The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-10-02
NEWS OF RAILROADS
RUMcRED DEAL BY THE
 ILLINOIS CENTRAL.
Passenger Train Struck a Freight Train at Brewton Yesterday Morning and an Engine
 Turned Over.

"It is a prediction that will not be very far wrong that if the Tennessee Central Railroad becomes the property of the Illi- nois Central on the completion of the later. it will not be very great while be- fore the necessity for a new railroad map of this country will exist" says The Nashville American.
 A railroad man prominently connected with one of the largest and most import ant systems of the entire country was in Nashville this week. A representative of The American chanced to be present when he was discussing various matters current in the railroad world. The Rock deal, the Illinois Gen. trars extension policy and its probable absorption of the Tennessee Central. as we'll as numerous other live and import ant issues were spoken of at length. It was in the course of his remarks that this railroader gave expression to the statement quoted above, further explain ing the remark by declaring it as his belief that a gigantic merger of the Southern Railway and Illinois Central Railroad interests are far from improb- able in the event of the Illinois Central securing the Tennessee Central.
 T am not expressing my opinion'alone," h. continued. when I hint at such union. I have recently been in Chicago, In St. Louis and in several of the big Eastern centers. In each of these places have visited where there are men who are in a position to know of these great CT railroad deals, this matter has receiv ed yelled and cautions discussion. and in some instances I have heard it ex- pressed as an unqualified belief that such is eventually bound to come.
 Look at the conditions of things for yourself, and see If 1t is not only plau- sible but attractive to the point of pos sibility With the Illinois Central estab- fishing a route from Hopkinsville into Nashville over the Tennessee Central, and from thence to Hartman, the vest ern territory Is put in touch with the eastern. To Hartman means the same thing as to Knoxville. for the Tennessee Central, as everybody knows. now has connection into Knoxville over the Gin cinnati. New Orleans and Texas Pacific This gives direct connection with the Southern Railway to the East, the North and the South. TT ,e- .-...
 ."The Rock Island-' Frisco deal gave the consolidated lines a most formidable trackage. but when the Seaboard Air Line merger came about, this system, with all it's connections. Is just about the largest in the world. There is not a part of the country but is either invaded by the actual tracks of the united lines. or is reached by short and fast connec- tions.
 ."This union amounted in reality to an inovation in the railroad world, and 1t Is now up to some other big system to get busy in a similar direction. Nobody will accuse the Illinois Central or the South ern of being asleep. On the other hand, the management of each Is just as wide awake as the next one. and they realize probably more plainly than anybody else how formidable this Rock Island-Seaboard consolidation Is going to prove. Think what a union of the Illinois Central and Southern interests would mean, and see if the proposition does not assume req sonable and probable proportions
 If this comes to pass, 1t means almost revolutionizing of railroading in the United States. Anyone can see that 1t means practically two systems, the Rock Island-Seaboard and the Illinois Central Southern. It means that these two gigan- tic systems either with their own lines or immediate connections, would span the continent from San Francisco to Boston, from Seattle to Jacksonville. Of course when I say this. I speak generally. but these two giant competitors would simply produce a railroad map to be compre- hended only after much study.
 "Of course this deal Is remote, and may never come to pass. but 1t Is being given its first hints and intimations know. Whether or not it Is consummated time alone will tell. Other things must happen first to lead up even to the con- sidering of the mammoth project. If any one should feel inclined to be skeptical of the feasibility of such plan, an an- swer for such is a reference to the Rock Island Frisco -Seaboard deal. Of course the acQuirement of the Tennessee Central by the Illinois Central Is a vital point In the big game, but I do not think many railroad men who keep up with things have any serious doubts about this hap pening when the Tennessee Central IS finished.
 If this road is acquired. then other things come up for consideration. The Illinois Central would hardly care to op crate the Hartman branch unless there was some understanding with connections to the East. The Southern would scarcely want the Hartman branch simply tc reach Nashville and. so far as the bust. ness is concerned, if the union of the two lines should be consummated. this link from Hartman to Hopkinsvill ewould complete the chain, and fit in as though built for no other purpose.
 There has been some talk about the Frisco System or the Rock Island ab sorbing the Tennessee Central. If there had been any such idea, I think the unior with the Seaboard Air Line has effectuallJ disposed of it. The Rock Island does no' need the Tennessee Central now, that Il has the Seaboard and its Southern anc Eastern connections. It may have beer considered once, but I do not believe there is a chance for 1t now. One thing however Is certain-there are going to be some railroad changes when the Tennes see Central Railroad is completed. PheS may be fairly important, and they may be vital"
 On account of the extreme car short age. hereafter the Louisville and Nash vile will be compelled to restrict the operation of their own freight cars t' the Louisville and Nashville system. Thi
 means that if car of the Louisville and Nashville Is loaded at Cincinnati fo
 Jacksonville, Fla, when the car gets t' the end of the Louisville and Nashville rails, the connecting line must transfe | the load to a car on it's own line an'
 return the emptied car to the Louisvill
 and Nashville.
 This policy is now being pursued b,
 all of the Trans-Mississippi lines. A
 the Memphis gateway the Frisco an
 Chocktaw, owned by the Rock Island am
 the Missouri Pacific and Cotton Belt
 controlled by the Gould interests. will no
 permit their cars to leave their posses
 sion, forcing lines East of the MississipI
 river to make transfers that the car
 may be kept on the home rails. This i
 along the line of the roads protectin
 their local interests first instead of show
 ing a preference for through bushes
 which would take the rolling stock Of
 the line and to distant points in forelg
 territory. Many of the roads are becom ! ipo roora apprenhenaiVA as the cotto