The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-11-24
Said to Have Taken Northwestern
Place With Union Pacific.
IT ABsORBsM M. & ST. L. Ry,
Most Tangible Evidences of Proposed Com
solidation just Given Out at Dubu-
que-The Centrars Headquarters.
(sionx City Journal.)


The illinois Central Railroad COM
pany these days is disturbing the peace
of mind of more western railroad man
ayers than one. Not only is it accused
of having gobbled up the Minneapolis
and st. Louis and thereby shutting the
Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific and
Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern
roads out of their northern outlet and
disarranging the long established terri
tories of the lines in northern Iowa and
southern Minnesota, but now the Cen
tral is said to have stolen a march on
the Chicago and Northwestern by a
combination entered INTO with the
Union Pacific for an interchange Of
traffic at Omaha when the Fort Dodge
and Omaha is completed.
This report, when it was started two
months ago, was secuted by railroad
men generally Everyone seemed to
believe that Marvin Hughitt, president
of the Northwestern, was strong enough
to protect his roads intel ests with the
Union Pacific, Of which he is director.
But recently the Hartman interests
have dominated and now it is reported
in Chicago and New York that when
the Fort Dodge and Omaha goes into
operation the Illinois Central will be-
come the Union Pacific's chief Chicago
connection. The adoption of this pol
icy would mean.a severance of the inn
portant traffic relations now existing
between the Union Pacific and the Chi
cago and Northwestern, and this has
caused revival of the old talk of an
extension Of the Fremont and Missouri
Valley road.
The Elkhorn road now is built to Cas-
per, Wyo.. and it is one of the best con-
structed linesin the west. just as fast
time can be made on the ElkhOrn AS on
the Uuion Pacific. Theroad was built
10 Casper with the idea that 1t might
be extended to Ogden fora connection
with the Southern Pacific, if ever II
should lose its connection with the
Union Pacific at Omaha. In eastern
sfihanclal circles 1T is said that ii the
Union Pacific has entered into an alli-
ance with the Illinois Central the ex-
sleption of the Elkhorn is certain.
Des Moines Leader.)
The rumors OF the absorption of the
Minneapolis & st Louis road by the
Illinois Centra', which have appeared
at intervals since last spring and have
been repeatedly denied, continue TO
come to the surface. IL is claimed now
that it has heen authoritatively an
nonnced at Dubuque. the Iowa head
quarters for the Illinois Central. that
the property will be turned over to the
Illinois Central soon after January L.
The report started at the time the II
linois Central announced it's intention
to build from Fort Dodge to Omaha.
At,this time they were occasioned by
the purchase by the Illinois Central in
Fort Dodge Of property living between
its wards and those of the st. Louis
road. and the fact that Illinois Central
road employees we're experimenting
the work of track improvement on the
st Louis road in that vicinity. Later
the reports were revived when Illinois
Central officials. including President
Fish. went over the Minneapolis and
ST Lonis road and spent nearly a week
in an inspection of its properties. AT
that time thew came to Des Moines and
were in consultation here with officials
of the Des Moines Union, supposedly
with reference To terminals here
The most tantigle evidences of pro
posed consolidation have come to light
only within the past few days, when il
leaked out that the Burlington road
which uses St. Louis trackage from
Albent Lea to Minneapolis, has been
taking options on new right of way
between those cities and that the Hi
nois Central is building from Lysle to
Albert Lee, thus affording, with the st
Louis line, an almost direct route be
tween the Twin cities and Chicago.
The st. Louis road does not come any
nearer to Des Moines now than Angus.
Its trains are brought into this city
from that point over the Rock Island
tracks. 1t was originally the intention
to build the st. Louis road southwest
from Angus into Kansas City, and {
survey for the road was made. 1t il
considered doubtful if the Illinois Cen
trail would extend this line to De-
Moines except bv building from Ogden
a few miles north and east, over a lin
surveyed bv the Minneapolis & st
Louis people nearly two years age
There is reason to believe, though, tina
4 if it takes over the property this lin
| will hn h11i1t