Morning journal and courier., 1892-06-14

NOW that the HOuSatOnlc railroad has changed hands, there is considerable cha grin felt that the city had sold the Derby road to Mir. Starbuck for $225, 900 when the Consolidated was ready to pay $500, ,000 for it. The argument against the transfer to the Consolidated was that there ought to be two independent roads into this city to preserve rates at lower standard. MT. Starbuck has made himself the addi- tional amount that would have come into the city treasury.
 Another item of importance in this con- nection is the future control of the Starin line of steamers. When the negotiations were pending for the sale of the Derby road, one big argument put forth for mak ing the line an independent one was the permanency of the Starin line. It was set forth by those opposing the sale to the Consolidated road that if the line was sold to the latter it would mean the death of Starin's New Haven steamboat line; that the Consolidated roads inter ests were tied up with the New Haven Steamboat company, and that all the busi- ness would be diverted to the Old line. At present the Derby road runs the freight cars down to the Starin pier by crossing the tracks of the Consolidated road. They are thus able to make direct connection It was argued that if the Consolidated road ever controlled the Derby, this freight connection would cease and the Starin line cut off from it's chief supply the freight output of the Derby road would soon go out of business. It will be of considerable interest to see how this question is settled.
 If this deal had come earlier, the con- struction of the Derby roads new depots and other improvements in this city would not have been brought about Years ago the Consolidated road offered to allow the but the of. i.ers of the latter declined, fear ing it was only one step towards their a5- sorption by the big company. The new management then went ahead and built 8 passenger station and two freight depote and made other extensive improvements at the New Haven terminal. If the Consoli- dated road gets the Housatonic and with ii l the Derby, as it no doubt will, it is proba. ble the passenger trains of the latter will | come into the Consolidated road depot This was to have been the plan had the l Consolidated bought the Derby z 1 few years ago. The Derby tracks were tc | ! solidated road near the pile bridge. With one line in management, it would certain l ly be more convenient for all of the trains l to arrive and depart at one depot.
 l The Housatonic road was organized 1T | May, 1886. At the last election there wer. 235 stockholders. At the last report tht l funded debt of the road and it's branches l was 5,226, ,90O.S8, and it's capital stock $5, ,O38, > 100. The gross earnings were $1, 538, 412 26, and the earnings above oper ating expenses were $600, ,839.31.
 The company has 5 locomotives, 10s passenger, baggage and postal cars, ant 748 freight and coal cars. Cars contribu
 ted to fast freight service are 552. On' hundred and forty three miles of the roae are in Connecticut and the remainder il
 Massachusetts.
 As to the advantages to the Consolidated
 of securing the Housatonic Major Brom
 ley, one of the officers of the Consolidated
 said yesterday:
 ''If the Consolidated road should ulti
 mately get the Housatonic it would prov
 of very great advantage in the improve
 ments that are in progress between Nev
 York and New Haven. At South Norwall
 and Bridgeport the Housatonic owns prop
 erty right where the four tracks would run
 It would greatly simplify these improve !
 more promptly. It would also do ava.
 with all the opposition to these improve
 ments which have been met. can see
 great advantage that would accrue at tn
 Grand Central depot in New York. I
 our company owned the Housatonic i
 would be possible to run trai,
 from Ltchfeld to New York and fev
 minutes later the same train could be sen
 to New London if desired. Where 8,
 many different roads run into one station
 it is necessary when a train arrives t,
 store the cars until the train is to return
 If one company owns it's connections, tn
 cars can be run right out again. This i
 of considerable advantage in the Grant
 Central depot, where room is great item.
 The two directors of the Consolidate.
 road who have permanently obtained tn
 controlling interest in the Housatoni
 system, Messrs. J. Pierpont Morgan an,
 William Rockefeller, will operate it whel
 reorQanized for their own profit, n
 doubt in full harmony with the interest of the Consolidated, and as stated yeste1
 day they no doubt acted in the purchas
 as the representatives of the Consolidate l roa6