Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1919-06-13
Cresco to Have Better Train Service.

Cresco to Have Better Train Service.
Towns in this vicinity in Howard and
Winnesheik counties. between Calmsr
and Leroy have evidently won a VIC
tory in proceeding instituted by the
Commercial Club to compel better
rrain service. >.....
The train service for the past two
years has been very. unsatisfactory,
but all efforts to secure any improve
ment have failed, the railroad officials
ignoring entirely the interests Of this
community. Finally at meeting of
the directors of the Cresco CONNER
cial club it was decided to take the
case to the railroad commission and
q special committee was appointed to
handle the matter A hearing was
held in Cresco April 21st, and formal
proceedings had, Commissioner Chas.
Webster presiding and Judge Hender-
son, special attorney for the commits
sion appearing for the compliments.
Witnesses from Cresco, Ridgeway,
Bonair, Lime Springs and Chester tes-
titled. At the conclusion of the tes-
timony Mr.. Webster stated that the
matter would be taken under advise
ment by the commission and a de-
This week, F. B. Tomas. one of the
special committee, received official no.
tice of the commissions ruling which
grants all the demands made by the
complainants, and is unanimous, be-
ing signed by all three commission
ers. For the complete success of this
undertaking credit is due the Cresco
Commercial club and especially F.. B.
Tomas and F. A. Huber Of the special
committee whose persistence and UNI
firing efforts brought results.
The commission report after review
ing the proceedings Of the hearing
held April 21st, says: ~
"The compliments claim that in
sufficient and inadequate passenger
and way freight service is furnished
between Calmar and Chester, Lime
Springs, Bonair, Cresco and Ridge
way. The people of these latter
towns ask that train be installed
or that coach be attached to a
freight train, to enable passengers to
arrive in Calmar from the west at
about 10000 A. NJ, in order to make
connection with the Iowa & Dakota
Division Nos. and 4, returning
leaving Calmar about 4:3O P. NJ, after
the arrival of Nos. 80 and 80. For
merly coach was attached to the
stock freight which was due to leave
Cresco at about $500 A. NJ, arriving
at Calmar in time to make connection
with Nos. and 4, but this stock train
was discontinued after the declaration
of war, according to the statement Of
the railroad officials, on account of
important connections on the South
ern Minnesota and River Divisions, in
order that the products of the pack
ing houses at Austin and Albert Lea
might arrive at Chicago in time for
the Atlantic Seaboard connections.
To do this, it was necessary to ar
range the schedule of the stock freight
so that it leaves Cresco now at 1900
A. NJ. There is, therefore, at present
no freight train available to which a
coach may be attached. a.
1T is the opinion of the Commits
sion that the. citizens of these towns
should not be penalized or put to
great inconvenience in order to take
care Of the products of the packing
houses at the above mentioned points
The compliments are entitled to bet
ter and more adequate service; there
is absolutely no way in which they
can reach the Iowa and Dakota Di-
vision in the morning, nor way in
which they can return home in the
evening. Neither is there any way
in which the citizens Of Chester, Lime
the county. seat of Howard county,
and return the same day, or any way
in which the citizens of Ridgeway can
reach DEBORAH, the county seat of
Winneshiek county, and return the
same day. ,." ...... LID.
1T has been shown by testimony,
and not disputed by the railroad COM
poAys IAot AOIHCAly "oy AACl6AI ACoSA-
ed Ridgeway, Cresco and other points
in from two to four days from Chica-
go, and now it takes from ten to
fourteen days. It was shown that
freight from Chicago is now routed
via the indirect line to La Crosse and
Austin, thence to Cresco and other
points; that way freight service is
furnished every other day instead of
daily, as formerly; that Cresco, Ridge
way, Lime Springs and Chester are
heavy freight and passenger produce
ers. s..a '...
1T is the opinion Of the Commission
that the passenger service is made
quate for the community represented
by the compliments, and that every
other day way freight service is not
sufficient for this prosperous and
rich country. In addition to present
passenger train service, and in lieu
Of present way freight service the
complainants should be provided with
an additional passenger train operat-
IN oonh Ioi1x, ovoont GunAov ~