The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-17
Topeka Would Be Included In
the New System
If the Gould Interests Buy the
Alton.
THE PROPOSED SALE
Is Discussed In New York -
Terms Secret
Vast System Covering South
western Territory.

New York, Dec. 17.-President John J.
Mitchell of the Illinois Trust and Saw
ings Bank arrived today from Chicago
and called upon George Gould in his
Missouri Pacific offices in the Western
Union building. The conference lasted
several hours. It is understood that the
terms of sale of the Chicago and Alton
railroad to the Missouri Pacific were
discussed. Neither of the gentlemen
would speak of the conference.
The Illinois Trust and Savings Bank
IS trustee for the majority of stock
holders of the Alton system, who pooled
their stock and placed it on the market
sixty days ago. Since then there have
been various bidders for it, the most
prominent of whom have been the
Goulds and the Kansas City, Pittsburg
& Gulf road It would be a valuable
addition to either of these systems, but
especially to the Gould system. Two
weeks ago William K. Vanderbilt made
a trip west, and the story was circu-
lated that he had gone out to inspect
the Alton, with view of buying it
1t was said that a proposition was made
to Mr.. Vanderbilt and that he had
taken it under consideration, but Chaun-
cey NJ. Depew said today Mr.. Wander
bilt had no intention Of buying the
road.
Gould Begins to Figure, Too.
About the same time that Mr. Van
derbilt went west George Gould began
to figure on the Alton matter For him
1t meant Chicago terminal for his
Missouri Pacific and its southwestern
subsidiary lines. By means of it the
Missouri Pacific could connect both its
St. Louis and Kansas City terminals
with Chicago So it was that Mr..
Mitchell was invited to come to New
York to talk the matter over.
In the meantime Kuhn, Loeb & Co,
the eastern representatives of the Alton,
have had several conferences with Mr..
Gould.
The opinion IS gaining ground In Chi
cago that the proposed Missouri
Pacific deal means a practical com
binatiOn between the Vanderbilt and
Gould systems Of roads with the Chi
cagO and Alton as the connecting link.
1t would be another step towards the
contamination of the long cherished
scheme of the Vanderbilts to bring all
the principal railroad systems in the
country under the financial control of
j. PferpOnt Morgan.
The Missouri Pacific and Alton COM
bined would give the Vanderbilts the
same superior facilities for traffic to all
the principal points in the west and
southwest, including all Texas points
and gulf ports, that they now enjoy
over the Chicago and Northwestern and
oregon Short line to North Pacific coast
points.
Mileage of the Roads.
The Chicago and Alton system com
prises S43.54 miles of road, composed of
the following lines:
Miles
Main line. Joliet to East St
Louis ............ ............. 2435O
Coal City branch NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. PAS
Washington branch, Dwight to
Washington and Lacon ....... 1915
Louisiana branch, ROodhouse to
Quincy .............. ............. $3.50
Jacksonville division, Blooming
ton to Wann ...-................ 15S. 90
Joliet and Chicago railroad-.... 1920
Louisiana and Missouri R r.. 100 90
Kansas City, st. Louis & Chicago ISL 81
Total mileage operated. ........ 1884
The Missouri Pacific's total mileage Is
5.324.32 miles, made up of the following
lines.
Main line, St. Louis to Atchison.
Central Branch Junction TO