Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-04-16
MAY BE INLAND DEAL
RumOrs That Electric IIlne IL Behind
White Star Purchase.

Nhate star purchase.
A weIl-founded rumor among rail-
road and steamboat men-so closely
identified with the business that they
are in position to know--has II that
the real purchaser of the controlling
interest in the White Star Navigation
company is the occur d'Alene & spo-
kane Railroad company and the
Great Northern. which, it is alleged,
holds a controlling interest In the In
land Empire system. According to
this rumor, also the deal was con-
summated by reason Of business
rivalry existing between the Northern
Pacific Railway company and the
Occur d'Alene & Spokane and Great
Northern railroads.
The Red Collar line has operated
In conjunction with the Occur d'Alene
& Spokane railway. and until recent
ly. 1t Is said, has controlled the bulk
of the freight and passenger traffic
on the lake. The White Star Navi-
cation company has operated I'm con-
junction with the Northern Pacific,
but was never much OF a competitor
to the Red Collar line until recently.
Lately, however, the White Star peo-
pie decided to enter the field for their
share Of the lake business, and TO
that end made all necessary prepare
lions. The boats we're refltted, and
the George Cakes. a boat that had
been out of commission for a number
OF years, was pressed into service;
stations were established at all the
upriver points. and arrangements
made with the Northern Pacific Rail-
way company for the sale OF through
tickets on its road from these points.
A rivalry for the business commenced
and II was apparent from the start
that competition between the two
lines for the lake trafflc was to be
keen, and was with the view OF elm
mating this competition and the plae-
ing OF all the business into the hands
OF the Red Collar line and the Occur
d'Alene q Spokane railroad, so the
rumor has 1t. that the purchase of the
controlling interest In the White Star
was made. Notification OF the truth
of the rumor that the Inland people
are the real purchasers is to be found,
It is said, In that yesterday afternoon
representative Of theirs was IN the
city endeavoring to purchase stock in
the White Star Navigation company.
He approached one of the heavy
stockholders and offered him 40 cents
on the dollar for his stock, but the
stakeholder declined 10 sell. He pro-
fessed ignorance of the fact that the
controlling interest in the white Star
had been sold. The stakeholder took
1t upon himself TO make an investiga.
ton of the matter aud ascertained
from what he considers an authentic
source that the party was a represen-
tative OF the Inland people and that
his purpose was to buy up stock in
the White Star for them.
The recent deal viii have the effect
Of placing all the business in the
hands Of the Red Collar line and the
Occur d'Alene & Spokane railroad
and much speculation is being In
dulged in as to what action with re.
/ latIon to the matter the Northern Pa.
citic is going to take. II will mean
to the Northern Pacific the elImina.
ton Of their lake trade. and II IL
contended by some that they will NJ
soon as possible construct a rival limo
OF boats on the lake. II is also said
by many that instead OF this a road
will be constructed from this city by
them to tap the country now covered
by the boat line.