The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-06-14
Activity Attracts Attention to Re
ported Pending Change il
the Eastern Illinois.
COTTON BELT TO CHICAGO?
Vice President Harding Reports
Prospect for Bumper Crops and
Missouri Pacific Earnings
Are on the Increase.

The activity of the Gould stocks on the
New York Stock Exchange yesterday. and
for several days previous. led by the Mis-
souri, Pacific, has attracted considerable at
tentiOn both in the East and in St. Louis.
all the more pronounced because of the dull
ness OF the stock market in other securities.
With this activity of the Gould stocks
come fresh rumors of a pending change in
the control of the Chicago and Eastern Il
iinois Railroad Company, on account of the
very notice BILE strength and activity re-
Gently of the stock of that company in the
New York Stock Exchange.
From one quarter comes the report that
the Louisville and Nashville management
, has concluded to increase its bid for q
majority of the Chicago and Eastern II
linois stock, and from another quarter
springs Il story that the Illinois Central and
the ST. Louis Southw estern. the latter
Gould's Cotton Belt" will Jointly purchase
this property.
Western railroad men declare that there
IS some sort of a deal on hand which is
destined to change the relations between
( the Chicago and Eastern Illinois and some
Of its competitors. Either the Louisville
ern. it is said, could use the Chicago and
Eastern Illinois Chicago terminals to ud-
vantage.
Who VIII Get the C. q L. IT.
The Louisville and Nashville could Use the
Chicago and Eastern Illinois to better ad-
vantage for q Mississippi Valley line 10
Chicago via St. Louis. using the Monon via
Louisville and Cincinnati or Indiana polls.
with the Louisville and Nashville under
Morgan. or Southern Railway control. the
latter railroad could use the Chicago and
Eastern Illinois into Chicago in closer con-
neCtion with St Louis.
- Irafllc agreements and relations with
lines north from the Ohio River and ST.
Louis to Chicago and the Northwest. how
ever; must be considered in speculation as
10 What the southern lines contemplate,
Chairman II. H. Turner of the Western
Illinois beard is said 10 have ;,reven. ed
the sale Of the control of that property to
me Louisville and Nashville on the basis of
$3.50 share. According 10 the Wall street
gossip of the last few days. this bid has
been raised to $40 a share. Some Of Chair
man Porter's friends say that the rSarI is
not lor sale These persons declare that
the pending deal will simply be in the ma
tuEe OF an advantageous traffic agreement
The Cotton Belt and the Illinois Central
are now building a hriige across the Mis-
sisslppi River at Thebes. The GOulds are
In control. and the company's office Is loca.-
cd in the Missouri Pacific headquarters II,
st. Louis. The Cotton Belt could usa the
Chicago and Eastern Illinois TO Chiclgo
1t Is now believed that the GoUids have
secured the St. Louis Valley Railroad for
use of the Cotton Belt into St. Louis via
the east bank OF the Mississippi The Cot
ton Belt could then connect with the Wa
bash for direct Chicago business a traffic
agreement with the Illinois Central in View
considered more likely
"Bumper- Crops Affect Stocks.
,,Oats, xice President Harding Of the Missouri
Ramsey of the Wabash S also in New York
In st. Louis II Is generally thought that
Mt Ramsey Is comforting with the Goulds
IN regard TO the settlement of the Virgins
Ferry fight
Mr.. Harding represents the Goulds for the
Missouri Pacific ana Iron Mountain In the
Terminal but ii is believed Mr.. Harding is
IN New York to confer with George Could
IN regard TO his plans in the West this trip
ElfF
GOuld'S change of mind he having stated
few days go to The Republic that he had
decided not to make his announced West
ern trip.
Vice President Harding. upon his return
from an inspection Of the Missouri Pacific
country few weeks ago. stated that he
that same glowing account to New York
This prediction of bumper crops of corn
good wheat crop. has cheered Wall street,
ard Missouri Pacific stocks are on the rise
In the Missouri Pacific territory it is
stated that the corn acreage is considerably
larger than last year, not taking account OF
planted in corn.
tivity of the Southwestern group. it is
pointed out that carly In the present cal
pei, endaT year the MssouT,l n Pacaiic @ reported
due to storms and to heavy damage to last
years corn crop. 1t is understood that the
decrease has given way to the reverse and
that the car movement has shown de-
cided tendency to increase. showing an ad-
clifton OF 20 cars day. with prospects for
a much heavier movement for some months
to come
While these are given as the reasons for
the activity and advance in the South
western group of stocks, It is said in some
quarters particularly in the East. that the
movement is altogether professional, and
some adverse criticism is heard that such
a movement should be engineered at a
time when there is no certainty as to how
the crops will turn out and also at period
when money is not by any means likely to
ha pla fyI