New-York tribune., 1875-02-24
THE BATTLE OF THE GIANTS.
SCOTT VS.. GARRETT.


After months Of peace and apparent amity
between the Pennsylvania and the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroads. the warcloud has again burst ana the old
contest been revived The signal for battle opened
by President Garrett by gun from Baltimore fred over
the telegraph wires and promptly answered by broad
side from President Scott at Philadelphia The rever
beraons OF these discharges have been heard all
the land and as the contest thus initiated promises to
be interesting 1t well that public should know the
cause Of the combat.
1t is od-time feud, originating at a period when
beigerency was prevailing epidemic throughout the
country The North and South appealed TO arms In 1861
TO settle sectional differences and after this
done the two great railroad companies became embroled
The history OF the origin of that difficulty has already
been printed and ts has been ques
toned, II may as well be repeated here.
The misunderstanding between these companies origi
mated when the National Capital endangered by the
Rebellion and the OF the country were taxed
to the utmost for s salvation At that time the Balt-
more and Ohio Company had the only railroad line
reaching Washington. Having but a single track on
this ne and that being Of very imperfect construction
ana equipment, the road unequal TO the demands
upon IT, and after much trouble and strong intims
tons from those In Government authority the company
owning 1t was compelled improve IT and increase its
capacity. The BIltmore and Ohio Railroad proper
was repeatedly broken and interrupted so that could
not be relied upon a channel OF communication with
the West and the country looked for other route
20 be opened by which the Capital could be reached and
protected. The PENNSYLVANIA Railroad, being the
nearest route to Washington connecting the Western
and Northern States which passed entirely through
loyal territory called to meet tho indispeo
sable requirement. This 1t did promptly, by securing,
and thoroughly repairing, the Northern Central
Railway. which connected with its main road
a1d other important lines, and thus completed
q railroad system radating throughout oil the
loyal States. No this accomplished and the
system made effective by the exerons OF Pennsy vanla
Railroad Officers and the utilization or Pennsylyanla
railroad motive power and rolling stock. than the man
of hostility toward IT, which been persisted in with
but little interruption abatement Tney refused to
sell tickets over OF the Pennsylvanla lines TO any
station They refused To permit baggage TO be checked
from any point on the Pennsylvania lines over their
Ory miles OF road forming the connection 10 "ishns
ton FROM Maine 10 California protests were beard
against their iberay and selhshness but they smiled
III ueIIsoh ana pocReted thelr sahs DIrhg tno uaIh
est periods Of the fully ninetentbs OF tue men aud
material required aud received by the Government
IRON the West aud Norh were carried over tne lnes OF
the Pennsylvania Railroad Company TO Baltimore ana
rom that cty reached the CaP,ai over tne i9rT OrT
Company; but the latter still dOmneered with its petty
monopoly, and refused the simplest cOurtescs to the
railroad system which was enrlohlng It almost beyond
precedent As instance OF the spirit animatng ms
other railroads in the United states accepted the terms
proposed by the Government for the transportation OF
troops, viz TWO cents per mile the Baltimore ana ONO
Company always insisted upon full local OF tare
between baltimore and Washington.
RELIEF AFFORDED THROUGH COMPETITION
This condition Of things continued until after the war
had ceased. So long the exgencles OF the country
poured a stream OF wealth the forty-mle mo-
nOpOly, who controlled it would make no terms
with any connecting company. NewElsland enter
prse took hold OF the Philadelphia. Wilmington and
Baltimore Road and made it equal to the demands upon
It "a n national line; but at s southern terminus 1t
was headed on By the monopoly Just as the Pennsyl
Congress- had become thoroughly disgtstei with THIS
monopoly and now, the war which had taxed tnclr
energies for hve years was ended, lhey began 70 tiA
seriously about securing proper competition TO I'll,
capital Of nation, aud the Pennsyydn Railroad
ncedrd relief. Falling from the monopoly
common courtesy aud common fairness, that onpany
work and had built the Baltimore and Potomac
Railroad. which gave IL an independent outlet III wash
iDston .lty ana enabled u 10 connect snet9 % wiz % Ie
railroad system OF the south SAVING Only the Blu
ana ONO monopoly. almost every interest III he
road. II facilitated me trade OF Baltimore CITY;
It relieved Washington travel from de!ay and annoy-
ance, and 1t perfected communication between the
since the completion of this essential connection by
vastly facilitates travel TO the Natl1na capita, from
fhe Baltimore and . no managers have repeatedly
entered arrangements VITA tae great northern lines
for a fair equitable adjustment aad management OF
business every nstnce they have violated these
agreement Some lines This has been done ~ the most
r,ioart manner by the tyrannIcal exercise OF power
al their command, but generally it has assumed the
" in1ytiuaIa When detected il tins they either ex-
cnsed t on plea OF necessity attempted
gloss Uy Aign sounding p1utHdes ab0ut tnelr
duty 10 the CITY B4iumOre ana the STATE OF Maryland
An Unsuitable nrt for popularity dnd morbid personal
vanity have marEed the course or The President OF thaJ
COMPANY, causing hun TO atlitudiuiZ. constantly as
l1ra orator aud cure head, and ln hlm win dreams
of ambition that stop nothing short Of the highest
nfHcial position IN the gift the American people.
The Baltimore and Potomac Railroad, wtD lts great
connecting tunnels under the Monumental CltY cost
nearly SsOOO.OCO, ana ITS construction having been
Railroad Company 1t was imperative that the new ana
vastly superior line to Washington City should 1e used
in the interest the public well 1t. owners. The
Phiiade phia Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad Com
panY. owning q very important INK IN lhe t0rOagh
route between NewYOr and the National Capital nav
ing suffered from the Baltimore and ONO monopoly IN
tbe past, agreed to run through trafc soutE OF Biu
more by Of this tunnel and Arrangements 10 thls
effect perfected ana put IN operation by the com
pauies in interest. The Baltimore and ONO manage
ment then that their monopoly OF Washington and
business was destroyed and were ready 10 add
another long list OF ARRANGEMENTS by winch tleY
were 20 be benefited through the kindness and courtesy
Of A rival and the Pcnnsy vania managers consented TO
give them OF the four through trains between new
YORK and Washin gon extending To such trains every
transit terminal facility enjoyed Dy the trains con-
timed their roads. on TIE sole ana simple con-
dItivn tnat Baltimore and Ohio should, they
poscd deal fairly relation TO competitive business
In tins of dividing Washington trains the
Railroad Company yielded 10 their rIval
two that established and undertook 90 place upon
The route tram, which should have no advantage
exeept such "a created Offering increased
accommodations TO the travelling public For time me
arrangement worked harmonously, Dat IL was soon ds
covered that the Baltimore and ono was playing their
old game of discrimination in favor Of certain interests
and individuals; and the tgure-head who, WDen the
arrangement perfected, nad beeu abroad, seized
with MS oratOrcal mania. mounted the rostrum and
poured forth foods OF plaitudes the railway traffic
of the country tue hope OF creating tidal wave Of
popularity that would carry him TO the dazzling PIN
nacle Of his ambition.
IL was only natural that the managers OF the Pennsyl
yaua Railroad Company should demur at these new
exhibitions Of violated flth by their Old competitors,
ana a. they the favOrng parties In the arrange
ment they visited the merted fruits OF deception upon
he party favored This acton called forth President
Ggrrett's manifesto and President scOtts reply The
issue being joined and the case stated the puDhc
will doubtless await the result OF the contest with con
siderable interest.
RESOURCES OF THE PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD.
TIE position and power OF the contestants become
questions worthy OF consideration, and as they may not
be correctly understood well briefly to state them