Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-06-12
ABOUT THE BURLINGTON.
Apparent Shifting of stock Interests in
the C, II. a. a.

New York, June 9.-An apparent
shifting of stock interest in the Chi
cago, burlington and Quincy is causing
much talk. Some railroad men be-
ieve that Union Pacific interests are
absorbing the Burlington; others say
that the Pennsylvania railroad is secur-
ing control, and many, accepting the
assurance of the Burlington chief Of
flcers, believe that the Burlington is
destined to maintain it's independence,
but that the Union Pacific and the
Pennsylvania will have a voice in it's
management as large stock holders.
Current events show clearly that the
railroads west of Chicago and ST. Louis
are coming closer together in interests
and in actual control in a manner sim
liar to that which has developed a
trunk line territory under the guild
ance of the Vanderbilt Morgan-P Penn
sylvania combination. All the trans
continental lines and their Chicago
connections havel tacitly agreed to
avoid any clashing that may lead to a
war of rates. In order to get these
lines into shape so that they could be
kept from fighting each other, there
has been steady concentration of
control within the past two or three
Years. Today half a dozen men prac-
tically control the situation and COM
paratively little talk is heard of agrees
sive rivalries.
The Burlington, in its independence,
has been seeking an outlet to the Pa
cific coast. Owners of the other trans
continental lines take the ground that
there is not sufficient business for an
other road to the Pacific, and a re-
straining hand is laid on the ambitious
burlington and it is being brought into
line with the other roads in its terri
tory on the community Of ownership
plan.
The syndicate which controls the I'm
ion Pacific is credited with having a
large amount of Burlington stock.
The Pennsylvania railroad, which has
a close traffic contract with the Bur-
lington west of Chicago for several
years, is also said to have become a
large stock holder. The Union Pacific
and Pennsylvania interests are said to
have gone into Burlington, just as the
Pennsylvania and Morgan interests
went into Baltimore and Ohio-to in
sure unity of action, and not to obtain
physical control.
According to general report of Van
derbilt-Morgan, interest. which is still
a factor in Union Pacific affairs, is
eNerting an influence in favor of the
Community ownership plan. If such
is the fact, it embodies an assurance
that the interests of the Chicago and
Northwestern, rival of the Burling-
ton, will be protected, for the Wander
bilt influence is dominant in the Chi
cago and Northwestern. The president
of one of the trans-continental lines
is authority for the statement that
there is to be warning between the
railroads west of Chicago and ST.
Louis: The plans for concentration of
control, he intinates, are nearly COM
pleted, and ultimately the western rail
road interests will be held in com
pact form by groups. The Great Nor
thern and Northern Pacific have appar-
emily buried the Ratchet permanently
The Union Pacific is to be the nucleus
lot a vast and harmonious system; the
Southern Pacific and the Atchison
are planning to join III friendly spir.
it new construction. and the Missouri
Pacific, the ST. Louis Southwestern
the Missouri, Kansas and Texas, and
other subordinate lines in the south.
west are gradually uniting in a ''com-
munity of ownership"