The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-08-28
RUMOR OF A new DEAL.
The Illinois Central to Obtain Control Of
the Minneapolis and St. Louis.
NO DEFINITE AGREEMENT YET REACHED
Under Way for Some Time Bc-
tween the Two Roads.

New York. August 27.--The Herald
says: From seni-otiicial source it is
learned that deal is pending whereby
the Illinois Central may obtain control
of the Minneapolis and st. Louis railroad
Negotiations to this end are said to have
been under way for some time between
Hartman Fish interests representing the
Illinois Central and President Edward
Hawley, representing the present control
of the Minneapolis and st. Louis railroad.
No definite agreement has yet been reach
ed, but Wall street interests having
knowledge of the situation say that in
any event traffic alliance will be et-
fected and that a change of control will
probably be brought about. There are
even rumors of the terms upon which
Minneapolis and St. Louis securities may
be exchanged for those of the Illinois
Central.
A superficial glance at maps indicating
the geographical position of the two prop
critics, shows that such deal would be
greatly to the advantage of both roads.
The Illinois Central would be given ac-
cess 10 territory rich in traffic which it
does not now touch: would get fine term
nals in Minnesota's Twin Cities. Min
neapolis and St. Paul, and would have
practically IA through line from Duluth to
the Gulf OF Mexico.
Railroad men agree that the Ninneauolis
and ST. Louis has terminal facilities, the
equal of any in ST. Paul and the best in
Minneapolis, from which the road derives
large revenue. The company's line ira
verses an exceptionally rich country and
at Albert Lea. Mimi, furnishes the only
connection to the Twin Cities and the
Northwest for the Rock Island and the
Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern
systems.
President Stuyvesant Fish and E. II.
Hartman, who are the controlling factors
in Illinois Central affairs. have been car
rying out scheme of expansion for some
time past First, the Illinois Central ac-
quired the Mississippi and Yazoo Valley
lines which parallel the companys road
from Memphis. Tenn. to New Orleans
Then followed the purchase of the Chesa-
peake, Ohio and Southwestern running
from Memphis to Louisville The extern
sion of the Dubuque and Sioux City road
into Omaha, which will be completed this
fall, was the next move. New comes the
proposition to gain an entrance into st.
Paul and MINNEAPOLIS. which, If secured
will give the Illinois Central access TO
great amount of territory that has never
contributed to its revenue. Through lines
already in operations would extend to the
head of Lake Superior, thus giving an
unbroken line from Duluth to New Or
leans.
All that would be required to form the
connection between the two systems would
be the construction of few miles of road
from Lyle Mimi, which is the Illinois
Central's present northern terminus 10 Al
bert Lea, MINI where the Minneapolis and
st. Louis now runs. In financial circles
it is thought that the purchase or lease
of the Minneapolis and st. Louis by the
Illinois Central is more likely than the
arrangement of traffic alliance.
Chicago Rock Island and Pacific rail-
way interests are said to have become
alarmed over this new extension scheme
of the Illinois Central. The Rock Island
formerly controlled parts of the Min
neapolis and st. Louis system through
ownership of mortgage bonds. These
bonds were taken UP by the payment of
more than four millions when the road
was organized in 1894. Since that time
there have been many reports that the
Rock Island was scheming to again get
control Of the property.