Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 March 1903 — Rock Island Now One of Greatest Railroad Systems. [ARTICLE]

Rock Island Now One of Greatest Railroad Systems.

Indiana brains and Indiana application have made of the Rock Island railroad the greatest system in the world. Three years ago the road bad less than 4,000 miles of track. Since then the Moores and Leeds and Reid, two Indiana men, have bought the road, and, with W. B. Leeds, one time a subordinate in the Pennsylvania offices at Richmond, Ind-, as president, have given it a trackage exceeding 13,000 miles. Extensions were planned, great systems were bought, the new Rock Island was refinanced, and now the road stands at the head of the great systems of the country, and divides attention only with Gould’s Wabash in the spectacular effects of its development. When the Choctaw was swallowed the railroad world was startled- Now that it is clear the ’Frisco has been absorbed there seems to be no greater surprise to spring. Yet there are rumors that before many weeks announcement will come from the offices of .1. P. Morgan & Co. of a community of interests in which Rock Island will predominate, and which will include the Southern railway and the Santa Fe. The Southern has a half interest in the Monon.

The great railroads of the country are now: Rock Island, 13,000 miles; New York Central, 11,100; Pennsylvania, 10,075; Northwestern, 9,025; Santa Fe, 8,680; Burlington, 8,430.

The Rock Island will have the only double-track line between Chicago and St. Louis. In the Chicago & Eastern Illinois, the Rock Island also secures a most popular route to Florida. The ’Frisco lines between St. Louis and the Southwest will give it short lines between Chicago and St Louis, Memphis, Hot Springs and Oklahoma points, as well as another gulf terminal, and almost absolute control of the situation in western Oklahoma.