New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-23
CONSOLIDATION OF RAILROADS.

| From The Cincinnati commercial GaZcte.
so far as to offer to Consolidate said Mr. C. p Hunt
| ington at san Francisco the other day. The con-
sOlidaton referred to embraces the Union Pacific,
| Southern Pacific, Missouri Pacific and the Atchson
| and santa Fe, and the consolidated line to take q
new name, and this name Mr.. Huntington was
wn, to let the Atkinson people select:
dated lines-woui be one hundred millions yearly.
or perhaps more. And If this scheme should be
carried out the new line, or consolidated railway,
would 90 on absorbing lines east OF the Mississippi
River until il would control half Of the total railroad
mileage of the Nation And Jay Gould would be
This work Of consolidation has been going on for
some time. under Mr.. Gould HIS Missouri Pacific
Railway is a general name to designate the roads
controlled by the management Of the Missouri Pacific
Railway. The roads in this system are ST. Lons,
Iron Mountain and southern Railway, the Little
Rock and Fort smith Railway, Kansas and Arkansas
Valley Railway, Contra! Branch of'the Union Pacific
Railroad. and the sedala, Warsaw and southern
Railway II is believed that Mr.. Gould and his
friends have controlling Interest In the Union "a
movement Mr. Huntington favors the movement Of
placing Mr.. Gould at the head of the consolidated
railroad man. and, like myself wants to bring about
d stable condition Of things among the great Vest
"Th. Commercial Gazette vcnturcd to predict
some time ago that the dawn of the twentieth cen-
duced to half dozen systems. The tendency to con.
sodate grows rapidly. In the southern states soutn
the Louisville and Nashville Railroad Company. the
Richmond and Danville system and the East tennessee
rnond mileage ane o0 fhe fSS Rosa S
sorhng lines in the West the Big Fous doing the
same and ii is the necessity Of the hoIr for business
reasons. The Pcnnsy !vania Company has the south.
west system, or Panhandle route the Northwest
system. on the Fort Wayne route. since this COM
pany has made the last payment for its property
bought from the State of Pennsylvania it has inangur
rated vigorous policy of absorption and consolidation.
It's receipts HE the revenues Of an empire.
The tendency OF the times is against building new
lines that will compete with those in existence Tho
railway mileage Is to be reduced to systems. and IN
the work % consolidation. happily for those who pay
and stocks Too much MAJ still be carried by THO
people, bat the sweating process Is going on. AA4
must continue.
When tho railroad systems earn one two hundred
millions yearly the questions relating 10 government
supervision will be serious and formidable and the
bent OF the public mind Is TO control The notion
which Is entertained by the Farmers Alliance of buying
the railroads and operating them by the Government Is
likely be carried out. We can fancy possible
condition of things which would make II probable,
as the election Of the Alliance candidate fJf President
Of the United States and the election OF majority OF
the members OF Congress Of the organization.
There is no limit II the power Of Congress hut that Of
public opinion, which interprets the Constitution In
lis own way And consolidation Of forces In business
Is the order Of the day The consolidation Of the
farmers into one. organization IS followed by union
with the knights of Labor and the forces engaged in
making crops join hands with the men who work In the
shops and mills and mines. As corporations con-
solidate these laboring forces extend their power In
numbers. So |. roes-nip and tuck who will he
strongest The common Of the Nation will sayo
IL from revolutionary and radical measures Like Lord
like him. a. for America have confidence In the goO0
sense and patriotism Of the country. and that these
will strong enough to save and perpetuate free gov
ernmcnts.