El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-12-12
OFFICIALS
GATHERING
In New York For the Annual
Meetings of the
RI ilr Jads.
WESTWARD BOUND
Is the Rock island. As tx
press'y Stated BY the
General Counsel
At Austin.

While officials of the Rock Island
railroad and some of the local rail-
readers ridiculed the story published
in The Herald two weeks ago to the
effect that the Rock Island road was
on its way to the Pacific coast and even
now had surveyors in the field, subse-
euent events and developments prove
every word of the story.
The Herald stated that the Rock
Island was coming into Ell Paso over
from here to San Diego. California,
via Bisbee. Arizona. This statement
is vouched for by n. H. Lassiter, gen.
eral attorney of the Chicago. Rock Is
land e Texas road. in an interview
he gave out at Austin last week. He
stated that the road would continue
the extension from Ell Paso to the
coast through New mexico, Arizona.
and California.
According to the Austin correspond
ent Mr.. Lassiter said that the Chicago,
Rock Island and Pacific is reaching out
toward the Pacific coast. and that it
is proposed to continue the extension
from Ell Paso west through New MeXi-
co. Arizona and California, if an equit-
able arrangement for an interchange
of business at Ell Paso can not be made
with the Southern Pacific. The pur-
chase of the Ell Paso and Northeastern
will be formally consummated at the
coming meeting of the board % direct
ber Is. Mr.. Lassiter had a conference
with Governor Savers and the railroad
commission in regard to the provis-
ion in the constitution of Texas re-
quiring railroads in Texas to maintain
general offices within the state. I'm
der this provision the Chicago, Rock
Island and Mexico Railroad company
would have to maintain general OF
flee for its 110 miles of road in the
state. \ bill will be introduced at the
Forthcoming session of the legislature
authorizing the sale of that portion of
the road to be constructed in Texas to
the Chicago, Rock Island and. Texas
Railway company, and in turn permit
the latter company to lease the ac-
quired line to the Chicago. Rock Is
land and Pacific hallway company.
A strong influence is being brought
! to bear on the eastern officials of the
Phelps-Dodge company to extend their
! railroad into Ell Paso from Bisbee in
stead of going to Separ, and the Rock
Island is said to be behind this enter
prise.
Every western official of the COM
pany favors this terminal and they are
doing ali they can to convince the high
! officials that it will be to their inter-
est to come here.
| Walter Douglas. superintendent of
the company's Bisbee interests, is now
in Ne wYork and it comes from a thor
| oughly reliable source that he is there
to talk to the president about the Ell
| Paso extension more tnan anything
else. 1t is believed that the plan is al
most settled upon but Mr.. Douglas is
so anxious about this extension that
he is making personal effort to show
the company that they cannot afford
to miss Ell Paso.
! When Mr.. Douglas was in Ell Paso
a week ago he visited every part of the
city and made personal observations OF
the pass above the smelter. He ex-
pressed himself in unmistakable terms
about the future of Ell Paso and was
constantly telling of the many re-
sources of the Bisbee country. 10 the
newspaper reporters he said that his
company might do we'll to come to E.
Paso and he was sure the citizens OF
this city would do well to make the
company proposition to extend theil
line here. He declared himself in fav-
or of the extension and said that il
built the line would have the best bus
mess of any road in this section.