Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1886-10-19
MAGNATES ENROUTE.
A Distinguished Party of Railroad
Officials Pay Rock Island a
Flying Visit.
What is the Object of Their Trip g..
What They Say---What Is Thought
WHO They Are---OF for
Burlington.

t WHO They Are---Ofr for
Burlington.
, A DISTINGUISHED PARTY
} At 6 O'Clock last evening a special
train came in on the c., NJ & st. P.
road Locomotive 252 was pulling it,
and Engineer Jesse Parker, of the Sagan.
na and Milwaukee day run, was at the
: throttle. The magnificent coaches-four
in number. being a diner, sleeper and
two observation cars-were lettered:
"Penr sylvania Central Railway" They
were all private coaches, aud the occu>
pants were the chief officials and directs
Ors of the great system OF roads indica \
ted. The train left st. Paul, where the
party sojourned Sunday. early yes.
terdaY morning. Arriving in the city,
the distinguished visitors were driv-
en- to the Harper house, where, by
previous arrangement. as heretofore
stated in the ARGUS, rooms had been pre-
pared for their reception. Manager
| Lowry had directed his steward, Mr.
Price, to exert his best efforts in prepar-
ing the supper, and the result was a most
elaborate spread. The visitors expressed
it the best meal they had partaken of
since leaving Chicago, and they had been
at St. Louis, Kansas City, Omaha. St.
Paul and Minneapolis
During the evening President W. B.
Ferguson, of the Business Mems associa>
ton, DR.. J W. Stewart, Messrs. A. C.
Dart c. ]. Dart, j. 5. Gilmore, Capt. T
J. Robinson H. D. Mack, 5. ]. Keator,
and other representative citizens of Rock
Island, MesSrs. Geo. II. French and James
7. Lane, of Davenport, called, and were
presented to the distinguished visitors BY
Mr.. Lowry. The evening was spent
chatting pleasantly, the gentlemen ex-
pressing themselves as much pleased with
what they were able to see of Rock Isl
ana, and their regrets at being compelled
By future engagements to limit their stay
here to so short time. They Compli-
mented the scenery on the c., NJ 4 ST.
P. and the C, B. It n. on the west and
east shores of the Mississippi from Savaa-
ma and Sabnla north, rs the finest they
had ever seen.
THE NAMES
of the gentlemen composing the party
are appended, and from their official
positions an idea of their distinction
in the railroad and commercial circles of
the world, may be obtained. G. B. Rob
erts, president Pennsylvania Central. N
P. Shortridge, D B. Cummins, Il. d.
Welsh, j. P Wetherill, directors; J
N.sMcCullough, first vice president,
William Thaw, Thomas D. Messler,
vice presidents Pan Handle railway, S
B. Liggett, secretary and D. S. Newhall.
assistant secretary. Hon. John Scott,
solicitor, of the Pennsylvania Central
railway. The gentlemen with private
secretaries and baggagcmen numbered in
all sixteen persons.
One would naturally suppose that in
the visit of SO prominent a party, there
would be something of
LOCAL SIGNIFICANCE
attached Such an impression however,
the gentlemen apparently wish to avoid
In response to the queries of an ARGUS
reporter President Roberts said last even
ing:
The reason of our visit west is purely
for pleasure to ourselves. We make this
trip annually. but as usual thing extend
it no farther west than Chicago. This
year we were in duced to come out over
the other roads with view TO seeing
how they are operated. The object OF
our trip is not for extending or purchas-
ing west OF our present termini.'
The same expression was made by Vice
President Mccullough, and Secetary Lig
Cett, both of whom were interviewed.
The coming of the magnates to Rock
Island started many wild rumors as to the
probable outcome thereof. many thinking
the purpose was the building of an exten
sion through here for the west. 1t has been
said that the company has acquired
control of the Toledo. Peoria &
Western road, one of the lines of
the old Wabash system and extending
from the state line east, directly
west through Peoria to Keokuk and
Burlington, Iowa The old Illinois and
Midland or Vandalia line has been for
sale for some time, and this, it is also |
stated, the Pennsylvania Central has been |
figuring on. Then there is the Chicago, |
st. Louis & Western road stretching |
from Chicago to Peoria, it having former |
ly been the Chicago Pekin & Western |
road, and with the purchase or control of |
these lines the Pennsylvania Central will !
have direct line east from Burlington
to Toledo through Peoria, and another line
from Peoria to Chicago, and under those
it would be reasonable to
suppose connection with Rock Island |
would he sought, bridge across the
river at this roint, and the Pennsylvania
would he on the high way TO Minneapo,
lis, and Omaha, with a line from Burling-
ton to Kansas City. By such extensions
SHORT CUT