Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-06-26
DECISION OF RAILROAD coMMIs.
SION LIKELY TO CAUSE A
RIOT.
TWO MEMBERS OF BOARD Z
REVERSE FORMER DECISION
Palmer and ketchum Decide in Favor
Of Railroads and Thorns Files Dis.
ssntins Report-commission Once
Adopted Resolution Of Necessity
Question Has Been Made Issue.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines. June 26.-With disposal
of Dies Moines long pending Seventh
street viaduct proposal by the railroad
commission. Des Moines boosters and
politicians ought to- rest easier for a
time; but in fact the way it has been
disposed of is likely to cause a riot.
Des Moines has another guess coming
on the viaduct matter 1t doesn't get
a new viaduct approved on present
plans.
The railroad commission is divided
and has made record of two contrast
ing views. The ruling decision is by
Palmer and Ketchum; the one that
doesn't count is by Thorne. The two
decline to order the viaduct, the one
would have approved the plans.
Mr.. Thorne, in his opinion filel, calls
attention to the inadequacy or imper
lection of the machinery by which
| these viaduct matters are settled, and
| that a great opportunity for reform
exists right there.
Say Expense is Disproportionats.
! The majority report rejects the
whole proposal on the ground Of ex-
pense disproportionate to the benefits.
| The proposed viaduct would be across
| the Coon river at Seventh street and
over the tracks Of the Great Western
and Des Moines terminal and the
Des Moines interurban road to the
army post. There are two trains
day on the terminal. north Of the river,
! and four freight trains a day on the
Great Western at the south end. 1t
(! is proposed the interurban should turn
! and go over the bridge. They say
that it is proposed to have the rail-
roads build not only the viaducts but
| parts of the abutments and part Of the
| bridge They say. the estimated cost
would be to the Great Western and
i interurban each $4,000 and to the
terminal s2s.75o.
The commission decision suggests
! that what is really needed is bridge
with grade crossings. The travel is
shown to be not such as to warrant
the expense Of the viaduct to the rail-
roads.
Thorne Disssnts.
| Mr. Thorne, in the dissenting opin-
ion, challenges the correctness OF the
! figures and refers to the fact that In
4 formally, the city made concessions to
change those figures and greatly re-
duce the cost. so that the entire cost
to the railroads had been reduced &c
lt$4s,0O0 from $4,000 In the, propose
4 rejected last September. At that time
b the commission rejected the plans
\ solely because OF the enormous cost to
the railroads but otherwise declared
the necessity for the viaduct and dis
puted the possibility of safe grade
crossing at the south end Of the same
Mr.. Thorne says that the city. relying
on the suggestions Of the commission
last year, has reduced the cost to the
railroads by $4,000 by getting q low
er bid than expected. changing con
lstruction and relieving the railroads o.
la part ofsthe expense. To reject the
plan now would be complete re-
versal of the decision made last year
He expressed the belief the plans
should be approved.
The outcome will cause great agra
ton on the south side where they have
an organization that has been fighting
for viaduct long while and na'
PLAYED the game of politics to finish