Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1875-03-04


Pennsylvania railroad has fired its last
shot, and that heEceforward overtures
towards compromise will not be
deemed acceptable.
THE WAR IN CHICAGO.
From the Chicago Tribune, Feb. %.
The Pennsylvania railroad still re-
fuses to reduce passenger rates from
this city though it has reduced rates to
the same figures as the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad at all other points. AS
consequence the Baltimore and Ohio is
doing an immense business in passeng-
er carrying, Their office has been
crowded from morning till night ever
since the reduction was made ON their
line, about 500 tickets being sold again
ON Saturday. The. general passenger
agent of the Pennsylvania Company,
Gen. +. r. Myers, has gone to the
East to consult with the Managers Of
his line as to what is best to be done.
He will return again next w ednes,Iay,
together with General Manager Laing,
when some move will be made by
this line to counteract the advantage
the Baltimore and Ohio now has from
this city. Should the difficulty not be
settled by that time, there is proba-
biIity that the rates on the Pennsylvania
railroad will he reduced to So from
this city to Baltimore and Washing
ton but under no circumstances will
the company. reduce to Philadelphia
and New York AS such action would
Involve the other lines leading to the
East in the quarrel. The freight rates
from the West 10 the East still remain
firm. both the contesting roads strictly
adhering to the rates established week
ago.
From the Cumberland News.
THE COAL. CARRYING.
We were informed yesterday that
the very liberal offer of the Pennsyl
yania Railroad Company to carry coal
TO South Amboy for 50 per ton with
drawback of 10 cents, cannot be made
as available as desirable for the reason
that the company cannot or does not
supply cars as called for. So far we
believe only one company, the Con
solidation, has shipped any coosidera.'
BILE quantity under the new rate. If
the Pennsylvania Company should I'M
dertake to accommodate the coal trade
at the low rate they haye offered, and
the Baltimore and Ohio should also
reduce and begin carrying with their
immense capacity at such low rates,
there would have very bad effect
upon the canal, for the early spring
business would be anticipated by rail
road shipments.
WHAT PHILADELPHIA SAYS.
The Philadei phia Ledger of yester-
day has the following, which quietly
indicates that it sees the weak point Of
the situation and the folly of the Penn
sylvania railroad in bringing on the
contest:
"The passenger and freight fight be-
tween tho Baltimore and Ohio and the
Pennsylvania railroads has brought to
the surface the following items as in
dicating the financial strength and
weakness of the respective parties:
The Pennsylvania road has a total
length with connections) of LAOS
miles. Its liabilities are SI33, 057, 062,
against cost of $65,l75,972. The
Baltimore and Ohio has a total track
of 1,55S miles. with liabilities of $3S,
228,063, against a cost. of $44, 657, SOL
In 1873 the latter road earned fourteen
per cent, on its liabilities the former
less than eight per cent. 1t is to be re-
membered in this connection, however
that the I,495 miles of railway con-
trolled by the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company drains a larger and much
more productive region of country than
do the greater number of miles of rail.
way at less cost which are tributary to
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad. So
that the figures above given are no
conclusive evidence of the relative
strength of parties as to which com
pany is the better able to endure loss
on business. Both companies repre-
sent large amount of capital, which is
owned by loan and stockholders, who
have it invested for profitable return,
and who are not supposed to be con-
trolled by passion and feeling in a
losing quarrel, as are the managers of
the respective companies, and those
capitalists who are the owners of the
two great roads will be likely soon to
have the differences adjusted and the
companies put to profitable work.