Omaha daily bee., 1889-08-06
THE ALTON IN THE WEST,
Chicago Railroad Mon Perplexed
Over the Situation.
WHAT AN OFFICIAL HAS TO SAY.
Much Speculation rs to Whether the
Road Will Build Beyond the
Missouri River or Buy
Some Line.
Is tho Alton Going westa

CHICAGO, August 5.-[Special Telegram to
The BEE, Whether or not the Alton will
buy line west of Kansas City is the question
now perplexiug Chicago railroad men. All
indications say yes, while the nuswerving
conservatism OF the company says no. One
of the officials OF tho road said lately:
"a policy that would have been suicidal
several years ago may be good one now.
You seem anxious TO End q reason why the
Alton should find western extension, ana l
will give you some, Five years ago no Chi
cago line had extensions beyond Kansas
City. Now the Rock Island and Burlington
have. Then also the Santa Fe had no line
east of Kansas City. Now it Is one OF
our strong competitors. In the past we
have taken large share of the business the
Atchison brought into Kansas City, Notice
has just been given which means that the
Santa Fe will bring to Chicago all the east
bound freight the Atchison brings into Kau-
sas City. Besides this. the Rock Island and
Burlington bring in good share OF tho
freight formerly hauled by the Union Pacific,
and of course they have the first call on that
destined to Chicago and the east. Then the
ST. Paul road has further divided the busi-
ness by its extension to Kansas City. We
are being to certain extent bottled up. A
llne WeSb Vi hauSdS Slly, ike buS hunsuS
Pacific for instance, would be valuable
feeder, but 1t is great question whether the
game is worth the candle. Neither
the Rock Island or Burlington ex-
tensions begin to pay expenses,
the parent liues I have nothing whatever
to say as to whether or not the Alton con-
templates buying or building west of the
river"
The facts which lend color to the story
that tho Alton will buy or build west Of
Kansas City are these: For three months
President Blackstone has been in England
and Europe, where he has spent much Of his
time in close consultation with leading
bankers. The Alton has over $1,000 900 re-
serve capital and is paying per cent
dividends consequently it IS in no need Of
money. Perhaps it is result OF President
Blackstone's trip that the Alton people have
been offered any amount up to SAC, ,000, 600
with which to buy or build extensions west
of Kansas City. The offer is good in
definitely, and that it was made is admitted
by the Alton officials. Vice President
McMullin has for month been hoDnobbing
with eastern bankers, while on an alleged
vacation. He will return Wednesday, al
though expected to be absent three weeks
longer.
To-day General Manager Chapel, the only
other executive officer in the city, left
for the west for "trip over the
line" No ordinary trip would be of such
special importance that it would take away
Il0 luSb cSeIutlNe WUGu uuobuSE was
expected within two days. General Manager
Chapel was for years general superintendent
of the Union Pacific and the Missouri, Kan
sas and Texas. He would be the one man to
be sent on preliminary survey of the line
in case the Alton contemplated buying.
The real necessity for a western feeder 10
the Alton is manifest when it is known that
none of the Alton officials know yet whether
or not the Missouri Pacific will join the other
Kansas City lines in its fight on the
Alton, The fact that the meeting
has twice been postponed, owing
to the absence of the Missouri Pacific
representatives, and that it was postponed at
his request, indicates that the Missouri Pa
ciic will go with the majority. In that case
the Alton will truly be bottled up. having
only part of the Union Pacific traffic to de-
pend upon. II is conceded that the best way
for it to win its fight against the other Kan
sas City roads is to own western feeder, es-
peciaIly if that feeder be doing the business
now done by the Kansas Pacitic