St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-07-17
S00'S BIG SCHEME
TO CONNECT WITH AN IMMENSE
FREIGHT CAR
FERRY
TO GET INTO CHICAGO
BY WAY OF LAKE MICHIGAN,
AND THUS BE p
FREE
CHICAGO.
TO GET INTO
FROM DICTATIoN OF POOLS.
A COMPANY Formed and the Ferry
Boats Being Built for the
Undertaking.


If all reports are correct, the 500
line has finally played an important
trump card in it's game of securing
a strong and thoroughly independ-
ent foOthold in the railroad bust
ness, as far as the traffic out Of and
into Chicago is concerned. This
great center of traffic has long been
a coveted point for the aggressive
500 people, who propose to build
up one of the strongest factors in the
railway world right in the North
western limits of this country.
Thus far the 500, although fully able
by its own and by strong connect
ing lines to handle Pacific and At
lantic coast business without dicta-
ton from people or associations, has
been shut out from a large traffic
by way Of Chicago.
The scheme to get control of this
new traffic is a large and costly
one, involving the expenditure of
millions. At the same time it is
bold move in the direction of ac-
quiring new territory, and if car
ried to completion, will have a
strong moral effect upon the condi-
lions of freight traffic. Recently
new company was organized at
Chicago, known as the Chicago
Transportation company. Its origi-
nal foundation was known as the
Lake Michigan Car Ferry company,
and it is with this concern that the
500 is reported as having formed an
alliance. By this connection the 500
secures an entrance into Chicago by
way of the Lake Michigan water
route.
THE NEW COMPANY
is engaged in building twenty-five
monster ferries, with which it is
proposed to transport freight cars
into Chicago. Each ferry is to have
a capacity of twenty-eight freight
cars. In addition to the line of fer
ries, there is to be added a fleet of
the most powerful tug boats ever
constructed for lake service. An
immense railroad slip is to be put
in at South Chicago, where a full
line of switching engines are to take
The direct route is to be from
Peshtigo, Wis, on the upper lake, to
the slip at South Chicago, an almost
straight water line. From Peshtigo,
directly westward about sixty miles,
also on a straight line, is a station
on the 500 called Faithorn. From
there to the harbor at Peshtigo a
line or branch was laid some time
ago, and is now in operation. This
branch is to be the connecting link
for the ferry traffic. When the COM
pany first began it's operations, it
purchased the Wisconsin & Mich
igan railroad and secured from
John Bagley, the well-known lum-
Der king, his White Rapids e North
ern line. This was at once trans
formed from a narrow to a stand
ard gauge road. Terminal facilities
were secured from the Milwaukee
road at such important points as
Menominee and Marinette. Then the
projectors, who are headed by
Messrs. Fisher and Faithorn, of Chi
cago, and who are the chief officers
of the Street Western Stable Car
company, were ready to proceed.
The next step was the formation of
the ferry or transportation line This
system is to be operated the year round
and consequently the boats will be
built of immense size and power. All
details seem to be arranged with
business calculation that shows that
the men at the head of the enterprise
know what they are undertaking. The
slip where the freight cars will be re-
ceiyed is alongside of the Chicago
Outer Belt line, where cars to all of the
twenty odd. railroads of Chicago can
be delivered at once
AT A MINIMUM EXPENSE.
All traffic to the trunk lines can be
handled in a few minutes. and the
usual delay of switching, taking up
some twenty to thirty-six hours, will
be avoided. Two of the new ferry
boats are practically completed, and
will arrive at Chicago before the end
of the week. The company has also
placed an order for 80 freight cars,
with a capacity of $1,000 pounds each,
to be ready by Sept. 1, and go more
are to be added as soon as the first
order is delivered.
The enterprise is certainly a gigan-
tic one, proposing to ferry freight 400
miles by water at a rate of about half
Of what an all-rail line can carry it
to Chicago The possibilities of the
scheme are immense. Opera tons of
the new company are slated to begin
by Sept. l, and it is generally stated
that Mr.. Fisher, who is one of the
most expert freight men in the coun-
try, will head the list of officers. The
time of a round trip of a ferry is to
be three days, making a single trip in
thirty-SiX hours. -;
That this new concern will cut a
large figure in the Northwestern
freight situation cannot be denied. AL
though no announcement has been;
given out that a reduction in freightS
will be made at once, it will be MOTH
ing but a natural consequence that
cutting will be INDUCED in to give the
new line an impetus towards securing,
through business. At any rate, the
great Northwest will be the gamer, if
freight rates should find a regulator
towards a lower tendency. The peor-
pie of this region will be the gamer bys
millions in the end. g
" +.
REORGANIZATION HOPES. 81
pm,