The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-05-02
ROCK ISLAND
SCORES AGAIN.
Giant of the West Secures the
Only Ground
Available For Entrance to
Worlds Fair Grounds.
STRIP 5000 FEET LONG
Lying Along North Side of For
est Park.
No Other Road Can Come Near
Site of the Show.
STRIP 5000 FEET LONG
Is Also Negotiating For Bridge
Over the Mississippi.

st. Louis. May At IS very positive
" announced here that the Chicago.
Rock Island & Pacific Railroad con
pany has closed a deal for a strip of
ground 5000 feet long and 1876 feet wide
along the northern side of Forest park
This will give the Rock Island road an
independent Worlds fair terminal. The
consideration is said to be $425. 600.
The Rock Island VIII therefore have
the only railroad terminal facilities for
the Worlds fair business. From the
point where the Rock Island passes
through one corner of Forest park. the
park where the Worlds fair is to be
held. the Rock Island viii use the tracks
of the Wabash into the Union station
The Rock Island parallels the north side
of the park its entire length and the
entrance to the Worlds fair will be oD-
posite the station that is to be built for
the Worlds fair business. The line from
the park into the Union station in St.
Louis will be double tracked. and SUI
burban trains viii run to and from the
city and the fair grounds every few
minutes. No other railroad reaching St.
Louis passes anywhere within half
dozen blocks of the fair grounds. Thus
the Importance of the move of the Rock
Island is clearly seen.
The audacity of the move of the Rock
entrance into St. Louis is more than as
tonishing, and railroad officials in st.
Louis have not yet recovered from the
shock caused by learning of the coup
OF the Rock Island.
St. Louis railroad officials should have
been the first to realize the Importance of
the line recently acquired by the Rock
Island, as a factor for the World Fair
business and it is only natural to think
they should have been the first to seize
that the Rock Island, an entirely foreign
road. has jumped in and beaten everyone
to this prize is astonishing
It is said that the plan was originated
by NJ A. Low of Topeka, general attorney
of the railroad, who carried the scheme to
such a successful termination. Mr. Low
by ex-Gov Francis. president of the
World Fair company. and principal own
er of the railroad stock of the St. Louis,
Kansas City q Colorado who made sew
eral trips to New York in the interest Of
Ii IS Believed in St. Louis that this move
on the part of the Rock Island is prepara-
tory to opening a new direct line from
Chicago to St Louis.
The Rock Island will also be able with
the building of some small bits OF track
and the requirement of a little more to es-
tabish a direct line from st. Paul and the
northwest to st. Louis.
The Virgins Ferry. company owns .valu-
able trackage and other terminal facilities
on the bank or the MISSISSIPPI river Just
below the Merchants bridge. Though the
capitalization is only I,lO0eQ0, this does
not measure by q long way the fuH Value
of the property, as shown by the reports
that the stock has been selling 500 to 600
per cent of its face. The property con
sists of about ! 600 acres Of land on the
Illinois side of the river, with trackage TO
all the elevators and manufacturing estab-
Iishments of the place, and a tract 70 acres
in extent on the Missouri side.
AFTER A BRIDGE
St Louis, May 2.-The Rock Island IS
figuring to acquire a bridge over the
Mississippi river. Owners of the Alton
bridge have been approached for an op-
ton and overtures have been made to
the holders of the franchise for a new
bridge at Mullanphy street.
This. it is said. indicates that the e
& A and the Illinois Central are IN
with the Rock Island on the terminal
| deals.
Overtures, it is admitted, have been
made to the owners of the franchise Tor
the projected third bridge to cross the
Mississippi a [ Mullanphy street. Mayor
M. NJ. Stephens and several East st.
Louis men own the franchise.
Another report has it that the Rock
Island is figuring with the Burlington
railway company for an entry TO St
Louis by way of the Alton bridge. This,
| It IS said by railroad men, indicates
/ that the Hartman syndicate, which
| controls the Illinois Central and Chi
cago & Alton railways. is interested L.