The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-10-07
Officers and Business Organizations
Welcome Kindly Judge Felix
r. Hughes at End of
His Inspection.
WORKING HARD ON PLAN
COLLECTING Mass Of Argument for
Presentation to Secretary Nc
Adoo on Midway Trunk
Line.

Judge Felix T. Hughes, the 1atner
LOT the proposed through trunk rail-
road line from Logansport through
Peoria, Centerville and Shenandoah
Ito Lincoln and Omaha, found the lat
ter city very responsive to his project.
He held a conference with the
mayor, the commercial club and the
chamber of commerce of Omaha, ana
they all were interested in the plan.
They recognised at once the CO.
gency of the arguments OF Judge
Hughes that even IL the government
does not care to spend the money to
double track the T.. P. and w. and the
Keokuk and Western railroads., there
is no good reason why the Midway
line should not be used as 1t is for at
least twenty-five per cent of the
through traffic now Iongesting Chi
cago territory.
The roadbed and rails as they are
today will carry heavy engines and
large loads of freight, and the T., p.
and W. road Is now running one hun
dred ton engines all over that line.
Omaha Likes the Idea.
The Omaha Bee says of the idea as
it is perceived in that city:
Judge f. T. Hughes Of Keokuk,
Iowa, and Theodore Gilman of New
York, railway experts, who have been
making a survey Of the Midway Short
line all rail route from Logansporte.
Ind, to Omaha, arrived in Omaha last
night after an inspection of the entire
trackage.
This stretch of road was one OF the
original transcontinental links. Dur
ing this war time citizens dwelling
along the way have urged in view Of
it's directness that 1t at least be used
to capacity. It connects Logansporte
with Peoria, Keokuk. Centerville,
Shenandoah and Omaha.
The regional board has said it would
require too great an expenditure Of
money for steel to put the line in
shape for through traffic Of intensive
character now. Judge Hughes and Mr..
Gilman. however. believe the line
could be used to vastly greater adj
vantage than now under present con-
ditions and are prepared to urge this
upon Director McAdoo of the railroad
administration.
Nebraska Gets Behind II.
The Omaha WorldHehrald has this
report vi Llc SltudLlOu III 4NSbl coNh.
Theodore Gilman Of New York and
F. T. Hughes of Keokuk are in Omaha
to promote the Midway Short Line All
east via Logansport. Peoria, Keokuk,
Centerville, Shenandoah. They bring
documents showing that delegate
convention at Keokuk, July 90, mem
orialized Director McAdoo to establish
this route; that the Industrial associa-
ton of Keokuk Joined in it and that
the Nebraska Association of Com
merce, of which William F. Wappich
is president Ross l.. Shotwell secre-
tary, R. S. Lucke, treasurer, and
George P. Wilkinson, director, also
Joined in it. It's memorial shows
saving of III miles, Pittsburg to Ona-
ha, over one other route, of 495 miles
over another and 53.7 miles over still
another.
Other Nebraska Cities Favor It.
Rfessrs Gilman and Hughes say
that the petition was referred by Dt-
rector McAdoo to the regional direc-
tors who reported that, although the
Midway route would save time, yet re-
laying with new rails would hardly be
justified now Mr. Gilman and Mr..
Hughes say they themselves find the
existing roads can be used in the Mid
way route with but little new expense
and therefor they will send new Pc
tition to Director McAdoo.
1t is stated at the Omaha Chamber
of Commerce that the chamber is ia
miliar with the project, it having been
brought to its attention three weeks
ago. It comes from Lincoln and from
Nebraska City to Omaha men that
those cities are working to get the
Midway route lined up for connection
with than