The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-25
AFFAIRS OF THE B. & o.
HON. JOHN X. CowEN CHOSEN PRES
IDENT OF THE COMPANY.
A Consolidation of the Lines Contem-
pIated-The Pennsylvania Guard
ing Against Entertainments.

Hon. John X. Cowen. general counsel Of
the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company,
and representative in Congress from the
Fourth Maryland district, has been elected
president of the Baltimore & Ohio. TO sue
coed Charles F. Mayer, who resigned in
November. Mr.. Cowen was decided as a
compromise between the factions in the
board favoring Maj. Alexander Shaw and
Second Vice President Thomas NJ. King.
The meeting at which Mr.. Cowen was
selected was a special one. Mr.. Cowen
was the choice of the New York and Gar
rett interests, and their votes were cast
solidly for him His election was a nero
formality, as IL was decided at a confer
ence between the Baltimore and New York
directors Thursday night to present his
name. Mr.. Cowen was present at the con-
ference, and at first was averse to assum-
ing the presidency OF the system, but final
y yielded.
1t is likely there will be some important
change In the relations between the Balti-
more 4 Ohio and the Baltimore & Ohio
Southwestern. and the resignation of Pres
ident Mayer was but the beginning OF these
changes. which will likely result in con-
solidation OF all lines In which the Baltl-
more & Ohio company is interested. 1t Is
rumored that President Bacon. OF the Bal
timore & Ohio Southwestern, has offered
his resignation. provided his holding his
present position interferes with the plans
for the future of this great trunk-line sys-
tenn. This gives color to the rumored con-
solidation scheme. and the fact that it
has met with no official denial Is another
strong point BY dispensing with the sep
arate set OF officers there would be more
mi To- In fkA 10 ~ ftrtar
roads. and 1T would effect a great saving
In expenses, besides giving the two great
properties which are so entirely interde-
pendent upon each other a coherency that
would revert to the best interests Of both.
Some years ago an effort was made by
the Baltimore & Ohio people to bring the
former name OF the present Baltimore &
Ohio Southwestern system. into the fold
but owing to some dissatisfaction among
the Ohio & Mississippi stockholders the
best that could be done was to form a
closer traffic alliance and change the name
OF the Ohio & Mississippi to the Baltimore
both systems have been operated by sep
arate ORGANIZATIONS. but all traffic arrange
ments have been made for the conserva-
West the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern
II known the Baltimore 4 Ohio to most
travellers. and there Is little, IL any, dis
elimination between the two systems
The Baltimore * Ohio proper operates
2o65 miles of track, and the Baltimore a.
Ohio Southwestern has nearly 400 miles
so that such consolidation as is rumored
20 be under consideration would give the
entire system. including the Pittsburg &
Western. about 2.123 miles of road, with
LOO locomotives, loo passenger cars and
more than 5000 freight and miscellaneous
cars.
A Road which Enforces Its Rulea.
1t is often remarked that the Lake Erie
& Western Ii free lance line. making such
rates as 1t chooses and never binding itself
by any association agreement. The Lake
Erie & Western has a mileage book good
only on iis own lines: mileage books of
other roads are not honored on the Lake
Erie & Western. and II Is risky business
for passenger to attempt to ride on any,
mileage book unless he Is the actual pur-
chaser OF IT. On Thursday n man giving
the name OF Shefpan purchased book
from scalper in F5kt Wayne, and when he
boarded Lake EriA * Western train at
Peru he offered the hRok TO the conductor
% take out the mileAge. The conductor
booked q the book andNasked the man his