Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-09-12
THRU RAIL SYSTEM MAY BE ss
TAsLlsHsp BETWEEN SEA.
BOARD AND MISSOURI RIVER.
WOULD AVOID cENrERs
OF RAIL CONGESTION
MeAdoo Considering Suggestion Where.
by Cars Could Be Routed Directly
and Sent Thru Without DeIay-Plan
Would not Only Expedite Ship
mont But Reduce Mileage.

keokuk. Sept. Establishment of
direct transcontinental rail route
from eastern ports to the Missouri
river and westward may result from
government control of railroads. with
Keokuk as the Mississippi river cross
ing pCint
William g. McAdoo, Director general
OF railroads. has been urged by many
/ cities along the proposed route to
effect the necessary connection OF
existing lines, making possible an un-
interrupted passage from Iogansport,
Ind, 10 omaha or Lincoln. Neb.
The proposed route would lie about
midway between Chicago and st.
Louis, passing from Logansport to
Peoria and thence to Hamilton, ILL.,.
over the Mississippi to Keokuk and
westward thru northern Missouri and
southern Iowa into Nebraska.
Judge Felix r. Hughes. of Keokuk,
counsel for those advocating the new
line. has just returned from Washing
ton. where he laid the matter before
Director General McAdoO.
'I discovered" nc said, that only
two roads, the L. & o. and the Penn
sylvania, can bring car thru from
Washington. Baltimore or Phila delphia
to the Mississippi river. and they must
tranship at the Mississippi gateway to
get it farther west, for there are no
thru routes from the east to the
Missouri river.
"Our proposed line would carry a
car direct from the eastern seaports to
Lincoln. Neb.. and what is more i'm
portant. could carry it and troop trains
from Lincoln to Omaha direct to the
seaboard, which is simply impossible
now"
The suggested route from Logans-
port would be over the Pennsylvania
railroad. and over a line OF the Toledo,
Peoria & Wtetern railroad to Peoria.
thence over that line to Hamilton. Ill.,
where the Mississippi river would he
crossed on the existing new railroad
bridge. to Keokuk.
From. Keokuk. the Keokuk & Wes-
tern division of the Chicago. BurlinS-
ton & Quincy railroad would be used,
thru Missouri cities including Kahoka
and Memphis, and Iowa cities includ-
ing Centerville. Humeston, Clarinda
and Shenandoah.
In Fair Condition.
Two routes would be possible from
Shenandoah either by the Wabash or
Burlington road to Omaha or to Lin
coin, Neb.. by way Of Hamburg. Iowa
crossing the Missouri river at Nebraska
City by the Burlington bridge. where,
it was pointed cut. "the crossing is not
so congested as at Omaha
At Lincoln or Omaha connections
could be effected with lines to the Pa
cific coast. completing a transcon-
tinental route OF less mileage than any
other now existing. it was declared.
The lines referred to are said to he
Gin fairly good condition.. capable OF
carrying "thcir capacity in freight and
passengers as safely as other roads,
while improvements would, of course.
enlarge their abilities"
The memorial to Mr. McAdoo de-
clares "the belt affected by the pro-
posse line is so rich in men, wheat and
coal that any relief to the present un-
scientific handling of its problems
would be splendid contribution to the
win the war measures"
In addition to cutting down mileage
for transcontinental shipments. it is
pointed out. the new line would make
possible the expeditions handling OF
mon and supplies from the territory
which it would drain. as these ship
ments now must be sent north or
south and transferred to trunk line,
cntailing much delay