There are few things in today’s Journal Star editorial about the Kellar Branch that deserve a response:

The park district, unable to act, has watched about half of a $400,000 state grant evaporate.

It’s worth pointing out that the park district applied for that money prematurely–before going to the STB, building the spur, etc.  It’s their own fault that they jumped the gun and are paying the consequences now.

. . . the lumber company is temporarily shelling out more for truck service . . . 

This is the only reference, vague as it is, to the fact that Carver has incurred over $25,000 in additional costs for truck service. Why didn’t they put the numbers in their editorial?  They didn’t have any trouble mentioning the $400,000 grant the park district is concerned about.

. . . it has Pioneer to blame for blocking early construction.

Ah yes, it’s all Pioneer’s fault!  I’m not about to contest the fact that Pioneer did in fact delay construction, but they’ve been off the tracks since August 2005.  What’s their excuse for the past five months?  At least while Pioneer was delaying construction, they were making deliveries to Carver.  Now that construction is not delayed, Carver’s getting no shipments at all.

Besides that, this editorial leads people to the false conclusion that the reason Carver isn’t getting shipments is because the western spur isn’t finished.  That’s misleading.  The reasons they aren’t receiving shipments is because (a) Metroplex tore up a part of the line where the spur meets the Kellar Branch, so no trains can cross, and (b) the city’s carrier, Central Illinois Railroad, can’t get the rail cars up the steep incline of the Kellar Branch. And did I mention because they’ve never made a sincle shipment to Carver, they’re in breach of contract with the city?  I wonder what action, if any, the city is taking against them for that. 

Central Illinois Railroad and long-hauler Union Pacific have some physical stumbling blocks to sort out.

This is excessively vague. What do they mean by “physical stumbling blocks”? Do they mean the junction the city is building where the western spur meets the UP line that will only allow for cars to be dropped off by north-bound trains?  Or do they mean CIRY’s inability to secure trackage rights to run a train to the western spur on the UP line?

U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood, who has worked diligently to get the trail going, has again offered to help.

And by “help,” they mean “help the park district get its beloved trail.” It’s gotta make a business like Carver feel good to know their own congressman is siding against them.

As usual, the problems with the city’s carrier (CIRY) and contractor (Metroplex) are glossed over and the plight of Carver Lumber is minimized.