, 1875-01-27
RAILROAD NEWS.
Why Commodore Vanderbilt Joined the
Saratoga Combination.

THE COMING WAR,
ISttItATtOfY or tla A1tyt,Sr.

IHnnAT1oas or t1a AHyLSr
It fn the tIn,ion nj tho 1uoHt experienced rail-
road men in the city that tho war which IL now
going OIL botn cen tic various rai1roal cunpanieB
east OF this city will aeH',n,o Bucll proportions o.
10 throw afl former railroad warh in thu YlIade,
The fighting done at present In hut tho skis-
,nshing preceding the great battle which will bo
delayed until tie AianagerH' and Comtuirsjonere'
meeting to bo held in New York OH the Cd Of
February. Hotno have 1lppes that tina. meeting
may Jet nuccced In restoring tcace and llartno-
ny. a reconciliation at thiH jnnrtarr lloyeyor.
is almost impossible, and nutug lees than
miracle csn hartnoniza tho conflicting
interests of tho various roads. Heretofore
tho combined roads we're fighting tue Ealsi,noro
Il Ohio, under the gencrAlship Of TIC pc,nsylya~
mia ltailrohd Company, but nov the tal,ea arc
entirely turned, aud all tho roads aro fighting
tho Pennsylvania Railroad. Vanderbilt ard the
other New York managers have come to tho
conclusion that they lave lces to fcas from tho
baltimore l. Ohio thnn from the lenusylyauia
Company, and that to iuslst any longer on the
observance OF tho termA Of the Saratoga aercc-
n,ent would he certain ruin to New Yors and Its
commercial inlerestB. Hence tile prraent war
has heen begun, and there Ia no doht thal il viii
bo wage1 until all tho roads arc completely proa-
trated, and unahle to 70 on Any longer, There
If, iONGfgf. hME-EPlS SAil lGGIillE klhs 10th New
York md Chicago will gain much bv this tlght.
Much surprise las been Expressed BY many
railroad men and merchants that 20 wi1y man
aEcr as Vanderbilt could allow himself to bo
)urcd into the Saratoga combination, which WAS
generally believed to be detrimental to tho in
tercets Of Nav York by It's 1catliug merchants.
But Vanderbilt was not rs much Of foo! as l.o
wns generally believed to le. lie undoubtedly
Joined the agreement to keep OF the war Which
haa now broken out, until tic New York Central
lad completed liz f0nr-track line from New
York to Buffalo. At tlle time when tie co1nbua-
tiop MAS formed the New York Central Ma+ ,.Dt
ready for fight with 40 powerful a roasl as
tho fcnnsyiyauia, which lad also tl,o gooi.vill
OF the Etie from the fact of itH having 1'resi-
dent closely allied to and formerly an officer Of
tho Pcnnsylvania Railroad. The New York Zen
tral llas now four tracks for Its eu.re length
from New York to Buffalo. and i. in a condition
doubtodly precirtatol this light, to tcpt the Ca
paci ty Of Ilis now venture. There is but little
| doubt that tho New York Central eau carry
| freight now lower than any other road. two Of
tralic aud two for freight traffic. Hence tie
road is capable Of carrying six tiineH tho
| amount OF freight Of any other, beca,,eo
it cannos bs blocked mp or oml,ae-
rssaed by pasasnser tains, and is able
time consumed by other roads, The pennHyl-
vanta 1lailroad Company ID nav really iu tight
nlace !; larasHed OIL tho south by the wealthy
| baltimore OHIO, and cl1cckMated OIL tue north
| by tue four-tracked Now York Central with If.
easy grades It realizes its danger, md hence
tho frantic efforts its managers hare been
making to keep the Saratoga combination alive
They hnve undoubtedly made up their minds nj,
ready that tho New York meeting OH tho Sd ol
February will avail them nothing. Thoy arc
"cnttine y as actively as the other lines on
| freight rates, aud it il rumored that contracts
| have been made to New York at 80 cents The1
| hare also taken tho initiative in the reduction
of passenger ratos, It being announced
| yesterday TINT they l.avo reduced fares from
| New York and Philadelphia TO Chicago 50. NJ
other limo hns yet announced reduction, hut /
| day or two marc will hee tho passenger rntcn be
tween New York and this city greatly; reduced OF
| all tho lineH.