The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-03-20


and it is reported that he will be their
choice to head the consolidation. He
was interested with them in the Ameri-
can Tin Plate company, the American
Steel Hoop company and the National
Steel company. and is understood to be.
in close sympathy with d. G. Reid, the
New York promoter and financier.
A Chicago dispatch says both Mr..
Leeds and President Marvin Hughitt of
the Northwestern were out of the city
yesterday, and no confirmation of the
merger report could be had there.
The only other official of the Rock
Island probably in position to know
of the transaction was General Counsel
Robert Mather, who was silent.
John ID. Caldwell, secretary to Presi-
dent Hughitt, said:
There Is no one in Chicago who can
affirm or deny the report authorita-
lively. For some reason the stock of
both the roads has been extremely ac-
from 222 to a fraction over 232 since
March 4 ] understand there has been
a correspondingly rapid increase in the
price of Rock Island
William II. Moore may be called the
originator of the plan of industrial COM
bination. He was one of the first to
see the possibility of reducing expenses
and increasing profits through bringing
together rival concerns in the manufac-
turing field Important combinations
arranged by him and his brother were
those OF the American Biscuit company
and the Diamond Match company: The
American Biscuit company has since
been the vehicle for a merger. through
the National Biscuit company, of the
baking industry in the United States,
until today it controls almost the en-
tire biscuit and cracker business of the
country.
The Diamond Match company. organ
lied in 1889. has grown so rapidly that
today no other match manufacturing
concern is reckoned with in America
The reputation of the Moores may be
said to date from the time they entered
the field of iron and steel and its allied
industries. OF the various companies
absorbed by the United States Steel
corporation,f four were known as Moore
companies" having been organized by
them. These were the American Sheet
Steel company, the American Tin Plate
company, the National Steel company
and the American Steel Hoop company.
A little m ore than a year ago the at
tention of the Moores was turned to the
Rock Island. They soon succeeded in
getting control of it, and at once be-
came leaders among the railway mag
mates.
of Northwestern shares, and Wall street
know nothing about it. The stock could
be purchased and not transferred ON
the books of the company, and no one
would be the wiser There have been all
sorts OF rumors flying about recently,
but Mr.. Hughitt paid no attention 10
them"
NJ. NJ. Kirkman. vice president of the
Northwestern, said:
1T is all news to me. The Moores,
however, or anybody else, might buy
controlling interest in the road without
our knowing anything about it. Even
Mr.. Hughitt could be kept in ignorance
of such a transaction. Large blocks
of NOrthweS tern stock have changed
hands recently, but the buyers have re-
manned under cover. The stock is GER
tainly for sale. and can be bought in
any quantities if the buyers have the
price"
The Moores have a formidable repre-
sentation in other roads than the Rock
leading holders in~the Mexican Central
and have big interests in the 'coalers"
markedly the Jersey Central. the Del
aware & Hudson, and the Lackawanna.
Their control of the Rock Island alone
N axes them a power in the world OF
finance. The stock of that road amounts
to $50. 600, 000 and 1000 miles of lines are
operated, extending through Illinois,
Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, Ok
lahOma. the Indian Territory, Texas,
and Colorado.
1t is only within a few months that
the Moores have been prominent in the
ownership of railway securities. Their
financial regulations and a large part
of the millions they now control We're
made in the industrial field.
General Attorney NJ. A. Low. of To-
peka, is at Ell Paso today with Presi-
dent Leeds of the Rock Island, and none
of the officials OF the road here could
affirm or deny the reports of the COM
bination of the two roads. the Rock Is
land and the Chicago Northwestern.