Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-27
A CLOSER ALLIANCE.
Supt. Patton, of the B. & o., Becomes
General Manager of the P. & W.
THETWoROADS TOPULL TOGETHER
How the Wabash System Hopes to Get Into
Pittsburg Territory.
PLENTY OF RAILROAD RUMORS AFLoAT

position as General Manager of the Pitts
burg and Western road and Superintendent
J. V. Patton Of the Pittsburg division OF
the Baltimore and Ohio, was appointed to
succeed him. President Harry W. Oliver,
in the afternoon introduced Mr.. Patton to
the heads of departments, with many OF
whom he was personally acquainted, and in
a few days he will take charge of the Pitts
burg and Western system. The change has
been contemplated for some time, and gives
rise to numerous railroad yumors concern
ing the two roads.
1t is notorious fact that considerable
friction has existed between the two lines
over the interchange of freight. The Junction
road, owing to the inability of the Pittsburg
and Western to handle the traffic, has been
in constant state of BLOCKADE for over
year, and this kept the Baltimore and Ohio
in confusion. The change is taken as a
burial of the hachct, and General Manager
Patton is expected to bring order out of
chaos. All railroad men say that if he
can't do it. it is an impossible job. Mr..
Mcdonald has worked hard and long
against contending odds. and deserves credit
for his work. In speaking to friend yes
terday he stated that he-didn't know where
he would go, as he was in the hands Of
his people in New York-meaning Drexel,
Morgan & Co., who practically control the
road at present. He understood that the
Baltimore and Ohio had made an arrange.
ment by which it paid the interest on the
bonds, and it desired to run the road with
its own people, and in its own way.
THE POSSIBILITIES IN IT.
This agreement means a closer alliance
between the two lines, and an attempt, at
least, to work in harmony. Railroad men
BET great possibilities in the Plttsburg and
Western, and Baltimore and Ohio official
stated yesterday that the time was not far
hence when the link between Akron and
Chicago Junction would be built, and the
freight and passenger business of the Balti-
more and Ohio would be running over the
Pittsburg and Western to the West. On the
surface it looks like good deal in favor of
the Baltimore and Ohio. Mr.. Patton, In
his new position, will have his salary
almost doubled.
Superintendent Patton's successor has not
been announced. Those on the inside
think that it lies between two men, P.
Bruner, the present trainmaster OF the Balti-
more and Ohio. who was formerly superin-
tendent OF the Cleveland and Pittsburg, and
William TRULY, now with the Sharpsville
road, but once Assistant Superintendent of
the Baltimore and Ohio under Thomas NJ.
King.
In an announcement to the public, Presi-
dent Oliver states that the Baltimore and
Ohio is building a line from Chicago
Junction to Akron, with the intention Of
throwing Its through business to the Pitts
burg and Western. An Ohio railroad man
was in the city last evening, and he states
that the Baltimore and Ohio is doing
little work on this link, but that the Pitts
burg, Akron and Western road is being
pushed through from Akron to Carey. at a
lively pace. This road will cross the Baltl-
more and Ohio at Plymouth, a few miles
from Chicago Junction, and would answer
the purpose of the other branch. Over
$200, 900 have already been spent on this
road, and the contract for bridge work has
all been let. 1t is expected the Pittsburg,
Akron and Western will be completed to
Ft. Wayne bv next April, where it will
connect with the Wabash system, and Will
give that road an inlet into Pittsburg ever
the Pittsburg and Western, which it has
desired for years.
THE SUSPECTED BACKING.
No one seems to know who is back of this
new line, but the impression is general in
Ohio that the Wabash and Lackawanna
roads are putting up the dust The Pitts
burg and Western has narrow gauge to
Mt. JeweIt, in Pennsylvania, and not many
miles OF road would have to be built to con-
meet it with the Lackawanna. This Ohio
railroad man added that he would not be
surprised to hear any day that these two
lines had gobbled the Pittsburg and West
ern. He bases his opinion on the tact that
the Baltimore and Ohio road has bitterly
fought the construction of the Pittsburg,
Akron and Western, and has started in. in
branch. Such a combination of railroads as
beautiful line from the East to
the West and Southwest, and
would make Pittsburg one of the leading
railroad towns of America. At any rate,
when the Wabash gets into Pittsburg local
shippers will secure better rates than they
have in the past.
Even if the above should come to pass,
and the Baltimore and Ohio should lose its
grip on the Pittsburg and Western, 1t will
still have its own line to the west from this
territory, and it would not be bad of.
When the Pittsburg, Akron and Western
is completed to Ft. Wayne, it is claimed it
will be the shortest route from Pittsburg to
the former place. There seems to be no
doubt that the builders of this line are in
earnest, and will carry out their intentions.
It was again rumored on the streets yes
terday, that President Oliver had sold his
stock in the Pittsburp and Western but he
emphatically denied it, and said it was one
e thoaa sfnrias th M had onnd.