New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-02-21
The War of tho Eastern Railroads.

Ing been temporarily withdrawn from dis
cussion by force of arms and Granger votes
into the peaceful judicial arena, Tom Scott
and John Garrett have renewed their
quarrel. 1t was prophesied last year that
the truce between these parties would be of
short duration, and President Garrett, being
credited with the authorship of some of
these predictions, was not disposed to allow
himself to be considered a false prophet.
Wars and rumors Of wars have been
threatened for some time, but the deelara-
ton OF hostllities was postponed till Mon.
| day, the fifteenth, and then it came from
| King Tom.
Last April terms were agreed on by the
baltimore and Potomac railroad, line
controlled by Scott, for the passage of two
daily trains of the Baltimore and Ohio rail
road from Washington to New York. What
these terms were appears to be of no con-
sequence, as they have not been referred to
in the diplomatic correspondence that pre-
| ceded the opening of hostilities. The casus
delh is Of far greater Importance. But the
privilege was of this Importance, that with
out it the Baltimore and Ohio road could
not forward either freight or passengers to
New York from Baltimore. Considering
the immense connections of both this road
and those of the Pennsylvania road with
the West, and the necessity to the prosperi-
ty OF each of an ability to reach New York,
this would seem a vital point in favor of
Scott. So he seems to have considered it,
for on Monday he unexpectedly placed two
extra trains on the Baltimore and Potomac
line running at the same times as those of
the Baltimore and Ohio, and ordered that
none of the through tickets of the latter
should be recognized nor the cars allowed
to run.
For this declaration of war President
Garrett seems to have been prepared, al
though the act was sudden and perhaps
unexpected. To it he replied in a long
letter, which may be likened to diplo-
matte demand for passports.
In it he states the Baltimore and Ohio
road agreed with Scott, Vanderbilt and
Jewett to abolish commissions on rates;
refused to enter the Saratoga compact, but
agreed to the rates of the Central, Erie and
Pennsylvania companies; that its rates to
Chicago did not satisfy the combination,
which endeav0red to force it to make higher
ones by disastrously reducing it's own, and
finally adopted those of the Baltimore and
Ohio road; that the same attempt has been
mado in Baltimore; that by the monopoly
of the Camden and Amboy line, its freight
cars can not pass Philadelphia; that it has
paid enormous tribute in terminal charges
OF five cents on 100pounds and for 100 miles
OF transportation, the distance being less
than ninety, and declares the road is ready
for the fight.
The immediate consequences of these
preliniinaries were vast reduction of
freights from Baltimore, and great COM
motion in railroad circles. While waiting
for reply from King Tom, King John
made immediate preparations for conneo-
ton with New York by water, and canned
hsh and oysters, sugar and other freight,
rolled west almost deadhead.
King Tom expressed his astonishment at |
the charges of this letter by next days |
telegraph. lie tells a very different story;
that Garrett pledged his company to OBJ
serve the rates of the combination, but it |
has not done SO; that it has not carried out |
the agreement of April; that the terminal
charges do not pay expenses, and declares
he is ready for the fight, too.
On receipt of this letter the rates on all
lines connected with the Baltimore and
Ohio road were reduced from thirty to
forty-fve per cent, and the offices are
thronged with through ticket buyers. At
first the rival roads declared that no reduc-
tons would be made, but the Pennsylvania
soon announced the same rates.
and shippers are making their own terms.
Ihe combatants are nearly equally
and the disadvantages of each
will soon be removed. In addition to his
water line Garrett will soon have q road to |
New York by means of the cooperation of
he Philadelphia. Wilmington, the Reading,
he North Pennsylvania and the New I
Jersey Central roads, and the creation of a
lew road from Yarleyville, on the Pennsyl-
-ania road, to Bound Brook, on the New
Jersey Central, the bridge across the Della
ware being nearly completed. These roads
re understood to be ready to cooperate
With Garrett. Scott is compelled to connect
he baltimore and Potomac with the Cam
en and Amboy. Towsontown, on the
'orthern Central, is to be the starting
olnt OF new road northeasterly through
baltimore, joining the Pennsylvania road
West Chester. The Susquehanna and t
'randywine rivers must be bridged, but
le whole road has been surveyed and a
ortion located.
When both parties have thus completed
leir lines they will indeed be ready for =
ar which will be of benefit to the public,
ut it is more than likely the fight will then | !.
'ase, and cooperation instead of rivalry u
i'll be the result. The previous excitement.
'atuitous advertising and popular feeling :
i'll have had its effect in obtaining new v
Inscriptions to stock and rise in the mar. =.
IT, and both monopolists will return to the
d rates.
In the meantime it is somewhat amusing
see what disinterested ruler each king =
in appealing to the public, and how black q
rival is painted. King John will .'main- =
in it's rights and secure equitable and lust
tes,' and lectures King Tom on his '.pre-
ut monopoly" who considers this "un-
IT," He says the Baltimore and Ohio road i,
fifteen years "denied facilities to re- ~
pt passenger over" it, desires to treat y
public Justly and be alike to all shin y,
re, and thinks ''the time for demagopism y.
railway manaoement to hnild nm rarao.ol | "