PRR into Iowa?

A dispatch recently appeared in the daily papers to the effect that the Pennsylvania company had purchased the T. P. & W. railroad. This would make the western termini of the Pennsylvania at Keokuk, but many of the best poasted railroad men believe that that company have in view a continental line, that it will purchase the K. & W. and extend the line west to Omaha or Denver. While the present management of the K. & W. gives the public excellent service, much better than that offered by any other road of the same length in the state, a through line in many respect would be much better. Should the above idea be carried out it would place this county in direct connection with all the eastern markets. It would give this locality better freight and mail facilities. The Pennsylvania is one of the best railroads in this country and if the K. &. W. is to be absorbed by any of the great systems, it could not fall in better hands.

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The Farmers' Union -- Memphis, MO -- 12-7-1893.

PRR + MILW rumors

 "PENNSY" MEN ARE HERE

OFFICIALS OF BIG EAILROAD SYSTEM STOP ON THEIR SIGNIFICANT INSPECTION TOUR OF MILWAUKEE SYSTEM.
Pennsylvania railroad officials, as guests of the Milwaukee road, are inspecting Minneapolis today. They arrived at 6:30 p.m. yesterday and at 10:30 tonight will leave for Duluth. St. Paul will entertain them after 6:35 p.m. Wednesday. This is part of a general tour of the northwest which be gan Monday morning at Chicago. Sioux City, Omaha, St. Louis and other cities are to be visited. 

E. W. McKenna, assistant to the president F. A. Miller, general passenger agent E. S. Keeley, general freight agent, represent the Milwaukee road. The Pennsylvania officials in the party are: John B. Thayer, with vice president George D. Dixon, freight traffic manager James B. Wood, passenger traffic manager. Officers of the Pennsylvania lines: Joseph Wood, second vice president D. T. McCabe, freight traffic manager E. A. Dawson, manager Union Line. Chicago.  Officers of the Erie and Western Transportation company: E. T. Evans, vice president, Buffalo John E. Payne, vice president, Philadelphia.

Taken in connection with rumors in the railroad world as to the future relationship of the Pennsylvania-Milwaukee line to the transcontinental situation, the trip of the Pennsylvania men is believed to have considerable depth of meaning. The inspection trip will take in all parts -of the Milwaukee system, particularly that which would be involved in a thru line from Atlantic to Pacific.

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Minneapolis Journal - May 2, 1905

PRR & Ann Arbor to the Twin Cities

 PENNSYLVANIA BEHIND IT.

Marinette, Wis., March 21. —The announcement has been made here that the Pennsylvania railroad is behind the Ann Arbor in its project to secure terminals and build a belt line in Marinette and Menominee. This is only preliminary to extending the road from here to St. Paul and Minneapolis and ultimately to the grain fields of the northwest. This will give the shortest line from the grain fields to the Atlantic seaboard.

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Wood County Reporter - March 23, 1899

Ed note: guessing this is related to the Menominee & St. Paul proposal.

LAKE SUPERIOR SOUTHERN AGAIN

Possibility That line from Madison to Huron Bay May Be Reality.

Working on Wisconsin End.  According to advices from Wisconsin, says the Marquette Mining Journal, the .'Lake Superior Southern railroad, from Madison, Wis., to Huron Bay, so long regarded in railroad circles as a dream in which there was but little of reality, may become a fact and active operations be begun during the year just opened. The contemplated line covers a distance of 200 miles, 200 of which is in Wisconsin According to a $12,000,000 mortgage.in form of construction bond, running to the Knickerbocker Trust Company, of New York, and recently tiled for record in Marquette county, the proposed railroad line will extend east of south from Huron Bay to Micbigamme, thence west of south through Iron county,' crossing the Wisconsin line and continuing on through the counties of Florence, Forest, Marinette, Oconto. Shawano, Outagamie, Brown, Winnebago, Waupaca,' Green Lake, Fond du Lac, Columbia and Dane. The company controls the roadbed of the old long defunct Iron Range & Huron 'Bay railroad and proposes to make use

of it from Champion to L'Anse and Huron Bay. The roadbed already graded, is 100 feet in width. This is commonly supposed to be a plan of the Illinois Central for the com pletion of the line from the gulf to Lake Superior.

WORK DONE IN WISCONSIN.
The Wisconsin & Northern rail road organized about a year ago, is supposed to be the Wisconsin end of toe project, and actual operation of a portion of its line has already been commenced. The road is planned to extend from Madison to
Crandon, via Oshkosh, Appleton, Shawano and other cities. The right-of-way for the entire road has been constructed from Shawano to its northern extremity. Construction work was begun late in the season of 1904 and was completed about two months ago. The first train was run about five weeks ago, making the trip from Shawano to Crandon without. a mishap. The officials of the road were on the. train making the initial trip. Construction work from Shawano
south is now in operation, although little can be done during the winter months. Information emanating from official sources is to .the effect that work will be rushed in the spring, and that in less than a year trains will be running into Appleton. It is said the -company will issue bonds for $10,000,000 for the completion of the road from Shawano, its present terminus, to Madison, although this has not been verified.

TO CONNECT WITH SOO LINE.
That the proposition is not a mere promotion scheme' is evident from the fact that the company in the name of Leander
Choate, of Oshkosh, has purchased a large amount of property near Appleton and in Outagamie, paying cash for it. The Wisconsin & Northem has completed its grade from Crandon north to the tracks of the Minneapolis, St. Paul  & Sault Ste. Marie railroad, a distance of seven miles.' As soon as the road Is In operation, it will compete for business with the North-western by arranging a combined tariff with the so-called "Soo line.". As soon as the junction is effected, work will be pushed south, from Crandon to connect with that portion of the line now under' construction and for partial operation from Shawano north at the point of contact with the Soo line, about one And one-half miles west of North Crandon, there is also a passage under the Soo, that will facilitate the extension to northern Michigan and Lake Superior. 

The following official statement 'issued by President Phillips describes the territory to be tapped by the line: "The Lake Superior Southern railway will open to development large forests of timber and bring them tributary to the great manufacturing center of eastern Wisconsin. . It will traverse vast areas in both states now unproductive capable of becoming fertile agricultural lands, and well adapted to stock raising and dairy products. "For a distance of eighty miles it will cross the great Marquette and Crystal Falls mineral districts, rich in deposits of iron, copper, slate, clays and building stone, and Beaver Dam and Columbus. It will not take in Fond du Lac, going a little west of south from Oshkosh, and bisecting the triangle formed by the lines of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railway . connecting

with Fond du Lac and Ripon.

BARAGA COUNTY OPPORTUNITIES.
If the line ever reaches Huron bay, and the harbor there is put in proper condition, it will mean much for Baraga county, the town in which it Is located now having very little to keep it in existence. The natural shipping facilities of Huron bay will make it a comparatively easy task to establish an important harbor there, and if the plans of the Lake Superior Southern carry, L'Anse and the other towns of Baraga county may see a return of the old days, before the D. S. S. &
A: was pushed through to Duluth and the copper country, A junction with the South Shore will probably be effected at Champion, making that town the junction point for three roads and raising it to the status of an important railroad
center.

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L'anse Sentinel Jan 12, 1907

IC to Des Moines, IC & MSTL

DULUTH TO GULF
• MINNEAPOLIS & ST. LOUIS MAY BE ABSORBED BY THE ILLINOIS CENTRAL

DEAL SAID TO BE PENDING, RECENT BILGE IN SECURITIES ATTRIBUTED TO WALL STREET'S INSIDE KNOWLEDGE.

ENTRANCE INTO TWIN CITIES
Control of the Road Would Give the Illinois Central Access to a Rich Traffic Which It Is Not Now Able to Reach — Traffic Alliance in Case the Pending Negotiations Fail.

NEW YORK, Aug. 27. The Herald says: From" semi-official sources it Is learned that a deal Is pending in Wall street whereby the Illinois Central may get control of the Minneapolis & St. Louis
railroad. Negotiations to this end are said to have been under way for some time between the Harriman-Fish interests, representing the Illinois Central, and President Edwin R. Hawley, representing the present control of the Minneapolis & St. Louis.

No definite agreement has yet been reached, but Wall street Interests having knowledge of the situation say that in any event a traffic alliance will be effected and that a change of control will
probably be brought about. There are even rumors of the terms upon which Minneapolis & St. Louis securities may be exchanged for those of the Illinois Central.

STRATEGIC POSITION.
A glance at the maps indicating the geographical positions of the two properties shows that such a deal would be greatly to the advantage of both roads. The Illinois Central would be given access to a territory rich in traffic which it does not now touch; would get fine terminals In Minnesota's twin cities, Minneapolis and St. Paul, and would have practically a through line from Duluth to the Gulf of Mexico.

Railroad men agree that the Minneapolis & St. Louis has terminal facilities the equal of any in St. Paul and the best in Minneapolis. These terminals are now used by the Northern Pacific, the Omaha, Soo Line, St. Paul & Duluth, Wisconsin Central and Chicago Great Western roads. The Minneapolis & St. Louis derives a large net revenue from them.

The company's lines also traverse an exceptionally rich country, and at Albert Lea, Minn., furnish-the only connection to the Twin Cities and the Northwest for the Rock Island and the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern systems.

BULGE IN STOCKS.
The recent strength of the Minneapolis & St. Louis securities on the stock exchange has been attributed by all to a growing appreciation of the road's strategic position, to the reduction in fixed
charges through refunding, to the increased mileage and Increased earnings brought about by expert management, to dividend prospects (it is said 4 and probably 5 per cent will be paid on the common stock) and other favorable developments. It now seems probable, however, that the bulge of the stocks has been in anticipation of what may be effected in the Illinois Central matter.

SCHEME OF EXPANSION.
President Stuyvesant Fish and E. H. Harriman, who are controlling factors in Illinois Central affairs, have been carrying out a scheme of expansion for some time past. First the Illinois Central acquired the Mississippi & Yazoo Valley lines, which parallel the company's road from Memphis, Term., to New Orleans.  Then followed the purchase of the Chesapeake, Ohio & Southwestern, running from Memphis to Louisville. The extension of the Dubuque & Sioux City road into Omaha, which will be completed this fall, was the next undertaking.

Now comes the proposition to gain an entrance into St. Paul and Minneapolis,. which, If acquired, will give the Illinois Central access to a great amount of territory that has never before contributed
to its revenues. Through lines already in operation, the system would then extend to the head of Lake Superior, thus giving on unbroken line from Duluth to New Orleans.

CONNECTING LINK.
All that would be required to form the connection between the two systems would be the construction of a few miles of road from Lyle, Minn., which is the Illinois Central's present northern terminus to Albert Lea, Minn., where the Minneapolis & St. Louis now runs.

In railroad and financial circles it is thought that the purchase or lease of the Minneapolis & St. Louis by the Illinois Central is more likely than the arrangement of a traffic alliance.

Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific railway officials are said to have become alarmed over this new extension scheme of the Illinois Central. The Rock Island formerly controlled parts of the Minneapolis & St. Louis system through ownership of mortgage bonds. These bonds were taken up by the payment of more than four millions when the road was reorganized in 1894. Since "that time there have been many reports that the Rock Island was scheming to again get control of the
property.

- St Paul Globe, St Paul MN 8/28/1899


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DE MOINES , Dec. 22. The corps of surveyors for the Des Moines , Iowa Falls & Northern road today completed a line from Des Moines to Iowa Falls , eighty miles. The road is still on paper. Stockholders have invested $20,000 In the preliminary work , having assurance of the Illinois Central backing It. They say the line will be built next spring from the 'Illinois Central main line at Iowa Falls into this city and that It Is necessitated because the Illinois Central failed to secure control of the
Minneapolis & St. Louis.

- Omaha Daily Bee, Omaha NE 12/23/1899

Illinois Central in South Dakota

DAKOTA DOINGS.
---
Madison expects the Illinois Central from Sioux Falls.

The Illinois Central, which is now projected to Sioux Falls, have a surveying party looking over a feasible route from there to Aberdeen, but whether they will build this fall cannot be definitely learned.

Judge N. B. Beed, of Woonsocket. who is now in Chicago, writes that be is informed by Illinois Central officials that ,that company will soon run a survey from Sioux Falls to Woonsocket, with a view to extend the road to that point another season.

- Griggs Courier, Cooperstown ND 4/12/1887

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Highly Elated.
The determination of the Illinois Central company to extend its road to Yankton is the most important conclusion ever reached in the interest of our city. Leading officers of that corporation have given assurance of an intention to make Yankton a prominent Missouri river point upon their system and to aid it in building for the future.  It is expected that Yankton will be made the western headquarters of the Central as New Orleans is its southern
headquarters

- Canton Advocate, Canton SD 8/11/1887

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The general superintendent and other officials of the Illinois Central were in Sioux Falls Wednesday on a tour of in­spection. A dispatch says: "It looks as if the road will be built to Aberdeen and Bismarck, although a great deal depends on the action of the coming legislature toward the railroads.

- Bismarck Weekly Tribune, Bismarck ND  6/2/1888

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Illinois Central in Dakota.
Sioux Falls, Dak., July 19.—Mitchell Vincent has returned from Chicago and reports that the Illinois Central officials say that the first railroad building that road will do in Dakota will be from Sioux Falls to Mitchell. It depends a great deal on the success of the commission to secure the opening of the reservation, as the Illinois Central intends to cross to the Black Hills immediately. Mr. Vincent is an old railroad contractor.

- The Wahpeton Times, Wahpeton ND 7/19/1888
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The president, general manager and a number of other officials of the Illinois Central railroad visited Sioux Falls Friday by special tram. It was understood that the purpose of the visit was to look over the line preparatory to an extension of the Central road northwesterly from Sioux .Falls into central
Dakota. It appears from this that the promised Central line to Yankton has been permitted to go elsewhere. There was a time when vigorous following up would have brought the Central to Yankton.

-Press and Daily Dakotaian, Yankton SD 10/08/1888

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Citizens of Mitchell, it is possible to secure the Illinois Central railroad to this city. The right effort at this time will do the business. For further particulars see the committee, which was appointed last night.
-----
The Illinois Central means cheap coal and lower freight rates. Mitchell, therefore, wants the Illinois Central.

- Mitchell Capital, Mitchell SD  8/4/1889

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CENTER AND SOUTH
Will Unite by the Extension of the Road From Sioux Falls to Aberdeen.
Special to the Globe.Sioux Falls, S. D., April Hon. P. E. Kirk, of Aberdeen, was in the city Wednesday and Thursday. 'He came as the ambassador plenipotentiary and envoy extraordinary of the board of trade of that city to look up the possibility and probability of the extension of the Illinois Central from Sioux Falls to Aberdeen. He says that the Hub city must have the road, at whatever cost, and he is trying to find out just how the matter stands and just what Sioux Falls can do for Aberdeen in regard to the extension. Capt. G. S. Nare, •of Woonsocket, also lighted down in Sioux Falls on the.
same day. He thinks the Capital Investment company is sure to have a large influence in the matter of locating the capital. Being questioned as to what chances there were to get the company to run up a banner with "Sioux Falls" inscribed thereon, he winked,and lighted a cigar.

- St. Paul Daily Globe, St Paul MN 4/20/1889

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ASSUMING TANGIBLE SHAPE.
Mr. Sheppard Arranging for the Construction of the Omaha and Yankton
—The Illinois Central.
OMAHA AND YANKTON,
The Omaha Herald of the 16th contains the following relative to one of Yankton's pet projects:
The prospects of another railway connection with Omaha are at last assuming tangible shape. For some time past the people of Yankton have been working hard to obtain an outlet to this city. In conjunction with the Omaha board trade they have at last succeeded in securing an Incorporation and Harvey Sheppard, the bead of one of Boston's largest syndicates, has taken the matter in hand. Some weeks ago Mr. Sheppard visited this section, and his observations led him to believe that the proposed route would afford one of the most profitable investment's for capital to be found in the west. Early in the coming month he will again visit Omaha for the purpose of arranging for the speedy construction of the line. Its completion will open up in a northwesterly direction for a distance of about 160 miles one of the richest grain and stock sections to be found in the Missouri valley, and will add largely to Omaha's importance as the growing commercial and shipping center of the west. Both the enterprising citizens of the Yankton section and the Omaha board of trade are entitled to much credit for the perseverance and enterprise they have displayed in consummating the  development of this scheme to asuccessful termination.

THE CENTRAL AT SIOUX FALLS.
Sioux Falls Press, 15: The progress of the negotiations for the Illinois central has been rather slow in some respects, but it has been nonetheless sure. For the past three days the rail road committee has been consulting with the officials of the road regarding the details of the agreement to be entered into between the city and the company, and finally the matter has been brought to a head. Yesterday the
negotiations were completed practically, and the Illinois Central may now be regarded as an accomplished fact. In fact it is perfectly safe to say that the 1st of August will see the work well under way, barring, of course, all accidents

While all the minor details of the agreement have not been definitely settled in its main points it is as has been heretofore stated in the Press. The Central people have asked for the ground north of Eighth street between the Omaha track and the river for the depot grounds, round house etc., and the railroad committee has agreed to give them the right of way which by the way, includes nine miles in Minnesota. The cost of this will be somewhere in the neighborhood of $25,000, possibly 880,000. On the other hand the Illinois Central agrees to make Sioux Falls division headquarters.

An agreement embodying these points has been drawn up and if it meets with the approval of the officials it will be returned to this city for signatures. In the Meantime the work will be begun
at once, or as soon as contracts can be made. Surveyor Rice went to Cherokee yesterday with Mr. Gilleas, and Mr. Knight with the specifications, and the contracts for grading will be let there as soon as possible. It is likely that the work will be begun in less than two weeks.

The grounds desired by the Company are those over which the Burlington will run its spur track to the quarries and the packing-house, and it was feared at first that this would cause some hitch in the
plans, Ah agreement has, however, been made with President Ives, to the effect that the Burlington would join with the Central in building the track to these points, the track to be used jointly by the two roads.

COMING TO YANKTON
A telegram was received Saturday evening by the board of trade which stated that the Illinois Central officials will visit Yankton on business as soon as they can leave the Cherokee neighborhood—probably in about a week. A letter came also from LeMars with information that the attention of the Illinois Central company would soon be given to its Yankton extension—that the Cherokee-Omaha and Cherokec-Sioux Falls line demanded first and immediate attention.because of
alively struggle for right of way in the Little Sioux valley and as soon as matters were in good
shape then the Yankton line would be arranged for. This information is gladly received here in Yankton where long silence on the subject had built up misgivings. It is probable that the Central officials will come to Yankton with a proposition within the next week,

-Press and Daily Dakotaian, Yankton SD 7/18/1887








 

Congress to hear consolidation plan for five railroads

The consolidation of many as five of the nation's railroads into “one strong Midwestern road” will be proposed to Congress in hearings scheduled today by the House transportation subcommittee.

John W. Ingram, president of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad, who said he would propose the plan, disclosed yesterday that he would seek to link the Rock Island with some sections of the Chicago, Milwaukee. St. Paul and Pacific Railroad and the Iowa and South Dakota lines of the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad.

 

As part of the plan—known as FarmRail — both the Missouri‐Kansas‐Texas Railroad and the Kansas City Southern Railway might also become part of the consolidation, he said. He said that “FarmRail will not be a Midwestern Conrail"—a remark apparently meant to convey that the proposed road would not look to the Government for support. Nevertheless, he said that the plan might be moved along more quickly through Government loans authorized under the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976.

 

Mr. Ingram did not mention any specific loan to be sought, although $1.6 billion in Federally guaranteed funds have been earmarked for that purpose under the act.

   

The Rock Island executive, outlining the plan in broad strokes, said FarmRail would not necessarily be a corporation on its own but added that it “eventually could be.”  It will not be an operating railroad,” he added, “it will be a consortium of railroads, operated in their joint best interest.”

 

Moreover, he maintained, no monopoly would he created because of competition from the Chicago and North Western Railway between Chicago and Omaha. He further noted that no investment would be‐required to set up the system.

 

Those taking part would use joint terminals, rail yards and equipment and share each other's tracks. The Rock Island, for example, late last year completed arrangements with the Milwaukee Road to share the same line between Kansas City, Mo. and Davenport, Iowa, a 243 mile stretch, that will cut duplicate trackage, reduce costs and eliminate safety hazards.

 

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NY Times 1/5/1978