New-York tribune., 1885-07-20
MR.. VANDERBILT SPEAKS.
PROSPECTS OF A RAILROAD PEACE.
xrGor1ATIoNs MAKING FAVORABLE PROGRESS
uIcu OPINION oF THE CENTRAL


railroads. Begun by persons largely interested IN
railroad securities the negotiations have reached
a stage where success mainly dependent on tho
arrangement of details This work, which IS Iuii
of difficulties and complexities railroad OIL
GERS have now taken up in the hope that IL may
be accomplished Considerable progress Is saia
to have been made, although only genera
plans have been agreep on Inc aolusV
ment embraces the transfer of the van
derbiIt railroads in Pennsylvania. the
South Pennsylvania and the Deacn
Creek roads to the Pennsylvann haiiIo'u
Company ana the acquisition by the New iorh
Central of its young and ill-fated rival. the New
York. West Shore and Buffalo. Incidentally re-
construction of the "Nickel Plate" road appears 10
be a part Of the plan which also looksto the r'nap-
itatlon of the trunk line pools as soon as the more
immediate causes of the bitter rivalry shall nave
been removed.
William H. Vanderbilt with his family came from
Sharon Springs TO Saratoga. where he will spend
the rest of the season. Saturday. He said to-day
to TRIBUNE reporter who inquired about the pro-
posed settlement:
81 cannot tell YOU anything about the negotia-
tions for don't know much about them. haven't
taken any part In them, but shall know what
the terms are before anything will be
DONE They can't get along very well without me
them The fact is, so far as understand the mat
ter nothing has been absolutely decided ON yet.
! told the people who came to me about what
would do and they are working at 1t. L am toid
that pretty fair progress has been made ana that
no serious obstacles have been found yet. but the
matters are so complicated and intricate that
would not like to say whether think the negotla-
tlons will be successful or not. l only know that
shall be informed of the progress of them by the
persons who have them in charge.
In regard to the prevalent rumors that some OF
l. D.. in anti
unwilling to abandon them, Mr.. Van
derblt said: al don't know about that. but
have rather favorable report
from General Magee and Mr. TwOmby who inst re-
turned from Philadelphia. l expected Twombly
ND here last night but he tired that he sent
ND some one else. Whatever should consent TO do
in Pennsylvania would be for the interest OF all
and not simply for myself The South Pennsyl-
vania is a good Investment and there is plenty OF
business between Pittsburg and Philadelphia Tor
the road. do not care particularly to give it up,
but whatever do will be for the benefit of all who
are with me and for the public good too, when 1t
comes TO that matter. This railroad war must be
settled sometime suppose. and perhaps this sum-
mer is as good time as any,"
"What are we going TO pay for the West Shore
Well, l can tell better when we buy II.
The Central pay as much as anybody, L
guess but if some else wants it he must under
stand that the is not yet settled and will not
be until we have che West Shore. We would just
as lief fight new men, and perhaps rather If they
have some money. THIS fighting bankrupt rail-
road is tedious work, tell you, but no one shall
buy the West Shore to make money out of us. And
they shall not have any of roads until we have
that one. You see, there are good many things TO
be settled before the railroad war will be ended
1.-THE West Shore may be cheap if only an ex
ample to others but cannot say that we shall pay
much for that Perhaps it has been lesson that the
country will not forget for few years. The road
was built for strke' but it has not turned out
very well. Think of the number of rich men W no |
have lost money in 1T! But ii was not their faut; ;
they were deceived about 1t. Oh, don't know |
who IS to blame but the road ought never to have
been buiit--never There is not dollars worth of
new business from one end to the other. All there
is there now was there before and all the business
the road does stolen from the Central. t. You,
look on the West shore roadJust as would on |
mau whose hand had found in my money drawer |
"a common miserable thief. The fact is. we have |
got the tcfs hand firmly cangllt III the drawer |
and are. going to keep it there, too.
wee deeevsd f%sy Ii as as the
road was finished it would do a great business.
Did they suppose we were gong to SIT stu and let
run at a loss of $4,0O00O0 year. The West Shore
is a good example for everybody to remember he
fight has had one good result for i has shown the
strength of New York Central. Why have been
surprised myself at the tremendous strength OF the
Central, and thought knew :., a. much about the
W /
and with passenger rates cent mile, the Central
has paid all its interest and other dS
that it is great road that can
do that The Central is a great road-the greatest
in tine world | know 1t whether anybody else
more than pay its funded debt 1t has got
$50, 100000 in New York and twice that in the
eriy G and there e. is no mortgage on any Of it. WHY
would borrow money and run into debt If the
Central would sell me ITS unincumbered property
there is another road like it in the country, yes or
anywhere IN the world 1 tell you the Central is a
great road
trouble about that. No, cannot tell you how be-
cause we have not come to that point. Wait until
we get the road. know nothing about the details
for haven't bothered myself about those things.
have said wbatI would do and that Is about all
there is to it. Perhaps tine plan Will go through,
tainly because there many things to arrange
and il may take a long time to do it."
1t IS understood that one Of the obstacles to be
overcome is the reluctance of some of the members
OF the South Pennsylvania syndicate to abandon
that enterprise. The Pennsylvania Railroad, it
j. SAID will not buy AMY arsul1T wnr m
to sell his interest alone. About $5 0O0 600 is said
TO have been spent on it and & about the same
the transfer of the property reported to be an an
nual interest payment of three per cent on this
eos and H. &c
Vanderbilt interest in the negotiations and have
charge of the Pennsylvana matter. while Presi-
dent Depew and j. Pierpont Morgan of the New
York Central are conducting the negotiations for
the control of the West Shore. While the negotia-
tions are SAID to be independent Il is believed that
no settlement will be made until the NewYork
Central has secured control OF the rival line.
person well informed as to the progress that has
West Shore part Of the settlement had Teen virtu-
ally accomplished.
DIVING From TIE ST. LOUIS BRIDGE.