Morning journal and courier., 1890-02-18
MAY BE AmIoAALxsxrrnxn.

The Dispute Between the Big Railroad
| Corporations The Hearing Po.r.
POned-The Alleged True Inwardnes.
ofthe Struggle.
BRIDGEPORT, Feb. 1.-THE hearing before
the railroad commissioners in reference to
the condemnation of the tract of land be-
tween South avenue and the elevator belong
Ing to the Housatonio railroad, which has
been petitioned for by the Consolidated rail-
road company, was to have occurred at the
court house to-day, but by agreement of
both corporations it has been again adjourned
until two weeks from to-day, March 8. Stod-
dard, Bishop & Haviland, attorneys for the
Consolidated, received telegram Saturday
from President CLARK stating that the post
ponement had been arranged, but for what
reason they were not informed. It Is under
stood, however, from different sources that
the officials Of the two companies expect to
be able to settle the controversy amicably
before the date now set down for the hearing
As yet the attorneys of both companies are
not appraised of whatever deal there may
have been effected or is in prospect. Judge
DeForest, who was associated with Attorney
Simeon e. Baldwin in the recent Injunction
S00o4
which was to be presented to the railroad
commissioners, and Saturday he was wholly
uniformed regarding the matter. Stoddsrd,
Bishop & Haviland also supposed that the
hearing would occur until the arrival of the
telegram.
The luminosity which is and has been ap-
parent between the two roads since the Bit
ter fight in the legislature a year ago, has
arisen since the connection Of Colonel W.
w. Stevenson, as general manager of the
Housatonic company, and for this reason,
the opinion has been prevalent that the sole
cause of the Housatonic road has been q
desire of Colonel Stevenson to crafty spite
against the corporation with which he was
formerly connected. In reference to this
matter an official of the Consolidated rail-
road said in conversation q few days ago:
trouble grows out Of an attempt on the
part of President Bostwick and others
magnates connected with the Housatonic to
force the Consolidated road to buy or lease
the Housatonic system. During the fight In
the general assembly officials of the Housa-
tonic made overtures to the Consolidated
with view to selling the road to that corpo-
ration, but their figures were too high to re-
ceive favorable consideration. The CONSOLE
dated officials would neither purchase nor
lease at the terms named, although offers
were made for the road at what were con-
sidered reasonable terms, and consequently
the Housatonio are now trying to force the
Consolidated to buy or lease. General Mama
ger Stevenson is only carrying out the in
structions Of superior officials.
Taking this statement into consideration
the controversy between the companies as
sumes new phase. That the difference over
the condemnation of the land is to be ar
ranged without hearing is almost fore-
gone conclusion. The Consolidated officials
are confident that under the general statute
relating to the cordemning of the land of one
company for the use of another, that their
petition would be granted. The Housatonic
a compromise. How much they are disposed
to concede or whether they will concede any
thing from their former rates does not yet
appear