The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-03-21
RAILROADS.
WHAT'S BEHIND
c. G. w. MOVE?
NEW YORK SAYS IT'S TO HELP
ROADS SALE.
Scheme to Build Into Illinois Soft Coal
Territory Is Looked Upon in That
Idght-Roads Can't Ignore Great
Western, Says Marvin Hughitt. %
RpeciaI to The Journal.

Special to The Journal. -...
New York, March 21.-The official
announcement that the Chicago Great
Western will extend it's De Kalb branch
from De Kalb southwark into the soft
coal counties of Illinois is the cause
of much more or less unfriendly COM
ment among the operating officials or
rival lines at this center. They re-
gard the scheme as merely another
step on Mr.. Stickney's part in the d.
rection of getting a fair sale for the
stock of his stockholders to some other
railroad. They have no doubt how
ever, that the line will be built I'M
less Mr.. ,Stickney is bought to stay
out.
The business of that territory is
looked after now by Eastern Illinois
and more especially by Burlington,
which has numerous lines in theacoun-
try in question. The whole thing Is
aimed at Burlington, which has been
for years the especial recipient of such
favors from Great Western-sup-
posedly on the theory that Burling-
ton is about as rich as any other
road and we'll qualified to take the
lead in putting Great Western where
1t won't do any harm. ~
There is no intention on the part
of Great Western to build to st. Louis,
principally because Great Western
could not get into st. Louis under
any circumstances. The terminal as
ISOLATION of that town tried pretty
hard to- keep Rock Island out of st.
Louis, and would try a good deal
harder to keep Great Western out.
The railroads that center there have
an idea that Kansas City,, ST.. Paul,
Chicago, Omaha and Sioux City are
about enough rate-making centers for
Great Western. j. r. = 81
Marvin Hughitt. is quoted by. one
of his friends about as follows. with
respect to the Great WESTERN
Northwestern fight
It's time to- stop ignoring the claims
and other. things of Great Western. Once
some time ago, we ignored Mr. Stickney,
and the consequence was that Great West
ern raised the cash to get into Kansas
City. Then we had to pay attention for a
while. After the scrap got tiresome we
had another streak Of ignoring Great
Western. The consequence was that the
Great Western raised the cash to get into
Omaha. Now you say, Let US ignore
Great Western" We are about thru with
ignoring Great Western. About one more
streak Of ignoring Great Western and that
road will run a line across Nebraska to
Denver. That's the reason I am thru
ignoring Great Western.
That Is the situation in a nutshell.
Held up twice, Mr.. Hughitt wants to
make sure that he won't be held up
again. So he fights. Hespays all the
cost of the war, so far as Great West
ern is concerned. The other roads,
not directly parties to the fight, are
paying about $4,000 a month in net
for the privilege Of being spectators,
as that sum is about the difference
between traffic receipts under the "old
schedule and the new. They regard
the show as too expensive. = 80; r.
A representative of one of the lines
which does not operate a line across
Nebraska says: =.
We wish Great Western would build to
Denver. It would not bother our bust
ness any because we have no road in Ne
braska, but it would put Great Western
out of business as a maker of trouble. II
they would only build that 900 miles OF
road thru the network Of Burlington lines
that cover Nebraska it would hold Great
Western to the schedules forever. There
would be no more kicking about Omaha
as a rate center. I suppose there would
be some other fight for principle, but al
any rate the Great Western would fgh
on an equality with its rivals. Now it has
all the fun without any Of the expense.
Rock Island and Atchison officials
say that the war is about over. ~