Friday, May 26, 2017

Big Western Railroad Move

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

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

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