The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-03-03
RAILROAD NEWS.
Rock Island Frisco Merger May
Be Dissolved.
Neither Line Has PrOfited Under
Arrangement.
MIR. YOAKUM'S PLANS.
Would Build Up Great System of
the Frisco.
Gossip and Matters of Interest
in Railway Circles.

1t is rumored that the Rock Island
and Frisco railways have about arriv-
ed at the parting of the ways. The re-
cent purchases that have been made by
B. F. Yoakum of railroad properties
through the southwest has put new ru-
mors out concerning a dissolution of
the merger of the Rock Island-Frisco
systems. With Yoakum at the head of
the Frisco and with his holdings in the
Colorado Southern, Denver & st. Louis,
Brownsville & Mexico roads, together
with the recent requirement of the
Trinity & Brazos Valley, the Frisco
system can in no way be benefited by
the copartnership with the Rock Island
These recent requirements of Mr.. Yoa-
KUN operated in connection with the
old Frisco will give that system an al
most unbrOken line from Denver to the
extreme north and to the Gulf.
1t is thought by several railroad men
of prominence that il is the object OF
Mr.. Yoakum to sever his connection
with the Rock Island and to dispose of
wha holdings he has in that Sys-
tenn so as to put all in the new pro-
jected railway line from the north and
cast to the Gulf
1t is said that the Chicago & Alton
will be bought or a sufficient amount of
stock purchased so as to control its OPP
Grafton, and this with the Kansas City
line making connection with the Texas
lines from one side, the Birmingham &
Memphis line from toward the south
east another way, building the Trinity
road through southeast Texas on from
Mexia to either Houston or Galveston
and extending the ST. Louis, Browns
Vile & Mexico road in the direction of
New Orleans, coming out about Baton
Rouge, which is not a great distance
from New Orleans.
The Frisco already has considerable
wharfage at New Orleans and can with
but little expense build the line on from
Hope. Ark, toward New Orleans, as
was the first intention. This would
give the Frisco an east and west line.
There is some talk also of the Sea-
board Air Line being put on the mar
ket, and if such is the case. with the
connection at Birmingham, Ala, and
a purchase of that line by capital I'M
der the control of Mr. Yoakum a
transcOntinental line is an assured
fact. 1t is rumOred in the railroad
world that the rolling stock and road
way of the Seaboard Air Line is be-
ing allowed to run down, as that Sys-
tenn is to be put on the market A
prominent northern railroad man was
heard to remark to a prominent rail-
road official when did he think the di-
vorce proceedings would be brought to
dissolve, the marriage of the Frisco and
Rock Island. This gentleman is in a.
position to know whereof he spoke
Another prominent railroad official
was heard to say that Mr. YOakum
never has yet failed to make money
out of a deal in railroads, and he did
not see what use the Frisco would
have for working in with the Rock
Island the way things were working
out. Another thing, he said, was that
he thought it was the intention to
build one of the short branches such
as the Quanah line, up through the
Territory from Texas to connect with
the Frisco again at Sapulpa. This, if
carried out, would put the Frisco
through the same section of country
as the Rock Island now runs through
in the two Territories.
1t is also said that the Rock Island
wants to purchase the Texas and New
Orleans, and build from Sabine Pass
to Galveston, and thereby have its
water front in that gulf port. The
Rock Island it is believed, has hardly
purchased property interests at Cal
weston for the fun of holding them,
and then ask the legislature for GER
tain privileges of improving it, unless
something was going to happen
1t has also been stated by reliable
parties that the merger of the Frisco
with the Rock Island has not been
panning out as we'll as the Moore
Bros thought it would, on account of
the two systems being parallel for a
long distance through the same terri