National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-11-11
\ BIG RAILROAD DEAL.
Activity in Southern stooks-Eecont
Rumors and What They Mean.

hNNiNilg IN SouNneTh DloChb-AsbNthb
Rumors and What They Mean.
The Baltimore imcricdn yesterday pub
lished lengthy article commenting upon
the many rumors Of projected consolida-
tious, purchasing for control, proposed
leases, &C., of railroads in the southern
states, which article concludes as follows;
In regard to the activity in Norfolk and
Western preferred stock 1t is stated in New
York that the Pennsylvania Railroad Com
puny Is buying the stock-also "for cDntrof'-
intending to add IL TO its southern system.
Such theory, or similar purchases by any
other great road, would explain the activity
in Shenandoah Valley bonds, for this latter
road is controlled by the Norfolk and Western
which during 1858 and 1851 acquired 30,5Il
shares ont OF 1862 shares of the Shenandoah
Valley stock, which was received IN payment
for subscription to 40 1ll shares OF Norfolk and
Western common. The Shenandoah Valley,
which has trnitiC arrangement with the
Western Maryland Railroad Company, rams
from HngcrstOwn to Roanoke, Va, where It
| Joins the Norfolk and Western, which rlu' 70
Bristol, Tenn, and there connection Is mare
with the East Tennessee, Nirginih and Goor.
gin, which also has n traffic arrangement with
the Norfolk and Western, and which extends
10 Meridian, Miss, and by the Memphis and
Charleston controlled by the East Tennessee,
Virginia and Georgia. 10 Memphis, Tenn The
Mobile and Ohio road runs through Meridian
to Mobile.
1t viii be noticed, by reference to the lists,
TINT the securities OF each ore of the roads
named has been active, strong, or even ex-
cited at one time or another recently, and
meanwhile, II has been reported that the Bal
timOre and Ohio has secured a connection with
New Orleans, and the Pennsylvaniais Is extend.
ing IT'S southern connections. The Baltimore
and Ohio was first said 10 be extending It's
Virginia valley road, intending to reach, by
lease or control Of other ronds, Birmingham
Ala, and Pensacola, Fla. Then the southern
papers published rumors that the Baltimore
and Ohio was cndeavoring TO secure the Nir
ginia Midland again, and the East Tennessee,
Virginia and Georgia, aud more recently that
1t proposed to reach New Orleans from Clnoln.
natl via the Queen and Crescent route. Tho
questions now being asked are which one Of
the stories III any, Is true? may not the Peusl.
| cola and the Cincinnati stories be blinds to
divert attention from the intermediate route
or IL either one be correct, is not the Pennsyl-
| yania endeavorng TO block the way, or at
least to secure for itself similar route to the
| mouth of the Mississippi. which will enable IL
| TO fully compete with the Baltimore and OhiO'
| The railroad officials Ntc entirely noncom.
| initial, though II was week ngO announced
| Scmi.otlCialiy that the Baltimore and Ohio
| was about to open business as far rs New Or
| leans, and II may be that part of what has
| been said in New York aud In the south aud
| west Is mere cnnlecture but, taking everything
| into consideration, II looks very much as II n
big RAILROAD deal was on hand,