The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-08-31
|,o,ect for Making New Railroad
Route from Pittsburgh and the
East to Omaha, Lincoln
h and the West.
MISSISSIPPI GATEWAY
rould q. Great Assistance to
Movement Of War Materials and
Men and Is Being Considered
by Secretary McAdoo.

railroad traffic, it now passes
.roush certain cities at which the
mes converge.
nj, These are called gateways-gates
hronRh which the interminable
ream of railroad cars moves in
heIr progress from east to west or
est to east.
chicago is the big railroad center
the middle west.
ST. Louis, Burlington, Davenport
"A Clinton are Mississippi river
nteways. Omaha and Kansas City
e Missouri gateways.
Today practically all the traffic
ROSES the Missouri river at either
bmaha or at Kansas City. It crosses
d Mississippi at one of the cities
amed.
All these gateways are tremen-
ously congested all the time and
specially now In war time. They
y the places where the big trunk
mes cross the rivers, or meet Tor
serchange of traffic as In Chicago.
II There Ready for Use.
The Burlington railroad crosses the
rississippi at Burlington, Iowa, on
way from Chicago to Omaha,
Drnyer, Billings and the Pacinc
past.
The Wabash comes to Hannibal,
from the east and out of Hannl-
81 toward the west and Kansas CITY
nd Denver goes the burlington
oute: this is somewhat of a second
~ through route. -
There is nothing between the ran
klbal and st. Joe and the main line
the Burlington road-that Is no
pute that is used for through trahc,
IIthough the main line of the Bur.
lnrton. like all the transcontinentai
mes is immensely congested all the
lime. ;.
Midway between these two ROADS is
complete line of railroad, track OF
lasy grades and good curves, ano
last of the Mississippi there Is an ex'
ension of this track to Logansport'
Indiana, where the great Pennsyi'
kania railroad is tapped by 1t. me
Eestern end OF this track now no'
ksed for through traffic extends 70
omaha. and another branch OF II
&rosses the Missouri river at Ne
Xraska City to extend on to Lincoln
Nebraska.
Where the Line Runs.
These tracks are now the I. +. ano
road east of the Mississippi, anc
be Keokuk and Western and some
mall extensions at its western emo
n traffic were routed by this route
would 20 a distance over fifty miles
horter than now and avoid the con
estion and great delay caused o!
Ending it through the crowded Chi
hgo yards.
4 The new through route would bs
rom the eastern seaboard via the
PENNSYLVANIA system to Logansport
Indiana: from there to keokuk VIZ
he n. P. and w. road; from keokui
3 Shenandoah, Iowa, via the keokuf
IND Western; from Shenandoah I.
omaha and the west by short traci
how existing. or past NEBRASKA ".
10 Lincoln, Nebraska, by existht
tracks and there reach the great lrol
highway to all Pacific coast points.
Not only is the distance shorter
but the greatest advantage wouid OF
kyoiding the great delays now caused
by getting through Chicago.
| Benefits to Many.
This new proposed trunk ilne
talled the Midway line because II ]!
half way between existing throusi
kraftc routes, has been called to tn
httent:on of Secretary McAdoo
director of railroads now, and Is IN
keresting that office.
The city councils of keokuk, Burn
Iside and Canton Illinois. Centerviiie
Shenandoah and other towns on tn
new line have formally memorailze'
khe government, asking that II o
esta blished and traffic routed over II
The state association Of commerce
Nebraska, and many city chambers
commerce have endorsed the pro]ec'
hi is being seriously considered o.
the powers that be.
The big benefit such a trunk I'm
flor traffic would be to the cltie
|along its tracks is self evident.
would make important railroad ci1e
of all those named and others.
would make Keokuk one of the lal
gest railroad centers on the Mlssl:
slppi river.
Judge Felix T. Hughes. OF heokuf
a prominent attorney, and one tim
PRESIDENT of the Keokuk and ives
am railroad, is the father OF th1
idea.