Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-10-16
The DkUGH<rER of
DAVID KERR ,.e
BY Harry Kir5 1ootle
Illustrations by T4Y W1T=es %

mont on the wall and located the city
terminus OF the proposed line.
Here's where they start on their
own tracks" he explained. you see,
there's a provision in the charter of
the Belmont Traction Company where
by any inteTurban line can use its
tracks into the heart of the city upon
payment Of a fair rental. Here's the
Townsend Park Line coming down
Bluff Street, and right here where
Bluff Street crosses Maple Avenue the
Interurban's own tracks will start"
Then how does it rum"
South on Maple Avenue and Maple
road, to a private right OF way which
begins east of the stock-yards and par
aliels the county road to Corona"
Wright studied the map earnestly.
You see, I'm too new TO know that
neighborhood," he said. why did
they pick Maple AveRue?"
IT'S the only street they can use in
that part of town. It's the natural
artery for that new district out there,
since there are hills on both sides
of it."
Wright still puzzled over the map.
What are those red lines crossing
Maple Avenue about two blocks south
Of Bluff Street," was his next Iues-
ton.
Those? They are the railway tracks
Of all the lines entering Belmon. e1-
cept those that come down the river
from the north"
Are they going to build viaduct
there?"
Nothing is said about it."
The new venture would be a good
thing for Belmont-if the company
would conline itself to good works.
The most Objectionable thing was the
lack of frankness on the part Of the
men back of the enterprise. Here was
& corporation seeking to serve the pub
lie and not taking the public into it's
confidence.
While Morrison and the publisher
of the News were canvassing the sit
uati0n. a telegram from the Chicago
News Agency was delivered to Wright.
Il read.
'IIammersley is the private secre-
tary of Adolphus Koerner, Koerner &;
Co, packers. Others are clerks in law
Office of Kendall, Strang & Kendall"
BY George!" exclaimed Wright.
THE stock-yards company"
Then ne remembered what the
county surveyor had innocentIy told.
r57I~
stock-yards company was making some
move which it did not dare make
openly.
1T locks like it," assented Morrison.
Have you any idea what they want?''
Not tie slightest. They're not
fighting the traction company, /
know"
This, thought Wright, explained Gil
berts many visits to Chicago recently.
The stock-yards attorney had appar-
entity no connection with the new com
pany, but Wright and Morrison, too
when it was explained to him, were
both Of the opinion that he was direct.
ing every move. If he was in it, David
Kerr was in it; and if David Kerr was
in it, he was not IN it for his health
IN seeking to unravel the tangled
skein they now had a loose end to
work with. They could not imagine
! however, why the stock-yards com
pany was entering the street car field
in such a peculiar manner.
Wright sat with his chair tilted back
against the wall, his hands behind his
head, gazing at the map on the wall
| opposite.
Morrison, a newspaper man has to
trust in many cases to his sixth sense;
! that's his nose for news, for the big
story. Often he misses fire, but when
he does hit the bull's-eye everybody
knows it." Such was Wright's pre-,