New-York tribune., 1896-10-30
TO EQyIP FOREIGN ROADS. TOO.
REPORTED PLANS OF AN AMERICAN SYNDICATE
COMBAT BETWEEN COMPRESSED AIR
AND ELECTRICITY ADVOCATES

COMBAT BETWEEN COMPRESSED AlR
AND ELECTRICITY ADVOCATES
Tho field OF combat between the General Electric
Company interests and compressed air as the mo-
tive power on surface and steam railroads has been
enlarged. according to dispatches from Cleveland
the home OF tho II. &. Payne estate interest. This
interest through Colonel Oliver II. Payne William
C. Whitney and HIS son-ln-law. \. H. Paget. Is
understood TO he behind the Wheclock Engine Com
pany whose comprcssed-ar motors are now under
going experiment the Lerox-avc. line Of the
Metropolitan Traction Company. running above the
Sicmens IIalskc -crmmins electric conduit.
The dispatch says that James Ross. the promoter
OF the Canadian Pacific Railroad. and one of the
heaviest street railway owners In Canada. Is the
head Of International syndicate organized to en-
gage in equpping surface and, II practicable. steam
railroads In this country In the chief cities of Eng
land. I'm Paris. Marseilles. Berlin. Hamburg and
Vienna and possibly Rome and Bombay. India.
Among those In this city said to be In the great
combination arc Mr.. Whitney. Colonel Payne and
A. H. Paget. Mr. Whitney was not at his office
at No Is Broad-st. yesterday. nor was Colonel
Payne Colonel G. B NJ Harvey, who bears tho repu-
tation OF knowing much about William {. Whit
noy's plans said: 81 hardly think that William C.
Whitney is Interested in this syndicate at least
directly. Yes I know that Mr. Paget Is vice-prcs
dent and a director in the Whecock Engine Com
pany. | think. however. that william c. Whitney
has been confoundcd with his brother. Henry NJ
Whitney Of the West End Railroad in Boston,
Henry NJ Whitney and James Ross jointly
Interested I'm many railroads In Canada and else
where and 1t Is possible that they have gone into
the comprehensive plan mentioned in tho Cleve-
land dispatch. II. NJ. Whitney and Mr.. Ross
also Interested In the Dominion Coal Company"
one who IL posted in the situation said: 1T
makes no difference whether William &. Whitney ia
directly member Of the Ross syndicate or whether
II is his brother. The formation OF this syndicate
means that compressed air Is to he pushed 10 the
fore all the Ross-H NJ. Whitney lines I'm Canada
and In France. Germany, Austria, Italy and even
India. fields which the International syndicate can
reach and control II William C. Whitney can
demonstrate that the Wheclock compressed air
motor is what Is claimed for It, II is plain n pike
stan that the other Whitney syndicate will use
compressed air appliances. The Canadian Pacific
Railroad and the Northern Pacific Railroad com
panics rivals. The Ross Whitney interest is in
one, and the j. Pierpont Morgan Interest In the
other. Mr. Morgan H. still director In the General
Electric Company. and his influence. while 1t may
be ostcntatious is sufficiently effective for all
practical purposes The formation of the Ross
Whitney Payne compressed air syndicate IA
fierce fight all along the line between compressed
air and the General Electric Company with at least
the moral influence Of j. Picrpont Morgan behind