New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-10-03
mo BUYING OF STEAMSHIPS.
THE PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD RUMORs.

THE AMERICA, ALASKA AND ARIZONA NOT SOLD
POSSIBLE NEW INMAS LINE ARRANGEMENrs
"NO truth in reported sale of the Alaska and
Arizona" was the csbls dispatch received by A. NJ
Underhill Co., the New-YorK agents OF tho Guion
Line. from their principals III Liverpool yesterday But
before this received there considerable interest
in sIeamship circles the dispatch from Pniiaic
pha stating that 1t believed that VIcc-fresdent
Thomson and Director GrIscom OF the Ponnsylvania
Railroad, had purchased the America OF tue
National Line aud the Alaska and Arizona OF the Guon
Line. to run In connection with the Ininan Steamship
Line, for the last years practically under the control
OF tue Pennsyivsnis Railroad Co upsny. There was
also much app rehension felt those directly iu-
terested that the report might be true as well as among
other steamship people, for ths runors nave been re-
eated heretofore and THE TRIBUNE was the first paper
the real OF the change In the agency of the
nmsn Line TO Peter Wright Sons, or It's transfer to
! the Pennsylvania Railroads. Interest
About the frat tning done by A. NJ Underhl yester-
day morning upon arriving at his Office No. 20 Broad
way, was TO cable the principis or tho Guon Line at
Liverpool as follows Press dispatch announces sale
of Arizona and AlasSa to Pennsylvania Railroad Com-
pany 1t Is to confirm or rsfuto the report at
once" To this the reply cane: "No truth in the re-
ported sale OF the Arizona AMI Alaska. The branch
OF the Wrghts here teegrapned TO Philadelphia: 81
either confirm deny the report OF purchase OF
vessels What shall dot" No truth IN IT," was the
reply.
-
terested In the DusDess tuere soems to be
some founato for the report that the railway officials
mentioned had purchased the rights aud franchises or the
nmau Line the equip nsnts thereof TO 10 merged with
that Of the Information Navigation Lue TO nakea fast
service for passenger anu freight business
One OF those referred to. said 81 do not know what
Mr.. Thomson AMI Mr. Gtisc have acco nplishsd dur
Ing their absence In Europe. but don't believe they
have PURCHASED the three snips insntono You sttei
In HE TRIBUNE years ago. when the lnnan agency
transferred and atan about six moatns ago. what
be OF Interest to repeat in part hsrc Mr Grisc0n
Is director in tho Peun-ylvs Railroad manager or
tho National Transit Company, branch OF the
Standard OIL Company; ani vice-president or the
International Navigation Company. His relations wish
three companies and the great interest he
taken the rsnsatantio steamship business have
given reports that the Standard OIL Company was
Interested Win tne railroads controlling trsnsat-
iantc steamship liae. won't ssy how far that may be
true"
"Is not Mr. Griscom financially Interested in tho
nman Line Does hold SONS OF their d'bentnro
bouisl"
"Ycs believe he holds about 400 900 OF tho Inman
Line deOentures Tho upany WIS a little crowded
Tor finances about years and Mr.
Grscom into the breach AMI took up these bonds
AT about the same time agency or the Iuman Line
transferred to Peter Wright Sons agents or the
Red Star Line to Antwerp"
"Are Peter Wright e Sons agents Of the American
steamship Line, running between Philadelphia and
| Liverpool"
"Thsy are agents for the International Navigation
Company, WHICH Is ths Same thing. The Pennsy-
wanna Railroad Company which wanted q
steamship limo Europe to get control
of the freight business bought the American
Line, but it hardly satisfactory. as shippers
thought the steamers not fast enough The yes
sells we're the Pennsylvania ONO Indiana and Illinois,
aud these transferred to the International N,vi
cation Company, whlcl continues to run them in con-
TOr1 Iytip Rri
Crown. and British KING OF tho British Shpowners
Company Yes, they carry tho Pennsyivina R'iiroads
freight to aud also do the inman Line
st.amer- but the railroad company dOe, not the
steamers"
Has not Mr.. Oriscon's and Mr. Thomsons visit in
Europe Significance in connection with the trans
atlantic steamship businesSl"
"Ikuow notnn. definite as to what their bus-
ness"
"Bnt have you heart that 1t was in connection
with the Ihman Lines deDeDture bonds ~
"WeII, when Mr. Griscom -A!ei for Europe several
weeks ago whisperings about 100000
OF the Inman Lines debenurs bonds about 10
fall due; and that either the money would have 10 be
raised the ships transferred THESE are the City OF
Chicago, CITY Of Rlchmonh, City Of Chester, Clty OF
Berlin and City Montreal Tho latter Is now laid up
Baltic. OF the White Star Line. Is chart eredto
iuu place. Oh. pose the fine steamers and
| Tho franchises OF the company miEht be bought
| tor 92OO.OOo in which case the Pennsyl.
l
| steamship lines between New-IOrK ami Liverpool.
When James A. WrgIt arrived there, IL WIS rrpOrird
| tnat the matter sur ly tiled. Ihon wnen Mr..
| Thomson met them Ia Liverpool, the Phladrlpha
papers reported that the transfer wvs certainly ACCOM-
| Viisnrd.'
"What 90 you think OF tho OF tho purchase OF
the Arizona, Alaska and American
=" ke stock In u. In the first place. wha. would
they want the Amerci for True, she ~ one or The
fastest vessels afoaI. ani cost about Sl2OOOOO and
| while sue has hne passenger accommodations
she has no room for freighL She has never
| paid expenses; III Tact, 50 lar as
money maAIngis concerr cd she has proved failure.
Tue the first OF the fast sthat is the
seven-iay ships-'uilL aud Is good snip tu-iay Dut
onIy pays s1d cost only aD0ut onehaif what
| the aid. rhe Al .ska the second OF the fast
vessels built about 100000. but don't think she
white elephants with tho owners No, II anything WAS
done IL was the transfer OF the lnDan stoauships,
but | don't believe that has yet heen
done Mr. GrIscom probably IN possession of all tho
| left Liverpool"
Al the office of the National Line. to which the Amer
lea belongs nothing WAS known about the reported sale
| OF that vessel.
Samuel Carpenter general eastern passenger agent OF
the Pannsy vania Railroad, said that he knew nothing
OF the reported OF asam hips by his roAi his
only inform alton WAS received the newspapers
Oliver J. Gerr, general agent or the P"nnsylvanla
Railroad. SAID that lie knew absolutely nothng or tho
pendent ocean steamship lne. When asked what nc
thought OF the probability Of the truth OF tho report ne
replied: do not think 1t 10 at all probable think
tho PeDnsylvanla Railroad has enough 10 atteuu 10
without into steamship bus'nos Yes. wo are
now enjoying all the privileges ami Dement'S OF AN inc-
pendent line III the composition Of all the companies.
and should be surprised II We should 20 into the bus-
now suppose tho foundation or the story may
be In tho recent leasing OF our piers in Jersey iy by
tho lnmsn Lins aud the making OF Peter Wrxht sons
the Navigation Company agents OF tho
nman Line al tho same time"