Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-11
is II SMOTHERED /?
Gossip About the Disappearance Of
an Important Railroad Bill
IN A LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE.
If Passed it Would Checkmate the P. &. 3.
in Blockading Sidetracks
AND AID THE JUNCTION EXTENSION

An alleged attempt to smother big bill
in the Legislature has raised quite storm
in certain circles of Pittsburg. The pro-
posed law originated here, and if passed
would be of tremendous Importance to this
city's future railroad interests. 1t was in
troduced early in the present session of the
Legislature, and SO effeetually has it been
suppressed up to this time that never a
word about it has come over the wires from
Harrisburg. 1t is doubtful whether the
live journalists at the Capitol know of such
a bill, so silently was its funeral said to be
conducted.
, The first intimation of the matter was re-
ceiyed by THE DISPATCH in converse
ton between one of its reporters and a
wealthy iron manufacturer on the South
side. They had been talking about the
freight determinations on the Pennsylvania
Railroad, and the manufacturer, to illus
trate the grasping character of the corporation,
gave a history of how the junction and other
railroads had been foiled by the Pennsylvania
Railroads hurriedly constructed switches in
laying tracks to various manufacturing centers
of the city. Continuing. he said:
"And even now influential men Of this city
and State are unable to get out of committee
at the Legislature bill which makes railroad
property liable to condemnation as well as pri-
vate property"
A GREAT PURPOSE.
Beyond this the iron man would say nothing
further about the mysterious bill. But he re-
ferreG the reporter to three gentlemen in
Pittsburg for details. One of these explained
the purpose of the bill as follows:
Railroad companies have the right to condemn
and appropriate private property on the ground
that it is needed for uses as public property.
Sometimes 1t occurs they condemn or purchase a
great deal more than they really have use for, be-
cause 1t is cheaper to take more land than little.
They thus frequently condemn or buy at given
point property than is essential to the uses OF
the company.
Sometimes the property so bought or condemned
may be the only land by or through which
other railroads can reach their terminus. As, for
conde@ or rfs bny ali bs pFopsaty at Tyen po
between the hills and low water line of the river.
The Pittsbprg, Fort wayne % and Chicago Rsilroad
timore and Ohio Railroad could operate on the
same plan of negotiations in the narrow valley Of
The purpose Of the bill now in committee at
Harrisburg is to enable new railroad companies
now made TO buy right of way because of just
such acts on the part Of existing railroads here,
to actually condemn, for right OF way, the prop
tion to the company first in possession.
WHERE THE SHOE RINCHES.
The Supreme Court decided recently Tin the
Junction Railroad case) that where one railroad
has its tracks on q piece of property, it is not
competent for q new railroad to cross over, above
or under them. Railroads are the highways of
the State and in this decision it assumed that
all the property held by the railroad tracks was
essential to its operations.
This bill simply provides that If piece Of prop
erty owned by a railroad is not essential to the
proper operation of the company first in posses
odia other railroad i may Condemn it for right
of way. In other words, the bill would
allow the question Of necessity or uselessness OF
such property to be taken before jury for de-
cision The passage of the bill is of great import
the present rulings any other railroad viii ever Be
able to enter Pittsburg because o. the contour oi
Railroad system has its sidetracks and switches
straddled all over the valleys from the hills to the
low water line. thereby excluding all proposed
competitors.
EFFECTS ON PITTSBURG.
If this law could be passed it might permit
the Junction road to be built all along the Al
legheny river bank despite the switches the
Pennsylvania Railroad threw out from the ALE.
gheny Valley and Cleveland and Pittsburg
Railroads, successfully blockading it up to this
time The Millvale Street Railway and the
Evergreen Railway might be able to
at least get crossing over the West Penn
tracks at Benefits station. after repeated re-
fusals on the part of the Pennsylvania Com
pany. The Pfttsburg and Western Railroad
could also continue its river branch up to
Sharpsburg Notwithstanding the West Penn
siding thrown out to balk it.
The general rumor is that the influence of
the Pennsylvania Railroad is keeping the bill
in desk Of the committee room until the
Legislature adjourns. Only one month more
of the session remains, and thus far Pitts
burgers interested say they are utterly unable
70 resurrect their measure.