Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-01-11
Railroad Map of West Likely to
Undergo Many Changes
This Year
SECRET WORK ON c. G. w.
Extensive Report of Roads Property
Value, Secured by Receiver Burt
Alliance of Great Importance, Be-
tween Burt and Hartman, Despite
Present Breach, Not Unlikely.

Special to Times Republican.
Council Bluffs. Jan. 11.-Following
The official announcement of the APP
pointment of Horace G. Burt, former
president of the Union Pacific railroad.
receiver of the Chicago Great Western,
develops an interesting story OF an ex-
tensive piece of work done secretly by
Mr. Burt and a selected corps of assist
ants. prior to his selection as receiver
by the stockholders of the Great West
ern.
One day several months ago, a cit
iZen Of Council Bluffs who was form
erly engaged in railroad work, ran
across an acquaintance. railroad
man. engaged in taking measurements
and making an examination OF tres
veloped that for weeks Mr.. Burt and
his engineers and expert track men
had been engaged in making an eX
haustive examination OF the Great
Western mileage. rolling stock and
equipment OF every kind. This eXamina
ton was conducted with the utmost
secrecy. and was most complete. In
many instances. figures and data re-
turned to Mr.. Burt by his assistants,
were verified by others who had been
working on other parts of the line. and
where discrepancies occurred in the
two reports thus made. still others
were sent over the section in doubt
In this manner Mr.. Burt secured what
is believed to be a correct estimate OF
the value of the line. With the figures
thus secured Mr.. Burt, 1t is said. gave
the stockholders of the Great Western
the most complete report upon the
value of their property ever secured by
them.
That the stockholders were satisfied
with the work done by Mr.. Burt, is ev-
idenced by his selection to the receiv
ership. Probably no railroad man in the
west bears so enviable a reputation for
reconstruction work as Mr.. Burt, and it
is believed that his selection as re-
ceiver of the Great Western Is a prom
Use that the line will be rebuilt and
made one of the best in all respects.
The railroad map of the west, 1t is
believed. will undergo many, changes
this year-some already having taken
place-and many believe that the
Great Western will soon form an all
lance of great Importance to the
west. If the breach between Hartman
and Burt, which resulted in the latter
retirement from the Union Pacific, is
not TOO large to be healed. no one need
be surprised ii the two are soon found
working together If such theory should
develop into a fact, the Illinois Cen
trail and the Great Western will be
found taking the place in transcon-
tinental traffic now enjoyed by the
Northwestern. For a long time. the IL
linois Central has been unable 70
handle all the business turned over 20
it at Council Bluffs by the Union Pa
cific. and the big end of the haul which
the Northwestern, with its double, track
from here to Chicago, had been able to
secure, has been a cause of constant
irritation to Hartman, who enjoys di-
viding his apple with rival about
as we'll as the proverbial school boy.
That the Great Western would profit
by such an arrangement, would be
sufficient warrant for Burt playing into
Harriman's hands. If, as has been 'n-
nounced, Hartman has acquired con-
troll Of the New York Central railroad,
the suggested alliance between the
Great Western and Union Pacific is