Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1921-11-30
LOOKSLIKE TRAINS
WILL STAY ON
Hearing on the Matter of Taking
OFF Two Rock Island Trains
Into DEBORAH Held Satur-
day ut West Union.
ABOUT ESQ WERE
IN ATTENDANCE
Judge HI. E. Taylor, of Waukon, and
County Attorney J. A. Nelson,
of DEBORAH, Take Import
ant Parts in
Meeting.


Rock Island lines made application
before the railroad commissioners to
discontinue trains 446 and 447 the
morning and night passenger trains
from West Union to DEBORAH. If
this application were granted it
would have no early and late trains
on this line.
The hearing was set for last Sat-
urday, Nov. &c, at ten a. m. at the
court house in West Union. The
hearing was attended by several of
leading officials of the road, the at
torney being Mr.. Camel, of Des
Moines. The interest that was mani
Tested in retaining the present SER
vice was beyond expection. The
Chamber of Commerce of Cedar Rapids
was represented by Judge Robbins,
who took an active part in the pro-
ceedings. Oelwein had their COM
mittee, likewise was every town be-
tween West Union and DEBORAH re-
presented. Every organization that
was directly or indirectly interested
in train service had been at work.
Evidently the contest that develop
ed had not been anticipated, for the
trend of the proof was that not only
We're the claims of loss on account
of running these trains disproved,
but it was proved positively that
these trains pay big and that the
traffic is as heavy, if not heavier
than on the average branch lines,
that there has been no falling off in
business, but that it has grown by
leaps and bounds, and that this
years business has been as good for
the first ten months as it was for
the entire year of 1920.
The officials were required to give
the earning of every station from
West Union to DEBORAH. The earn
ings for 1920 between and including
West Union and DEBORAH aggregat-
ed S450,0O0, and that of this amount
the DEBORAH station produced $780,
455, and that for the first ten
months of 1921 the receipts are
S1O6,S68. A tabulation of the pass
engers on these trains north of West
Union showed an average of 40. II
there are only a comparatively small
number when the train reaches De-
corah that is due to the fact that
we are on the end of the terminal.
1t was established by proof that the
traffic on the two trains in question
is HEAVIER than on the other two
trains. 1t was also conceded that
passenger traffic is light on all roads
during the summer months on ac-
count of travel by automobile.
The hearing lasted until nearly six
o'cock, the entire proceeding being
reported and will be considered by
a hearing of the entire commission IL
the near future. Chairman Chas
Webster, of Waucoma, attended the
hearing.
Judge H.. E. Taylor, who is secret
arv of the Northeast Iowa Ship
pers Association, had charge Of thu
contest for the patrons and shippers
on the road. Attorney j. A. Mel
SON Of DEBORAH, who is attorney To-
the association and also secretary o
the Decorah Commercial Club tool
prominent part. Judge Taylo
had all the facts and details of tn
matter at his fingers tips and pre-
scented a very able argument of tn
matter which was listened to wit
rapt attention by all present. Tn
Judge is posted on railroad matter
IN Northeastern Iowa and has con
tributed a lot of valuable work T
the situation.
About 25O people attended tn
hearing, among them being farmers
shippers, railroad conductors, eN
conductors, hotel keepers and busl
ness men generally who constitute
scores of witnesses that were Gale
to put emphasis on the necessit
of better service on this line, an
we are not only confident that tn
trains in question will be retained
but better servicsi s inevitable as
result of the maTy disclosures NAV
at this hearing.
DEBORAH was represented by OF
Mayor, DR.. F. W lConover' l. '