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

The Pacific Short Line

Chicago - August 26

The Pacific Short Line will be offered for sale at public auction next Tuesday under foreclosure proceedings by order of the United States Circuit Court.  It is expected that there will be a sharp contest for the possession of the property, as several companies are known to have had a covetous eye on it for some time and will make the most of this opportunity to secure it.  Among the bidders, it is understood, will be the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul, Chicago & North Western, and the Illinois Central Company, besides syndicates of the original bond holders.

In railroad circles much interest has been manifested in the Pacific Short Line project from the first.  It was originally an Illinois Central scheme, but was abandoned by that company and afterward taken up by the Wyoming Improvement Company.  The intention was to build a line from Sioux City to Ogden, paralleling the Union Pacific and shortening the distance by several hundred miles from the Missouri River to the Pacific coast.  Sioux City men added $1,000,000 to the amount that was put into the enterprise be Eastern capitalists.  The whole line was surveyed and laid out, three different companies were incorporated, and 130 miles of the road, between Sioux City and O'Neill, Neb, were constructed and put into operation.

The enterprise looked promising enough, until the financial panic of last Fall, after which the outlook was changed.  Jay Gould had gobbled the Union Pacific and was understood to be hand in glove with Huntington, who controls the Central Pacific.  The latter road, which is the only outlet from Ogden to the Pacific coast, was in hostile hands and the Pacific Short Line people decided that it would be folly to complete their line under such circumstances.  The property was allowed to go into the hands of a receiver and is now to be sold by order of the court.  The Illinois Central is said to be anxious to get possession of the road and thereby gain access to the Black Hills territory.

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NY Times 8/27/1891

Illinois Central - stance on the C&NW-MILW merger

Stockholders of the Illinois Central were also contacted by their management yesterday.  In an eight-page pamphlet, the carrier outlined its objection to a planned merger of the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroads.

The Illinois Central said it would not oppose the merger if it was given the opportunity to purchase a 70-mile portion of the Milwaukee's tracks and right-of-way, "or alternatively to use" the line, which stretches from Lyle to Northfield, Minn.  This trackage would create a new primary rail route between Chicago and Minneapolis-St. Paul.

The Illinois Central, since 1960, has reached the Twin Cities from Chicago via the so-called Albert Lea route, whereby Illinois Central trains operate directly to Albert Lea, Minn., and jointly with the Chicago & North Western from Albert lea to the Twin Cities.

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NY Times 12/6/1966

Two Chicago roads interested in Gulf, Mobile & Ohio Line

Two Chicago railroads expressed interest yesterday in the Gulf, Mobile & Ohio Railroad, one through a study of a possible merger and the other by substantial stock purchases.

The Illinois Central and the GM&O announced jointly that they had opened a study to determine the feasibility of a merger of the two lines.

The Chicago & North Western Railway disclosed that it had acquired 135, 128 shares, or about 13.3% of the outstanding common stock of the G.M.&O because of its "high regard for the management of the G.M.&O. and  the territory it seves so well."

The two developments came as a surprise to many rail observers.

Operations of the Illinois Central, with 6,466, miles of track, and the G.M.&O. , with 2,747 miles of track, largely parallel to each other from Chicago to the Gulf of Mexico.  The G.M.&O. has it headquarters in Mobile, ALA.  The Illinois Central also has an east-west line from Chicago to Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota.  The Chicago & North Western operates 10,729 miles of track out of Chicago to Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota and Nebraska.

No Seats Sought- A North Western spokesman said the line was "not now" seeking representation on the G.M.&O. board.  He declined to say whether the road planned to acquire more shares or to seek outright control.

A C.&N.W. consolidation with the G.M&O. would be an end-to-end merger, whereas an Illinois Central merger with the G.M.&O. could eliminate duplicate facilities.

Many rail observers were surprised by the brief announcement concerning the Illinois Central's interest in the G.M.&O. because the Illinois Central already has a merger study pending with the Missouri Pacific Railroad.

The Illinois Central and the Missouri Pacific are also awaiting an Interstate Commerce Commission ruling on their applications to acquire control of the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad.

The Chicago & North Western has had merger negotiations with the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, although those talks reached an impasse early in 1961 because of a failure to agree on terms of a consolidation.

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NY Times 7/12/1962

More on the IC Onawa district

MAY MEAN EXTENSION.
Illinois Central Officials on Tour
of Inspection at Onawa.
Onawa, la., Aug. 4. -A special train of cars, with the officials of the Illinois Central railroad, including the general manager and the assistant general manager, spent considerable time in Onawa yesterday inspecting their properties here. Just what their particular business was no one seemed to know, and the officials did not state, but seemed to be giving a thorough look at everything around
the yards.

Their visit has revived the old talk of an extension of the road. When the Illinois Central came into Onawa it was supposed the road would be extended west at an early date, but so far, aside from rumors, there have been no indications of an extension. There has also been considerable talk of extending the road south to a connection with the Omaha and Fort Dodge line near Missouri Valley. At any rate their visit has caused considerable speculation as to the object.

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Missouri Valley Times 8-11-1904

+++++++++++++++++
The Onawa Democrat says that the rumor has again become active that the Illinois Central will extend its line from Onawa to Missouri Valley, thus connecting with its Council Bluffs line. - Mapleton Press

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Missouri Valley Times 12-7-1911

+++++++++++++++++

Quiet Move by the Illinois Central

Two weeks ago two of the engineering force of the Illinois
Central were in town and secured a livery team and drove over to Kennebec and from that place followed the Bluff road down to Little Sioux. At that place the parties secured another team and were taken to Missouri Valley.  While in Little Sioux they called for a county map of Harrison county and after taking some observations from it drove south to a point a mile east of Mondamin and from that point west into the town, but so quietly that the fact was not known at that place. From Mondamin the parties went east a mile and then south to a point a mile or two east of Modale and here too they drove into town and then went back and proceeded to Missouri Valley, but their work at the Valley was just as quiet as in any of the other towns. The driver who took them through Harrison county knew but little of the men except that they were railroad men. The indications are that early in the spring the Central will fill in the gap from the Onawa branch to Loveland which will give a line from
Omaha to Sioux Falls. Sioux City people believe that the Central will also build from the Onawa
line to that place seems to be reasonable grounds for their belief. What this will do for Onawa will depend on whether it starts south from Onawa or whether it starts from a point on the Central about a mile on this side of Kennebec. If this is done it will work an injury to Onawa and would not be a grateful thing after the town had given her the right of way and other bequests amounting to $12,000. There is a kindly feeling existing between Onawa and the Illinois Central and the feeling should be encouraged by both the town and the road.—Onawa Democrat.

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Missouri Valley Times 1-4-1900

++++++++++++++++

Illinois Central Wants It.
Sioux City Journal: An interesting rumor involving the settlement of the Sioux City and Pacific's indebtedness to the government is being repeated by railroad men who now and then brush elbows with authority. It is that if the Sioux City and Pacific is not acquired by the Illinois Central, but goes to the Chicago and Northwestern, the Illinois Central certainly will extend its branch line from Cherokee to Onawa, from Onawa to a connection with its Fort Dodge and Omaha line at Loveland, and that later on the Sioux City and Pacific from Onawa to Sioux City will be paralleled.

The report is especially interesting in that the Illinois Central has not been seriously regarded as an aspirant for the Sioux City and Pacific it has been thought that, neither the Illinois Central nor the Great Northern would attempt to take the road away from the Northwestern. Almost everyone interested in the railroad affairs of Sioux City knows that an Illinois Central surveying party last year ran two lines from Onawa to Loveland. The distance is about forty miles. The surveys are along
the Missouri river bottom and the road could be built at a very light cost. From Onawa to Sioux City it would be built almost alongside the Sioux City and Pacific

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Missouri Valley Times 2-28-1901

+++++++++++++++++

Onawa don't take any stock in the rumor that the Illinois Central will run a through train from Sioux Falls to Omaha by way of Cherokee and Onawa over the Sioux City and Pacific tracks from Onawa to Missouri Valley. When the Central runs trains from Sioux Falls to Omaha it will be when the Central builds from Onawa to Missouri Valley.—Monona Democrat.

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Missouri Valley Times 12-7-1899


 

Ann Arbor ferries move Ore

Something never before witnessed in Menominee in railroad shipments took place a few days ago, when four Ann Arbor car ferries took out a total of 128 cars of iron ore to be shipped to Detroit and eastern points. The car ferries. Nos. 3, 4. 5, and 6, were loaded to capacity and departed for Frankfort.
The shortage of steam boats compelled the mine owners to take the matter up with the Northwestern and Ann Arbor Railroads, and arranged to have the ore shipped by rail to points in the east.

The Ann Arbor Company has been having an average of two boats a day for the past three weeks. There are several hundred cars of ore yet to be shipped by the mining companies, and the Ann Arbor road will continue to run boats here each day to take care of these shipments. Last year was the biggest year the Ann Arbor ever had in Menominee, but according to present indications the year of 1917 is going to be the banner year for the road at this point - Michigan Investor.

The Owosso Times 1-11-1918

Important Extension of the Racine & Mississippi Road

Wm. E. Cramer, Esq., of the Milwaukee Daily Wisconsin, who is spending a few weeks in New York City, writes from that place as follows concerning the Racine Road: "We learn from G.A. Thompson, Gen Manager of the Racine & Mississippi Railroad, that the road will be extended from Savannah to Rock Island by the first of October - thus bringing the valuable coal fields of Illinois into direct communication with southern Wisconsin.  The distance is 52 miles, 26 miles of which are completed.  When the Milwaukee finishes its line to Burlington, we shall have a direct road of 200 miles to the valuable coal fields of Illinois.

Cheap Coal would be of immense value to the future growth of Milwaukee.  In view of the extension of the Racine Road to Rock Island, the completion of the short line to Burlington assumes an importance in every interest in our City - not inferior to that of any other line ever projected from Milwaukee.  We further lean that there is no probability of the Racine Road being sold to the Chicago & Northwester.  The latter, has as large a load as it can carry.

The decline of the price of iron will enable the Racine road to complete its extension of 26 miles at a cost not exceeding $18,000 per mile.

Burlington Standard Press 5/24/1865

WC branch to Lake Geneva

Wisconsin Central It is said that this company build a branch to Lake Geneva Wis either from Burlington or Wheatland The distance is about 12 miles would bring the Wisconsin Central into direct with the Chicago & North Western at one of the summer resort,

Railway  Age Vol 11, Nov 25 1886

IC to Lake Geneva?

I recently came across this map on ebay that shows a few "IC" lines that I have never seen before.  Namely the line from the Chicago area to about Mendota IL (via the CB&Q?) and the line from Chicago to Lake Geneva (WI).  Being from Burlington this Lake Geneva line piqued my interest.  First off, yes this is an actual Illinois Central map, dated December 31, 1920, and it is listed as "Poole Bros, Chicago" which I assume to be the printer.

Taking a close look it looks like the alignment follows the C&NW from Chicago up to Crystal Lake, and then north to Lake Geneva.  This makes me think that it was the C&NW line (and not an IC line per se) and may have been included by the IC for marketing purposes considering the tourist draw of the Geneva Lakes area.

In printing (upon close examination) it appears that there was an issue with the alignment between the black ink and the red ink.  If you look closely below all the red lines you can vaguely make out white blank areas where the red lines *should* have printed.  Not to mention that the red lines do seem offset from the correct locations of many parts of the line.

Illinois Central Plans - Green Bay extension

Right of way over St. Paul tracks in Wisconsin Secured

Madison, Wis., Dec. 9 - The Illinois Central has secured a contract for the right of way over the St. Paul railroad tracks from west Madison to the Watertown Junction, and will run trains through Madison, connecting Sun Prairie, Columbus, Beaver Dam, Fond du Lac, Oshkosh, and Green Bay on the north with the system south by an agreement with the Northwestern Road.

The Illinois Central will begin the construction of the Green Bay line early next spring, the line already surveyed and known as the Madison & Northwestern.  An additional traffic arrangement will allow the trains to run to the state line on the north.

NY Times Dec 10, 1903

Sold to Wisconsin Central - Milwaukee terminal facilities

Milwaukee, Wis., Sept. 16 - An important sale has been made in Milwaukee that means a great deal considered in connection with the moves of railway companies.  The Shea and George Company's docks and freighthouse in Erie St. have been sold for $300,000 to the WIsconsin Central.  It is a part of the plan of the corportation to secure a foothold in Milwaukee for yard and station purposes.  The Shea & George docks are among the most valuable in the city, and are now used for the transfer of all vessel freight for the Northwestern and for eastern points for the Northwestern's connections/  At present the Northwestern has four or five tracks to the docks, virtually monopolizing Erie St. and the immediate vicinity.

IC buys the WC? 1887

Bought by the Illinois Central

Chicago, March 11. - A Milwaukee dispatch says that it was learned today that the Illinois Central is planning to buy the WIsconsin Central line from Ashland to Chicago and from Abbottsford to St. Paul, with all the rights and titles of the various companies owning the line, its lands, shops, machinery, and rolling stock.  The Wisconsin Central line is operated by a company under the direction of the Trustees Stewart and Abbot, and is composed of the Wisconsin Central, Chicago, Wisconsin and Minnesota, Milwaukee & Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin & Minnesota, St. Croix & Wisconsin, and the Chicago and Schleisingerville Construction Company.  There is no doubt that the men controlling the majority of the stock of the united companies are anxious to accept the proposal of the Illinois Central Company, and it is quite likely that the sale will be consumated.

With the Wisconsin Central as a basis it is the intention of the Illinois Central, as understood in Milwaukee, to construction the most extensive railway system in Wisconsin, and afterward to enter into competition with the Milwaukee & St. Paul and Northwestern Roads, and secure also the lumber haul to points in the South and Southwest.

New York Times - March 12, 1887

Milwaukee, Peoria & St. Louis Ry

From The Railway Age  March 23, 1906

Milwaukee Peoria & St Louis McNabb to Peoria 50 miles

Railway Age Gazette Vol 51

Milwaukee Peoria & St Louis
An officer writes that the prospects of building are good but contracts are not yet let for a line from a point opposite the city of Peoria 111 on the east bank of the Illinois river north crossing the Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe thence via Lacon and Hennepin to Rockford about 120 miles Connection is to be made with the Chicago Milwaukee & St Paul at the Chicago Indiana & Southern bridge at Depue Maximum grades will be 5 of 1 per cent maximum curvature 3 degrees The right of way has been secured from Peoria to Depue and about one half of the line has been located The company expects to develop a traffic in coal from the fields located at the southern end of the line FW Cherry Princeton is back of the project B Schreiner chief engineer

Engineering & Contracting, Vol 37

The Milwaukee Peoria & St Louis RR Co projecting a line from Peoria to Rock ford has secured a large part of its right of way Construction work at the southern end of the line may be started some time in May As outlined this line starts on the east side of the river at Peoria runs along the east bank of Marshall Hennepin county seat of Putnam which town now has no railroad connection crosses the river at Depue using the trackage of the New York Central lines for the bridge and into Seatonville thence to Rockford Frank B Reid Chicago 111 is President Robert D Clarke Peoria 111 is Vice president and George E Stocking of Rochelle is Treasurer

Moodys Manual of investments - 1919

CHICAGO AND NORTH WESTERN RAILWAY COMPANY NOTE This analysis is based on official documents of the company including its annual reports of the past ten years For Definitions and Key to Ratings see pages 19 26 Origin Incorporated under Illinois laws June 7 1859 as successor to Chicago St Paul & Fond du Lac RR operating from Chicago to Fond du Lac Wis about 177 miles Extensions were made from time to time and construction of further lines added to the length of the system The Sioux City & Pacific RR was acquired in 1901 and the Fremont Elkhorn & Missouri Valley was formally absorbed in 1903 In 1909 the company purchased the Manitowoc Green Bay & Northwestern and the Milwaukee & State Line Ry In 1910 11 the Sioux City Dakota & Northwestern and the Lee County Ry were acquired These and other lines were built in the interest of the main company Among the lines recently organized are the Belle Fourche Valley Ry the James River Valley & Northwestern Ry Milwaukee Peoria & St Louis RR the Milwaukee Sparta & Northwestern Ry and the St Louis Peoria & Northwestern Ry

CNW offer?

This is a note from the Chicago & Northwestern to the town of Rochester (WI) inquiring about stock in the Fox River Valley Railroad.  Note that the C&NW did own the Fox River Valley Railroad of Illinois from Elgin to Richmond IL/Genoa City WI.  This is transcribed from a photocopy I have of the document, and unfortunately the right edge is cut off.  Much of the original formatting was also lost while transcribing it.  I don't know if the C&NW's interest was in purchasing/building the line, or simply purchasing it to eliminate potential competition.  The year is cut off of the date, but considering that it refers to the Milwaukee & St. Louis I would assume that places it in the early 1870s.

Chicago & Northwestern Railway Co.
Freight Office

C.E. Moody, Freight Agent    Milwaukee WI  7/8/18xx

Supervisor, Town of Rochester

Will you favor me with answers to the following inquiries?  Does the town of Rochester hold any stock or bonds of the Fox River Valley RR, now the Milwaukee  & St. Louis Air Line?  If so are they for sale and at what price?

Very Truly Yoours,
Alex Bergan(?)
1416 >street illegible<
Milwaukee, WI