[1] The Chicago Short Line was incorporated in 1900 and leased four miles (6.4 km) of yard and sidings from the adjacent Iroquois Iron Company.
until 1906, the railroad interchanged traffic connections in the South Chicago District through trackage-rights agreements with the B & O.
In December 1905, C&CC&DC sold the Iroquois Iron Company a parcel of land for expansion along the lake front.
As a result, Iroquois leased the railroad to a new entity, the Chicago Short Line.
The SCIH also handled substantial tonnages of slag, used by some Midwestern railroads for track ballast.