The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-02-06
RAILROAD NEWS.
Rock Island Now After a Line to
San Diego.
May Build Extension From Ben
son or Douglas.
DISTANCE is SHORT.
Would Give the Rock Island q
Pacific Terminal.
Plenty Of Money in the "Tin
Plate Quartette."

San Francisco, Feb. ct is now fair
ly we'll established that the Rock Is
land railway will build from either
Benson or Douglas, on the line of the
Ell Paso and Southwestern road, to San
Diego.
From San Diego the news comes that
the promoters of the local enterprise
seeking for a direct outlet to the east
from that city. are working in the in
terests of the Rock Island company.
The man who is at the head of the
Rock Island company is Daniel G. Reid,
who. with w. H. Leeds and William H
and James H. Moore form what is
known in financial circles as the "tin
plate quartet" These gentlemen have
had a picturesque career in finance,
their designation coming from the fact
that they made their first great coup
in the management of the American
Tin Plate company.
The four are now members of the
Rock Island board of directors, and
absolutely control the destinies of the
road. Mr.. Reid is the most important
of the quartet, being chairman of the
board, and is really the man who di-
reefs the policy of the corporation.
Ever since they obtained control of
the system it has been their expressed
ambition to establish a transcontinen-
tai line. They desire to have a road
of their own from the Atlantic to the
Pacific and have so announced their in
tention. Their scheme includes not only
the east and west line, but they have
been aiming at the requirement of the
necessary branches north and south.
The Rock Island road now extends
to Ell Paso and has a subsidiary line
from Ell Paso via Douglas to Benson on
the main line of the Southern Pacific.
From Douglas the distance to San
Diego is not great, and attends over
a region that offers few difficulties in
the way of railway construction. Such
an extension would be constructed
cheaply and would open to traffic
large and productive region that is now
cut off from such advantages. 1t would
reach San Diego by way of the marvel
ously rich Imperial country.
President H. A. Howard of the Rails
ton Realty company of this city is
quoted by the secretary of the com
pany, Mr.. George H. Hazard, as hav-
ing said that he had definite informa-
ton that the plan of the Rock Island
was to construct the San Diego extern
sion.
The tin plate quartet is not bother
ed about the financial end of such an
for the members nave
more money at their command than
probably any other four men in the
railway business. To obtain control of
the Rock Island they invested $780,
100000 of their own funds, and they
have plenty left.
Mr. Reid is only As years of age and
has made his fortune in the past fif-
teen years. When the Mckinley bill
was passed he began making tin plate
with the associates mentioned. Other
establishments sprung up and he say
the value of a combination of interests,
and organized the trust that has since
had in it's control the tin plate market
The four made an immense fortune
from this and went into railroading.
Since they gained possession of the
Rock Island they have followed an ag-
gressive programme and have met with
remarkable success. Mr.. Reid is ambi-
tious to be one of the greatest railway
men in the country in point of extent
of road.
Meanwhile, the work of pushing the
project from the San Diego end goes on
with vigor. Rights of way and city
franchises have been secured and f1nan-
cial aid to a considerable extent sub
scribed. 1t is expected that in a. short
time official notice of the plan will be
issued.
Mr. Reid is said by his friend to be
overlooking with enterprise and eager
to develop wherever his capital can find
a place. He is known to have the
greatest faith in southern California.