The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1890-06-05
sHREwD MANEuvERs.
The East Tennessee Divertlng Its
Business via Cincinnati.

Chattanooga Times
Wonder what G. +, james is going
to do with his railroad up along the
Tennessee river to Middlesboro, do
you know" answered an old railroad
official yesterday, in response to the
querying exclamation of a times re
porter, Well, just sit down on that
sack Of last years rate sheets, and I'll
tell you.
ain the first place, are you aware
that the relations existing between
the East Tennessee main line and the
Norfolk & Western are very much
strained just now? You are not, ELI p?
Well, can tell you they are. The
East Tennessee folks claim the defects
in their running times are because
of the Norfolk & Western schedules.
The officials have stood the racket
as long as they care to, Now they've
got control of the Cincinnati South
ern, they are quietly arranging to run
their New York business by way of
Cincinnati. The first move in this
direction is an arrangement with the
Times mentioned yesterday, whereby
the Cincinnati Southern will coHnect
with the Big Fours fast Southwestern
limited train via the New York Cen
trail. You will find before many
months almost the entire New York
business of the East Tennessee road
will go by CINCINNATI.
whats that? Oh, no; you are
mistaken. You are right in saying
that the haul is longer by way of Gin
cinnati than by Bristol, but you are
wrong in thinking that the road would
get any more by the long haul. Il is
the shOrt-haul road which always
make the rate, and the long-haul road
meets it, or as nearly SO as it can in
ef1ecting arrangements with connect
ing lines. But the long-haul road al
ways gets smaller proportion OF the
passengers money. For instance,
from Chattanooga to Bristol is 242
miles, and from Chattanooga to Gin
cinnatti is 335 miles. The latter, be-
ing the longer haul, gets about two
cents a mile out OF ticket from New
York the,former, being the shorter
haul, gets nearly three cents mile
Consequently, on New York ticket
via Knoxville the East Tennessee
gets 1926, or Sc cents more than via
Cincinnati.
Well, now let's get back on the
main track again, As have SAID
the East Tennessee people will divert
all their business via Cincinnati. In
addition to the trouble caused than
by the Norfolk e. Western, they see
advantages in other directions. 1t is
an indisputable fact that roads north
of the Ohio afford better facilities than
roads north of the river. When a
passenger via Cincinnati strikes
Cleveland he strikes a system which
has double track from Buffalo to New
, York. The other line is perhaps
shorter, but what about the delay al
Jersey City as against the New Yorl
Central's direct entrance into New
York. The same is applicable freight
Now, what will the Norfolk & Yves
tern people be doing all this time
They will have to have an outlet
} Where will they get it? Who vii
give it to them? The answer is-C
+. James. Mr. James has a long head
he will build road along the Tennes
see river as far as Kingston, and then
! divert il to an easterly direction. HI
: can stop where he pleases or go OF
further, Perhaps he will continue t,
Middlesborough, that is, If the under
taking. isn't too stupendious. Perhaps
J. however, the proposed road will no
t go to Middlesborough, but to Bristol
q The Norfolk & Western would thel
be in fine shape. They would bull,
to the terminus Of the new road an
= buy out Mr.. James.
"By the by, The Middlesboroug
syndicate is, you know, composed q
, wealthy, English capitalists. The,
want road from Bristol to Middle
! borough, directly connecting with th
e Norfolk & Western. They inten
!. building steamship line from No
folk to Liverpool. Oh, you'll see woi
}, derous changes in southern railroad
d before the present year expires"