The St. Louis Republic., 1902-05-01
BIG COMMERCIAL ADVANTAGE
OF ROCK ISLAND TOST. LOUIS.

The acquisition of the ST. Louis. Kansas
City and Colorado Railroad by the great
Rock Island Route gives St. Louis another
Of the great railroad systems of the coun-
try. 1t makes what has always been a
Chicago road also St. Louis road. while
much of the advantage accruing to the for
mer city through this road will go to St.
Louis. The Rock Island promises to open
through connecting lines with the Choc-
taw, more of the Southwest TO this gate
way.
Perhaps no other road not now entering
st. Louis could be more generally accepta-
BILE, or commercially promise greater results.
The Moore Bros, since coming into con-
troll of the Rock Island, have been a con-
servative force. They have exerted their
power more to the building up of a great
independent system rather than expending
their energies and capital In merger coups.
East of the Mississippi they are becoming
interested in the Northwestern and the st.
Paul; their activity is noted in other lines.
connection with which would be beneficial
to st. Louis. Because of this aggressive
feature of their operations the merchants of
St Louis express qualification and receive
the new line with open arms.
While New York Is the center Of the
great railway deals to merge the steel grid
ironing of the country, ST. Louis is a the
head and the center of the great cit to
be benefited by the character of the deals
of the last few months. The greatest ac-
tivity in railroad building is in the South
west Texas heading the list of States in
railroad building. From Memphis west the
Rock Island has the Choctaw, running to
Amarillo. Tex, traversing Arkansas. Okla
homa and Indian Territory, with a branch
north through Oklahoma into Kansas. The
Colorado, Just purchased. will connect with
the system at Kansas City.
The purchase of the Choctaw and the
Colorado roads is but part of great plan
20 invade new territory rich in all resources:
The Rock Island will connect st. Louis and
Memphis, and line. either new or to con-
meet with Peoria. Ill, via the Chicago
Peoria and st. Louis. for Chicago, or Keo-
kuk or Peoria for Iowa points and the
North.
The Rock Island traverses Illinois, Iowa,
Minnesota. South Dakota Nebraska, Kan
sas. Missouri. Colorado, Oklahoma, Indian
Territory, New Mexico and Texas and en-
ters Tennessee At FL Paso II connects with
the Southern Pacific for Los Angeles and
San Francisco with the Denver and Rio
Grande at Colorado Springs for Denver and
Ogden. and again with the Southern Pacific
for San Francisco; also at Ell Paso with the
Mexican Central for Mexico. The projected
extension to the Gulf from Fort Worth will
take in Dallas and Houston. Other exten-
sions are projected. and the purchase of
lines from Texas to Colorado is now looked
for.
An official statement has been made that
on June 4 the stockholders Will vote on
proT ostion to increase the capital of the
Rock Island si50O0.0o0. additional to the
present $4,000 900. This is the largest in
crease since 1890. The stock was then SAL
10000. In 1889 1t was raised to S59,GoO.001
Last June II was increased again. The fund
ed debt In the meantime has been increased
from 81 10000 to s6s, ,0O0. 900.
Just previous to It's purchase by the Rock
Island the Choct6w voted TO expend more
than s13,000.O0o In extensions and improve
ments, the connections to be made with
the Rock Island The Choctaw. in connect
ing with the Fort Worth and Denver City.
establishes a through route giving a new
outlet from the Southeast to Colorado
points. 1t was the plan of the Choctaw to
eventually reach the Pacific Coast.
Besides the value of increased railroad
facilities to be gained in the Southwest by
the entrance Of the Rock Island into st.
Louis. a new line is opened to the West
via Kansas City. which will be completed.
II is promised. by February. 1905. The two
big Missouri cities will then be connected
by the Rock Island. the Missouri Pacific.
the Alton. the Wabash and the Burlington.
Principally. however. st. Louis expects to
divide Rock Island traffic from the West to
the East with Chicago. and divert from
that city the bulk of Rock Island business
now wholly going to it. The meaning of
this TO the new st. Louis is apparent.