The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-05-01
LOW G)nnI8'IS SALE
Rock Island Secures ConneC-
ton With St. Louis.
1T GETS Virgins FERRY
And the St. Louis, Kansas
City and Colorado Road.
1T GETS VIRGINS FERRY

st. Louis. April So.-The Republic to-
days says: The Chicago. Reck Island &
Pacific Railway company is the bidder
for the Virgins Ferry company. That
company is the principal represented by
the Mercantile Trust company. If the
deal succeeds St. Louis viii have another
big railway system. The Virgins Ferry
is Tor terminals. y high official OF the
Rock Island, believed TO have been Rob
ert AIather. second vice-p-esident and
general attorney. was in the city yester-
day IN consultation with Festus J. Wade,
president Of the Mercantile Trust COM
pany. and John Scullin. president Of the
Virgins Ferry company. An effort was
made 10 keep the visitors indemnity secret
The Rock Island representative depart
ed last night over the Illinois Central
for Chicago and was questioned aboard
the sleeper
rs it true. Mr.. Mather, that the Rock
Island is now the owner of the Virgins
Ferry company. and purpose to come into
ST. LOUISE he vas asked.
I am not prepared to answer" he re-
piled. He would not admit that ne was
the second vice-presideut and general
attorney, though he did say he was an
official Of the Rock Island. IN his hand
he carried q roll of paper. apparently
maps. plats and legal documents. which
Were not deposited ia his spacious valise
even when ne got aboard the car.
St. Louis. April so-3f. y. low. general
attorney of the Chicago Rock Island &
Pacific Railway company. stated today
that the Hartman syndicate embracing
that property had purchased the st. Louis
Kansas City K Colorado railroad. operat-
ing between St. Louis and Union. No.
and had authorized the Mercantile Trust
company to negotiate for the Virgins
Ferry stock at 500 share. With the
purchase of the ST. Louis Kansas City
& Colorado railroad. the Rock Island Sc
cures right-of-way into St. Louis and
with the acquisition Of the property q
the Virgins Ferry company. ample ter
minal facilities VIII De had. cir. Low de-
ciined 10 state the price paid tor the Col
orado road negotiations which he said
had been going on for several weeks. He
said the Mercantile Trust company had
secured an option on the majority Of the
stock Of the Virgins Ferry company.
the purchase price of which would be
more than the 100000 recently mem
toned
1.-The Colorado railroad said Mr.. Low.
was bought several weeks ago. but
final papers were not signed until last
week.
with the property we have the right
of-way into st. Louis and the Wissins +
Ferry holdings. viii give US ample ter
minal facilities.
4 am assured-and have no reason
whatever to doubt the correctness Of my
belief-that the Rock Island railroad has
a majority of the Ferry stock. The
Mercantile Trust company is simply act
ing as our agent. The original proposi-
ton was made by President Scullen of
the Virgins Fcrry company After a con
ference with the Rock Island directors
the sum of $500 was offered for each share
and Mr.. Scullon said he thought be could
get the stock at that price. When he
returned To St. Louis tho Mercantile
Trust company was officially authorized
to represent us
Il believe this move on the part az tn
Rock Island road viii be OF immense /
benefit to St Louis it viii mean that
there VIII bee a competitor % meet en-
terminal business here as with the Wig
gins Ferry property We viii have ample
facilities for handling freight on this and
The other side of the river
Nr. Low advanced tho opinion that the
Rock Island would probably expend mix .
lions Of dollars for Improvements. Tho
heaviest holders Of Colorado railroad +
stocks were David r. Francis and John .
scullon president or the Virgins Ferry
company. st present the road has ouiy
boon built 20 Union No. bet 81 being ex-
tended 70 Kansas City. where 10 viii meet .
the Rocl, Island There was no charge
today in the contest between the MISSES
sipni q Mercantile Trust company over F
The Wis1ns Ferry stock. Both sides stu .
hold firmly that the controlling interest
has rot yet passed.