Illinois Central's New Line - Omaha

A direct line from Chicago to Omaha will be built.

Chicago, Sept. 20. - The Tribune says: The Illinois Central will begin the construction of a direct line from Chicago to Omaha early in the spring.  Only 125 miles of the new road is required to complete the line.  The company will tap it's Sioux City line at Fort Dodge, IA., and will build thence west to Council Bluffs.  Articles of incorporation for the new road have already been filed in Dubuque, the capital stock named being $5,000,000.

It is quite probable that before long the Illinois Central will also build an extension to S St. Paul.  It has for a line time had a line to Mona, IA., within 100 miles of St. Paul.  The enormous increase the company made in its earnings last year and the prospects of its doing still better in the future encouraged the management in carrying out those long contemplated projects.

The Chicago Great Western has also made arrangements to extend it's line from Omaha next summer.  The extension will run from Hampton, IA., to Omaha.

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NY Times 9-21-1898


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Illinois Central's Omaha acquisition

Omaha, Neb., Jan. 15. - The Illinois Central Railroad company has secured control of the bridge across the Missouri River, as well as all the tracks of the Omaha Bridge and Terminal Company.  The property includes terminal tracks in this city, South Omaha, and Council Bluffs, and a new bridge across the river.

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NY Times 1-16-1902

 

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

Enough Lines to St. Paul

Chicago, Aug. 27 - President Clarke, of the Illinois Central, says that the consultations between him, Vice-President Fish, and the attorneys of his company during the last day or two have had no reference whatever to tan absorption of the Minnesota & Northwestern Railroad by his company.  The Minnesota and Northwestern people had been making efforts to get the Illinois Central to father their scheme and thus place this road in a false position before the public.  Neither Mr. Clarke nor any of the officers of the Illinois Central take much stock in the proposed scheme to secure another through line to St. Paul by joining the interests of the Illinois Central and the Minnesota & Northwestern.  Mr. Clarke thinks there are already more roads between Chicago and Str. Paul than there is any need for.  The Northwestern and Milwaukee & St. Paul alone could take good care of all business there is at present without crowding them too much.  The Illinois Central will do business with the Minnesota & Northwestern on the same terms as with other roads, but it will not countenance the cutting of rates on St. Paul, Minneapolis, or Northwestern business and it will require full proportions on all business it receives from the Minnesota & Northwestern.  If any cut is made it will have to be borne by the latter road alone.

No action has yet been taken by the Illinois Central regarding the extension of the lease of its Iowa lines.  The present lease, as is generally known, expires in 1887.

NY Times - Aug. 28, 1885

Rumors of big railway deal - IC purchase of WC & CGW

Illinois Central said to have practically acquired control of Wisconsin Central

- Special to the New York Times

Chicago, March 11 - The air was thick today with rumors of gigantic railway deals and combinations.  THe most important of these was a report that the Illinois Central had or was about to secure control of the Wisconsin Central Railroad.  Vice President J.T. Harahan, when questioned regarding the rumor, said he knew nothing of it.

It was asserted that certain large stockholders of the Illinois Central had bought privately a majority of Wisconsin Central preferred stock and were assured of a controlling interest in the common.  These purchasesm it was said, would be turned into the Illinois Central as a corportation and thus give the latter a line from St. Paul to New Orleans.

It is considered quite probable that the "Certain large stockholders of the Illinois Central" are E.H. Harriman and others associated with him.  Mr. Harriman being one of the largest stockholders of the Illinois Cental and one of it's directors.  It has been known for some time that the Harriman syndicate was trying to secure control of both the Wisconsin Central and Chicago Great Western.

NY Times March 12, 1901