Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1885-05-26
tbe fa,,faster 1ntelliae,,ter.
LANCASTER. MAY %, 1885.


DdltllllOIc dIiu Inilduelpnd IOT many |
years were connected by an independent
which served as the line of CON-
munication for the Baltimore 4 Ohio rail
road northward, and the Pennsylvania rail
road southwark, besides meeting the de-
mands of the local traffic. It, more nearly
than any other important railroad in the
country, fulfilled the true mission of the
railroad. Itserved all its customers alike, |
and stood between the two great railroads, |
using its facilities in receiving and discharg-
ing, with strict impartiality. their business.
TO'any one with clear apprehension of |
the true interests of these roads, it was ap- |
parent that it was best for both of them
that each had an equal use of the Balti-
more and Philadelphia line. In fact, to
anyone with sensible appreciation of
things, it is clear that it is best, for every
carrying company, that each and all should
have alike use of every railroad in the coun-
try. The lesson of the Philadelphia, Will
mington Il Baltimore teaches this; and
when the Pennsylvania railroad gets done
paying for the lesson, its managers will be
likely to know it by heart, if they still sur
vive.
They were not satisfied tc have tie same
facilities enjoyed by the Baltimore Il Ohio
road. They coveted the exclusive use of
the Baltimore line. They secured it by
buying up majority of the stock at a great
price. The natural and inevitable conse-
quence has followed, and the new line of
the Baltimore q Ohio to Philadelphia is
almost ready for operation. The Penn
sylvania's expensive road to Baltimore is
paralleled, and the competition will result
which will cut away the fat profit of its
operation which used to accrue to it under
its independent management or else the
two rival roads will have to pool their bus
mess, and trust each other not to cheat, if
they can.
1t is probably true enough that the Bal
timore u Ohio company sought also to gain
possession of the old Baltimore line, and
that the Pennsylvania had to buy it in
selfdefense to keep its rival from cutting
it off from its Southern connections. But
it was not wise enough, after it had Sc
cured the control, to give to its rival the
equal use of it to which it was entitled un-
der the common law and common sense and
common justice and prudence. 1t was SIM
pie folly to invite the building of another
line to take the freight of the Baltimore &
Ohio, which would have brought profit to
the Pennsylvania. The true policy for the
purchaser of the old line was to give to
the Baltimore Il Ohio like use of it with
itself, and to treat it with the distinguish
ed consideration due to an important GUS
toner.
But railway managers seem to look
upon rival railroads with feeling of hos
tility and fear that robs them of all sense.
They look upon the public as their prey and
upon other railroads as other wolves. With
any impartiality in their feelings and clear
ness in their vision, they would see that the
public interests are theirs in the long run
that they are built as public cOnveniences
and can only prosper as they fulfill their
mission. They draw their trade from .he
: business of the country they serve, and ii
is their interest to increase that business
which they can best do by moderate
charges and efficient service. They need
to bring freight from all points of
their line, and to take it away from
every point, as cheaply as possible,
that the business along the line may pros
per. They cannot afford to charge high
rates to take freight from other lines to
places on their own line, or to refuse to
other roads the free use of their own, or to
be refused by others the free use of theirs.
Freedom of inter-communication is essen
tial to the welfare of each as it is to that OF
the whole.
When railroad managers become proper
ly enlightened, there will be no more under,
takings to buy OF build railroad lines to be
used as private and exclusive roads, with
an insane expectation of the enjoyment OF
dividends, along with the glory of exclusive
use.