The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1893-02-24
PLAYING WITH FIRE.
scathiug Charges Against the Readings
Enemies.
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From inc Fhhaoelpuia '9lai
The sudden and successful attack ON the
Reading l@ilway-the collapse of its credit
and the management finding safety in re-
ccivcBhip are the historical events OF the
week. When well studied it Will be seen
that they possess historical value in the
uocest sense.
The Reading Railway a month ago wa
power lt answered so much OF what was
implied no the aspirations Tor n Now IhlIa'
dclphia. The terminal ON Market street
meant rapid transit TO attractive suburbs
The opening OF avenues which the increase
of business had oo5Iuctea made possible
splendid Improvements in the sections around
the park. Imade'phla came in direct con
nechou with Buffalo ana New England lht
Royal Blue line was a new highway TO The
south. The commerce OF Philadelphia re-
cclycd fresh impetus Ihe gram WhIch
had been carried past our WharFes TO Ne"
York rested az its natural point of shipment
Philadelphia saw iu the Reading companion
to the great Pennsylvania corporations which
however able TO manage the business oil
twenty years ago has in recent times found
is resources strained to meet the demands OF
increased prosperity The alliances with the
Lchigh Valley and the jersey Central were
justified by their value TO all concerned. The
opening of markets i'm New England as a ro
suit OF the New England alliances, meant
that chcapcning Of coal which, under the
Jaws of trade, would have followed tn
greater demand. The pride of Philadelphia
inthe Reading was simply a recognition
the coming Of new agency to serve the
people and advance the interests Of the cit.
and state. In other words, we had two rail
ways instead Of one, and We welcomed the
second as another benefit to the community
From the time the Reading showed signs Of
awakening from its dormant condition ther,
was war. First came the autagonism o.
business rivalry. When the leases were made
dozen law suits were developed. Through
an extraordinary manifestation of justice in
New Jersey an ex parte cause was dealt with
as though it had been an action on appeal
Step by step the possibilities Of human in
genuity were taxed to overthrow the Read
ing The effect Of these proceedings was to
paralyze every effort towards progress, and
make easy this recent elimination which has
brought so much dismay 10 the community,
and such Widespread disaster to thousands OF
innocent men and women.
The policy Of business rivalry which is to
be accepted and met in all business affair.
was followed by the policy Of defamation.
Nothing is clearer now that the smoke Of
the battle is dying out, than that the clamoI
against what was called 'the coal combine
was a. pretext to arouse popular hatreds
The New Jersey litigation, which was tC
'reduce coal" to some such rate as % dollar 3
ton, and which has not yet affected it, penny
shows what every careful observer knew
that the price of coal like that Of othe
commodities, depends upon laws Of supply
and demand and was not amcuable to ju
dicial tribunals.
The clamor however served its turn, j
gave the Reading in outside circles an il
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