Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-20
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH,

READING, April 19.-The reorganization
OF the South Penn Railroad and the possible
time when work will be resumed and the
road pushed to completion, still continue the
principal topics of interest among the rail-
road men of this section. The new Presi-
dent George F. Baer, of this city, has been
away on business connected with railroad
affairs most of the time since reorganization,
and remains reticent as to the future plans
of the parties now directly interested in the
enterprise, preferring to let them become
publicly known only as they are developed
by their own movements.
There is, however, some we'll authenti-
Gated information in railroad circles as to
the plans of the South Penn reorganizers.
When Mr.. Baer retired from the Board of
Directors of the Reading Railroad it was
believed that he did so at considerable per-
sonal sacrifice, because his ambitions all lie
in the direction of railroad management.
MERELY CHANGE OF BASE.
He, however, only retired with the knowl-
edge that he would be called upon to lead
to a successful termination the South Penn
project. Besides being intimately asso-
ciated with the Reading Railroad, he has
long had the confidence Of the Vanderbilts,
and in another respect is fitted to lead in
this enterprise. He is a native of Somerset
county and spent many years of his life IN
the town of Somerset and Western Penn
sylvania.
He is, therefore, well acquainted with the
needs OF that section. It is learned to-day
that the Board of Directors elected last
Thursday is only temporary, and that there
may be some changes at the next meeting to
be held in this city on May s. Mr.. Baer
would not have undertaken the task of re-
organization had he not the assurance that
there were no longer the insurmountable le-
gal obstacles in the way which would pre-
vent the completion of the road.
AN HONEST EFFORT.
As far as he and his associates are con-
cerned. leading railroad men say an honest,
determined effort will be made to give
Western Pennsylvania a competing line from
the East as a connection of the Reading
Railroad. The lack OF money will be no
obstacle in the way, because that will be
forthcoming The old piers built for
the monster South Penn bridge to
cross the Susquehanna at Harrisburg are
still standing. the same as when the project
was temporarily killed by the opposition
of the Pennsylvania. but a large force of
men are already at work constructing new
piers only 100 feet away, and the Reading
road has given out the contract for the en-
tire bridge.
Befides this the Reading has made con-
tract with the Western Maryland road for
the construction OF a connecting link to the
Baltimore and Ohio at Williamsport, Md,
so that the Reading will get western con-
nection at any cost. There is, therefore, no
object in letting the South Penn be
ha nd ed yuh this will Sorua M .,1,rposa
ALL ARE DELIGHTED.
Information received by Mr.. Baer from
the southern tier of counties, through which
the South Penn is already graded, says that
the people there hail it's advent with de-
light and are ready to give all possible en-
couragement 1t will also stimulate rail-
road operations in the East. The PennsyI-
vania now has a line running from Phil
adelphia through Reading to the coal
regions.
The recent completion of the Allentown
terminal, at the cost of 81 ,000, 900, gives the
Reading two routes from New York to this
city. One by way of Philadelphia and the
other by way OF Allentown, and from this
city they take the same line at Harrisburg
to join the projected South Penn. Since
the revival of South Penn talk, the Penn
sylvania has its engineers surveying for an
opposition road to be built from this city to
Lebanon, and thence to Harrisburg.
REASONS FOR CONFIDENCE
Railroad men here have every confidence
that the South Penn will be built. The
Vanderbilts. they say, have more than a few
millions invested in the bonds of the road,
which bring them no return, and they and
the Reading, under Corbin's management,
are very friendly. The Beech Creek Rail-
road, which is owned by the Vanderbilts,
and the Reading, are worked almost like
one system.
They have their representatives on the
South Penn Board, and there is strong,
overwhelming sentiment all over Eastern
Pennsylvania that there should be a COM
peting line to Pittsburg from this region.