Transcribed from "The Standard Guide to Chicago and The
World's Fair", written and compiled by John J. Flinn, published
September, 1890, by Flinn & Sheppard, 95 Dearborn Street,
Chicago.
Chicago & Northern Pacific Railroad
The object for which the Chicago & Northern Pacific was
incorporated was to operate a belt road around Chicago for
suburban traffic and to furnish an entry to the city and terminal
facilities here, both passenger and freight, for such roads as
might require them. [See Wisconsin Central Lines for lease of
Chicago & Northern Pacific Terminal to Northern Pacific Company.]
In addition to the Wisconsin Central it now furnishes such
facilities to the Chicago, St. Paul & Kansas City road, which has
equal rights in the Grand Central passenger station with the
Wisconsin Central. Quite a number of the roads are customers of
this company for transfer purposes. It lacks but a small link to
connect the lines of the Chicago & Northern Pacific and the
Chicago & Calumet Terminal, and the company will then have a
complete belt line around the city, crossing the tracks of every
road entering it. Part of this link is now under construction,
and it is expected that the whole of it will be completed within
a very short time. Neither the Wisconsin Central nor the Chicago,
St. Paul & Kansas City now does a suburban business, as far as
the tracks of the Chicago & Northern Pacific extend. That part of
the traffic the Chicago & Northern Pacific reserves for itself,
and it is one of the conditions required of all lines leasing its
tracks for passenger purposes that they leave this business for
it. It runs thirty-five trains daily between Chicago and Conway
Park and uses practically two lines for this suburban business.
One of these is the old dummy-road from W. Fortieth st. to
Altenheim and Waldheim cemeteries. This road has been thoroughly
overhauled and a double track laid the entire distance. A good
deal of confusion exists in the public mind regarding the Grand
Central depot and the terminal facilities connected with it. Most
people regard it as the property of the Wisconsin Central road or
of the Northern Pacific, which has acquired title to the
possession of that corporation. This is a mistake. All the
terminals in this city and the line of road over which the
Wisconsin Central trains run into the city from Central Grove
really belong to a company separate and distinct from both the
Wisconsin Central and the Northern Pacific, of the very existence
of which many people are in ignorance. This is, no doubt, in large
measure, owing to the similarity of name of this company and that
of the Northern Pacific. Its corporate title is the Chicago &
Northern Pacific, and it was this company and not the Northern
Pacific proper which recently purchased the Chicago & Calumet
terminal road. Reference to the "Wisconsin Central Lines" and
"Northern Pacific Railroad" will show the connection of these
several corporations.
Officers of the Company.
-- The officers of the Chicago &
Northern Pacific Railroad Company are all located in Chicago and
are as follows: D. S. Wegg, President; H. S. Boutell, Secretary
and General Solicitor; A. A. Allen, General Manager; T. J. Hyman,
Auditor; Henry S. Hawley, General Agent; J. T. McBride,
Superintendent; W. S. Jones, Chief Engineer; George W. Lindsay,
Purchasing Agent. The general offices are located in the Grand
Central depot, Harrison st. and Fifth ave.
Wisconsin Central Lines.
Although forming the connecting link between the Northern Pacific
railroad system and Chicago, and although operated by the latter
company as lessee, the Wisconsin Central lines, familiarly but
incorrectly regarded by the public as the Wisconsin Central
railroad, must be referred to separately. In April, 1890, a
contract lease was made by and between the Wisconsin Central
Company, the Wisconsin Central Railroad Company, and the Northern
Pacific Railroad Company, whereby the latter company obtained a
lease of all the lines of railroad owned and controlled by the
Wisconsin Central lines between the cities of Chicago and St.
Paul and Ashland, including the lines of railroad, real estate
and terminal facilities of the Chicago & Northern Pacific
Railroad Company in the City of Chicago, thus giving to the
Northern Pacific Company a complete line from St. Paul to
Chicago, with ample terminal facilities in the latter city. This
combination of interests was deemed by the directors of the
Northern Pacific of the utmost importance, as giving access to
the City of Chicago by a line of its own ownership and
possession, with unsurpassed terminal facilities. While the terms
of the lease relieves the Wisconsin Central from operating
details, it leaves the building of branches, feeders, and all
extensions of, and permanent improvements upon, the Wisconsin
Central lines, to be jointly agreed upon by the lessor and
lessee, and to be actually constructed by the Wisconsin Central
companies. The development of the land grant and management of
the iron properties remain in the exclusive control of the
Wisconsin Central Railroad Company. The Wisconsin Central, from
its inception, has been peculiarly identified with Wisconsin, its
growth and progress. Almost nine-tenths of the mileage of the
system is within the borders of that State, and its principal
offices are located at Milwaukee.
