The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-03-10
GIGANTIC RAILWAY DEAL.
a Philadelphia Company Gobbles B)s-
tons Street Railway.
PRESIDENT WHITNEY TO RETIRE.
"West End" system VIII Give Way to
"North shore Traction Company "A
Wide Reaching system VIII Bs Put
Into Operation.

Boston, March lo-The West End Street
railway company and the West End Land
company have passed into the hands of the
North Shore Traction company of Phila-
ueiphia This statement Is made upon the
authority OF an interested party to Bos-
son Post reporter. This means that Henry
M. whitney retires from the field, and he
VIII now devote his energies to the Domin-
lon Coal company, of which he is presi-
dent.
This transfer has been effected within
the past two days and Is the consumma-
ton OF the comprehensive scheme of the
Philadelphia syndicate to control all the
electric street railways In eastern Massa-
chusetts. 1t is the latest development
In the
Most Gigantic street Railway Deal
ever undertaken In this country and means
much to the people Of Boston and vicinity.
IL Is the elimination of the consolida-
tion movement begun some years ago
when the Highland absorbed the Union
and Charles River Street Railway COM
panies, followed soon after by the consoli-
dation of the South Boston and Middle
sex roads; and this In turn was followed by
the combination Of these with the Metro
politan in the great Whitney West End
company.
The only street railway then running
into Boston, and not In the combination,
was the Lynn and Boston, which was pur-
chased some weeks ago by the North Shore
Traction company, which now controls the
whole situation. The dragnet of the Phila-
delphia syndicate has been quietly spread
about the Hub, and into its meshes every
thing this in line has fallen.
For some time past the West End stock
has been holding remarkably firm in de-
pressed market; but not until few days
ago did the North Shore Traction company
gain controlling interest in the stock
which 1t had so long been after.
Not only has this Philadelphia syndicate
such large block of West End shares. but
1t has also secured a controlling interest in
the West End Land company, which COM
pany holds in round numbers 65, 900 shares
of the West End railroad common stock.
The price paid for the West End stock was
$50 per share, which is Mr.. Whitneys own
figure for his holdings.
IL is also a fact that the bulk of the
stock was purchased directly from Mr..
Whitney and his imm ediate associates.
Mr.. Whitney had beco me
Thoroughly Tired and Disgusted
with the fierce and bitter fights to which
the West End has been subjected in the
matter of rapid transit, and he decided TO
give up the presidency of the road and de-
vote his energy and brains to the Domin-
ion Coal company, of which he is presi- |
dent. This fact would seem to account for |
the evident lack of interest he has taken |
lately in his heretofore pet rapid transit
schemes
The object of the North Shore Traction
company is to build up gigantic system,
watch will have New Hampshire as a bound
airy on the north and Rhode Island on the
south, Boston being the center When the
scheme is fully carried out and few con-
Meeting links are completed there will be
3 continuous line of electric street railways
between Amesbury on the north and Fall
River on the south Passengers may ride
from Amesbury to Newburyport, thence
10 Danvers, to Salem, TO Lynn, to Boston,
10 Milton, TO Quincy, to Brockton, to Taun.
ton, TO Fall River
The local business between these various
owns and cities is expected to be especially
valuable to tht company which will com
pete for it with the steam railroads, and
he unification Of interests, IL is claimed.
will result In better service for the general
,nhlic |