Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-11-30
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LANoAsrER. NOVEMBER 50, lss.
The Dance OF the Roads.


The Baltimore Sun, which is one of the
journals that does not publish as fact what
it has not coed reason to believe to lie
fact, states upon what it declares TO be
undoubted authority, that the Baltimore
Il Ohio railroad direction recognizes the
claims of the public to have the advan-
tages of fair railroad competition" and
" will keep its promises to them" to es-
tablish line between Baltimore and New
York that will be as independent as its
line between Washington and Baltimore"
They believe that they have binding con-
tract with the Reading company for the
use of the Jersey Central and Bouid Brook
lines but if anything should break it, the
Baltimore & Ohio company will build an
independent line from Philadelphia to
Staten Island" and will not permit itself
to be forced to use the tracks of the Penn
sylvania railroad, known as the Central
Railroads of New Jersey, between Phila-
deiphia and New York"
That is very specific and positive state
ment which puts to sleep the statements
of some of the Philadelphia journals that
the Pennsylvania and Baltimore & Ohio
had reached an understanding by which
they would give each other special accom-.
modations and use each others tracks and
divide traffic between them, and gen.
orally assume Siamese twin relation
Of close alliance for offense and de-
fense against the public. The state
ment Of the Baltimore Sun, while
hardly more specific and positive
than that of the other journals who
imagine these stories and swear to them.
may be relied upon, as the Sun indulges in
no such capers. 1t is very comfortable to
have reliable newspaper printed in the
neighborhood, to which recourse may be
had to know what is to be believed for
nowadays there is such a reckless flow of
misstatement in the journals of the great
cities as 10 be bewilderiDg even to the
reader experienced in the work of arresting
the true from the false. And particularly
IN financial matters, where money may be
made by false tales, ARE they current. For
long while we have been entertained with
stories of the magic work that is being done
in reconciling the conflicting interests of
the Reading, the Pennsylvania and the
Baltimore & Ohio. The presidents of the
roads have been reported in the most amic
able relations, and Mr.. Corbin, the New
York injection into the Reading, has been
the little magician who is doing the work.
Quite possibly this amiability of outside
behavior has been brought about: but
the S6l'S announcement shows that. so
far as the Baltimore * Ohio is concerned.
its amiability will be made to consist with
a severe carrying out of its plan to have
line of its own to New York, and that it
has not the slightest notion of being now or
hereafter dependent upon the will of the
pennsylvania railroad for favor or business.
Experience very clearly teaches us that
this means an active competition for trade
at all times when it is important to the
public interests to have it.
just what role Reading is to play among
these railroads is not yet clear. The new
managers OF the property are too busy
taking In the shekels that have come from
their profuse promises and mystical ar.
rangements to let us clearly know whether
Reading Is to be an active competitor of
the Pennsylvania or its sleeping part
ner. The Reading property is now
under the control of financial sharks
whose appetite will keep them stuff
ing and bleeding it in the most approved
style of Wall and Third street art. Tbev
have subject with great resources that
has stood great deal of bad handling, with
no stealing, and may hereafter stand great
deal of stealing without bad handling. To
this end it is likely to come. The public can
make up its mind that its new nurses will
take all the cream off the baby's milk and
That 1t will be prudent not to believe in the
prospect of an early dividend to the stock
holders or an immediate leap of its stock
to its par value.