The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-22
THURSDAY EVENING.

\ , . J II K
that will give it running rights for
the thru trains from New York direct
to Kansas City and ST. Louis. This
is practically the first instance in
which one Of the big eastern trunk
lines has in any sense tied UP with
one of the western railroads. It is a
new departure in trunk line econom-
les. All the great lines have hither-
to found it convenient to make their
western termini at Chicago or the
Mississippi river. The Erie will run
trains over the Mississippi at Quincy
and into Kansas City.
To the Rock Island the connection is
Invaluable. The main line of the old
Rock Island system runs away north
OF this line thru Iowa, and the facili-
ties of Rock Island between the Kan
sas border and ST. Louis have been
totally inadequate. In point Of fact
the Rock Island has been pretty thor
oily bottled up at Kansas City. Some
relief was expected from this condition
Of affairs thru the completion of the
direct line between Kansas City and
ST. Louis but 1T was recognized that.
this was too roundabout a route to
put the Rock Island in a position to
compete with advantage against the
more direct route via AtchisOn, Alton
and Burlington. Hence the Rock Is
land people were anxious to obtain
to Mr.. Hartman about a year ago for
the control of the road. Mr.. Harri-
man ct that time had very definite
idea as to what-lIe intended to do with
Alton, and he refused the offer. He
intended to make Alton a most i'm
portant link between the east and the
west. He has succeeded. This offer
of Rock Island was made thru John
w. Gates.
Since that time the Rock Island has
been too busy with other affairs to use
any funds in an effort to obtain con-
troll of the Alton. Even had such an
intention been entertained it was not
deemed wise to attempt to obtain in
the market control of a railroad mere
ly so per cent of the stock of which
was held by e. H. Hartman. Quite
recently. acting in thoro accord with
the view Of Mr.. Hartman, the Rock
Island interests have been in the mar
ket and have bought considerable
block of Alton stock. 1t is believed
that this stock will be held conformity
by the st. Louis & San Francisco and
the two roads over which Edwin Haw-
ley holds control. At present the Min
neapolis & ST. Louis reaches the latter
city over the Wabash lines, and the
new arrangement cannot greatly bene-
fit that line or the Iowa Central di-
rectly, tho 1T is conceivable that it
might considerably augment the ton
mage turned over at Peoria for trans
portation by way of the Iowa Central
the twin cities.
Grand Island Straight Line.
About a year ago, in preparation for
just such an event as this, Mr.. Harri-
man bought, in the market, control of
the ST. Joseph & Grand Island, which
runs almost in direct line from Kan
sas City to connection with the
Union Pacific at Grand Island, afford
ing a direct connection between the
Alton and Union Pacific and saving
about 1875 miles as compared with the
connection at Omaha. This purchase
shortens the route across the continent
by that much. At the time railroad
people wondered what Mr.. Hartman
intended to do with this little straight
line. They realize nov, that the pur-
chase was made to strengthen the
strategic position of the Alton with re-
spect to transcontinental freight re-
ceived by it from the eastern railroads.
1t remained a mystery for some time
who bought the road, as Mr.. Harri-
man put on it's board q lot Of dummy
directors. The discovery that one of
them was his private secretary re-
vealed the new ownership Of the road.
The new alliance does not infer the
conclusion of any existing traffic al
lance. The Erie has no connections
west of Chicago and the Rock Island
has no connection between Kansas
City and Chicago. 1t strengthens the
position Of these two roads by that
much and adds INN easurably to the
strategic Importance of the Alton.
Harmony of Rates.
The most important result however,
is undoubtedly the establishment of q
complete harmony in the matter of
rates between Kansas City and Chi
cago. There is no territory on the
continent that has been 80 productive
of rate wars as this unles sit be per-
haps between the twin cities and Chi
cago. The Great Western has been
the principal cause of the trouble. BY
getting the Rock Island to enter this
agreement for the use of the Alton,
Mr.. Hartman has gained most pow
erful ally in his efforts TO keep the
Great Western in line. incidentally
the gross earnings per mile of the Chi
cago & Alton will probably be in
creased to something over $4,000 per
mile.