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.
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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.
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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