Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-27
DERELICT, NOT DEAD.
Interest in the South Penn Revived
by The Dispatch Articles.
A PROMINENT RAILROADER TALKS.
Superintendent Pitcairn Thinks the Line
is Not Wanted
AND WOULDN'T BENEFIT THE DISTRICT

The supposed connection Of the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad Company with the reopen
ing of the abandoned South Penn line, an
account of which appeared in yesterdays
DISPATCH, was widely commented upon in
business circles. The story was re-
ceived with great plausibility and
generally regarded as very probable.
Owing to the fact that it was
Saturday, many people who would have
had something of interest to say on the mat
ter, could not be seen. An attempt to OBJ
tain the views Of some of the original stock
holders proved unsuccessful. Among those
who sold out to the Yanderbilts were B. F.
Jones, Herbert Hostetter, e. NJ. Fergu-
son, Mark w. Watson and John W. Chal-
FAINT With the exception of the latter
gentleman, all had LETT town. Mr.. Chal-
.faut, when called upon, preferred to forget
all about the matter, rather than reopen it.
"It is a subject" be said, ST would pre-
fer to let rest. I have read the story in
The DISPATCH with much interest, but
don't wish to reopen the matter. don't
know anything. about this project and can
only say that would rather the line, if it
is to be reopened, were operated by an indie
pendent company.
WHO OUGHT TO TALK.
"I'll tell you who you ought to see" he
continued with twinkle in his eye, "Some
of those wiseacres in town who have all to
say about this matter, but were never in
terested in it financially, and see them; they
know all about it." ard Mr.. Chalfant re-
engaged in the correspondence at which he
was disturbed.
Another stakeholder who preferred his
name was not mentioned, said that he knew
nothing about the matter. He thought it
very good scheme, and one that would benefit
trade, through increased communication
with the East. But" he said, 81 would
rather see the road in operation by com.
peting company than by the Pennsylvania.
When DISPATCH reporter called upon
Superintendent Robert Pitcairn yesterday
afternoon, it was not in expectation Of get
ting any confirmation of the story. In this
he was not disappointed, as Mr.. Pitcairn at
once declared heknew nothing at all about
it. He had read of the matter in The DIS
PATCH, but was ignorant as to who is back
of the scheme to revive the road. Speaking
unoficially, and in reply to questions, the
superintendent Of this end Of the Pennsyl-
vanla railroad system SAID:
IT cannot undertake to say that Il would
be an object to the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company to acquire this property. eau
not see that it would shorten the distance
between Pittsburg and the East. Length
of line is not the only consideration taken
into account by engineers when laying out
route. The question of grades and SUBMITS is
one equally i'm portant with the distance. 1t is
no object to any railroad company to own q
line. however more direct to any given
point it might be, if owing to grades, it
could not haul over it traffic In proportion
to what it could over q system with easier
grades.
AS HE SEES IT.
without knowing very much about the |
SUBMITS of the South Penn road 1 under |
stand that they are so high as to render |
heavy grades necessary. On this assump-
ion / say that the opening up of the road
would not benefit this district in the least,
nor bring this city any nearer to the East
than it is. Neither can see that Pittsburg
would derive any advantage through in
creased means of communication with the
section OF country through which the South |
Penn road lies. The opening up of that |
district would not be any advantage to |
traders here. The road, anyhow, is not |
wanted, as the existing means of eommuni-
cation are sufficient for the business"
"Do you not think that the Pennsylvanis
Company would see its policy in acquiring
The property rather than allow a competing
company to get it?'
This question Mr.. Pitcairn parried by
saying: "Do you think there are enough
papers in Pittsburg? Supposing another
we're to start up, would it not hurt the cir
,ulation of the others? Would they not
consider the advisability Of buying up that
,aper?" Continuing, he said: "The South
Penn road was conceived in blackmailing
pirit. It was projected with no other end
n view, as the difficulties OF operating it
uecessfully were apparent from the start.
t owed its inception to blackmailing
cheme, and that it failed to matsrislize was
lue to that fact
mo" said Mr.. Pitcairn, rising to catch
lis train, II have read the story in The
DISPATCH. but really have no information
o give you about it."