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

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

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