the moneyed men back
- the Great Western. for what is be-
lteved 20 be The shortest line ny good
many miles between Omaha and Coun-
I'll Bluffs on the west and Chicago on
lakes and the yzrfous lines Of the fur
Their east
A, the present time the Omaha Chi
cago business is al compelled TO go
north ~ way = Clarion. in order II
&c. 70 Oelwsin ID Dubuque and thencr
10 Chicago. But the Great Western
has 3 line running down from Oelwein
thru Waterloo ard Narsnaiirown 10
Des Moines. forming an air line from
tne norheas- corner Of the state &c
the state capi-ul.
The proposed route Of the Short Line
from Council PIufT9 and Treynor 10
Des Alotnes is ulany miles shorter than
the Rock Island. al present much the
more direct line Of road between the
two cities. The new road in conjunc-
ton with the Great Western line from
Des MONIES 10 Oelweia and thence on
10 Chicago will form an entirely new
lire for the Chicago Missouri river
t-etAc that is believed 10 De nang
miles shorter than any exciting line
Such road would most distinctly put
MI