The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-01-23

Among the things that the quld
nuncs in Philadelphia are discussing
Just now is a little rumor that the
Pennsylvania people want to lease or
buy a controlling interest in the Lehigh
Valley. The point is elaborated with
some care, by those who have nothing
more important to do, that the alleged
constitutional objections to such an al
lance could easily be overcoms by law
ysrs clever enough for that purpose.
1t Is also intimated that such union,
while Of benefit to tho Valley stock
holders. would, at the same time, give
the present Valley management an op-
portunity to retire gracefully and with
glory. This theory would bs interest
ing If it had facts to support il. The
lack of such support is its chief weak
ness. 1t has to be proved first, that the
Wilburs want to retire and then that
the PennsY wants to succeed to the
control of the Lehigh Valley. Neither
is yet established. Neither.
We believe, is seriously entertained by
any considerable proportion OF w9ll-in.
formed finanCiers.
Last week the eighteen reporting col
liSries of LuZsrns county. including
ten of the Lehish and Wilkes Barre
Coal compsny's workings, shipped
total OF 80, POS. Is tons, or Just little
more than half the usual shipment.
The total of the nsw year is II, 4?G 10
tons.
In spite Of President Maxwells de-
nial that the new traffic deal with the
Consolidated involves no act of hostil.
lty toward the Nsw York aud New
England, they have different opinion
in Philadelphia, The financial editor
Of the Press writes apropos: 1T is
not likely that this deal will close up
the Poughkeepsie Bridge route which
. evidently Mr.. Maxwell's notion. The
Reading company and other parties to
the contract will ship coal and other
traffic via the Poughkeepsie Bridge as
usual when it is proper that it should
go that way. This route out of New
England is certain to be great high
way forever and it cannot be closed ND
by Mr., Maxwell or Mr.. Vanderbilt.
At this moment there is an attack on
the Poughkeepsie Bridge system by the
Vanderbilt. Reading interests in order
to injurs the New York aud New Eng
land road and to facilitate the Reading
reorganization. The real battle has
not yet come off, but there is active
sparring for position which is as inter.
esting to spectators as the more ssri.
Gus contest"
Contractor McFadden, of Philadel-
phia, who is building the Eoensburg
and Black Lick branch for the Penn
sylyania, since he resumed work in
December, has gradually increased Its
force, and now has about 700 men en-
ployed beyond Ebensburg. The road
will be built from Ebensburg to Black
Lick station on the Indiana branch OF
the Pennsylvania, a distance of some
thing like ten miles. OF this distance
the grading on five miles, beginning at
Ebens6urg, is now finished,
An admirable innovation has been
started by the Pennsylvania system,
which has put in the hands of each of
the forty physicians now employed as
medical examiners" in connection
with the Employees Relief department.
a handbag Thoroughly furnished with
such instruments and appliances as II
medical man may need when called on
to relieve suffering, These emergency
as they are called, are in.
tended to be carried on the trains by
those having them In charge when
so that they can at oncs re-
spond to any sudden call for profess
'ional aid 10 passengers or employees.
TheWestmoreland Coal company. by
4 System of underground tunnels, has
connected its South Side mine at Lari-
msr station, on the Pennsylvania rail
road. with the workings of james w
Shields mine at Oscaola, on ths Balti-
more and Ohio railroad. The tunnel ia
1--WE and one half miles in length, run
ming through parts Of North Washing
ton and Versailles townships. West
moreland and Allegheny counties. Ac
cording to the Philadelphia Tim il
Is the longest tunnel ever driven n one
continuous tangent line in the United
States.
During November the net earnings
Of the New York, Ontario and Western
railroad were 800, 907, again, despite
the business depression, of 327,6S4 over
The net earnings of Novem bsr, 1892.
The net earnings OF this prosperous
road for the five months ended No
vember 80, lS03 as compared with the
same period in 1892, show q gain of
sl24. O93 1t is claimed by many rail.
way managers that this record is one
Of the best made by any company last
year.
VARIOUS MINOR PICRINGs:
A representative Of the Carnegie mills
declares that the iron trade Is becoming
more active.
A special meeting of tho general freight
A..a Al. 4 "A