Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-03-21
ANINrEREsriNc RAILROAD WAR.

An INTERESTING RAILROAD WAR.
In 1862, when The charter was grant
ed TO build the Union Pacific Rail
road, it was al that early period
contemplated to build branches or
feeders of that gigantic corporation,
from Sioux City TO tap the main
branch at Fremont, Nebraska, about
one hundred miles due west of the
Missouri river, and from Portsmouth
to Kearnc-, Nebraska, about two
hundred miles west of the Missouri
river. The former interest was rep
resented by the proposed Nebraska
extension of the Dubuque and Pacific,
and the latter was the Burlington and
Missouri River Railroad Company'sI
extension into Nebraska. Even at
that early period these two routes, and
the Northwestern Railroad, and the
Chicago and Rock Island, which lat
ter two roads make their western ter
minus at Council Bluffs, the eastern
terminal point of the Union Pacific,
were on the alert, and in the original
charter and land grant to the main
branch of the Union Pacific, from
Council Bluffs TO Ogden, it was pro-
vided that all these branch routes
should have the same rights and
privileges as those accorded to the
parent stem.
The B. Il NJ, in Nebraska, has CON-
pleted, long ago, its branch from
Plattsmouth up the South Platte to
kearney, there, as we said before,
making connection with the Union
Pacific.
In the meantime, the latter gigantic
monopoly has passed into other than
its original owners who were friend.
ly to these radiating lines, Jay Gould
now being its controlling spirit, who
owns one Hundred and thirty-three
thousands shares Of its stock, and who
| drew nearly 100000 recently at the
annual settlement. He, and the com.
bination which he manipulates, has
managed to secure the controlling in.
terest in the N. w. r. r. and the c.
4 r. l. 81 p. r. r., from Chicago tc
Omaha, SO that he is greatly benefited
! by having the U. P. r. r. bushes.
: run over the two latter routes.
There seems to be no doubt bu
that the charter and subsequent ant
amendatory legislation intended tt
= provide, among other things, for in
, stance, that the U. p. r. r.. should
: pro rate with the c., b. & @. r.. r..
not only in Iowa, but also in Nebras
ka, but since jay Gould and his crew
of wreckers have got hold of tn
! company, it has steadfastly refused t
;, do so.
q Among other calamities incurrc
# by this highwayman's authority, til
!. connection at Kearney was rendere
4 substantially valucless to the c., B. /!
IS @. r. r., in Nebraska, because the [
n r. II. II. would charge just as niue
r. from kcarney to Ogden as it woul
d from Omaha to Ogden, and this di
$ elimination had tendency to rui
70 the local business from Plattsmoutl
N or, perhaps more properly speakin,
" from Chicago to Kearney Ella the
~ Il. n 9. r. r., in Illinois, Iowa an
;, Nebraska.
ID The Judiciary Committee of IL
f. Senate of the United States made o
ne exhaustive report toward the closin
II. hours of Congress, in which IL
D. ground was clearly taken that the
r. & NJ. r. r. in Nebraska was brant
n Of the Union Pacific Railroad, and
s. such was entitled to all the rights all
" privileges, as to pro rating freigh
with the main road, but Congress WI
so intent upon finding somebody's ell
dirty linen just then, that the necess
ry compulsory legislation was not Ell
v acted, although it was strongly favo
. ed by both of Cur Iowa Senator's.
- In this just contest, which is bein
" waged by the d. & M. in Iowa an
III Nebraska, southern and eastern low
- is greatly interested.
20 In this struggle we have anoth'
os illustration of the fact that, even {
~ great and wealthy corporations as IL
- c., B. & @. and its extensions, the
;, Il NJ. in Iowa and Nebraska, arc, ma
:. be harried and worried out of thei
4 rights and privileges, by still great
~ or combination, and that even Grang
"a legislation, so-called, is sometimes q
welcome TO the under dog in raj
10 road fight, as it is to an oppresse
;, community.
g At present it is war of giants, an
S the sympathies of our people will |
,e on the side of the c., 3. & @. and I'll
b. & NJ, which have done so much [
develope the resources of souther
Iowa and Nebraska.