The San Francisco call., 1908-08-23
WILL ROCK ISLAND
GO TO HARTMAN!
Railroad Officials See Hand of
Magnate in Financial Troubles
of Eastern System

What is to be the fate of the Rock
Island?'
rs it to fall into the hands of Harri-
man2"
Did Hartman compel the Wells
Fargo people TO refuse monetary as
sistance to the Rock Island. because he
had quarrel with Reid and Moore?"
Is this line. which does not parallel
any Of the Hartman lines, to be in
cluded in the possessions of the wizard
OF Wall street?"
These are the questions which the
railroad people are asking Of each
other. and the general consensus of
opinion is that if Hartman has taken
q fancy TO the Rock Island lines he
viii take them.
II he wants to punish Reid and
Moore he Will do so, as Hartman has
flnanciers who undertake to act con-
trary TO his wishes.
There are some who say that not
withstanding the fact that there are
traffic agreements between the Rock
Island and the Hartman lines the prin-
cipals have been unfriendly for some
time.
It is asserted that Hartman, fresh
from his triumph over Gould, wishes
also to teach Reid and Moore lesson
for their aggressive attitude and that
he desires nothing more than TO har-
ness these two bold hnanciers to his
victorious chariot.
D. @. Reid is chairman Of the board,
while the name Of Moore does not ap-
pear in the directorate OF the Rock
Island They have had a meteoric ca
reer In the financial world.
It viii be remembered that they
had at one time control of the Diamond
match factory, which established a
branch at Chico in this state, in which
they failed and their failure ran into
several millions.
Not disheartened by the collosal col
lapse Of this concern they got into
American tin plate and in a few years
gathered in an immense fortune paid
back their old debts, and then entered
the railroad world by buying into the
Rock Island.
ADOPT AGGRESSIVE ATTITUDE
From the first they assumed an ag-
gressive attitude, and it is presumed
IN some way they offended Hartman.
who. It is said, when they were in diff
hculues, used his power to prevent
them from securing a loan to tide over
their troubles
Railroadmen who are in a position
10 view the situation dispassionatelv
say that Hartman will not take the
Rock Island from financial point of
view but II to wreak vengeance he
may sweep it in.
According TO these men the Rock
Island is so loaded down with non
paying lines that it is topheavy and
That It viii task the capability and
energy OF any man to put il in good
financial condition. They give erea,
praise to president B. l. Wincheli and
also to B. F. Yoaktm. chairman of the
executive board, whose management
they say is beyond criticism.
IN PECULIAR POSITION
The Rock Island lines are in a ne.
culiar position and for a great system
Il has practically no terminals.
1t was at one time one of the erea,
money makers in the country, for the
parent system was between Chicago
and Omaha
Later line was built from RocL
Island TO Kansas City, and under the
management of E. St John it was re.
garded as strong line for 1t pursued
careful and conservative policy.
This was changed suddenly for on,
Of expansion 1t built from Omahs
and Kansas City to Denver Then 4
acquired the old Albert Lea svsten
reaching TO st. Paul. 1t then was ex.
tended into Texas. The next NOV,
was the choctaw line. then the Frisc,
system, ana Jaena the Chicago an(
Eastern Illinois.
The most singular part of the Rocl
Island is that it has been able to ge
along without possessing its own ter
minals.
While other lines were paying fanc,
prices for terminal facilities the Rocl
Island was content to enter into track
age agreements.
For instance, it gets into Omah
over the Union Pacific bridge Int
Kansas City over the tracks of tn
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy fror
the east, while on the west it uses tn
tracks Of the Union Pacific. 1t ais
uses the Denver and Rio Grande an
the Union Pacific to get fits cars int
Denver, and the FL Paso and South
western TO reach FL Paso. New Or
leans is gained by running over tn
rails Of the Illinois Central. It's onl
terminal is In Chicago.