The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-04-24
Merger Decision Of Importance
to Southwest
Blocks the FriscO-Rock Island
Combination.
PEOPLE FEEL EASIER.
Texas Oklahoma Competition
Would Have Been Stitied.
Effect on the Santa Fe- Rock Is
land Merger Talk.

It IS regarded by those who are keep
ing in touch with the railroad situation
as trifie curious that the decision Of
the federal court in the Northern Secur-
tiles case should apparently have touch
ed the people of the southwest more df-
recEly than it has those of any other
section of the country This is predf-
Gated on the theory that the stop in
railroad consultations and mergers
which has been the craze lately was
brought about by that decision. Wheth-
er this theory is correct or not, it is IN
questionable that the announcement that
the Rock Island Frisco consolidation
was indefinitely postponed carried a
great deal of interest for the citizens Of
Oklahoma, Texas. Arkansas and ada
cent regions.
A recently returned Chicago traveller
from that territory gives an explanation
which makes very plain why the pro-
posed merger was an important thing
to many communities in that region He
points out that the history of Oklahoma
city VIII serve as good illustration.
This place was built "on the prairie
sod, as they say in the west to describe
town that springs up before there
IS any settlement of the country
around it. Until the last three years it
was a one-ra1lroad town in effect. The
Santa Fe was practically its only line,
the Rock Island reaching out only a
spur track to it
THE development of the town and
country was rapid measured bv the de-
Velopment of older communities, but II
was not such as its citizens desired and
thought reasonable. Then came the
Frisco, with the jump into Importance
for Oklahoma which the abIishuenr
OF main line facilities brings. This
brought real rail competition and the
young city built on the unbroken sod
got the benefit of that competition. In
three years the population doubled and
+ the trade OF the city increased many
Then came the reports of the consoI-
1dation of the Frisco with Rock Island,
i with rurnOrs that this was but the fore
runner of a larger consolidation in
/ which these Ombined systems were to
| be taken under the control of the Santa
I Fe. The Oklahoma residents saw IN
I the near future a return for them to old
conditions All the advantages which
had come to them from the increased
railroad facilities were apparently about
+ to vanish The outlook was depressing
/ the more so from the fact that hun
dreds of other communities in that sec
ton were in the same condition. The
Frisco in its aggressive new policy had
come TO be recognized as the competing
line which was to save whole states
+ from the domination of a single system
/ or Of two systems with a common I'M
/ Outstanding as to occupation of terri
tory and division of traffic.
Down in Texas the people were look
/ ing to the Frisco since there had beer
capitulation of the Southern Pacific
as it appeared. TO the other vigorous
young claimant for recognition. the
Rock Island. The Rock Island had
made some good bargains whereby Il
got the use of the tracks of the older
occupant and in consideration therefor
it yielded it's right to build independent
/ lines into several cities. The Frisco was
/ the remaining hope of the southwest
for competitive lines and it was being
/ looked to by dozens of towns which
/ wanted to be taken out of the one
railroad class. The report of the con
solidation ended all fears. Since tbs
+ Securities decision. on the heels Of
which came the announcement that tn
Rock IsIand-Frisco deal was off, tbs
citizens of the southwest have begun t
breathe again and hope anew. There i:
touch of shadow over their landscape
however. which is cast by the declara
ton from certain quarters that the con
sohdation plans are not abandoned, bu
only delayed. On the truth of thes'
opinions the hopes and fortunes OF tn
southwestern country in a large meas
ure depend.