The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-04-28
Chicago to Have Union Ter
minaI for Through Freight.
Gtickney Tract to Be Used as
Universal Transfer Point.
BENEFIT TO SHIPPERS.
Great Sums of Money to Be Saved
Annually BY Them.
Gossip and Matters Of Interest
in Railroad Circles.

Chicago, April 2s.-Railroads cen
tering in Chicago are perfeeting plans
either to use the famous Stickney tract
as a union terminal for the universal
transfer of all through freight or 70
construct new union yards 1t Is
probable that the roads will give the
stickney tract a trial for year. Inc
Burlington. Rock Island. Eastern lii
nois and Illinois Central roads have
each purchased a one-tenth interest IN
what was known for years as H H.
Porter's FIRST failure" and his 'monu-
mental folly" and ere long not a
pound of through carload freight VIII
enter Chicago for transfer among one
4srenty-four roads entering the CITY
The deal involves between S4'OVV'-
GOO and S6.OO0,00O and is one OF tiiS
most important from rallroao an
chipping standpoint ever ID ullel.s.N
here. When 1t shall nave DSet 80
Melted II will be the partial 1rul1ioH
st least. of the dream of two men VINO
have stood very high in the rallrodu
and financial worlds for many years
These men are II. H. Porter, FORMER
president of the Eastern Illinois road
and A. 3. Stickney, president OF eH7
Chicago Great Western.
To shippers the creation of unlVer-
sal freight transfer yards here means
hundreds of thousands of dollars
saved annually through increased
shipping facilities, better and quicker
service and consequently much quick
er receipt and delivery of merchan-
disc and commodities The revival
of the Porter project is surprising
from the fact that for several years
the greatest most perfect, most ex-
pensive and most complete freight
Nrrfa1
tally idle upon the edge Of great
city suffering severely from conges-
ton of railroad terminals supposed
monument to q fnanciers folly. In
fact the Stickney project as it has
been most Familiarity known, had be-
come a joke among railroads and
shippers.
Through it all the faith of Mr.
Porter, who created II, and who
poured at least $4,000, 900 Of his own
and of his friends money into it,
never wavered. Not once did his
energy lag in the work of converting
the railroad men of the country to his
way of thinking. What he has done
in accomplishing this is a story in
itself, Teplete with dramatic interest.
It may prove to be largely a story of
the redemption of a financial reputa-
ton somewhat shattered by an ex-
pensive fancy.
Recently. sitting at a table in the
once OF railroad president Mr.. Porter
listen while some of the biggest rail-
way men in the country told what the
old Stickney tract would do for Chicago
and for the railroads here Among
those who attended a conference vester-
day regarding the project were W. c.
Brown, vice president of all New York
Central lines: B. L. Winchen, president
of the Rock Island; J. T. Harahan. third
vice president of the Illinois Central:
Daniel Willard, vice president of the
Burlington; W. "A. Gardner, vice presi-
dent Of the Northwestern: J. W. Ken
drick, second vice president of the San
ia Fe; F. E. Delano. president of the
Wabash; G. L. Peck of the PennsyI-
vania, and A. ]. Earring. president of
the st. Paul.
The meeting was called for the pur-
pose Of hearing a report from a commit
tee, of which Mr. Brown is chairman.
relative to the best plan for utilizing the
old Stickney tract. which is now known
as the Chicago clearing yards The com
pany which owns the land and wards is
known as the Chicago Union Transfer
Railway comp; ny, of which H H. Por-
ter, Jr., is president and George F. Por-
ter is secretary and treasurer. One of
the main difficulties to surmount in
the utilization of the yards. as explain
ed by Mr. Brown is the means of get
ting to and from them. At present 0nlz,
the tracks of the Chicago Terminal
Transfer Railroad company. the Chi
cago Junction and the Chicago BELT
Line run to them, and considerabIe
track will have to oe constructed in