Evening star., 1896-10-28
RAILROAD ARRANGEMENT
Baltimore and Ohio and Pennsylvania Lines
Combine at Staten Island.
Deal of Much Importance to Both
Value of the Island From
Railroad Standpoint.

1t is understood that the Baltimore and
Ohio and Pennsylvania railroad companies
nave entered into an arrangement for The
handling of freight at Staten Island, New
York, which is likely to add immensely to
the revenues of the former company
The Baltimore and Ohio, under the name
or the Staten Island Rapid Transit Com
pany, owns all the steam railroad lines on
staten Island and an immense water front,
upon which there are located number of
large piers, containing some of the most
extensive warehouses in the vicinity of
ne" YORK. 1t is believed, however, that
these facilities, great as they are, will not
be sufficient to accommodate the vast bus
mess which 1t is expected the Pennsylvania
Will take to the Baltimore and Ohio at that
point. and the construction of 1900 feet of
bulkheads has been begun.
1t Is stated that the arrangement with
the Pennsylvania provides that the latter
and the Staten Island Rapid Transit COM
pany shall exchange freight to and from all
points In the Pennsylvania's territory which
can be reached directly by connection of
the two lines. This connection Is to be
made by a spur from the Baltimore and
ono tracks near Linden, N. j., to those of
the pennsylvania at point not far distant.
Inc spur has been under construction for
some tlme past and is expected to be ready
Tor use by the first of next month
me arrangement is regarded in railroad
circles as matter of great Importance, and
us advantages are undeniable, so far as
the residents of Staten Island are con.
cerned. there being located there a number
vi nouflshihg large towns. The rapid tran
slt lines already connect with the Erie the
Jersey Central and the Reading bit here
tCIore all freight from points iii Pennsyl-
wanna territory to Staten Island and vice
versa versa RAD 10 be carried to New York on
HShters at additional expense and DELAY to
shippers and receivers on Staten Island
AIter the new arrangement goes into effect
II Will go direct from and to any point On
the rapid transit line
Some surprise has been manifested tb,+
the Baltimore and Ohio people should have
H'ade an arrangement of this kind with the
pennsylvania, which is virtually adm;ttin1
d rival line TO Staten Island, but the opin-
ION Is expressed that it Is likely to nrova a
good move in the end, as it creates a more
dlrect connection for Staten Island with
many points In Pennsylvania AMI az f,r
north as Buffalo. which are exclusively in
Pennsylvania territory and which have a
very considerable traffic with Staten Island
The baltimore and Ohio has several mil
mons OF dollars invested In property on
staten island which heretofore has been
regarded as comparatively unnrod,c,iva
but which bids fair to become highly re'
muneratiVe in the near future
II was the firm belief of the late Presi
cent John w. Garrett that the salvation
or the Baltimore and Ohio so far as having
an entrance into New York of its own was
concerned. depended upon the making of
otaten Island a great shipping and re-
celVlng point, and but for his death that
result would probably have been secured
ye;rS ago.
AS 1t is the Baltimore and Ohio not only
owns all the railway lines on the island
Whlch comprises at least 400 square miles.
but 1t is the lessee under a ninety-nine-
year lease Of one of the principal ferries
between the island and the city of New
York, over which ali enormous passenger
traffic is carried.
After the death of Mr. Garrett a deal
was made between his successor, Mr. Rob-
ert Garrett. and the managers of the Jer-
sey Central by which, on condition of the
latter furnishing the Baltimore and Ohio
with an entrance for its through passen-
gers into New York, the Staten Island con-
nection. which extended from a point on
the Jersey Central near Elizabeth to Staten
Island, and Involved the erection of a
bridge over the Kill-von-Kul, the narrow
but very deep stream which separates New
Jersey from Staten Island, at great cost
was turned into a freight road exclusively,
Of years.
1t was likewise Mr.. Garrett's idea that
Staten Island would some day be the point
at which all immigrants landing at New
York should be debarked, and his prophe-
ciss in this respect seem also to be nearing
fulfllment.