The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-09-20
HARTMAN NEEDS ALTON.
Control of This Road May Be FSnally
Determined in October.

That the Joint control understanding
between the Hartman and Yoakum
interests, in connection with the Alton,
viii be radically modified in October. is
an expectation that has prevailed for
months. Although by previous agree
ment, neither Hartman nor Yoakum
mas control OF the Alton, 1t is generally
believed that Yoakum occupies such a
strong position that he will be able to
'sldetrack' Hartman next month.
The Alton would be a property Of
lneStlmable value to the Hartman in
terests, if, as is reported from New
York, they have acquired virtual con-
troll OF the Baltimore & Ohio system,
the Chesapeake & Ohio and the Nor
folk & Western. The present Harri-
man lines terminate at Omaha and
Kansas City, and the eastern roads,
which the Hartman interests are re-
ported to have acquired, terminate at
st. Louis and Chicago.
The Alton, running between st.
Louis, Chicago and Kansas City, would
be particularly well adapted for con-
Meeting the eastern and western lines
and forming a transcontinental system
proper. extending from the Atlantic
ocean to the Pacific. The Alton would
be desirable road for the present
route to St. Louis and Chicago.
Although the Yoakum interests are,
according to the Judgment of reliable
railroad men, in position to assert their
control of the Alton, it is intimated
that the Hartman interests NAV upon
certain conditions. get absolute posses
sion of this road. AS some rivalry has
existed between the Hartman and the
Yoakum interests, especially in the
southwest. the YOakum interests would
probably not be overgenerous in sur
rendering their holdings. Still, it is
asserted that the Hartman interests
can secure control of the Alton, and
with the consent of the Yoakum in
terests.
If Hartman is ambitious to have a
transcontinental line proper. the Alton
would be a good link for the eastern
and western systems. The Canadian
Pacific is now the only line that reaches
from ocean to ocean, 1t operates
trains between Halifax and Vancouver,
runs vessels on the great lakes, and
owns steamships that ply the Atlantic
and Pacific oceans.
The Canadian Pacific sells one ticket
that is good for a trip around the
world. Several American systems are
greater in length and in many other
respects than the Canadian Pacific. but
as transcontiental line proper it is
unrivaled, unless the Hartman inter
ests have acquired the Baltimore &
/ Ohio, the Chesapeake & Ohio and the
1 Norfolk & Western. as well as line
from ST. Louis or Chicago to Kansas
! City or Omaha.
The Hartman lines include the
Union Pacific. 1886 miles in length
the Southern Pacific. S,013 miles, the
Houston & Texas Central, $50 miles
the Oregon Railroad & Navigation
company. Liza miles and the Oregon
Short Line. 1876 miles, a total of
14,17s miles. The Hartman interests
also own the Sonora railroad of Mex
ECO. and are half owners of the San
Pedro. Los Angeles & Salt Lake.
These lines run from New orleans
along the Gulf of Mexico and the
boundary of the Mexican republic to
Los Angeles: along the Pacific coast
from Los Angeles to San Francisco, and
parallel to the Pacific coast from San
Francisco and Sacramento to Portland.
They run from Kansas City and Omaha
to Denver, Ogden, Portland. San Fran
cisco and Los Angeles The Sonora
railroad runs from Benson, Ariz., to
Csuaymas on the Gulf of California.
The Baltimore & Ohio system is
44S1 miles in length. the Chesapeake
& Ohio 1.7OS miles. and the Norfolk &
Western 1884 miles. a total of S.023
miles. tn csc lines extend from New
York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Wash
ington and Norfolk to Pittsburg. Cleve-
land, Cincinnati, Louisville, Chicago
and st. Louis.