The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1905-12-29
YOAKUM OVER 1900 MILES
SUPREME IN IMMENSE SYSTEM
OF THE ROCK ISLAND.
ing a Network OF Railroads In
America

B. T. TOakum, the railroad mag
nate, is now as supreme in the Rock
Island as he is in the Frisco system
OF railroads. With these two great
systems OF roads as reigns in his
hands. he IS the directing function Of
a power that is almost comprehension.
He intends to have Offices both in
Chicago and St Louis, spending half
Of his time in the former place and
half in the metropolis OF the south
west
EOakum's rise is one Of the most
remarkable in the history Of Ameri-
can railrOading- His work is not less
ager OF the San Antonio and Arkansas
Pass road in Texas, he is at this time.
after eighteen years, one Of the most
distinguished executive officials in the
country, If he is not, in fact, the
greatest
YOakum has not been included
among the strongest powers which are
directing the colossal railroad systems
Of America, but this is due, probably,
to his policy Of maintaining silence
concerning his movements and achiev-
ing as quietly as possible. While the
hearIds Of eastern railroad enterprises
have been prOcla4 ming the growing
prestige Of Gould, Hartman, Hill and
Morgan. they have forgotten the man
from Texas-the intellect Of the
southwest
The Rock Island and Frisco systems
as consolidated under YOakum's man
agement consist Of $1,000 miles OF
track in the northwest. the southwest
and the far west Yet YOakum is the
than this Including the lines which
he is building in the southwest and
toward the Pacific northwest, the ag-
gregate mileage Of the roads which
he dominates is at least $4,000.
My preference says Mr. YOakum,
lis to build a new road, establish it
on a solid financial basis, make it a
permanent institution, and then build
another new road like to construct
and develop"
StrenuOusly as J. J. Hill denied the
reports that he desired to acquire the
Missouri, Kansas and Texas railway
for the Hill system, and thereby pro-
vide a line from the southwest for
his northwestern roads, it is clear that
such a purpose is logical It is only
a few years since YOakum endeayOr-
ed to obtain the Missouri, Kansas and
Texas for the Rock Island and Frisco
systems, and the road would have
been bought, only that YOakum and
his associates found difficulty in ne
gOtiating with the New York repre-
sentatives Of the Dutch security hold
ers-
When the Missouri, Kansas and
Texas plan was set aside, the YOakum
interests began building. And the
VOa hum custom r7nrr- 1onF-oTe and fe
connected with roads which touch
Chicago, St. Louis, Minneapolis, St
Paul WATERFOWL and Sioux Falls, in
South Dakota; Kansas City, Memphis,
New Orleans. Baton Rouge, Birming-
ham, Galveston, Houston, Brownsville
in Texas. at the Mexican boundary;
Dallas, Fort Worth, FL PasO, Chatta-
nooga; Guthrie, in Oklahoma; Ard
more in the Indian territory; Dawson
in New Mexico; Omaha, PUEBLO, Colo
RADIO Springs, Denver and Cheyenne
YOakum Is constructing a coast line
which, when completed, will be 5000
miles long. He has innumerable small
roads in the southwest. Roads in
which he is a power are gradually ex-
tending from the southwest to the
northwest, in the direction Of the
North Pacific coast, and there IS no
/
get a line to the southwest
Surveyors are laying out a route
from Marion, below Memphis to Baton
Rouge, from which point the Frisco
Will operate over the Illinois Central
I tracks to New Orleans. With this link
completed, the system will have its
own road from Chicago and St Louis
/ to New Orleans, and il will only be ne
cessary to build from Burlington, Ia,
I 70 St Louis in order to provide Rock
Island and Frisco line from Water
town. 5. D., St Paul and Minneapolis
I TO New Orleans
YOakUm is considered to be as pot
I ent in managing as in projecting This
was the argument which was used al
I the New York meeting to accomplish
/ his supremacy in the Rock Island. II
/ was pointed out that the officials and
men Of the Rock Island and the Frisco
I were devoted to him. and that with
Z him in full control the affairs Of the
7 Rock Island would be brought up to
I the same level as the affairs Of the
I Frisco
1t was said that he would pass di-
/ vfdends If he should consider this tC
7 be in the interest Of the property, but
I il was argued that the passing Of q
I dividend or the reducing Of a diYi-
dend would not long affect the Rock
I Island securities, as improved cOndi-
tons would soon show the value OF
7 the property
YOakum must be counted upon in
/ cOnjectures as to the ultimate forma-
Z ton OF but three or four great rail-
/ road systems for the whole United
| States He has already realized Won
I derfully, in all the region west Of the
I Mississippi and the Great Lakes