The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1891-02-21
GREAT NORTHERN RUMBLEs.
Rumors of an Immense Railroad Scheme
by Y. j. Hill.

~ 20 III
Chicago dispatches nnounc the exist
ence of an INN ense railroad scheme
whereby the Great Northern is scheduled
TO Ob's'n control of the Garage, It. Pau!
ami Kansas Cry line. The .uct tina.
President J. J. Hill, of the Great North
ern went to Europe some time ago. it
is said, was due to the purpose of raising
finds for the completion of his road to
the coast from Helena, Mont, but the
claim is made in Chicago that while nego
tiatipns of the sort were one of the objects
of his visit abroad, the principal matter
was to secure a transfer of the controlling
interest in the Kansas City. A little oyer "A
year ago some English capitalists
guaranteed the payment of the interest
ON Kansas City bonds, and the transfer Of
these to Mr.. Hill for the Great Northern
is reputed to be the object of the trip. The
dispatches also that from va
rious sources it is learned that the Great
Northern's chief executive has obtained
what he was after besides the necessary
capital for extending his lines. Presiden.
Stickney, of the Kansas City, WAS quoted
as saying that he was not NJ liberty to talk
about the deal at present, but intimating
that "A contamination would be reached,
as it would undoubtedly prove a strong
affair for his road.
The most interesting feature of the ru-
mOred transaction came 10 the surface
during the last few days in the Twin Git
les, and If President Hill has secured
English capital for an extension of the
Great Northern to the coast, the most of
it, in the opinion of Northwestern rail-
road officials. Will be devoted 10 purchas-
ing the franchises of a road already built
part of the way, and only needing some
300 miles more to conn lete connections.
This rumOr was particularly rife in st.
Paul yesterday. and is to the effect that
the Great Northern has negotiations I'M
der way with the Minneapolis, st. Paul
4 Sault Ste. Marie system by which all
extensions of the 500, west from Sault
Ste. Marie will become the property of
the Great Northern and for Il strong rea-
SON. The supposed English capital, it is
claimed, will be used in closing the bar
gain and building the 500 main line
from Boylon to Regina, n. w. T., where
connections are to he made with the Ca
madam Pacific, and in that manner civ
ing the Great Northern II complete ter
minal on the coast. MANY of the Cana
dian stockholders of the Great Northern
are likewise interested in the Canadian
Pacific, and on that ground it is thought
! m hi iipultN, NynulI lA pppnlntnraI in ~
irving at arrangements for carrying Great
Northern traffic of all sorts from Regina
westward. Further than this, the abb
sorption of the Kansas City would com
piete the end Of the affair rs far as Chr
cago outlets are concerned. The rumor
current in st. Paul also whispers that the
Great Northern would take in the South
Shore line and complete the Bismarck
extension, as was said some time ago the
500 contemplated OF its own accord.
Just what foundation there is for the
reports seems somewhat a matter of con
lecture. At the Kansas City general Of
iices in st. Paul tlr story is not altogether
discredited, nor is it at the same time adj
mitted. Col. w. p. Clough. vice-presi-
dent Of the Great Northern. WAS asked
about the object of President Hills visit
abroad, and if the story from Chicago
had any foundation, as well rs the local
rumor about the Great Northern's absorb
tiou of the 500 in Minnesota and Dakota.
Col. Clough said he knew nothing what
ever about the matter. III question, and
thought President Hill had not found
sufficient time IN Europe to carry out the
plans which are reported as having been
successful. He had seen nothing tangible
beyond the Chicago dispatches, and as to
the 500 affair had not heard Of it at all.
One prominent 500 official was rather
more communicative OF the subject and
said that while there was nothing def
mite in the report, not anything AS yet
substantial, he had good reason for be-
lieving some deal of the kind to he in
contemplation, which might possibly de-
velOp into "a reality when Mr.. Hill ar
rives in the northwest from his Euro
pean trip.--Mlnneapolis Tribune.