The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-08-17
Gossip About the Future of the
Rock Island System.
Has Options on Portsmouth,
Va, Water Front.
TO INCREASE EXPORT.
Will Have Largest Deep Water
Facilities.
Effect of Withdrawal from
Mileage Bureau.

Chicago, Aug. T7.-Rock Island inter
ests since the acquisition of the Sea-
board Air Line do not appear to be
allowing the grass to grow under their
feet in the development of the possi-
bilities of the new channels of traffic
thus afforded them.
1t was announced today that they
have already acquired options OIL the
entire water front of Portsmouth, Va.
Should they avail themselves of the
rights thus secured it will place them
in full possession of the largest deep
sea dockage facilities in the world, ana
they would then be in position to han
die through that port the export pro-
duce traffic of that portion of the entire
west and southwest which is tributary
to the lines of the Rock Island and
Frisco systems. as well as that of all
the southern and southwestern states
tributary to the lines of the Seaboard
Air Line. 1t could make even the flour
trade of Minneapolis tributary to the
export traffic through its new port as
well as the wheat and corn of Kansas
and the wheat. corn and cotton of
Texas, Oklahoma and Indian Territory.
AT Portsmouth there are already eX-
cellent facilities in the way of whalfs,
elevators. etc, for. handling export
traffic
1t is on an equality with Newport
News in this respect, which, since the
Chesapeake & Ohio has undertaken the
development of its possibilities has
been going forward at a rate that has
seriously alarmed New York, Boston.
Philadelphia and Baltimore and set
them to devising means to prevent a
further diversion of the traffic which at
one time they believed was theirs in
Rlienably.
That the Rock Island people think the
existing facilities are not equal to their
requirements, however, is evidenced by
the fact that they have thus early and
theoretically undertaken to increase
them to any extent which may be re-
quired by future exigencies. It is also
accepted as evident that they intend to
make the new route they have acquired
the leading one in the routing of their
east-bound EXPORT traffic.
This new move on the part of Rock
Island will bring that line into still
hercer competition with the Gould sys-
tenn. The two systems have always
been herce competitors. In Jay Gould'S
day it was matter of everyday COM
ment that r. r. Gable, the then presi-
dent of the Rock Island was the only
man that Jay Gould found himself IN
able to down.
Popular opinion credited the two men
with having bitter feud on hand. AS
a matter of fact, they seemed to avoid
contact with one another, and their per-
sonal relations were understood to be
anything but friendly. 1t would seem
now that the old competition between
the two systems irrespective of personal
relationships is to be maintained with
the Rock Island and it's allied interests
considerably in the lead.
The Gould system has not yet got into
Baltimore, toward which it has been
aiming for considerably over a year,
while by one master stroke the Rock
Island obtains for itself as desirable a
route from it's territory to the Atlantic
seaboard as 1t could very well wish,
with half a dozen of fine ports on it's
system, and with Portsmouth about the
finest it could desire in its full posses
sion.
Mileage bureau lines of the western
roads are holding another meeting to-
day for general discussion of the pro-
posed change in the form of inter-
changeable mileage. They are more par
ticularly considering the notice given
by the Rock Island that on and after
September 1 1t will cancel it's member
ship in the mileage bureaus and there
after pay its own rebates. The demand
of the Rock Island for an accounting
since the time it withdrew from MEM
bership in the Western Passenger as
sociation is also being discussed. From
that time until now it has not been al
lowed to participate in unpaid rebates,
which amount to a very large sum an
nually and which have been about suf-
fcient to meet the entire maintenance
charges of the whole association. 1t
thinks itself entitled to recover its share
of these unpaid rebates. and. therefore,
has demanded the accounting
When the Rock Island gave notice of
its intention to withdraw its member
ship ir the mileage bureaus it was sup
posed the proposed new form of inter-
changeable mileage would go into effect
September 1. That has been found i'm
possible, and it is still impossible to
fix any definite date for the proposed
change to become effective. The Rock
Island was not represented at last
weeks meeting. and 1t is not known if
It will postpone the payment of its own
rebates until the other change goes into
effect.
Stilwell Sends Another $500.
Kansas City, Kan, Aug. 17.-Mayor
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