The Rock Island Argus., 1883-12-14
A COOL TWO MILLION.
R. R. Cable as a stock Spectator.
Interesting Reading for Rock Island
Readers.
Preparations for a Gigantic Railroad
War.

War.
Just now railroad matters are claiming
general attention. In fact for more than
a year past the railroad magnates have
been At loggerheads, and frequent cuts
in both passenger and freight rates have
been the result. What the out come OF
all this will be is conundrum which the
fRsure alone can solve The tripartite
agreement which has been effected be-
tween three of the leading railroads of the
country, has caused much excitement
among other roads, and a general and
bitter warfare IS immenent During all
this time r. r. Cable, our well known
former tswnsman, president and general
manager of the Chicago, Rock Island &
Pacific, has been quietly specializing, and
he is now credited with haYing made a
cool 100000 The following from the
Chicago Daily Asaos will be read with
interest by his friends in this city:
The new tripartite agreement between
the Union Pacific, Rock Island, and Mil
waukee & st. Paul roads took all the
attention eff railroad men yesterday, and
will doubtless be the exciting topic for
several days to come. Everybody con
cedes that the Iowa pool is a "gone goose, u
and each road is getting ready for war.
Another combination of equal strength
with that already formed is now likely to
be made. 1t will probably comprise the
Burlington. Northwestern, Wabash, and
Missouri Pacific President Perkins and
Manager Potter. of the Burlington, and
President Keep and Superintendent
Wheeler, of the Northwestern, held a
private conference at the latter's office
yesterday. The situation, and the advis-
ability of joining hands were fully dis
cussed, although no definite action could
be taken till Manager Hughitt, of the
Northwestern, arrives from New York
today
The present situation, as summed up at
the conference, is this: The Northw 1stern
Wabash, ana Burlington cover the whole
field. The Wabash has an immense ter
ritory in the southwest The Northwest
ern covers the north and northwest equal
ly well, and has branch north of the
Union Pacific in Dakota. The Burlington
has the best line to Denver, south of the
Union Pacific, and can make the shortest
time to that point. Three routes to the
Pacific coast will still be opeu-one to
Oregon via the Northwestern and North
ern Pacific, one to California via the
Burlington Rio Grande, and Central Pa
citie; and another via the Topeka & Santa
Fe.
''What else can we do?" said North.
western official, when asked if that road
would go into the new combination. Here
this new agreement has been made to
steal the business of the Northwestern
and Burlington right before our eyes
Their remark that other roads can come
in if they want to is good. We shall want
to very badly after they have fixed up
things to their own notion, taking the
lions share and leaving us the pickings.
Mark my words. There will be war within
week. 1t will be short, sharp, and de
cisive, for twill be war of giants. SO
strong that they will strike out right and
left without any fooling."
But the St. Paul folks say each road
will have enough pride to maintain rates
till the first of the year"
pride be ID. The st. Paul folks
don't know what pride is. There won't
be any unnecessary delay in this kind OF
!. fight. | tell you the st. Paul dOesnt
know what kind of a sled it is getting
onto. But it will find out.
"Can the proposed new combination
beat the Union Pacific?" repeated Bur
lington official. "Why, bless your soul
we can lick them out of their boots our
selves. Everybody is waiting now for tht
signal The first cut made, however
unimportant. will knock the bottom out
of everything. But let me tell you thai
this has already been the greatest stock
deal ever made in this country. r. r
Cable has engineered the whole affair
and if doesn't pocket a cool two million
as the result I'm very much mistaken"
The ultimate result" quietly observed
a Milwaukee & St. Paul man, will be the
formation OF new pool comprising all Of
the Iowa and Western lines, including The
Rio Grande & Santa Fe. There may bt
a little scrimmage beforehand. If the
matinee is begun it will be live, of course
and will last longer than such war
usually do. But it will have an ending.
who will cut first?"
Nobody can tell. But after the 1st
of January the st. Paul will be out of tt,
pool and free to make its own rates"
Don't you consider the Burlington
hard road to fight?"
Certainly" But all that was con
sdered before the ball was set rolling
The Burlington is rich, but can't affor(
to lose money any better than the rest o
US. The stockholders of that road vii
kick as quick as any others. Some O
them, though, would doubtless make
good thing by manipulating the stocks.
Have the st. Paul officials made any
thing in that way?"
Il don't believe one of them has mad
cent, except possibly Mr.. Mitchell
whose private operations know nothin!
about"
Some find that it is hard vet to believe
| that the trouble will not be amicably set
tied, and new pool could not stand {
week after the Inauguration of the pro
bable Iowa pool war. Bad blood between
the Northwestern, Milwaukee and st Pau
would demoralize the Northwestern asso
citation would be seriously affected, if no
broken up, If such gigantic and genera
war should continue any length of time
one or two of the roads, which are in M
condition to fight, would be forced to th
wall. The extent of such disaster i
past comprehension.