The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-10-29
RAILROAD NEWS.
The Vanderbilt Excursion VIII
Reach Topeka Thursday.
Seven Coach Loads Of the High
est Officials.
VANDERBILT A GUEST.
He Denies That He Wants to
Buy the Road.
Great Western-Rock Island Deal
Is RumOred.
VANDERBILT A GUEST.

The so-called vanderbilt speciap VIII
reach Topeka late Thursday afternoon.
The special train bearing the Officers aiiu
directors of the Rock Island is composed
of seven coaches and a dining car, and IS
in reality only the annual inspection tour
of the people who are in control OF the
road, after the regular annual meeting
of the directors The rumor that mas
been given so much publicity that Van
derbnt has his eye on the Rock Island
property with view of making 1t part
of the Vanderbilt lines is d1Scredlteu py
the officials of the road here. In fact,
young Cornelius N Vanderbilt has denied
the statement in an interview +o,,- or
INSPECTION Of the Rock Island lines simply
as the guest of Ogden Mills, one OF the
heavy stockholders Of the road, o+,or
Mr.. Vanderbilt made q trip OF Inspection
of the Chicago Great Western lines with
President A r. Stickney only a few S SAYS
before beginning the trip with Mr. Mills
on the Rock Island This fact coupled
with the informa ton that the Great Great
rise to the rumors that are IN Circulation
to the effect that Vanderbilt is planning
the purchase of the Rock Island and the
Great Western Both are excellent prop
critics. and if added to any one OF the
vantage The Great Western is a road
invading a rich territory, and should I'M
road The policy of its management has
been, however, to refuse to enter any
territory, and to persistently make ar
bitrary rates. This has had the effect of
against the Great Western. 1t has also
had the effect, it is said, of causing the
value, owing to careless management. 1t
is also said the rOadbed and other prop
and are consequently in a bad condition:
The Great Western is the only road of
the Chicago-St. Paul district that is not
now included in the community of in
The Rock Island has made such long
strides during the past two or three
years that it is now looked upon as one
Of the best railroad properties in the
pendent line 1t Stretches from the great
lakes to the. Gulf on the south, and to
FL Paso on the southwest, giving a direct
connection with the Mexican Central to
While it is not to be doubted that the
Vanderbilts would like to gain control of
the road. it must be remembered that the
stock Of the Rock Island is owned very
largely in Chicago and is in the hands of
capitalists who are very well contented to
hold onto it. 1t is said that Marshall
stock 1t is believed that the Rock ISL
to dispose of, in view of the fact that
rapid rate. and that the country it trav-
erses is developing into one of the rich
est territories traversed by any railroad.
The rumor that the Great Western will
be purchased by the Rock Island and the
The line from Olwein. Iowa, to Kansas
City would give the Northwestern an out
by connecting with that line at Marshall
town, Iowa, and the Chicago-St. Paul line
would be of value to the Rock Island.
Inc Rock Island, it is said, owns the con-
trolling interest of the B. c. r. & N.
or what is known as the Albert Lea route,
from Chicago to St Paul. but the Great
Western line is more advanta geous
route. The line between St Joseph and
Oes Moines would be an excellent acQui-
sition for the Rock Island
Belief has been expressed that the trip
of Mr.. Vanderbilt over the Great Western
and now over the Rock Island has some
connection with a contemplated deal
whereby the Great Western is to be alb
sorbed and divided between the Rock
Island and the Northwestern
II MI Vanderbilt is busy on this errand
II Is new venture for him. Heretofore
ne has not dabbled in stocks and bonds
and mechanical end of railroading and
society. He graduated from the Sheffield
scientific school of Yale. and has invented
a locomotive fire-bOx that is said to effect
a great saving of fuel. He is reputed to
be a clever inventor.
The special train in which the Rock
Island party is travelling includes the
private cars of R. R. Gable Chairman of
the executive board; W. G. Purdy, presi-
cent. and A ]. Hit, general manager
OF the officials there are with the party
heads OF departments follows: War
rem q. Purdy. PRESIDENT H. A Parker
nrst vice president; Robert Mather gem
eral attorney and second vice president
J. NJ. johnson. freight traffice manager
ana third vice president: F. E HAYES
treasurer; NJ A Low, general attorney
Tor lines west of the Missouri river. F
h. Hayne. treasurer and assistant secre- |
hopps, general superintendent of lines
west OF the Missouri river: w II SfiIl-
Wen, superintendent of lines east of fhe
missouri river: John Sebastian general |
perintendent of motive power and eduin
znenr, and W. E Dauchy, chief engineer