Omaha daily bee., 1902-08-15
VERBAL TRAIN OISPATCHINC
nlinsis Central Preparing to Use Telephones
in PlsOs Of Telegraph.
cAIcAGO-OMANA LINE NEAR CoMPLL1IoN
President Fish Believes Telephonic
Service VIII Prove satisfactory for
Railroad Business-ROck Island
AFTER Mail Contract.

within thirty days the Illinois Central
expects to have its new telephone circuit
established between Omaha and Chicago.
@. r. Annett Of Chicago. superintendent OF
telegraph Of the Illinois Central, is In this
city perfecting arrangements for the COM
pletion Of the line Of communication from
the lake metropolis to the Gate City.
Mr.. Annett says a large force OF men
IL now at work on q section of the new
telephone line between Fort Dodge and
Council Bluffs. and 1t is expected that this
section will be completed within ten days.
Another force Is also at work on the sec
ton from Dubuque to Fort Dodge. which
section probably will be finished In time to
form the connection from Omaha and Coun-
ell Bluffs to Chicago within thirty days.
The line is already built and ready for use
between Chicago and Dubuque. so when the
work Just outlined Is completed a circuit
will be established from the main once in
Chicago to Omaha, taking In the Illinois
Central agencies over Iowa.
AS the new system Of telephone lines is
established over a large portion of the
Illinois central's main lines the extension
west will bring Omaha and intervening sta
lions in direct communication with Chicago
and all the other points now included in
this system.
For some time various railroads over the
country have been discussing the feasibility
Of s~uppianting its telegraphic service with
telephones and the Illinois Central Is a
pioneer In the adoption Of this remarkable
innovation. Prominent railroad men have
differed radically upon the practicability
Of such q method and. even though Presi-
dent Fish seems thoroughly convinced Of
the ultimate success and wisdom Of this
departure. others equally as prominent and
active In the great railroad world are still
disposed to question his theories. How
ever. the head Of the Illinois Central is
proceeding with his plans Of installing tele-
phones over his entire line to take the
place. gradually. Of the telegraph instru-
ments. While conservatives argue that the
new system, good In itself for general ONCE
purposes. can never surpass telegraphy for
general railroad use, those who, after pro-
found thought upon the subject, have been
led to the extreme step Of adopting the sys-
tenn have not misgivings as to results. It
is claimed that the telephone will give
more accurate. definite and as quick serv-
ice as the telegraph and In the end provide
a material retrenchment In the operating
expenses Of the road.
To Enter Mail Carrying Competition.
A report has crept into railroad circles
that with the Inauguration Of ita new
special Chicago-Los Angeles train service
the Rock Island will enter the mail carry
ting comnetition 81 a direct rival OF the
other transcontinental roads now engaged
In that pursuit. A new mail route, It is
said. win be opened up by this road that
will make q material change in the future
distribution OF government contracts. No
official confirmation Of this report has been
obtained, but It is regarded as having more
than mere rumor back Of 1t. The fact
that the Rock Island claims a shorter route
between Kansas City and FL Paso and also
from there on to Los Angeles than any
other line, Is cited as evidence that this
road stands a good ichance Of getting a
slice Of the governn ent mail patronage.
When the equipment for this new train was
announced 1t was found that a special new
mail car service was among the list, and
this Is pointed to as an indication Of the
Rock Islands determination to get in this
dolH