New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-08
BARON ERLANGERS VISIT,
CONE TO INSPECT his OWN ROADS
UNABLE TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE RAILWAY

0NAoAh Io UNDERSTAND HOW THE RAILWAY
SITUATION CAN BE AS BAD AS REPORTED
baron Erlanger, the Paris banker and railroad
lhasnate, VINO arrived from Europe on the etaaror
lam on Friday, was seen by Tribune reporter a,
.uo nre'oort House on Saturday. He is ACCOMPANIED
py MS eldest son, Baron f. d'Erlanger and exnet.s
" remain IN this country for about two months the
etef pSr' OF which he will devote to studying the
taiiIoao interests and systems OF the country mar
ticularly the Southern railroads in which bo 4, ,a,
interested and which arc known as the oueen ana
Crescent or Erlanger system
Inc baron said that this was his first visit IN
america, although he has been for many wears laroe
interested In railroad and other projects in this country
az o LIST pecame interested in American investments
NIOusn MS marriage TO Southern lady, but he has
never vet seen tho properties in which h,s caplta e
invested He said that the primary object Of his visit
is 70 make tour Of inspection over the svsten ~
roads which bears his name with a view Of see,ne
INFO ther physical condition and the possibilities NJ
increasing their traffic Ho denied that his system
OF railroads would DO extended by building new lines
or 1hat ne was here for the purpose of forming any
Nsneo WIN otner railroads on behalf OF his lines
In referring to the question Of building new lines no
sad 49," anus n'
u am not believer in the practice of ni,d,ng
nheS IN excess OF the traffic requirements of the
territory through which they run. have como here
10 ascertain by personal observation II the railroad
situation is really bad as it is reported in Eurone
10 De- ana to find out tho actual condition of
my roads and subsequently make such arrange
men's as may find necessary TO place
them ON better footing cannot
understand how such railroad stocks as Atchison.
Iopeka and Santa Fe and Chicago, Burlington and
quincy can decline 40 to so points without causing
panic. Such thing would be impossible In Europe
where the governments protect the railroads The
FORMER road is said to have large cash balance in its
treasury and II the stockholders of such road were
properly Informed by the management of its condition
aud II its accounts were made public to the parties
eted confidence in railroad securities would be
greatly restored and the roads would benefit by II
have made study Of the Interstate Commerce bill
ana consider II one Of the best laws ever enacted
ana enforced 1t VIII abolish ratecutting and give all
roads fair share Of business. Further 1t compels
the various companies 70 show to their stockholders
inc actual copdltion Of their property, which IS what
baron Erlanger added that the part of the Cincinnati
southern from Meridian TO Shreveport which has
hitherto been laid with od.fashloned iron rails IS to
De reballasted and laid with rails for which con-
tracts have already beer made. lie also said that his
road was now working IN harmony with Texas Pacific
over whose lines # had an outlet from Shreveport
detas OF his future plans until he had Inspected tho
nropefty: addng: have come here for information
myself and when have seen and learned the exact
situation may have formed other projects that do
not entertain OF the present time"
dictate and the Compton d'Escompte Baron Erangcr
sad that he did not expect any financial strnrency
ownc TO the failure OF tho bank through its advances
nene 10 the syndicate the large amount OF copper
held He also said that w 10 the time Of his leaving
Europe he did not think that anything like definite
arrangement had been come to between the repre-
scntauves Of American mines and the holders Of that
meta He ssh that the collapse Of the Compton
ID hscompte was q complete surprise 10 tho French
people, as It was looked upon and believed 10 be
second onN IN financial stability TO tho Bank of
France In HIS opinion the only way out Of Ithe
COPPER trouble would be for the stock Of metal 10
We placed on the market at such prices 70 stimulate
consumption and to absorb the present stock aud at
the same time restrict the output from tho mines
The Boron VIII start on his tour OF inspection this
by President Charles schi OF thu Queen and Crescent
system. The party VIII be increased by several
railroad officers at the various points touched They
expect to return to this city about the second week