New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-12-31
RAILROAD INTERESTS.
THE OMAHA BRIDGE TR0U BILE.
ST. PAUL AND ROCK ISLAND OFFICIALS VIEW
OF MR.. CLARK'S STATEMENT

| ST. PAUL AND ROCK ISLAND OFFICIALS VIE"
Of Mr.. CLARK'S STATEMENT.
Chicago. Dec. 3O-Thc Omaha bridge controversy
bet vecn the Rock Island and ST. Paul railways on the
one hand and the Union Pacific on the other Is the
chief tonic of conversation among railway men mere
The ST. Paul and Rock Island officials consider the
statement OF VceresIdent Clarke, Of the Union racine
that the matter will not be settled before January or
s. significant as being about the time when the presi
dents Of the roads party to the new agreement are 10
meet in New York. and they point out that the pending
trouble would give Gould leverage to Use at That
meeting In behalf Of any which he might Wish
10 nut through that the St Paul Rock Island might
be- dis posed 10 object The attorneys for the two
roads mentioned are preparing TO rake "a t6p, 70
enforce their contracts In an anlcafh settlement
cannot be reached
Considerable comment caused In Wall Street over
the dispatches from the West regarding this contro-
vcrsy Regret expressed that the dispute Should
have occurred the Of the proposed conference
Of Western railroads. The bankers interested in this
work however declare that the Omaha brio re matter
will not interfere with the plans for improving the
Western situation. Jay Could In conference yes
crday with persons interested in the St. Paul and the
Rock Island companies. but far could be learned
the bridge question has not been finally adjusted
George j. Gould said Of the agreement which the last
named roads assert has been violated by the Union
pacifc that it was -. most improvdcnt Onc.' but
he did not believe that the controversy would aliett
the negotiations for the railroad agreement.
Jaw could authorized the following statement for
the Union Pacific:
"The status Of the Union Pacific and the st. Paul
and Rock Island roads at Omaha may be summarized
follows:
- In Ies} traffic contrart was made between the
Union Pacific, the ST. Paul and the Rock Island
companies known as the trpartte. BY which business
was to be mterchanged between the three companies
on favorable terms at Council Bluffs. This contract
for twenty five years. and IS still in force and being
acted upon.
"On May |. 1890, what purpors Ia be lease OF tle
Union Pacific bridge the terminals at Omaha and the
use Of its main tracks to the westward limits OF the
city Of Omaha was made by two separate leases one
half TO the St. Paul and the other half To the Rock
Island These leases for 800 years, for consld
Grafton Of about onehaf OF what the company received
last year from it, bridge tolls their business
Acting under these leases Of our terminals az
OMAHA the Rock Island has advertised 10 open com
peting line to the Union Pacific for its whole length
from omaha TO ogden, thus parallelng the Ohloh
Pacific for its entire length. TO illustrate TINS. sup
pose {, road built from Buffalo parallel 10 the New
York Central from Buffalo to >pnyten Duyvil, ana the
usur the New York Central terminals In New ORR
CITY. for az 200 year for itS competne mn Tho nsV
members Of the Board A. soon As they learned tDtt
they existed they submitted to Judge Dillon. VINO
advised the directors that under the charter OF me
MON Pacific these leasoS were ultra vFeN ana m VloIa
zion OF partnership and relations between W" GOV
crnmeut and the COMPANY. The Government directors
requested the president Of the company to suspend any
action uuder these leases until such time they could
he LEGALLY advised a. 10 their validity. ,
II viii hr the earnest effort ~ the directors OF The
Union Pacific to cultivate the most frend| Relations
between the =. Paul ard Rock STAND oonipab!, iJI
mutual interchange Of business at omaha and Council
Bluffs.