The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-04-12
BELIEVE |. c.
is BUILDING
TO PENSACOLA
RuMoRED THAT THE BIG SYs-
TEN rs BEHIND THE coNsTRuc-
TON OF THE PENSACOLA, MO-
BILE AND NEW ORLEANS RAIL
ROAD,

Regarding the construction of the
Mclaughlin railroad, known as the
Pensacola, Mobile and New Orleans,
the Mobile Register of recent date con-
tanned the following:
That 1t is the intention of the Illi-
nois Central Railroad Company to Sc
cure an outlet upon the Gulf coast,
other than New Orleans, is now prac-
tically assured, and that it will reach
Mobile over the tracks of the New Or
leans, Mobile and Chicago Railroad,
and Pensacola from Mobile over the
tracks of the Pensacola, Mobile and
New Orleans, or the Mclaughlin road,
is considered certain, in view of recent
Developments. The extension of the
line from Middleton to Jackson, Tenn,
where it Will connect with the Illinois
Central, and the tip that has been
going around in New York financial
circles, to the effect that a traffic ar
rangement had been made by which
the New Orleans, Mobile and Chicago
would operate, after the completion of
the line to Jackson, between Jackson
and Milan over the tracks Of the nli
nois Central leaving the line at Milan
for a direct shoot to the Ohio river.
over which bridge will be thrown at
either Metropolis or Paducah, gives
brilliant color to the rumors that have
been afloat since the Berg line first
announced the intention of going
through to the Ohio.
Heading for !. C. Terminals.
The Illinois Central, in addition to fits
bridge and terminal facilities at Cairo,
ILL.,, has terminals at Metropolis, Ill.
II Ia H.
river from Paducah and the Louisville
and Memphis line Of the Illinois Cen
trail almost parallels the Ohio between
Louisville and Paducah, then shoots off
slightly to the southwest, crossing the
main line of the road at Fulton, a
short distance north of Jackson and
just north of the border of Tennessee.
A CUTOFF from Milan to a point near
Mayheld, on the Paducah line of the
Illinois Central, would straighten the
line to the Ohio river and. when a
bridge is thrown across the river
would give the Illinois Central another
line from the Great Lakes to the Gulf
for the greater part of the distance
The line via Paducah would probably
connect with the main line again at
Centralia, Ill, and from there the nli-
nois Central would have the choice Of
two routes to Chicago.
A Chicago man well up on the ar.
fairs of the railroads of that city, who
is in Mobile, yesterday stated that two
years ago the Illinois Central deter
mined to enter Mobile and Pensacola,
and to obtain big terminals there, and
he sees in the extension of the New
Orleans, Mobile and Chicago to Jack
son, Tenn, and the construction of the
Mclaughlin road from Mobile to Pen
sacola, bridging Mobile river, the hand
of the Illinois Central.
While all sorts of speculation have
been made regulating the ultimate
plans Of Henry Mclaughlin, it is a
fact that he first desired to cross the
Mobile river with the line from Pen
sacola at point that would give them
immediate access to the yards of tho
New Orleans, Mobile and Chicago rail-
road, and when there was opposition to
| the bridge at that point the Belt Line
proposition Immediately came into
being, by means of which it will be
possible for the Pensacola road to Sc
cure a connection with all other lines
running into the city, the n. o., NJ. &
| C. included. Another thing that makes
| Mr.. McLaughlin's connection with an
extension Of the Illinois Central more
probable, is the statement, made some
time since by a prominent railroad
man, that Mr.. Mclaughlin was very
close to the officials of the Illinois
| CentraEin fact, that he had been in
charge of a large amount of construc-
| ton work for that line not so very
long ago. Some time since Mr.. Baker,
one Of the largest railroad contractors
in the country, and a man who has
performed some of the largest con-
tracts in the Illinois Central, was In
| the city for two days, leaving here FOR
| New Orleans, where he was in confer
ence with L. S. Berg of the New Or
leans, Mobile and Chicago, previous to
the latter's last visit, and after Mr..
Berg's return from New York, where it
| was stated he was for the purpose of
arranging the financial end of the con-
struction proposition.
Daggers Drawn With 1. & NJ.
For years the Louisville and Nash
vile and the Illinois Central have been
at loggerheads and at one time the diff
ferences between the roads were such
that the Louisville & Nashville threat
ened to go after Illinois Central export
trade through New Orleans unless the
Illinois Central kept out of the Bir-
mingham district, which the Louisville
& Nashville arrogated to itself as a
monopoly. The fight became bitter and,
as result, for the purpose of having
a club over the head Of the Illinois
Central, the Louisville & Nashville
constructed an immense grain elevator
at Pensacola, with the avowed purpose
of going after the grain trade to the
gulf coast. An agreement Of some
kind was reached after the elevator
had been run for a time, but that there
is still feeling between the lines is
evidenced from the fact that, while the
Pensacola elevator is not operated. and
has not been for many years, it is
maintained in first class condition and
could, should the necessity arise, be
put in operation within "a hours.
| Every portion of the machinery is in
spected every two weeks, and the
boilers are fired up and the machinery
run. Even the smaller details are not
| neglected, even the grease and oil being