Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-26
BLUFFS NAY Be CUT OUT
Great Western AfrOntsd at Opposition Of
City Council.
ILLINOIS CtNTRAL looks At RIeHT- or WAY
May Purchase for Sake Of Improving
Its Advantages aud shuttins out
New COmpetition-AnnuIment
Clauses in Contract.

Despite the fact that II has expended
nearly s250,00O in the purchase OF property
Tor Its right-of-way and terminals in COun-
ell Bluffs, II is nov reported that there is
not only a possibility, but a strong prob
ability Of the Great Western not building
into Council Bluffs. This rumor originated
from New York, where meetings have been
held, 1t is said, and at which the question
Of the absorption OF the Great Wehtern
by the Hartman syndicate was discussed.
Local activity on the part Of oficials Of the
Illinois Central railroad, lends color to the
rumor.
It is known that an oficial of the IL
linois Central, where headquarters are in
Chicago, was in Council BLUFFS Monday and
not only secured copies of the right-of-way
and vacation ordinances recently passed by
the city council in the interest Of the Ma.
son City q Fort Dodge railroad. but also
carefully looked over all the property pur-
chased by the Great Western for its right
of-wsy and terminals in this city. Before
leaving Council Bluffs this oficial secured
a list Of all the parcels Of ground bought
by the Great Western and the prices paid
for them. This, taken In connection with
the report from the east that the Hartman
syndicate was figuring on purchasing the
Great Western, and thus preventing an
other competing line from entering the
Bluffs is regarded as significant.
Illinois Central Could Absorb.
Up to date the Great western. through
its local agents. the firm Of Greenshlelds
q Everest, has paid out about $175, 900 for
property in Council Bluffs, and contracts
now coming due call for about sac, 900
more, making $3.50. 900 in all that the Great
Western will have paid for its right-of-
way and location for its terminals. OF this
property, q large amount could be resold
ct q small loss, while much of It could be
utilized by the Illinois Central.
The Illinois Central's freight depot, the
one erected by the Omaha Bridge and Ter
minal Railway company, at Ninth street
and Broadway, Council Bluffs, Is not CEN
trally situated and for this reason the
Illinois Central loses a great deal Of trade
from the large implement houses on South
Main street. In the event OF the Illinois
Central's buying out the Great Western, It
could use it's property on Ninth avenue, as
contemplated by the Great Western for a
freight depot. and this location would be
accessible to the large implement trade in
that section of the city.
All Of the grading contracts made By the
Great Western for its line from the BLUFFS
10 FOTI OOQko COulhln du buuuimouL ClbubSS
which provided that It can discontinue the
work at any time II 1t so desires and be
responsible only for such work al may
have been done UP to that time. This an
nvlment clause also provides that the
Great Western will ship free to Chicago
the outfit Of the grading contractor.
Resists Vacation Ordinance.
Up to date the Great Western has not
ALA a. - n. nAl- -aAt-
nance passed by the Council Bluffs city
council. and 1t was. stated yesterday by a
representative of the railroad that 1t was
doubtful II It would.
Under the vacation ordinance the Great
Western Il not permitted to place more
than one storage track between lite main
tracks and South avenue. This Is where
the Great Western objects to the ordinance
Chief Engineer Marston was In Council
BLUFFS yesterday morning and said the Of
ifcials at Fort Dodge were much disap-
pointed over the provision and on its ac-
count would probably refuse to accept the
measure. Mr.. Msrston said the railroad had
purchased the ground along South syenus
at q great expense for the specific purpose
of building there its storage tracks. Al
to the clause compelling the railroad to
maintain lights at the Tostevin street and
Tenth avenue crossings, MT. Marston said
that was a minor consideration, and did
not come within the province Of the con-
struetion department, but was one that thC
operating department had to deal with
The refusal of the Council Bluffs city
council to allow the storage tracks between
the main tracks and South avenue on the
property purchased by the railroad, En-.
gineer Marston said, had upset all the plant
and confronted the company with q prop.
osltion which the officers had not expected
Asked as to the report that Illinois Cen
trail was figuring on buying out the Greai
Western, Mr.. Marston said he had no sd.
vices and that he had orders to 80 aheat
laying out the work OF construction fo
the engineers.