The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-11-19
Rumored in City Today That John
!. Beggs is Negotiating for
Kenosha Railway
MAY CLOSE DEAL IN FEW DAYS
Milwaukee Man Has Recently Secured
Data in Regard to the Business
of the Company and Sale
is Thought Possible

Persistent rumors arc being heard
about the city today that negotiations
are pending for sale of the Kenosha
Electric Company property to John l.
Beggs and his Milwaukee Comp my.
but as this rumor has been heard be-
fore it is not thought that. there is
any reason to believe that the deal will
be completed without some public no
tice being given of the pending sale
The fact that Beggs was negotiating
for the line has been repeatedly de-
MED by the Milwaukee man and his
business associates, but this much is
certain that Beggs has been taking
great deal Of trouble to investigate the
business Of the Kenosha line and
through an agent in Kenosha he has
been advised as to just what business
the Lire is doing and the prospects of
the property for the future Local
agents Of the Kenosha Electric Rail
way company profess to be in complete
ignorance of any deal that may be
pending as do the officials of the Chi
cago and Milwaukee road who have
been in Kenosha for the past few days
aiding in making changes In the local
line. 1t is admitted that well known
Kenosha man has recently opened ne
gotiations with Mr. Frost for the pur-
chase of the line and it is claimed that
he is acting under orders from Beggs
and the Milwaukee Company
1t is certain that the Beggs people
have long been seeking an entrance to
Kenosha and that Beggs has been will
ing to pay any reasonable rate for the
line. He has, however, held in the
past that the line was not worth any
thing as a business proposition and at
the time it was sold to Frost he was
alleged to have criticised the Chicago
man in no uncertain terms for his ac
ton in making The purchase.
The rumor about the streets today is
that the deal for the transfer Of the
line to the Milwaukee Company is to
take place within the next two weeks
In the meantime the workmen Of the
Kenosha Electric Railway Company
are completing the work of bringing
the tracks to grade on Newell street,
but it is said that the work OIL Market
street will not be touched at this time.
The engineer in charge of the work yes
terday stated that the weather was too
cold for them to proceed with the pro-
posed changes in the grade Of the rail
way tracks on Market street, but it is
possible that the company will be
forced to change this decision and pro-
coed with the line.
One Of the men who has been in
terested in the Frost enterprises when
seen this morning said: GA sale Of the
Kenosha line to the Beggs interests is
the logical solution Of the troubles of
Frost. He is anxious to get money to
save the Chicago and Milwaukee and
the Kenosha line will furnish him some
money. I do not know just how much
money has been borrowed on the local
line, b. [ have been reliably informed
that the receipts from the business
here are more than taking care of the
pledges against the road so far as in
terest charges are concerned and with
the increase of business that is assur-
ed by prosperous times the Kenosha
line should prove a good piece of rail
way property. The sale Of it would in
no way interfere with the business
of Frost with his Chicago and Milwau-
kee line as it would continue to con
meet with the line regardless Of the
ownership. You know that the Beggs
lines are now connecting with the
Chicago and Milwaukee road at Racine
and in Milwaukee the cars Of the Frost
Company are running over lines owned
and operated by the Beggs Company
do not know as to how much truth
there is in the present rumor, but !
should not be surprised to see the deal
made. -
Kenosha has always been opposed to
the Beggs interests controlling a rail,
way in the city, but it is probable that
the city would be helpless to prevent a
sale should the Beggs interest get con
troll Of the bonds and stock Of the
Kenosha company.