The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-07-26
District Attorney Porter Has Been
Authorized by Government to
Investigate Complaint
by Patrons.
MAY FILE APPROXIMATIONS
U. S. Agent Says He VIII Press Mat
ters if investigation Warrants
Any Such
Action.

| The government may force the Chi
cago, Burlington G Quincy railroad to
relinquish its control of the Keokuk
& Western and the Humeston and
shenandoah railways, by invoking the
Sherman antitrust act.
! The department of justice has
authorized Claude r. Porter, district
attorney for southern Iowa, to inves-
tigate complaints that the Burlington
is driving out competition by operat-
ing two roads across the state which
run almost parallel and only a few
miles apart
Special Agent Barkey Of the govern
ment's bureau of Investigation is as
sisting Mr.. Porter in ascertaining
whether the complaints made by resi-
dents along the Keokuk and Western
are well founded.
Ever since the Burlington acquired
the X. & w. decade ago complaints
have been made regarding the alleged
inadequate freight and passenger
services, says the Register and Lead
er. At intervals, the Burlington has
! added an extra train or two only to
discontinue them few months later.
The Keokuk & Western railroad
extends from Keokuk to Van Vert
and from Van Vert to Des Moines.
The tracks of the Humeston and
I OIL hot 40
| towns.
Residents Appeal Their Case.
After trying for many years to in
duce the Burlington to better the
service on the X. & w. the residents
in the various towns it traverses de-
cided to appeal to the department OF
justice.
In many OF the towns and villages,
associations were formed and meet
ings were held regularly to discuss
ways and means to compel the Bur-
lington OF meet their demands
Earl Ferguson of Shenandoah and
w. F.. Stipe of Clarinda were among
the leaders in the fight for better
| service on the llue.
81 have made little investigation so
far" said Mr.. Porter yesterday. III
the inquiry reveals such conditions as
| have been pointed out, I undoubtedly
will institute a civil action to force
| the Burlington to dispose OF these
| branches. Such a proceeding neces-
sarily would have to be brought un-
I Mi
Shenandoah View.
| The following from the Shenandoah
Sentinel-Post reflects the sentiment
Of that community in the matter:
Trans-continental train through
shenandoah is a possibility of the
next few years now that indications
are that the Keokuk Western
railroad will he separated from the
Burlington system. In this case the
Santa Fee railroad or the Baltimore
and Ohio will take over this connect
ing link and have great system from
the Atlantic to the Pacific.
Barley Investigates.
| Arthur L. Barkey from the depart
ment of justice at Washington, who
was sent by ]. c. McReynolds, attor-
ney-general, to secure testimony In
view of filing suit in the United States
court this fall to divorce the K. & w.
from the Burlington, was in Shenan-
doah from Wednesday until last
night. He said there were Indications
of violation of the law He was check
ing I'd the complaint filed with the
| department last spring, stating that
the X. & w. was acquired by the Bur
lington in restraint Of trade III viola
ton of the Sherman law. This COM
plant was filed by Earl Ferguson of
shenandoah and H. II. Scott Of Clar-
india representing the commercial
clubs of the towns along the X. & W..
Mr.. Barkey left last night for Omaha
tn see more witnesses and will return
here next week. Most of the testi-
monv taken here was from old en-
plovees of the Humeston & Shenan-
doah railroad as the X. & w. was
then called
The K. & w. railway Is the con-
Meeting link that the Baltimore &
Ohio need to have route from New
York to the Pacific. The end of the
IB. G. O. at Beardstown is fifty miles
from Keokuk. The road would then
connect with the Union Pacific which
owns the Baltimore & Ohio. This
route would also give the Santa Fe
a short line from Chicago to Omaha.
They would probably build from here
70 omaha. In case that the Burling-
ton has to give up control of the X.
& w. one of these lines will most
likely take advantage OF the oppor-
.unity and get possession.
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