Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-11-14
THIS TRUST The
BIGGEST OF ALL
Announcement ct Gigantic Rail.
way Combine Follows Close =
Upon Election.
100. 600 MILES ARE INVOLVED
All Railway Lines in Amer
lea With Capital Of
$4,000, 600, 900.

Details are being worked out rapidly.
says the Chicago Tribune. for the for
nation of a gigantic railroad trust be-
side which all the other great trusts
heretofore organized in this country
will dwindle into insignificance.
a dozen eastern financiers. headed
by the Standard Oil interests. with
their unlimited wealth. expect to con-
troll the entire railroad system in the
country and prevent competition
among the various roads.
The plan is to divide the railroads of
the country into few groups or sys-
tens. each one of which is to own
substantial interest in the stocks and
securities OF every other big group or
system. and all to have representation
on each others board of directors.
Will Hold 100000 Miles of Road.
The dozen financiers. all represent
ed on the boards of the various roads,
will control. from present appearances.
over 100000 miles of railroads. includ-
ing every important trunk line in the
country. representing capitalization
of about $4,000, 100000 in stocks and
bonds
They will see TO it that the roads are
managed as economically as possible
and tie rates Kept up to as high fig
ure as the traffic will bear in order to
secure all the revenue necessary to
pay good dividends on the enormous
capitalization.
The recouping of systems, which has
been going on for some time, has not
yet been completed. but from present
indications the western roads will be
eastern into three or four, with the
southern and New England lines
forming separate system each.
Arrangement of Groups.
The western systems or groups prob
ably will be as follows:
Stocks. bonds
Mileage. and debts.
Hartman. including
l. G. .290 1928. 900. 900
Could, including, $1,000 an
Hill. including, Bur-
Rock Island Frisco ''V' '''Oo''V'V
IMoore'sj -. ....194O7 $4,000. 400
Santa Fc and allied
Rockefeiier. NJ & st .oDeoso0
Totals 80. ..9eIO4 s4.495. OOO. 600
The eastern systems probably viii
be as follows:
Stocks. bonds
Mileage. and debts.
Nanderbilts 20493 sl.i4a 100000
Erie. Pere MARC. g.
II. * -. ... 49,. 1852 414.OoO,OOO
Totals .45.5ss ssO63 500. 900
The southern railroads are all con-
trolled by ]. p. Morgan except the H.
linois Central. which is classed with
the Hartman system. The mileage of
Morgan's southern railway system is
1879 miles. with a capitalization OF
1927 100000.
New England Group Forming.
The New England railroad system
has not yet taken definite shape. but
judging from the late absorption of the
New York. Ontario & Western by the
New York. New Haven & Hartford
railroad the latter probably will ex-
pand into the New England system.
The mileage of the New Haven &
Hartford without the New York, On
tario & Western is 2.O3S and its capt.
s1O7 .3O2. 5S3. The Ontario &
Western. which il has absorbed, has a
OF 4S1 and a capitalization of
SS7 .5O3.S5
The Vanderbilt interests have a con-
mileage in New England,
which is included in that of the Van
derbilt system. The Grand Trunk and
Canadian Pacific railways, which are
roads. also own or control
several important New England lines.