Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-02-02
The Pittsburg and Western President
Will Neither Affirm Nor Deny
That the B. & 0. Road
HAS GAINED CONTROL OF HIS LINE.
Local Railroad Men and Shippers Believe
the Report Is True, and Point
Out Advantages.
B. 0. OFFICERS REFUSE TO TALK
But TscHy and Freely Admit There Is Foundation fo-
the Statement

PRESIDENT Harry w. OllVer, Jr., OIL tue
Pittsburg and Western Railroad, returned
from Baltimore last evening where, as
stated in a telegram to THE DISPATCH of
Yesterday, be completed the deal by which
the Baltimore and Ohio road secured con-
trol of his line.
Mr.. Oliver sprained his foot about four
weeks ago, and he now walks with crutches.
As he painfully limped out OF the depot, he
was asked for SOME further details of the
transaction.
"How did you know was coming home
on this traiu?" he inquired. "What has
been published in the Pitts5urg papers? 1
read something about it in New York
paper to-day"
The telegram which appeared in THE
DISPATCH was carefully recited to him,
but Mr.. Oliver said nothing. He smiled as
he walked along, with nothing but the
steady plink-plunk of his crutches to be
heard, and the silence becoming irksome he
was asked point blank if such deal had
been made.
Not at Liberty to Talk.
'I would like to tell you what know,
but l can't talk about it." be answered.
"You know 1 am man of few words" and
he stopped.
THE public, then, can take it for granted
that the deal was completed?" the reporter
suggested.
''Oh, no." he replied. you can't get me
into such a trap as that. I won't say
whether it is true or not, and that is all that
can be said at present"
President Oliver in the past has always
been frank with newspaper men, and when
similar reports were published be promptly
denied them. In this case it therefore GER
tainly looks as if such movement we're on
foot, if, indeed, the Baltimore and Ohio had
not secured formal control of the road.
The announcement of the deal did not
produce much excitement in railroad circles.
Most railroad men here, who are on the in
side, have expected it. One stated that the
Baltimore and Ohio had practically secured
control of the road six years ago. Both
roads have been a mutual help to each
other, and their relations have been at all
times very close.
Parallel Lines in Course of Construction.
The Baltimore and Ohio is now engaged
in building a branch from Akron to Chicago
Junction, where it will connect with the
main line. This branch will run parallel
with the Pittsburg, Akron and Western
which is also in the process of construction,
and railroad men have often wondered why
two parallel branches should be built when
the surrounding country Will hardly support
one.
The Pittsburg and Western terminates at
Akron, and with,,th completion of the link
20 Chicago Junction it gives the Baltimore
and Ohio road a through line from New
York to Chicago by way of Pittsburg and at
least 100 miles shorter than the pre- sent
route. This has always been the dream of
Second Vice President Thomas NJ. King,
and il is through his untiring energy that
the scheme was finally accomplished.
What changes in local management the
new condition of things may make are
questions for the future.
The advantages to Pittsburg of another
through and direct line TO the West are ap-
parent on the surface. This city has been
Disseminated against in freight rates for
wears, and at times better tariffs could be Sc
cured from the seaboard to the far West than
from Pittsburg, which is 300 miles in the in
terror. The Baltimore and Ohio, by way Of
its roundabout route to Chicago, has always
done what it could to remedy existing evils.
Many Points of Interest in the Dark.
1t is stated that the Baltimore and Ohio
will keep the Wheeling division for local
traffic and as part of its line to Cincinnati
and the South. President Oliver was asked
concerning this rumor, but his refusal to
talk leaves many points of interest in the
dark
Pittsburg shippers were jubilant yester-
dav when they heard that the ng-Iooked-
for move on the part of the Baltimore and
Ohio had been made successfully. Every
body knows that such a deal has been con-
templated for wears, and recently it was re-
ported that the Pittsburg and Western had
passed into the hands of the Baltimore and
Ohio, but President Oliver promptly denied
it. All sorts Of rumors have from time to
time been published which raised the hopes
of local shippers, but they had no substan-
Iial foundation.
Not long ago the Baltimore and Ohio con-
templated running through passenger trains
from Philadelphia, Baltimore and Wash
ington over the Junction road to the Pitts
burg and Western, and thence to Chicago
but the negotiations were broken off, Such
an arrangement can be made now, and il
will help the passenger business of the pic.
turesque route out of Pittsburg.
Many Side Rumors in the Air.
Any number of rumors were flying around
Yesterday over the announcement of the
absorption of the Pittsburg and Western
bv the Baltimore and Ohio. At Beaver
Falls it was claimed that the Ellwood Short
line and the Beaver and Ellwood Road
were included in the purchase. Henry w.
Hartman was not in the city, but the Gen.
eral Manager of The Pittsburg Company
which owns both roads, says they have moi
been sold.
A telegram to Baltimore for additional
information elected the following answer:
Though President Mayer, Of the Baltimore
and Ohio, declined to admit to-day that there
had been a deal whereby the b. & o. had ob
tanned control of the Pit5sburg and Western
other officials tacitly agree and admit that there
Is tounoation for the statement. They decline
to talk about the matter. The negotiation:
were conducted by President Mayer, President
H. W. Oliver. Jr, and Vice President Thoma.
NJ. King. Several efforts were made during
the past two weeks to get from leading officers
OF the y. 4 Q. some statement OF the transac
1IOn. Some of them denied that anything wa:
being done. and Others stated that it was only
renewal OF yearly allotments of business i
is quite evident that the purchase has beer
made by an additional issue of the common
stock OF the Baltimore and Ohio