The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-11-01
ITS BEARING ON THE NORTHERN
SECURITIES CASE.
TO SPLIT G. n. AND N. P.
How the Northwestern Railroads Are
to Be Grouped in the Near
Future.

st. Paul, Mimi, Oct. 27.-The Dis
patch, commenting on the alleged op
ton given the Union Pacific by Presi
dent Stickney OF the Chicago Great
Western railway, says:
Local railway circles were greatly
interested in the report that the I'm
ion Pacific has secured an option on
the Chicago Great Western. The Ma
pie Leaf will by this movement cease
to be a disturber OF the traffic in the
west and northwest and become
aligned with the Union Pacific as
part and parcel of the big central
ranscontinental system with which
it connects both at Omaha and Kan
sas City, s%upplementing the Union
Pacific through route west OF the Mis-
souri, river gateways with connecting
links which are ~imperatively needed
between the Missouri and Chicago and
the Missouri and the Northwestern
commercial c%enters.
For several days Judge Cornish,
vice president of the Union Pacific,
formerly Of st. Paul, has been in the
city. He left for the east on Monday
evening. 1t is now believed that his
presence signified the acquisition OF
the Great Western and the rapid COM
pletion OF transfer. The fact that an
option has been given is declared to
be a settled fact.
THE Union Pacific has been given
the privilege OF a purchase within a
specific time and it is now at liberty
to take over the property ii subse-
quent consideration proves that the
action is desirable. These facts are
DOW believed to have been behind the
rapid advance of the Great Western
common, which has sold as low as
Sc a SHARE"
Bearing on Merger.
In connection with the Union Pa,
cific-Great Western deal, the Dis
patch says that the option given the
Union Pacific railway on the Great
Western property has a direct bear
ing on the Northern Securities settle
ment, and continues:
Private advices received by a ST.
Paul railroad official from New York
indicate that the settlement OF the
Securities company trouble
is near at hand, the most important
feature being that the Great Northern
and the Northern facitic will be sepa-
rated and operated without reference
one to the other.
'The plan OF settlement is that the
Great Northern and Chicago, Milwau-
kee & st. Paul are to be aligned and
Northern Pacific, Burlington and
Union Pacific are to be grouped to-
gether."
Private advices from a source in
Wall street which is generally pos
sessed of reliable information, are to
the effect that the settlement has al
ready been effected. The statement
New York is:
'"The securities deal was put
finally just before President
James J. Hills departure for st. Paul,
after his recent visit in New York.
The substantial lines of settlement
to by the various interests.
of the settlement are in the
hands OF perhaps a half-dozen men,
Who are carefully guarding them from
he public and who, it is anticipated,
will not make a public announcement
.or some time until the plan is we'll
IN toward completion"
Messages have been coming from
New York for information OF "Presl-
lent Hills new acquisition in the
northwest and details of the big deal
low in progress"
Further than the securities settle
rent, nothing is known of other deals
II Importance now pending.
At the Northern Pacific headquar-
e-s faith is placed in the outlined
of the securities troubles
md the division of interest outlined
S welcomed.