Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1902-05-08
RAILROAD NEWS.
The Roofs Island to Enter ST. Louis.

chaser of the ST. Louis, Kansas City
& Colorado railroad and of the con-
trolling interest in the Virgins Fer
ry company. NJ. a. Low, general
attorney for the Rock Island, made
the announcement in ST. Louis.
The work of extending the newly
acquired line into Kansas from its
present terminus at Belle, Mo-, los
miles west of ST. Louis, will be COM
menced Immediately. The line is
now under construction to Versailles,
Mo-, seventy miles west of Belle,
and when completed will be the
shortest route between St. Louis
and Kansas City by 20 miles. In
his statements concerning the mat
ter Mr.. Low seemed confident that
the Mercantile Trust company of
ST. Louis had secured the control
ling interest of Virgins Ferry COM
pany shares and that the price paid
was $500 per share as announced.
There has been considerable con-
troversy over the purchase of the
Virgins Ferry company and it is
commonly believed that the Missis-
sippi Valley Trust company which
has been fighting the purchase by
the Mercantile Trust company al
most from the first announcement
that the deal was on, is acting for
the Santa Fe. Both companies claim
to hold a majority of the shares but
the Mercantile Trust company and
the Rock Island seem confident that
they have gained control. That the
Rock Island has bought the Colo
RADIO road is not denied.
The Rock Island now uses the
Burlington tracks and the Hannibal
bridge into Kansas City. This con-
tract expires in two years but the
company has been granted the ght
to build bridge across the Missouri
river, this point having been gained
by Attorney NJ. a. Low some months
ago.
There is also a report that the
Moores, the Rock Island controllers,
are also in control of the Northwest
ern majority stock, and that this
will develop in the June meeting of
the stockholders.
A combination of the Rock Island
and Northwestern would make up
the strongest system of railroads be-
tween the Mississippi river and the
Rocky Mountains, covering the ter
ritory from the Canadian border to
the Rio Grande. Its only weak spot
as shown by the existing maps of
the two roads, would be south of
the Missouri river, and in this ter
ritory the Rock Island has bought
two railroads, the Choctaw and the
St. Louis, Kansas City & Colorado
within a month. With these lines
connected and few branches thrown
out, only the Gulf section would be
left uncovered and here the Rock
Island has planned to reach by a
line from Fort Worth.
A. A. Robinson, president of the
Mexican Central, who is in the city
on his way to Boston, expressed
satisfaction at the purchase by the
Rock Island and said in regard to
the matter:
git will give the Rock Island a
very good line and will make it of
increased Importance as a connec-
ton of the Mexican Central. The
Rock Islands line to Ell Paso is
proving to be great benefit to the
Mexican Central. With the St.
Louis connection, the Rock Island
is in still better position to secure
business out of Ell Paso from our
line. The Santa Fe has, according
to the newspapers, been figuring
some in this St. Louis matter, but
know nothing about the truth of the
reports. The Santa Fe got out of
St. Louis once and whether it wants
to get in again is question"