Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-29
THEP. W. SITUATION
Vice President Thomas is Not Can
didate for the Presidency.
HIS INTERESTS ARE IN THE EAST.
RumOrs of New Trunk Line to Boston
Nailed Early in the Day.
A SPICY CHAT ON RAILROAD MATTERS

Mr.. Anthony j. Thomas, of New York,
Vice President of the Pittsburg and Western
Railroad, is at the Anderson Hotel. Mr..
Thomas will remain here until after the
annual meeting of the company is held,
next Monday.
He is pleasant gentleman, and apparent
ly not averse to talking to reporters; but he
is also shrewd, and knows what to say under
all circumstances. Mr.. Thomas declared
most emphatically that he would not accept
the Presidency of the Pittsburg and
Western, even if it were offered to him. He
has an invalid wife, his home is in New York
and his interests in the East require his
constant care and attention. Mr.. Thomas
says it is nonsense to use his name in con-
nection with the Presidency. He would
have no objection to locating in Plttsburg;
he realizes the city is growing fast. and the
interests of the Pittsburg and Western de-
pend largely on Pittsburg's development;
but he finds it would be out of the question
for him to think of it for moment.
While Mr.. Gallery was living he had a
pet scheme to make the Pittsburg and
Western part of big trunk line system.
His idea was to connect
A NUMBER OF SMALL ROADS
running through Northern Pennsylvania
with his own line, and, by way of the
Beech Creek and Jersey Central, to reach
New York. In the West is the narrow
gauge road, go miles in length from Chicago
Junction, of which Mr.. William Semple is
President. Mr.. Gallery was anxious to
widen the gauge of this road and extend it
to connect with line to st. Louis Mr..
Gallery often talked about his plans, and
intimated that the plan would be carried
out some day.
delphia that trunk line is 10 be built from
Pittsburg to the East by connecting the
Beech Creek with number of other small
roads, and that the money had already been
subscribed. When Mr. Thomas was asked
about it he replied:
Mr.. Gallery may have been interested in such
plan, and as heavy stockholder in the Pitts
burg and Western, would naturally try to Sc
cure all the connections he could; but can
assure that the P. & W., as a corporation has
nothing TO do with it, This is also true of the
narrow gauge road in Ohio, which was owned
principally by Mr.. Semple and Mr.. Gallery.
This was Mr.. Callery's own private enterprise,
and the 7. q W. had nothing to do with it.
don't know now, since Mr.. Callery's death,
what will be done with this Ohio connection,
but hardly think the P. & w. will spend
much money to go into 1t. l can't say, either,
WHO WILL BE PRESIDENT
of the road; but, whoever he is, the policy OF
the road will not be changed. No changes will
be made and no improvements are contem.
plated at present. The road is on solid
foundation ntinancially-making money.
Yes, Drexel, Morgan & Co. helped to reor-
ganize the road. as they have assisted in the
reorganization of a number of others. Ger
tainly they are looking after all the roads in
| which they are interested to see that they are
kept going all right
The above talk naturally suggested q
more direct question:: "Will Mr.. Welch, OF
Philadelphia, be the next President of the
Pittsburg and Western?" 10 this Mr.
| Thomas replied: ~
suppose you mean Mr.. Lober Welch, who il
! interested in number of railroads and is also
| railroad director. Oh, no; If he was presented
| with the road he wouldn't come out here. He
is not practical railroad man, and is up in
| years. he is wealthy and prefers ease rather
! than more work in his old days.
The railroads that expect to do business in
| the future must practice strict economy. The
rates are very low, but must be maintained, OF
many of the roads will go into bankruptcy
There is plenty of money in the market, but
| people lack confidence. So many of the
people are afraid to take theil
bonds. The older lines that have confined
cities and have not branched out much are
making some money. 1t is the branches or
] which money is lost, and few of them pay
| They are built because the officers realize that
40 dnr1if do ole ~,
result is that they are put down in advance o1
the growth of the country in many instances.
A PROMISING OUTLOOK.
I have just returned from a trip through
Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. never saw tn,
wheat crop look better at this time of year
and, if the summer be favorable, the crop give
promise of being very large. It is good crop
that boom business Everything that come
| out of the ground is new wealth. Trade il
general may be dull now; but it is bound to re
vive shortly.
People talk about the development of tn,
South, but it is very unsatisfactory. They ar,
not the right kind of people to develop a coun
try. The climate is against them. A man goe
down there full of life and vigor; but, in fev
years, he becomes inert and indolent. He feel
that he can't work, and the climate is responsi
Bile for his condition. In Northern Alabama
| Georgia. Kentucky and Tennessee among the
mountains, where the climate is cooler, tn,
possibilities of growth are immense.
1 do not approve of parallel lines; but thinl
| Pennsylvania can support two railroads.
think the South Penn should have been built
and the State has grown enough to warrant it
| construction.
oh, yes, 1 read Mr.. Carnegie's letters ol
freight determinations. Mr. Carnegie is
bright, breezy man; but he forgets two week
hence what he SAYS to-day. If It were not TO
| this failing would pity the man who nigh
go up against him. When a man become
! prominent he should be careful how he talks
Ten years ago it would have been all right 70
| Mr.. Carnegie to wade in.