The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1892-08-12

Va. N'SN' w ''ldtter now Just and eq III
table the claim. Take the entrance of
the Baltimore aud Ohio into philadel.
phla. Think Of the millions spent to
prevent it, yet the Baltimore and Ohio
is here as she should have been when
sne asked admission. Take the Belt
Line controversy. The money wasted
in opposing the Belt Line was thrown
away. Take the war upon the Read
Ing termlnals-the long, weary, costly
war. In spite of the lavish disburse.
ments to prevent it, the Terminal
grows into majestic forms of iron and
stone on Market street, and the Penn
sylvanla is wisely following with
noble building in spirit of commend
abl. business emulation. The money
that was spent to prevent these i'm
provements was, to use the Worlds
ielicitous phrase, Conquest by Ex-
haustion." There has been no con-
quest as yet, and no exhaustion, ex-
cept, we fear of resources that would,
in the form of betterments or dividends,
have warmed the heart of many a
stockholder.
Philadelphia has as deep an interest
IN the failure of this wretched, despi-
cable business Of conquest by ex-
haustion" as she ever had in the build
ing of the Pennsylvania. The interest
Is the same. The Pennsylvania has
done good work. Let her keep on
doing it and all good go with her.
Philadelphia sees that the Reading has
likewise done good work. Philadel.
phia has in the Royal Blue, between
Washington end New York, one of the
best trains in the country. She has a
second line direct to Buffalo and the
Lakes. She has lnother system to the
seashore, as hundreds of thousands will
gratefully acknowledge in these harsh,
baking days. She has swift and spec
ial access to the Lehigh and Schuyl
kill valleys, with there assurance OF
beautiful homes. The Philadelphian
may go to Hartford, Boston, the Berk-
shire Hills, to the rocky coasts OF
Maine and the Canadas, without that
tribute to discomfort involved in sham
bling and dragging about New York.
The pilgrim to Chicago, because OF
the Reading system, may go by way OF
Niagara and return by way of West
Virginia and see the wonders of the
wonderland. These are the results OF
business foresight, the outcome of a
spirit of enterprise. the development
of a policy that would keep pace with
the gigantic strides OF a great city.
Philadelphia is richer because Of the
Reading. Nor is the Pennsylvania
poorer. President Roberts, in his adj
dress at the annual meeting of the
Pennsylvania stockholders, dwelt upon
a prosperity which enabled him to ex
pend in the State alone million dol
lars week. No citizen grudgcd Pre-
sident Roberts penny OF this. II
was assuredly prosperity that the
growth of the Reading has not disturb
ed. 1t is the nature of these enter
prises that one should help the other ;
that they should develop new wants
new industries, new sources of pleas
ure and recreation, new channels o.
trade. There is room on the sea fol
the Cunard, the Inman, the French
German, Italian steamships. There
is room in New York for the Central
Erie, Baltimore and Ohio and Pennsy
lvania. Why grudge Philadelphia
another trunk line =? And more es
pecially why in the interest of those te
whom investments are property in 1t
most sacred form, indulge in these le
gal wars of "Conquest by Exhaustion.
Nothing is conquered, and exhaustion
is in the. end quite apt to fall upon IN
nocent stockholders whose money Il
wasted in prosecution of Gummer'
and other suits like the barren pro
ceedings which failed at Easton OF
Monday.
This war of conquest by Exhaus
ton" isnot merely between two com
panies, the one striving to follow th'
= Worlds advice, and have the othe
''eaten up by its own lawyers" but
war upon values. 1t involves an emf
ment peril 1t is easy to fire prairie
, but how hard to govern the flames
Capital, and especially capital OF th'
poor investor, ever sensitive, grow
more SO from day to day. The cap
italist sees Wall street on one sid'
and the Anarchist on the other. HI
knows they mean to wreck hlm--th'
, Anarchist because possessed by Tx
/ spirit of ignorance and sln--Wal
. street because in the ruin OF other
, is swift gain. He seeshis property as
sailed by duress, menace, misrepresen
tation, and competition meant to des
troy Against these he may defenC
himself. But where is his defense
where is the security of his invest
ments, when he reads that property Il
to be deliberately conquered by IN
1.