The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-11-09
GIrnntIe RAILROAD sehemes.

men who control the trunk lines and their
dependencies, and who put up and put
down ates-make war and peace-com-
bine or antagonize each other Just as it
suits them. Vanderbilt, Gould, President
Roberts Of the Pennsylvania road, and Mr.
Garrett Of the Baltimore & Ohio, and Hun.
tington Of the Central Pacific and the
Chesapeake & Ohio, represent the active
powers in our railroad system.
War is always followed by peace, and out
Of peace comes reconstruction, This is the
history Of great contests between nations
and between great corporations. 1t seems
as II history was about to repeat itself in
the way Of radical change in the railroad
system Of this country, growing out Of the
probable conquest OF one or two OF the
trunk lines by combination on the part
Of two mommoth capitalists, Vanderbilt
and Gould.
The Chicago Tribune, after having
watched the contest, not only for months
past, but for years, has come to the conClu-
sion that tho present fight is fight for the
undisputed commercial supremacy Of New
York as against all rivals, more particularly
Philadelphia and Baltimore. Vanderbilt
and Gould arc both New York men, both
in the control OF scores Of millions Of dol.
lars, and thousands Of miles Of railway,
and both now allied, apparently, for crush
ing out all rivalry to New York, where
their great interests are Centered,
The parties to this contest, says the Trib.
una, arc as follows There is first, the Van.
derbilt, which is essentially a New York
City interest. All those having any peCu-
MARY concern in the Vanderbilt system OF
railways are directly concerned in the
prosperity Of New York City. The Van
derbilt system OF railways aim to SO con.
troll the domestic and foreign trade Of the
great West that 1t shall all pour into the
lap Of New York City, enriching every.
thing and everybody in that metropolis.
Hence Mr., YanderbiltS position, that the
Pennsylvania system and the Baltimore
system are interlop0rs and ntruders when
ever and to whatever extent they attempt
to obtain any business in or out Of New
York City,
The Baltimore Railway and the Penn.
sylYania Railway represent respectively
the cities OF Baltimore and Philadelphia,
insisting upon monopoly OF the traffic OF
those cities, with such additional traffic as
they may be able to draw thereto from the
city OF New York. The Vanderbilt sys.
tenn includes all the roads leading from
the Northwest to Chicago and thence to
New York.
Then comes Jay Gould with his system
Of roads from Toledo to the Rio Gande,
and including the railways OF ST. Louis and
the Southwest, But Mr. Gould has even
more important interest in the pending
controversy. His syndicate has heavy
pecuniary interest In the Vanderbilt sys.
tem-said to be thirty millions Of It's stock
and bonds--and to Gould Vanderbilt now
looks for that cooperation and aid which
will enable him to triumph over all his
rivals, reduce them to mere local roads,
enable him to make New York City per.
manently the seat Of the entire trade OF
this continent.
The Union OF the Gould and Vanderbilt
syndicates indicates beyond all question
what the outcome Of this railroad struggle
must be. The Pennsylvania and the bal.
timore 4 Ohio Railroads will be compelled
toabandon all competition with New York,
and further be compelled TO make their
rates between Philadelphia and Baltimore
and the West equal In all things to the
rates on the Vanderbilt lines between the
West and New York. That result once OBJ.
tanned and the Vanderbilt.GOuld comb.
nation will never stop short OF that end, all
rivalry between the cities OF Philadelphia
and Baltimore, and New York for the for.
eign trade Of the country will cease, and
these roads will OF necessity fall into the
condition Of mere local highways limited
10 their neighborhood traffic, II indeed,
both railroads do not eventually pass
under the control OF Vanderbilt and the
New York interest.
There are certain obstacles in the way
Of the completion Of this work, but that
they will be removed In due time there eau
be no doubt. One OF these Is the Construc.
ton Of the new Midland route from, say,
Buffalo or Salamanca to Chicago and St.
Louis, Of which route the Erie Railway
and It's connections arc an essential part
to connect with New York. This new
line Is progressing rapidly. II Is building
for Gould and Vanderbilt, and as soon rs
completed Il will be found TO be the prop.
ertyof that combination. II will give a
direct connection 10 Goud's Wabash sys.
tenn over the Erie to New York CITY,
Stripping the Philadelphia and Baltimore
lines Of the bulk Of their traffic from the
southwestern States, leaving 10 Wander.
bilt the Northwestern and Western lines,
and both 10 pour their entire business,
with its vast wealth and profit, into New
York City.
The ownership Of a controlling interest
IN the Erie Railway Is a mere question Of
money Those who offer the best terms
viii find the unfortunate and long.suiFerinv
stock and bond holders OF that road ready
and willing 10 sell. II has been bankrupt
company for a generation. II has been
robbed and plundered time and again BY
its managers, and is now 80 borne down
with debt as to be improbable to the
stockholders. The syndicate who can offer
the most money In cash for its control Is
certain Whenever II wants the road TO get
II The possession Of the Erie and the new
route from st. Louis and Chicago to New
York Is essential to the supremacy Of New
York City, and to the supremacy Of the
combined system ofVanderbilt and Gould,
and they alone are In condition TO purchase
Tie property when the time comes for its
possession,
New York City Is uhquestionably the
natural hatbor for the foreign trade Of The
country II Is the natural gateway through
which we must ship all we have TO sell,
and through which we must receive moi
only all Nc buy, but the vast army Of i'm.
mlgtants, who arrive al the rate Of 1000 or
more every, day II Il the only port AT
which d foreign trade can be maintained.
Steamers must find employment at both
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