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

Another Milwaukee Southern article

ROADS TO ENTER MILWAUKEE.
Burlington, Wabash and Illinois Central Have Building Plans.

••Milwaukee. Wis., July 26.—Rumors in railroad circles are crystalizing to the effect that Milwaukee will be placed on the direct lines of the Chicago Burlington and Quincy railway system, the Wabash railway and the Illinois Central, provided that the Milwaukee Southern succeeds in building lines in to this city for which franchises have been granted.

The visit to this city ais week of H. I). Judson, general superintendent of the Illinois district of the Burlington, with Attorney Miller of Chicago, Ill. said to have had the purpose of ascertaining the lay of the land here, preparatory to considering a proposal to enter Milwaukee over the Milwaukee
Southern line from De Kalb and Rock ford, Ill.

It is said that at present the Milwaukee-Southern has not the money to build its proposed lines and that the Burlington or some other railway has been asked to lend financial as well as moral support.

Evening times-Republican. (Marshalltown, Iowa), July 26, 1906

The Illinois Central, It is said, will absorb the MIssouri, Kansas & Texas Line.

Chicago, June 1. - It is reported that the next big railroad deal in connection with the western roads will be the absorption of the MIssouri, Kansas and Texas by the Illinois Central.  The basis of this deal, it is said, will be either a perpetual leave of the "Katy" property by the Illinois Central, on the guarantee of agreed dividends upon its entire issue of stock or the exchange of the stock for bonds guaranteed by the Illinois Central on the same plan as Burlington stock has been exchanged for bonds guaranteed by the Northern Pacific and the Great Northern.

For many years Harriman interests have had a strong representation in the Illinois Central and now they are the predominating power in the Missouri, Kansas & Texas affairs.  The most recent undertakings of the Illinois Central have been in reaching out for Omaha and St. Paul traffic, and in arranging to participate to an appreciable degree in transcontinental busisiness.

NY Times June 2, 1901

Milwaukee Terminal Railroad



I had never heard of this venture before.  I know that there was a "Milwaukee Terminal" that was a joint venture of the Milwaukee Road and Northern Pacific in the Puget Sound area but that's not this one.  This venture appears to be related to a couple of railroads without access to the city of Milwaukee trying to gain access to the city.  It mentions the Wisconsin Central and I have seen mentions of the Wisconsin Central intending to use the former Fox River Valley right-of-way from Burlington to Milwaukee for Milwaukee access.  I had also heard about plans for the Illinois Central to access Milwaukee via the same/similar route.  However, this is the first that I have heard about the Chicago, Burlington, & Quincy, Northern Pacific, Rock Island, and/or Baltimore & Ohio attempting to gain access to Milwaukee.  Please note that it says the previous mentioned railroads are "believed" to be backing the company; it does not say with absolute certainty.