Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-13
FARMER GOWEN AT IT.
Is the Eminent Opponent Of the P. r.
r. Arranging a Checkmate,
THROUGH THE HOLES IN GROUND?
A Prominent Lawyer Tells How it May
Easily be Effected.
RIGHTS OF WAY REVERT TO FARMERS

There was some speculation yesterday a.
to the cause of Mr.. Franklin B. Gowen's
visit to Pittsburg. One Of the most frequent
suppositions was that, before leaving, he
would consult with certain manufacturers
and local capitalists about reviving the
route of the South Penn, if not to build q
new line, then to see if hold could not be
got upon the old one. Mr.. Gowen, however,
was understood to deny this.
81 could tell you something on that
point" said prominent lawyer to q DIS
PAToH reporter yesterday; "but, like
good many other people, do not wish my
name quoted, as have some business con-
nections which would make it undesirable
that should be interviewed. However,
the question has arisen, what will become
of the South Penn road? You have OBJ
served that an attempt is being made at
Harrisburg to extend the time for the con-
struction Of that road for ten years yet. I
have not seen the charter, but have been
told that the time for building the line has
expired, or is about to expire, and that by
reason Of its non-construction the charter
will soon be about forfeitable for what the
lawyers call non-user.
THE HOLES WORTH A GOOD BIT.
Snow this raises very interesting ques-
ton, to whom would this property which
President Roberts, of the Pennsylvania
line, designated as Tot of holes in the
ground belong? The actual purchaser in
the late dicker is kept in the shade. Os-
tensibly the Vanderbilts own it; the idea
has been that the Pennsylvania Railroad
were the real buyers. Mr.. Carnegie has
mentioned that the Pennsylvania Railroad
already has appropriated 81 ,OOO, 900, he in
fers, from its last annual report, for this
purchase. The Pittsburg stockholders have
got out Of the enterprise the disappointment
of failure and go per cent of the money they
paid in. But they may not in the end turn
out so badly as the buyers of their stock,
supposing this charter has become liable to
forfeiture on motion of the State authorities.
An immense lot of grading has been done;
millions of dollars worth of work has been
put upon the line, and yet it is practically
abandon ed.
WILL THEY DEMAND 1T.
"But the people who gave rights Of way,
the farmers through whose ground the line
passes, and over whom eminent domain
has been asserted, have a right unquestion-
ably to claim back their own. The objects
for which privileges were extorted from them
are no longer to be carried out.
"Whoever bought the South Penn Rail-
road feels that so little claim TO public SYM
pathy can be made, that they have endeav-
ored to ger the extension of their charter in
the disguise of an amendment to a copy
right bill. This was detected some time
ago, and the amendment is not yet smug-
gled through. Now, if it is not successful,
and the charter is declared null and void,
the buyers of the South Penn have queer
pig in the poke
''I venture to say that Mr. Gowen's visit
is not wholly without knowledge on this
point. Should the farmers get the holes in
the ground, by way of reversion, they
could afford 10 sell them very cheap. It
would not take much of the go per cent
which was paid to Pittsburgers to control
them. At any rate, there is an interesting
question here, and not bit OF doubt that if
the State Legislature and officials do their
duty the attempt of the big moneyed cor
porations to trample on the Constitution Of
the State would yet prove sbortive.'"