Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 251, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 October 1912 — RAILROAD MEN HOLD CONFERENCE TODAY [ARTICLE]

RAILROAD MEN HOLD CONFERENCE TODAY

Judge .Riley and Charles Hotchkiss Here to See B. J. Gifford—May —-■ Mean Purchase of Road. - • - B. J. Gifford, owner of the Chicago & Wabash Valley roalroad, the Gifford line, was this Saturday afternoon in consultatipn for some time with Charles Hotchkiss, president of the Illinois Trust Co., of Chicago, and his right-hand-man. Judge W. J. Riley, a director of the First National Bank of Calumet, 111., and a city judge there. Mr. Hotchkiss was formerly the general manager of the Chicago, Illinois and Southern railroad, the Indiana Harbor railroad and it was his work of promotion that resulted in the building of that road. He is one of the big railroad men of the middle west. - While The Republican was unable to learn anything concerning the nature of the business these gentlemen had with Mr. Gifford, it is known that Mr. Hotchkiss has found railroad building very profitable and that the demand for Indiana coal at the great manufacturing plants of the Calumet region makes it profitable for any road that enters the coal fields. Mr. Gifford has been pushing his road in that direction and also toward the north and toward Gary. It is not improbable that he has clients who look with favor on the acquisition of the Gifford property. The importance 0$ the conference is indicated not alone by the presence of these gentlemen, but by the further fact that Mr. George Gifford, who is the special attorney for his uncle, was also present. A Republican reporter had a brief telephone interview with Mr. G. H. Halsey, Mr. Gifford’s legal clerk, who has charge of the railroad offices maintained in Rensselaer, and he said that there was no news connected with the conference that he was at liberty to give out at this time. “There is nothing I could say at present,” replied Mr. Halsey to a question.