New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-07-13
WILL, THE RAILROADS FORM A TRUST?
TALK IN THE WEST AND HERE ABOUT MAKING
TERRITORIAL GROUPs-OBsrACLES
IN THE WAY.


DISPATCHES from Chicago have said recently that
the western railroads contemplating the formation
of railroad trust 1t IS asserted there that the ST.
Paul the Northwestern, the Rock Island and the
Atchson companies already committed TO he
scheme and that its success is not TO be doubted.
The leaders in the movement have been named 10
some of the recent dispatches and the list includes
the men most prominently Identified with these COM
panles The suggestion is not new one, because
something OF the same Kind talked about In the
southwest a year or ago. The discussion WAS
started then by Jay Gould and seconded by Generai
WinsIow of the ST. Louis and san Francisco Rail-
road. Before that time II. H. Porter OF Chicsgo'
talked about territorial divisions, when he was no.
gotiating for the sale of the Omaha Railroad TO
william H. Vanderbilt Within two years he has
predicted many times practical consolidation Of
railroad lines according Geographical position, Into
two vast s. stems east of the Mississippi and perhaps
three beyond IL. II has been argued that the ZEN
dency toward centralzation In the conduct OF busi-
ness affairs. as well the growth OF large railroad
organizations was clearly IN this direction The al
vantages in railroad management would be economy
% oneration harmony OF action, and more important
than ALI else wise and intelligent extension. one
of the present difficulties in the western raiirosa
situation springs from an Irregular poicy I'D oui.'-
ing The Rock Island was reluctant 10 cross sAe
uinois River but when IL had done 50 II pushed
construction with great zeal and rapidly. The Chi-
oo and Alton resisted the westward movement TO tho
last and recently has retired from the Interstate AZ
socaton for the reason principally that IL has ds-
covered It 4, practically local line. II the ieedors
~ ts competitos do not fixed charges, the sgn'
10 a constant traffic passing IT'S western terminus
over ther lines is not easily borne IL demanded
mart of the business I'm an enort 10 take Ao' ~"~e'
NJ the activity of its rivals.
The ol stacles in the way Of uniting railroad COM
NAMES In large trusts would seem TO be inSurnoun.%
bIe hut railroad men do not look upon the consohas
tion as ANYTHING more than an inevitable pecess'J
The basis has been suggested in the following ie'e'
~ John j. McCook, of this city, which was ''n'
railroad officers throughout the country
Personal.)
100 Broadway, New-York. May 70, 1887.
A., no.. Sir. A the Interstate Commerce Bill ha1
abolished the pooling arrangements heretofore existing be.
en the trunk and pool lines the necessity Tor some
er, NJ regulating and controlling their tra1c appears
N be as great II greater than ever before and some
now nlan must at an early dao be devised therefore.
such plan to be effective. should cover the following
points:
~ Maintain all equities not only a. between ne
railway companies themselves but also between tAsn
respective stockholders inter Sc.
10Y Continue the legal and all other relations Of The
,osnective railway companies the United States and
the several States under which they organized, IS
present
ls) Secure unity o, interest upon absolutely sasia