Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-03-05
NO CHANGE EXPECTED.
Persistent Rumors Of Absorption
Of lows Central Have Little
Foundation.
Immense Sum Of Money to be
Expended in improvements
the Coming Summer.
II Sale We're Contemplated This
Money Would not be Spent.
The Latest Tale.

~ Stems tnal narelly a Week can pass
without some publication of a revival
OF the constant rumors concerning the
disposal of the Iowa Central railroad
from some quarter OF the country or ar
ether. Since starting these rumors at
New York Several weeks ago, or rather
renewing thems newspapers the country
over have taken up the stories, enlarged
upon them and published additional
sfancies based upon alleged facts.
Now that the amalgamation idea
With the NJ. &. S. L. has had its sway
the old Illinois Central rumor hobs up
again. this time from an alleged inter-
View with a Wabash man, who claims
to have interviewed a stockholder1 of the
company on the Illinois Central deal.
The latest phase that the rumors have
assumed, is as follows:
Discussing the current report that
the Iowa Central road is soon to be alb
sorbed by the Illinois Central, said
Fred Mcmillan. of the Wabash, yester-
3day 4 CHANGED to meet at Ottumwa
several days ago a gentleman, "a stock
holder of the company, who offered to
wager with me that Within four months
,fiom that time the Illinois Central
would have taken over the property and
conduct its operation. ! don't know but
IT would be a good thing for that por-
ton of the state. For long time the
Iowa Central has hauled immense
quantities of coal from the fields OF
southern Iowa to Pickering and Mar.
shalltown. where it is turned over 10 the
Milwaukee & St. Paul and the North
western, TO be taken on to Sioux CITY
ard Council Bluffs. With the road con-
|trolled by the Illinois Central this traf-
nc would cease going to the Milwaukee
and Northwestern and be carried on TO
SIOUX City and Omaha by the Central,
Which has its own line to both points
Ihe benefits to accrue TO shippers and
lcunsumers would be in securing a thru
Irate Instead of having To pay the sum
| of two locals, as under the present man
agement.'
The H. r. does not reprint this rumor
lecause Il believes in any part of it, but
simply To show what outsiders are try
ling TO do With the property in which
lAlarshalltown IS SO deeply Interested. 1t
: probably very annoying to the Cen
lral management to have. one thing and
another constantly bobbing up. yet ait
the same time there is a feeling of rest
oh the Central at present that has not
ibsen exhibited in YEARS. There is feel
ing that people have control Of the
Property who are going to make a rail-
road out of it, and they know that thai
viii take several Years to accomplish.
Work is already planned by the Cen
trial management to fix up the roadbed
cut down the grades. rearrangs the
yards, maintain the present bridges and
put in new brides-in fact, arrange
nents are already under way to place
4 1.-The Iowa Central on a better paying ba s
I as and in shape to compete with NOT
|orlv roads of its class, but with the
larger trunk lines. The present OUTLAY,
us planned. will mean an immense
| amount of money and cash has already
been put into thousands of dollars of
new machinery for the shops. A large
Invoice of new steel frame box cars has
! also but recently been received, and in
lseEe contract and another much money
has been expended. With all these facts
lit is hardly presumable that the Central
Is contemplating being consolidated
| With any other road, or purchased by a
larger one. When the road is put in
lShrst-class shape-and with the amount
lsef work already planned that will not
he for three or four years at leass-it
tsw i'll be time to talk of amalgamation,
consolidation or purchase, but not be.
e e.,