Omaha daily bee., 1918-09-16
DIRECT ROUTE
NOW PROPOSED
FROM THE EAST
Keokuk Suggested as the
Best Mississippi Crossing
Point in Plea to
M'Ad0O.

keokuk, Ia, Sept. lS.-Establish-
ment of a 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 crossing point.
William G. McAdoo. director
general of railroads, has been urged
by many cities along the proposed
route to effect the necessary con-
nection of existing lines. making
possible an uninterrupted passage
from Logansport, Ind. to 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 through northern
Missouri and southern Iowa into Ne
braska.
Most Direct Route.
Judge Felix T. Hughes of Keo-
kuk, counsel for those advocating
the new line, has just returned
from Washington. where he laid the
matter before Director General Nc
Adoo.
Il discovered" he said, that only
two roads, the Baltimore & Ohio
and the Pennsylvania. can bring
car through Washington. Baltimore
or Philadelphia to the Mississippi
river, and they must tranship at the
Mississippi gateway to get it far
Their west, for there are no through
routes from the east to the Missouri
river.
"Our proposed line would carry
car direct from the eastern sea-
ports to Lincoln. Neb., and what
is more important. could carry it
and troops trains from Lincoln and
Omaha direct to the seaboard,
which is simply impossible now"
Route is Explained.
The suggested route from Lo-
gansport would be over the Penn
sylvania railroad, and over the line
of the Toledo. Peoria & Western
railroad to Peoria. thence over that
line to Hamilton, ILL.,, where the
Mississippi river would be crossed
en- the existing new railroad bridge,
to keokuk.
From Keokuk. the Keokuk G.
Western division of the Chicago,
Burlington & Quincy railroad
would be used, through Missouri
cities, including Kahoka and Mem
phis, and Iowa cities, including Cen
terville, Humeston. Clarinda and
Shenandoah.
Two routes would be possible
from Shenandoah. either bv the
Wabash or Burlington to Omaha or
to Lincoln, by way of Hamburg, Ia,
crossing the Missouri river at Ne
braska City by the Burlington
bridge, where, it was pointed out,
"the crossing is not so congested
as at Omaha"
Good Connections.
At Lincoln or Omaha connections
could be effected with lines to the
Pacific coast, completing a trans
continental route of less mileage
than any other now existing. it was
declared.
The lines referred to are said to
be lin fairly good condition" cap
able of carrying their capacity in
freight and passengers as safely as
other roads, while improvements
would, of course, enlarge their abil-
tiles"
The memorial to Mr.. McAdoo de-
clares "the belt affected by the pro-
posed line is so rich in men, wheat
and coal that any relief to the pres
ent unscientiic handling of its prob
lens would be splendid contribution
to the win the war measures.
In addition to cutting down mile
age for transcontinental shipments,
it is pointed out, the new line would
make possible the expeditions hand
ling of men and supplies from the
territory which it would drain. as
these shipments now must be sent
north or south and transferred to
trunk line entai1inp much delav