The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-02-27
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
as a Through Route TO San Fran

Tue IeSt DeSlue any community.
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
as Through Route TO San Fran.
cisco.
The contest between the Baltimore &
Ohio road and the Pennsylvania line has
constantly grown in proportions since its
outbreak last fall. 1t has not confined it.
self to reduction in passenger rates, but
has also taken In an immense freight bust.
ness between Chicago and the East. All
the great East and West lines have been
drawn into this contest between these
two roads, and despite of their own
wishes 10 the contrary have been made
parties TO it. The Baltimore road led of
in reduction from Chicago, and they
were oil finally compelled to follow with
similar schedules. And now comes the
most important movement yet made. A
meeting oL freight agents was held in
Baltimore few days ago at which an
important arrangement was effected be-
tween the Baltimore & Ohio road and the
Central and Union Pacific roads. 1t
seems by an article in tho Baltimore Sun
that:
During the past two years lively com.
petition existed between the Pacific Mail
Steamship Company, whose steamers
piled between New York and San Fran.
cisco, and the Union Pacific Railroad
Company controlling the freight traffic
from Omaha, Nebraska, and San Fran.
cisco. On the 1st Of January last the
Pacific Mail Company announced Wig.
orous opposition TO the overland route,
and inaugurated exceedingly low rates
by way Of the Isthmus. When war was
declared by the mail company the Union
Pacific expected that the trunk lines Of
railroads and other connections OF the
Union Pacific road would aid the latter
In the fight, and establish rates as low as
would be necessary to obtain the freight,
but the trunk lines connecting with the
Union Pacific refused 10 enter into such
an agreement unless the Union Pacific
would pro rate with them, and three Chi.
Cago roads-the Northwestern, Rock
Island & Chicago, Burlington g. Quincy
sent similar notice, 10 take effect Feb.
lusry I'd.
The Union Pacific is an expensive road
TO operate. 1t crosses six mountain
ranges, each Of which has Q higher eleVa-
ton than was ever operated by any rail-
road In this country, consequently a rate
that Eastern roads could live at would
not pay the expenses Of the Union Pacific.
Finding that he could not make terms
with It's Eastern connections by way of
Chicago, Mr.. Vining, General Freight
Agent Of the Union Pacific Railroad,
made oVertures 10 the managerS Of the
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company to
carry California ireights from San Fran
cisco TO New York. The proposition was
tsvorablY considered, and the meeting OF
freight agents at tho Carrollton last week
was chiefly for the purpose Of completing
arrangements by which California ireights
may be shipped between California and
New York by the Continental line, the
cars Of which are run on last freight time.
After tho Chicago roads learned that The
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad was likely to
obtain control Of the California traffic,
they made overtures to Mr.. Vining, of the
Union Pacific, but It was then too late, as
the terms Of the Baltimore s. Ohio had
been accepted by tho managers Of the
Union Pacific. The effect Of this arrange.
ment on Chicago Is that her merchants
and manufacturers are cut of from the
most direct advantages, and the trade with
California Is directed to st. Louis, Cincin.
natl and Baltimore.
The now route as now established be-
tween New York and San Francisco is by
steamship from New York 10 Locust
Point at Baltimore, thence to 81. Louis by
way ol tho Baltimore & Ohio, thence 10
Omaha, and thence TO San Francisco. By
this route ireights from New York reach
California In nineteen days after ship
ment at New York, while by the old route
It required from twelve TO sixteen DAYS
from New York to Omaha. Freights in.
tended for California now reach this city
. by the steamships Of the Lorillard Com
pany, which land at the Locust Point de.
pots Of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad
Company. Immediately upon the arrival
Of these steamships q large force OF labor
ers are placed at work In transferring the
freight from the ships to the cars Of the
railroad company, and as soon as the car
goes have been transferred the cars are
dispatched West as SPECIAL fast trains
an advantage OF considerable importance
TO shippers. AS an evidence OF the great
magnitude O. the freight business be-