Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-04
Mr.. ROBERTS TALKS.
He Says No Attention Was Given to
Andrew Carnegie's Letter.
THE PITTsBURG DEPOTs INSPECTED
A Consultation About the Elevated Tracks
in Allegheny.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. IN WAGES

The officials of the Pennsylvania Rail-
road Company, who are in the city on the
annual spring inspection of the lines, were
taken in charge by Superintendent Pitcairn
yesterday. The party visited the Union
station and went all through the building,
after which they visited the Duquesne
freight station at the foot OF Liberty street.
Here Station Agent G. A. Carpenter showed
them about the yards and platforms.
After inspecting the stations some of the
party returned to the Monongahela House,
while President Roberts visited the Office
of the Pennsylvania Company,o of which cor
poration he is also the president. Here a
conference with General Manager McCrea
and other officials was held.
The most important matter under dis
cussion was the new bridge of the Ohio
Connecting Company, which will connect
the Fort Wayne with the Panhandle road
near Nimick station. The extent of the
work was explained to Mr.. Roberts. The
company has secured all the necessary rights
of way, and work will go on as fast as pos
sible.
TALKING OF ELEVATION.
The elevated track scheme in Allegheny
City was also brought up. When the pro-
position of the company was rejected by the
Allegheny City Councils the President and
other officials were much piqued. Since
then they have been working on a number
of schemes which will be sprung in due
course of time.
Another meeting will be held to-day in
the Pennsylvania Company's building at
which it is supposed some of the Committee
on Railroads will be present. Tomorrow
the officials will go over the Pittsburg, Vir-
ginia and Charleston road, and then leave
for home. They will not go over the West
Penn or the lines west of Pittsburg on this
| trip.
President Roberts was seen last evening
by DISPATCH reporter. The writer asked
the railroad magnate if he could spare a
few moments after supper for an interview,
at the same time holding Andrew Car
negie's letter in his hand. Mr.. Roberts,
who does not possess the cold. enraptured,
supercilious air so common in his $40 a
month clerks, was very courteous, and said:
81 really have not the time this evening
to spare, and under no circumstances would
1 consent to be interviewed. would like
to favor THE DISPATCH, but will be en-
gagged with other matters after supper"
NOT CARING A BIT ABOUT IT.
"Can you not give us a few minutes to re-
ply to Mr.. Carnegie's letter, in which he at
tacks the Pennsylvania road?"
"No, sir, was the curt reply. 1--WE do
not care to say anything about Mr.. Car
negie's letter"
lis there not some one in the party who
would give your side of the case, and pos
sibly deny what Mr.. Carnegie has said in
reference to the Discrimination"
mo, sir; do not think there is any one
here who will say word one way or the
other. We are not concerning ourselves
| about the matter"
In the afternoon President Roberts is re-
ported to have said that 'the outlook for
railroad business is not encouraging. The
general average of the earnings of the rail-
roads last year was not good, and this year
the outlook is not much better. Freight
rates are extremely low, and the general de.
| is evidence that the outlook is not encourage
ing, and there is no chance for advancing
rates. What remains for the railroads to
do under such conditions is to economize
wherever they can.
The company has not given any thought
| to reduction of the wages of its employees in
any department. The local business on the
lines of the Pennsylvania Railroad has in
creased so rapidly that it is now SO per cent
of the entire business of our lines, showing
that the through business is proportionately
| small. We consider this as the best eyi-
| dence that the local industries are in pros
porous condition, and we shall certainly
work in harmony with them"