The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-08-11
RAILROAD WAR.
BcIligcrent Fisk, Jr., Makes n Statement-ThC
Mystery of the Trouble Partly Cleared Up
Opposing Forces Meet ut Tunncl-''Wheu
Greek Meets Greek"


Opposing Forces Meet at a Tunncl-''When
Greek Meets Greek.o
The following is a letter from Mr. Fisk ad-
dressed to Mr.. Edmund Savage, in response to
communication from that gentleman, giving his
statement of the causes which brought about
the pending contest between the rival holders of
stock in the Albany and Susquehanna Rail
road
Edmund Savage. Esq.-Dear Sir:-Your enclosure
to me of the article on the Albany and Susquehanna
Railroad is at hand. An answer cannot be prejudi-
cial to the interests of those l represent. Quick
sharp work, and so much to be done on a stamping
ground new to me, left me only TO feel that the great
majority of the good people OF Albany were running
away with wrong idea of our side of the question,
and overlooked the great benefits and advantages
we were bringing to their doors. Look at the facts
At the western terminus of the Albany and Sus'
quehanna Road, at Binghamton, it meets the
Erie Railroad stretching out through itself and
its branches westward thousands of miles.
Look at the map and observe the geographical
position, and you will see how near and
dear the arm which runs to Abany-nOt dear to us
that we should control it, God forbid that should
do unless right. If the controllers of this arm
would work in harmony with us all would be well
but there was the bone of contention. The idea of
localzing the Albany and Susquehanna road and
made to pay the stockholders, regardless of the in
terests Of those who travel on II and who send
freight over it, and also have done more than all
others to advance the prosperity Of the rOads wrong
in theory and would be absurd in practice. Your
city gave its million, not as an investment but for
the benefit of its ciUzens in the business 1t brings to
After eight months the almost steady perseverance
Gould, he has been unable to reach Albany with
business except at local rates, which mas been
greatly to the disadvantage OF both roads and OF the
public What we wanted.was pro rata, offensive and
defensive, by the way of the Albany and Susquehan-
na We are say fifty miles further to Buffalo, and
we could not induce business to 90 that way except
at lower price. That we could not get, and there
fore the Central road held its power and fixed its
own price on It's traflC.
Doyou suppose, if we had held the power on the
Albany and Susquehanna road, we would not have
entered a competitor for the business between
aSgurpQlV
could have done so at the same price the Central
charged. If we had been forced to have made less
price, they would have been forced TO do the same
thing. All this would have been greatly to the ad-
vantage of the city of Albany No better result for
the benefit OF your cltZens could nave been accom-
pshed.
l should suppose the people of this good city
would welcome us with open arms. LOOK at the
past Has not everything been done by the Central
line to make you mere local statiOn-tO ruin your
shipping and wipe out your instruments of business,
ana leave you with nothing on hand but pleasure all
the time, which is very tiresome rather to leave
you to a Rip Van Wrinkle sleep?
Can any one suppose that we want the Albany and
Susquehanna Road for its business between here
and Blnghamton? No; we are not so foolish. We
want It as a contributing branch-an ally of the Erie
Railway We want il as a means of communicating
with every city and town and hamlet OF New England
that to-day we are isolated from We wish TO pour
out the wealth brought over the Erie Road, in your
city and on your DOCKS for transportation eastward
We would make Albany the great terminus OF one
long line OF road-the distributing point for the
North and East.
We have not come here like thieves or irrespon-
with us majority of all the directors OF the Albany
and Susquehanna road. We do not seek to gObble
up, without right or title as has been charged. Al
most million of dollars Of our money has come in
here for an investment, which the other day could
have been had for less than quarter OF that amount
OF course, we have done this expecting that 10 will
be some time one OF the arms OF the ERIE Railway,
and its right too. 1t cannot be Of service TO us
except by yielding equal advantages 10 you. The
interests of all demand that this line should work in
harmony with the millions and millions OF capital
that stretch west from your city and tneiAbany and
Susquehanna line. The directors OF this road saw
the value of this policy but they We're powerless,
and to-day find our people and our capital lighting
your battle against those who are preudiced against
us, for other reason except tnaJ they DO not un
dersand the matter as 1t IS.
We have not come to attack malclOusly, as some
of your presses have sad, tne president OF the
Albany and Susduehanna road. Mr. Ramsey and
myself have long been friends. ana nothing but the
welfare OF the great interests involved would have
brought me in collision with him. nave the high
est regard for him, barring my opinion OF him as
railroad manager. am sorry that ne stands to-day
between the interests OF the people and our corpora
ton There can be but one result ana that VIII be
free admittance TO us in Albany. For all we ask we
give you fourfold in value. The star OF the Albany
and SusQuehanna road as mere local ROAD mas SET,
IL must now he par of the great thOrOughfare from
the Atlantic to the Paclhc ana Albany must De the
distributing point, for mere we Glange Ihe gauge,
and this must he the place OF delivery. Albany must
he where fine tolls are taken. All the business pays
tribute TO you, and in that will be your wealth.
1t is evident the hostility to our interests is smu-
lated by those i'm the interests of the Central If the
Central gets control OF TINS road as II hopes to do
1t is plain that it would take OH the trains ana cease
to run it, as it has done with the road to Athens.
The interest of the Erie is TO it, the interest of
the Central is to discontinue IT,
In this case we shall fight on in this contest. II we
win YOU will reap the benefits; If we fail you will
be the sufferer 1t is not question of to-day but of
the future, and think my holdng-out powers will
last with those who are opposed TO me. / ask no
advantage to which my case does not entte me.
Give Mr.. Ramsey the advantages Of all doubt, and
what is left Will wait us on TO victory.
Yours very respectfully JAMES FISK, JR
Albany, Aug. " lSC9'