The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1904-12-02
WILL BUILD TO COAST
Chicago and Northwestern Propose.
Extension Will Bring on Bic
Fiaht With Rivals.

of the Chicago and Northwestern rail-
road have for their destination the Pa
cihc coast. This is the belief of rail-
road officials, based upon the
mcnt of the formation of the Wyoming
and Northwestern railroad, whose cap
ital stock Is owned by the Chicago and
Northwestern. 1t is admitted that the
terminus of the system at Casper,
Wyo., is the base OF extensions. for
which new contracts are now being let.
The main line Will run due west 200
miles to Lander, almost at the summit
of the continental divide. Lander is
on a triangle with ogden and Pocatelio.
The former is the connecting point of
the MO Pacific : d Oregon short
lines with the Central Pacific, and the
terminus of the most western of the
Gould lines. the Denver and Rio
Grande; the other point of the triangle
is the junction of the oregon short
Line and is branch or division TO Butte
and Helena. From Casper to Lander
there is nothing but broken. arid oun
try covered with sage brush and little
or no traffic to be developed.
Part of the plan includes al extern
sion nortilward midway between Cas-
per and Lander to Thermopolis on the
Big Horn and the Shoshone reServa-
ton. This country affords am outlet
farther north with the Northern Pa
cific in the Butte and Helena region.
Fortifying for Fight With Rivals.
The building of these lines is re-
sarded as developing one of the best
strategic positions in the American
railroad world Wy the Northwestern
system, The renewal of the fight be-
tween the Hill and Hartman interests
through the Northern Securities break
up brings the transcontinental war
back to the stage ii was in prior to the
CUP of both interests which ended in
,I-~ ltn-.1 - --l
whereby the Northern Pacific and
Great Northern on one side and the
Union Pacific On the other jointly con-
trolled the Burlington. Part of that
community of interest settlement held
the Northwestern to its present terri
tory II its progress toward the coast.
which began to take form in the latter
'90's, was to stop at Casper.
From Lander it can threaten Union
Pacific and if necessary build to ogden
and claim its share of the traffic that
centers there, a traffic that will be in
creased largely when the San Pedro and
Los Angeles line is completed. III is Il
comparatively easy matter To build
through to Pocatello claim traffic
at that junction point or project its
lines into the ricn agricultural regions
of oregon and send out spurs to Port
land and a Francisco. From Their
mopolis it can tap the Northern Pacific
or secure its share of the Montana
mining. agricultural and live stock
traffic, reaching up to Washington for
the lumber trade.
For four years the building of the
Chicago and Northwestern to the Pa
cific has given concern to transconti-
mental lines. Prior to the Hill and Hair
riman treaty the railroad world antici-
pated these extensions and leading
financiers were favorable to the plan.
1t is a matter of general information
among railroad officials that the Bur
Ington deal was an injury to N2rlhz
western, and that after The first yea
of operation there was a demand for q
larger share of business and this was
given. But with the reopening of the
.old fight and the possibility that the
Hartman people will come in control of
the Northern Pacific in the distribu-
.tion of the assets of the Securities COM
pany the shadow of trouble extends
over the community of interests plan
and Northwestern is preparing to exact
its share of the business or it will ell
1eavo to take the business.
Move is an Important One.
A glance at the map of the middle
trans-Missouri region shows the i'm
p%crtance of the move now being made
by the Northwestern. Lander is the
key to the situation. The present ter
minus at Casper is eighty miles west
of a line projected north from Denve.
Lander brings the within
striking distarce of the fighting ground
west of the Rockies. The San Pedro
and Los Angeles line connects with the
Oregon Short line in central Utah.
Within a few miles of this connection
'thc Gould interests Join the Denver and
Rio Grande With the Western Pacific.
now building. All have Ogden as thetr
base.
Northwestern by entering Ogden
land it is admitted that there will be II
line from Lander to that place-will
offer a shorter line from Chicago TO
points on the Pacific coast than any
of the other lines. Extending west
from Lander to Pocatello. it will bring
Portland and the entire Oregon and
Washington region ten hours closer to
Chicago and the east than any other
line.
The ability of the Chicago ana North
western to finance it's extensions is UNI
questioned Its present earnings are
double its dividend requirements. 1t
could pay the interest on any bonds r.
quired to extend to the coast or inter
mediate points and continue its diN't-
dend rates. 1t could sell new stock for
the cost of the extensions, including
equipment. and maintain present rates.
1T is. all things considered. the richest
American railroad. with less bonded
s'N ~ itNN'sSNi'''S ~ wv Ililit lIIiil
my of the high-class paying roads
In a Position to Dictate Terms.
II is significant that Vanderbilt and
Rockefeller interests are in control of
the Chicago and Northwestern and that
both demand and generally secure
a in the railroad field. and in re-
hostilities between Hill and Har-
riman these great financial interests
will force a settlement by using North
western as the rod.
Instead of either one or the other
commanding the growing business
across the continent the Northwestern
will occupy the middle field. taking The
increase and compel the others TO con
tinue along their present lines.
Conferences between Northwestern
officials and NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. in
~terests nave been held recently in New
York. and when the demand for the
Northern Pacific vas made by rarri-
man as his share of the distribution Of
the Northern Securities company the
Wyoming and Northwestern railroad
company was incorporated. and the ln-
nouncemen; is now made OF tie eXten-
sion to Lander. With an admission thHt
Ogden is the ultimate goal and that
there will be IL branch into the Sho-
Shone reservation and tine Biz Horn
basin. The work has begun alrenay
and Northwestern again looms M rs
n fo,r,,ij,I la i,1tJ,,-,.. e.;