Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-03-05
SMITH. DOVE sYNDlcATE SHOWS
INTENTIONS in IOWA CITY
PURCHASE.
MEANS INrERURsAN LINE
EASTWARD TO MuscArINE
Tive Surveys Already Mads-5raneh
Line to Washington Among the Pos
sibilitiss-Town Important Distribute
ing Point-Purehass Of Site Reveals
Big Plans.

AoWd OlIy, March D. - INdL IHe
Smith Dows syndicate was compelled
to show its hand" in the purchase OF
the Masonic property in Iowa City is
the belief here, as the purchase was
admittedly made at this time in order
to forestall the erection of Ma
sonic temple, construction of which
was to have started within a month or
two. The interurban company had its
eye on the property and had to buy
now, or lose the chance. The property
is the most valuable unoccupied prop
erty in the city.
large enough for traffic at present
Of other lines being built. The COM
pany's new property will permit the
erection Of a station large enough for
all time, and will afford an opportun-
ity for the location of offices if that is
part Of the company's plans. Some
of the dispatching officers. ETC.. will
probably be transferred to Iowa City
when the extensions are made.
The companys first move for a
line to Muscatine was made about six
years ago, when a line was surveyed.
The hackers Of the line have said re-
peatedly that they would build when
ever they could bond the road with
out putting up the Cedar Rapids-Iowa
City line as security. Last year oc-
Cured the reorganization of the syn
dicate. with trust deed of all hold
ings to the Harris company Of Chi
cago, which undertook to dispose OF
$40, 100000 bonds as needed.
At the same time the company
made nominal sale Of its Muscatine-
Iowa City corporation 10 Iowa CITY
men, who are. however. only acting as
agents of the Smith-Dows concern In
securing right of-way.
Two new surveys have been made.
One follows the Rock Island right-of
way to West Liberty, and strikes the
Davenport interurban few
miles north of Muscatine. The other
takes a more southerly route. running
from Iowa City to Lone Tree, and
thence to Muscatine.
It is reported that II the Lone Tree
route is taken, the interurban will
lease that part Of the Muscatine- Mon
tezuma branch Of the Rock Island
lying east Of Iowa Junction, and that
the Rock Island will divert its thru
trains at Iowa Junction to Iowa City,
over what is now called the Elmira-
Riverside branch. The interurban is
supposed to favor this plan. and 1t was
stated recently that the Rock Island
was willing to enter into the arrange
ment. The interurban is very anxious
to get into Muscatine, in order to Sc
cure Mississippi river rates, and to
reach the coal fields of Illinois.
Another consideration which may
govern the company is the projection
of branch line to Washington, Iowa.
A railroad grade is already in exist
ence from Iowa Junction to Washing
ton, built in 1886. and If the interur-
ban carries out the project of leasing
part Of the Rock Island, it would
only have to follow this old and we'll
preserved grade to reach Washington.
The value of line to Washington lies
in the immense business that would be
picked from southern Iowa. as Wash
ington is distributing point, with the
Milwaukee, the Burlington and two
branches Of the Rock Island but no
outlet whatever to the north.