Eastern Syndicate may want Wisconsin Central and Great Western
Special to the New York Times
Chicago, Ill., Feb. 5. - Another move is about to be made by the syndicates that are attempting to control all of the important railroads in the country. The Harriman - Vanderbilt - Morgan - Pennsylvania combination, having about finished its work of consolidation in the territory east of Chicago, has turned its weapons upon the western field of transportation. The managers of the controlling pool are trying to corral the only two independent roads between Chicago and St. Paul - the Wisconsin Central and the Chicago Great Western - in order to obtain absolute control of the Chicago - St. Paul district.
President Hill of the Great Northern, who is a prominent member of the Baltimore & Ohio end of the syndicate, is negotiating for the purchase of the Wisconsin Central, and, in fact, it is prevailing opinion in financial and railroad circles that the syndicate already has obtained control of this line. This leaves only the little Great Western as an independent line. According to alleged plans, this road also is to be absorbed and placed in the pool for freight purposes. With the acquisition of these two roads, the syndicate practically will have achieved its end in bottling up the Chicago - Missouri River territory, as the Milwaukee and St. Paul, the Rock Island, and the Burlington lines, now owned by the Harriman or any other syndicate, are in entire sympathy with any plans which the syndicate may dictate. On the syndicate's lines eastbound from Chicago plans for wiping out competition are assuming shape.
----- NY Times 2/6/1900
Some miscellaneous railroad history tidbits around Burlington, WI and the surrounding area.
Friday, May 26, 2017
Invading New Territory - The Illinois Central said to be backing up a Wyoming Line
Chicago, Aug 20. - The following is published here: "Recent movements tend to confirm the belief that the Illinois Central will not only invade Nebraska, but also Wyoming and possibly Colorado. The objective point will be either Ogden or Denver, with the chances in favor of the former. Articles of incorporation of the Wyoming and Eastern Railroad Company have recently been filed with the Secretary of the Territory at Cheyenne. The Illinois Central is believed to be baking this enterprise. The capital stock is $10,000,000 and the length of the road to be built in the territory is 425 miles. The initial point of the new road is at or near Twin Creek, on the southwestern boundary of Utah and Wyoming, where it is to connect with another road to Ogden and Salt Lake City. The route designated is easterly and northeasterly through the Valley of Horn Fork, the South Pass, the Sweetwater and North Platte Valleys to the Nebraska boundary.
"Between the main lines of the Elkhorn Valley (Northwestern) and Union Pacific is a cast unoccupied stretch of country, the productive wealth of which has scarcely been touched. The eastern counties are well settled and support hundreds of thriving communities, while the central and western counties are in the infancy of development. They have been retarded by lack of facilities for reaching markets. Crossing the river at Onawa the route indicated to the mountains would be almost an air line and would lead rivals lines a lively race for overland traffic. The western terminal of the Illinois Central's Iowa lines is at Sioux City, and the proposition to extend the line from that point to the Rocky Mountains has been entertained for several years past, as it is the only means by which the Iowa lines of the Illinois Central can be made profitable.
----- NY Times 8/21/1888
"Between the main lines of the Elkhorn Valley (Northwestern) and Union Pacific is a cast unoccupied stretch of country, the productive wealth of which has scarcely been touched. The eastern counties are well settled and support hundreds of thriving communities, while the central and western counties are in the infancy of development. They have been retarded by lack of facilities for reaching markets. Crossing the river at Onawa the route indicated to the mountains would be almost an air line and would lead rivals lines a lively race for overland traffic. The western terminal of the Illinois Central's Iowa lines is at Sioux City, and the proposition to extend the line from that point to the Rocky Mountains has been entertained for several years past, as it is the only means by which the Iowa lines of the Illinois Central can be made profitable.
----- NY Times 8/21/1888
Friday, May 19, 2017
Rockefeller buys railway (WC)
Wisconsin Central now controlled by Standard Oil, it is said.
(Special to the New York Times).
St. Paul, Minn., Fed. 17. - It was learned today, through an officer of the Wisconsin Central Railroad, that the Standard Oil Company has acquired a controlling interest in that road, and is financing the extension from Ladysmith, Wis,. to Superior and Duluth, and is also financing the extension of the Duluth, Rainy River, and Winnipeg Road, which extends through the iron ore range, on which the Rockefeller interests own a large area.
John D. Rockefeller is said to have personally directed this project, which has, it is understood, brought the Wisconsin Central under his control by the purchase of stock. It is alleged that all the northern lines, the United States Steel Company's Road, the Great Northern, and the Northern Pacific have refused to haul the iron ore of the Rockefeller mines, and that the purchase of the Wisconsin Central or a controlling interest in the road, is for the purpose of getting an outlet to the ports of Lake Superior, Milwaukee, and Chicago.
----- NY Times 2/18/1906
(Special to the New York Times).
St. Paul, Minn., Fed. 17. - It was learned today, through an officer of the Wisconsin Central Railroad, that the Standard Oil Company has acquired a controlling interest in that road, and is financing the extension from Ladysmith, Wis,. to Superior and Duluth, and is also financing the extension of the Duluth, Rainy River, and Winnipeg Road, which extends through the iron ore range, on which the Rockefeller interests own a large area.
John D. Rockefeller is said to have personally directed this project, which has, it is understood, brought the Wisconsin Central under his control by the purchase of stock. It is alleged that all the northern lines, the United States Steel Company's Road, the Great Northern, and the Northern Pacific have refused to haul the iron ore of the Rockefeller mines, and that the purchase of the Wisconsin Central or a controlling interest in the road, is for the purpose of getting an outlet to the ports of Lake Superior, Milwaukee, and Chicago.
----- NY Times 2/18/1906
Friday, April 28, 2017
The New Route to St Paul
Chicago, Sept. 5. - The new route between Chicago and St. Paul lately established by a combination of the Burlington, Illinois Central, and Minnesota & Northwestern will be regularly opened for passenger traffic Sept. 15. Two trains will be run daily in either direction. The new route is a direct one and runs over the Burlington to Forreston, the Illinois Central to Mona, and the Minnesota & Northwestern to St. Paul.
---NY Times 9/6/1885
---NY Times 9/6/1885
CHICAGO. PORTAGE AND LAKE SUPERIOR
The strife for the control
of the Chicago, Portage and Lake Superior Railroad, which was sold out to opposing interests by its counsel who disposed
of stock held in trust, promises to be bitter
and long. A large quantity of the stock is
held In New-York, and the office of
the President of the company, Mr. William
H. Schofield, is in this City. Mr.
Schofield has just returned from Chicago, whither he went to look after the interests
of his company. In speaking of the affairs
of the concern yesterday afternoon, He characterized the action of the counsel Jackson
as a piece of infamy. Jackson, he said, used his knowledge and the confidence of
the officers and stockholders of the road for a base purpose. He deliberately attempted
to place the control of the unfinished line in the hands of H. H. Porter, the ruling
spirit of the North Wisconsin Road, who was aided
in his efforts to obtain possession of the road by General Manger Cable of the Rock Island Road. Mr.
Schofield said his company did not propose to relinquish any of its rights or the
management of the road. He intended to consult with parties holding stock in New
York, London, and elsewhere in reference to the best course to pursue. He had no
doubt the courts would be required to settle the differences. It would likely resolve
itself into a question of validity of the stock held by two factions. Jackson agreed
to give absolute control of the road. But Mr. Schofield felt sure that he would
be unable to keep his bargain. As things
stood at present the members of the company could outvote the opposition.
Tuesday, February 28, 2017
Burlington WI interlocking
Here's a little info about the Milwaukee-Soo interlocking in Burlington WI. It was originally manned by an operator until the 1960s(?) when control was transferred to the Soo dispatcher in Stevens Point. My father and his siblings frequented the interlocking as kids and kept the operators company. In fact, one of the operators (in the early 1950s) met my father's sister and eventually married.
The Soo had searchlights on each side of the interlocking with two heads each. The aspects were Clear, Approach, and Stop. There was also a restricting (Red over yellow) aspect that could be used to allow a train/engine through the interlocking into an occupied block. The Soo was CTC in this area and this interlocking tied into the signal system.
The Milwaukee had colorlights capable of clear and stop aspects. Distant signals were placed in both approaches and could show clear (the interlocking was lined for a Milwaukee Road train) or approach (the interlocking is NOT lined for a Milwaukee Road train and any Milwaukee Road train should be prepared to stop short of the interlocking limits).
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