The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-11-04
Houck's Consolidated st. Louis and
Gulf May Become Part of
the &. IS f.. l..
ACQUISITION OF 233 MILES.
Eight Roads Are Being Connected
and Brought Up to the Frisco
Standard-COlorado Di-
rectOrs to Meet.

The consolidated railroads of Southeast
ern Missouri, known as the Houck line.
which were merged into the st. Louis and
Gulf Railroad Company last April. with d
total of 23 miles. will soon come under the
control of the Frisco system. probably as Il
part of the Chicago and Eastern Illinois
Railroad. the newly acquired portion Of the
Frisco system. in Illinois.
b. F. Yoakum. president of the Frisco
system. is in New York. Benjamin l..
Winchell. vice president and general mana
ger of the Frisco system. returned to St.
Louis from the East yesterday. He would
make no statement whatever in regard to
the reports of Frisco acquisition Of the st.
Louis and Gulf for publication.
The st. Louis and Gulf Railroad at pres
ent is without a president. Louis Houck
having resigned several weeks ago. because.
It was stated. hat he would have nothing to
do with any railroad that he could not alb
soiuteiy control. and for the reason that he
was Interested in pushing construction of a
line of railroad wholly his own.
Just before losing control of the Houck
lines. the man after whom they were called
frequently announced that he was 20 build
u line Of railroad to connect with the Wig
gins Ferry at st. Louis and the Choctaw on
the south. leaving it to be generally in
ferred that the Rock island was closely
connected. 1t appears that. If the Rock
Island was in any way connected with the
hOuck lines. the Frisco won the contest
but it is not thought that the Rock Island
made any effort to secure the lines.
With the st. Louis, Memphis and South
western. the st. Louis and Gulf. when the
Frisco lines. and the Frisco's other roads
in Southeastern Missouri and Northeastern
perfect network OF railroads crossing and
recrosstng the whole section of country.
Construction work on connecting lines Is
being rushed. and soon the st. Louis and
Gnlf the Chicago and Eastern IlipOiS the
st. Louis. Memphis and Southeastern. the
Kansas City, Memphis and Birmingham
and other Frisco lines will be connected
The St. Louis and Gulf was capitalized
for $5.00.00. of which Louis Houck was
each to e. Smith, {. ". whitelaw. John
w. Fristoe and James H. Allen. Since then
Q, change in directors and officers has taken
Houck's interests have been acquired by
others.
The railroads in the st. Louis and Gulf
field and Southern, Kennel and Osceola
Railroad Company Pemiscot Southern
Railroad Company. St. Louis. Kennett and
souri, and Arkansas Railroad Company,
Clarkton branch of the st. Louis and South
ern. st. Francis Valley Railroad Company
and the Moreley and Morehouse Railroad
As the Frisco system goes on pilins UP the
fisures on mileage. and more comprehensive
- 80 SNtAN the
control of the system narrows down to
President Yoakum. who. with James Camp
bell. the st. Louis broker. and V. p. Cheney
of Boston. has the Frisco in his hands.
As has been repeatedly stated in TIL Re-
public for several months. President
Yoakum is in absolute control. because
Campbell thinks in railroads as Mr..
Yoakum thinks, and says so.
The Pierce-Stow syndicate has never con-
trolled anywhere near the majority of Fris-
CO. The stock representing Mr.. Yoakum's
control will not come to market under
present conditions.
Now that the Grand Trunk and the Glover
Leaf have secured control of the Detroit
and Toledo Shore Line. 1t is expected that
any day will bring forth a report that the
Grand Trunk will enter st. Louis. or that
the three roads will act in harmony. the
Frisco using the Glover Leaf for a connec-
ton with the Chicago and Eastern Illinois.
But nothing official has been given out. 1t
is also reported that the Frisco will secure
the Ozark and Cherokee Central. but Pres
ident Seaman of the Central denies this.
For the present. nothing can be positively
in connection witt the Central-Fris-
CO deal