Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-03-14
JAY GOULD.
He Proposes to Mako War on the G.
3. d O,


Chicago Tribune.
The dispatch in the Tribune of yes
terday regarding the wonderful rev.
cago, Rock Island Il Pacific and the
Chicago & Northwestern railroads
was the principal theme of discussion
in railroad circles yesterday. The
news however, did not come uncx-
pected. 1t was stated in the Tribune
more than year ago that Mr.. Gould
was trying to get control Of one Of
the Iowa pool lines leading from this
city to Omaha. What surprised the
railroad men was the fact that he
gained control of two of the lines, it
having been the general impression
that he was after one of them only.
The desire of Mr.. Gould to control
through line from the Atlantic to
the Pacific Ocean, has long been
known, and had he obtained control
of either the Rock Island or North
western alone, no unusual impor-
lance would have attached to the
event. AS it is, however, there is
more in the movement than the sim
Gle ambition to control line from |
New York to San Francisco, for the
Rock Island or Northwestern alone
would have sufficcd to furnish the de-
sired link between Chicago and Oma-
ha. The fact that he secured control
Of both lines seems to be nothing |
more or less than confirmation of the |
statement. made in these columns a |
week or two ago-that Mr.. Gould |
was about to make war upon the Chi
cago, Burlington & Quincy railroad,
because he believed that road to be
responsible for the fight that is now
being waged against the Union Pa
cific by Messrs. Forbes and Perkins
on behalf of the Missouri River rail-
road in Nebraska, to compel that road
to pro-rate with the latter from Kear-
ney junction. Though the Burling-
ton road docs not control tho Burling-
ton s. Missouri River railroad in Ne
braska, yet it is principally owned by
the same stockholders, and Messrs.
Forbes and Perkins are leading Off
GERS of both the lines. The officials
of the Burlington & Quincy disclaim
all completely in the fight against the
Union Pacific, but Mr.. Gould and
others interested in the latter, insist
that it is responsible for the course
pursued by the Nebraska road.
There are three roads leading from
this city to Omaha, and the earnings
on the through business of the three
lines are pooled. AS long as this
pool exists Mr.. Gould cannot fight
the Chicago, Burlington Il Quincy, as
he should like o,for it would share in
the profits arising from the business
given TO the other two lines. His desire
to break up the pool is therefore
easily explained, and this he could
not accomplish without getting con
troll of the other two lines. Now tina
he has control of both the Rock Is
; land and Northwestern, the pool can
not be maintained against his wishes
and he can wage an effective wal
against the Chicago. Burlington ant
!, Quincy in order to compel it to Civ,
up or induce the Burlington and Mis-
souri, River railroad in Nebraska t,
, give up the fight against the Uniol
Pacific interest. The Northwestern
, railroad, which was much easier ant
cheaper to be obtained than the Rocl
D Island, would have supplied Goult
with the desired link between Chica
go and Omaha. but he coult
mot have struck the Chicago, Bur
: lington and Quincy in its mos
: vital spot-the southwestern bust
ness.
l His obtaining control of the Rocl
Island, which runs direct to Leaven
9 WORTH. gives him chance to make
y fight OH that business as well as Of
= the business to and from Omaha an,
the Pacific coast. This move is NO
n only apt to break up the Iowa poo
G but the Southwestern rate association
pool. A Tribune reporter called up
: on President Harris and General Su
e perintendent Strong yesterday after
Il noon in order to get their views i
regard to this matter. Both gentle
q men said that they had no idea wha
0 Mr.. Gould meant to do, yet they wer
n inclined to think..that he intended t
o war upon them, and that this was hi
principal object in getting control @
u both roads. The Union Pacific ha
n been discriminating against thci
7. road for some time past, but OWN
IS to the pool, he could not do as well a
he desired. They deplored the pros
/ pect of a disastrous railroad war, bu
: were not in the least discouraged no
), willing to be "bulldozed" by ia
q Gould or anybody else. If war cam
they were ready for it. They woul
buckle on their armor and make q
gallant a fight as possible. This roa
was in nm nyceIlent condition n
shown in the last annual report an,
! they could stand the contest as wei
= as their adversaries. They believe,
y that the people of Chicago and tn
west would stand by and aid them i
70 a contest like this, where large mo
!; nopoly was trying to 'sintimidate"
/: road that had always been workin
in the interest of the general publ
and not to empower certain ambition
y i. and grasping individuals.