The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-06-17
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.
EDITORIAL OPINIONS OF THE LEADING JOURNALS
UPON CURRENT TOPICS COMPILED EVERY
DAY FOR THE EVENING TELEGRAPH.
A RISING YOUNG CORPORATION.


From the ~ Y. Eosning Post.
The Pennsylvania Railway Company began
its existence only twepty-four years ago, and
then in but small way. The road was de-
signed to run from Harrisburg TO Johnstown,
to connect at each end with the State rail-
roads already in existence, aud complete
through fast line from Philadelphia to Pitts
burg No one then imagined that heavy
freight could ever be diverted from the State
canals to land carriages still less that any
railroad could ever compete with the Ohio
river for travel and traffic westward beyond
Pittsburg The Allegheny Portage Railroad
from Jobnstown to Pittsburg was a series of
inclined planes, with stationary engines, and
was regarded as a sad necessity, because no
canal could run over the mountains.
The company grew for many years at what
was thought in Pennsylvania rapid rate.
1t always, in its early days, had to contend
with the jealousy of the State, which owned
the rival canal and demanded full tolls on all
goods diverted from it as well as on all that
it carried The Columbia Railroad, from
Philadelphia to Harrisburg, constantly quar-
relied with the corporation, and for many
months even refused to connect with it at
Lancaster at all. Finally the State sold out
its lines to the railway company, and when
the Pennsylvania Railroad attained its ma
jority three or four years ago, it was practi-
cally the owner of the State Legislature, and
had already made itself the master of COM
plete lines of road across the State in three
directions. from Philadelphia to Pittsburg
and to Erie, and from Baltimore to Elmira.
Now came a bolder policy; and the mana
gers of the company openly aspired to con-
troll the Western trade of New York almost as
completely as that of Philadelphia. They
leased thew estern lines connecting with their
own; and when any road could not be obtained
on satisfactory terms, they projected and
builta new one until, before the New York
lines fairly understood the Importance of
their rival, the Pennsylvania Railway Com
pany was in full possession of lines of road
reaching from Philadelphia to Cincinnati, st.
Louis, and Chicago. sf8Fu q
This did not satisfy them. The main line
of traffic across the continent seemed to be
within their reach, and they grasped at it.
The most enterprisipg of their officers was
made President of the Union Pacific Railway;
perhaps the best possible post of observation
in which to watch for all prospective ''good
things" between the Mississippi and San
Francisco. And now, at one step, the whole
railway system of New Jersey has already
been annexed" including the two main
lines of road and the canal from New York
to Philadelphia, and q network of roads
covering the southern counties of the State.
Already there are plans afeot in busy brains
for the acquisition of one of the great lines
from Chicago to the Mississippi; and wher
this is carried out the Pennsylvania compan,
will own or control, beyond the power of AM
rival, the whole of the best highway from
New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore all the
way to Salt Lake City, with but one leap te
make to the Pacific Ocean. 800 s
This corporation is now beyond doubt tn,
greatest financial power under central ad
ministration in the United States. With pro
perty in its hands to the amount of two hun
dred and fifty millions of dollars with gros
income far greater than that of the Unitet
States Government twenty years ago, ant
greater than that of any State Government to
day, with at least three State Legislatures be
leved to be ready to register its will, and other
greatly influenced by it, and with all it
achievements regarded by the bold and abl
men who control it merely as stepping stone
to a greater future, what is to prevent it fror
becoming also the greatest political power
It's present position brings before the psopl
in its most impressive form the grave ques
tiQn of the relations of great corporations
a republican government; and to the solutio
of this question all the statesmanship of OF
generation is imperatively called.