Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-02-18
TIE RAILWAY WORLD.
\, Is Beits we'd thar the Chesapeake and Ohio
w,n BE- Taken io's'h Pool.
fChicago Timesl

IL Is the judgment OF all weii-posteu
railway officials who have given the
matter any attention that the Chesa-
peake and Ohio road must be taken care
of and taken into the trunk-line pool IL
the new policy Of the trunk lines is to
be carried out. From Chicago stand
point, its influence has not yet been
felt to large degree, and the time has
not arrived when it cares TO make its
presence here as factor in seaboard
tonnage. east and east.bound, known.
C. p. Huntington, the chief Of the sys-
tenn, is q long-headed, cautious, and
able director of its affairs. lie knows
the capabilities OF the road--its capacity
for offence and defence. His plans for the
elevation Of the system into q COM
manding position were the fruit Of a
careful study Of the situation, and are
being slowly but surely pushed to COM
plete fruitioR. Their magnitude has
been hardly understood, ald brief re-
capitulation would hardly convey to the
reader the far-reachDg scheme that
proposes to lay tributary almost every
important point in the country west Of
Cincinnati. Secure in non-competition
for the local traffic of the main stem,
which begins at magnificent harbor
on Atlantic tidewater and runs through
region rich in mineral and material
resources, IL willeyentually tap with its
controlled connections all Of the i'm
portant cities of the West and South,
and that probably in less than
two years. Included in its scheme is
direct connection with Chicago over a
a comparatively short line to New
ports News. Some three weeks ago
it gave the trunk lines hint of its ca
pacity by hauling out thousand tons
of grain at o rate below tariff. II was
given out that this stuff was for ex-
port, although the real destination was
Richmond, Va. but the very fact of
its making the haul was sufficient no.
tice of its ability, when the time came,
to exercise it. Probably year or
more will pass before it will fully enter
into the field, as it is now at something
of a disadvantage at Cincinnati, where
the Ohio river makes an awkward
transfer and the Kentucky Central
roundabout haul to reach the
main line. This is to be remedied by a
fine bridge that is to be built across
from Cincinnati, and the construction of
line along the Kentucky shore from
Coyington to Ashland, where it will
connect with the main line. Hunting
ton is credited with owning large por-
tion of the stock Of the Cincinnati, In
dianapois. St. Louis and Chicago rail-
way, which will constitute the Chicago
connection. This done, and it is in a
position to take its share, not only Of
the export, but Of all classes of traffic,
as it itreaches New York by daily line Of
steamers running between that city and
NewpOrt's News. 1t may be said that
this is working at disadvantage, but the
wisdom of railway magnates has regu-
lated that point so that the drawbacks
of line shall not make against it. If
the Grand Trunk contracts to haul a
certain class Of iron from New York to
Chicago it is allowed to charge three
cents per one hundred pounds less than
the rate over one of the direct lines,
because it has to haul it four hundred
miles farther. The same principle ap-
plies to the newcomer. 1t is rail-
and water.route to New York, but the
difIerential steps in and gives it a
chance to offer premium to get the
business. SO with the export traffic.
Philadelphia has its two-cent and
Baltimore a three.cent difierential,
and on the same principle New
ports News should be allotted
about five cents. This arranged,
and tramp steamers fully aware Of the
advantages offered, there will be no
reason why the Chesapeake and Ohio
should not, when the foreign demand
is brisk, secure very satisfactory slice
Of the business. IL is difficult to see
how it could be prevented under those
circumstances and the benefits it will
be entitled to under the precedentS
which the trunk lines have set up. AS
for declaring war against it, that would
hardly be practicable. as its position is
impregnable and it cannot be assailed
with success. Decidedly it must be
taken into the pool and cared for. 1t
will be remembered that the st. Louis
committee some time ago appealed to
Commissioner Fink to regulate the
Chesapeake and Ohio. That function
ary referred the case to the trunk-line
presidents, and those gentlemen dis
cussed and disposed of it as indicated
in the following report
The case of the Chesapeake and Ohio
was considered. That road is not a
member of the trunk-line pool, but it
enjoys diferential rates conditioned on
its adherence to the basis of the trunk
line schedule. Recently it has excited
criticism by taking east-bound business
at cut rates. AS one railroad-man put
it I: - The Chesapeake and Ohio reaches
so few pooling points at the West tina:
when the total movement of freight is
small, as it is now, it thinks that It's
natural proportions of the traffic
is being taken away from ii
by undeIhand Methods" In cor
respondence with Mr.. Fink the
Chesapeake and Ohio officers de.
clared that the cut rates made were
adopted only to prevent loss of business
resulting from cuts made by their COM
petitors. They expressed their inten-
ton to do nothing to disturb the trunk
line harmony and their satisfaction with
the existing rates, including the differ
ence allowed in favor of the Chesapeake
and Ohio. The presidents did not con-
slider that any Of the causes Of eom-
plant on the score Of rates were seri-
Gus enough to require action by them.
A RIy the and B0nny Fortune.
A New Haven Conn., special says
Many years ago an English family
named Blythe moved to Moodus from
Pawtucket, r. l., and found employ
ment in the cloth-mills. The family con-
sisted Of the father, mother, four sons,