Evening star., 1896-12-04
THE UNION DEPOT IDEA
Why the Norfolk and Western Holds
Out.
The Omcials of That Road Remember
the PennsyIvnnin's Opposition to
Them Four Years Ago.


Western Railroad Company is not very en-
thusiastic over the suggestion which has
been made by interested parties that his
company would be welcome lessee of
privileges In the big union station that the
Southern, Chesapeake and Ohio and Penn
sylvania railroad companies are talking
about constructing in Washington.
In conversation yesterday in his office at
Roanoke, Va, Maj. Fink said to a Star re-
porter in reference to the matter: Il have
not the slightest doubt that, as you have
stated, you have been informed by various
officials of the railway companies named
that the Southern and Chesapeake and
Ohio would be willing and that the Penn
Sylvania people would be glad, for the Nor
folk and Western to build a branch line
from Front Royal. Va. to Washington,
which would be arranged that our trains
could go into the same station as the 9TH
ers named.
Il have not, however, forgotten that
when some time ago We asked Congress
for a charter under which the Norfolk and
Western could get into the District of Co
pany, through its representatives, went be-
fore the committees of Congress which had
charge of the matter and defeated U.S.
Since then times have changed, and the
Pennsylvania people are now as anxious to
have us unite with them and help make the
proposed Improvement more easy of accom-
plshment as they were until recently anx-
ious to keep us out of Was aShington. My i'm
preston is that they want our aid a good
deaf more than we want any facilities that
they could extend to u.s. AS for the Southern
and the Chesapeake and Ohio, they have
never done anything to injure us, and our
relations with them are now, as they have
always been, of the most harmonious char
acter.
Traffic Desired.
There is another reason why the Penn
wi, nj,
plan. We have a traffic arrangement with
the Baltimore and Ohio which is very salts
factory, and under which our trains get
to and from Washington. AS every one
knows, the Pennsylvania and the Balti-
mere and Ohio are competitors for busi-
ness at many points, and if the former
could get uS to take our business, SO far
as they could handle il. from the baltimore
and Ohio, and give such for the
most part goes TO the Baltimore and Ohio
to the Pennsylvania, it would rlean big
increase in the financial receipts of the
latter.
The extension of the Norfolk and West
ern from Front Royal to Washington would
be very desirable Improvement and We
have not abandoned the idea of construct
ing that line, but our plans for the i'm
mediate future do not comprise anything of
that sort, and. while we are preparing to
Increase the facilities of the Norfolk and
Western at various points, the building of
snort li:le into Washington, SO that our
trains could set into that city without 60
ing around BY Shenandoah Junction and
Harpers Ferry. ". Va, is not one of
them.
Il do not wish TO be understood by this
remark to mean that we may not renew
cur efforts before Congress at its coming
session to get the permission necessary to
build the line from Front Royal to Wash
| il g,on. nor do l say that we will make any
move in that direction in the very near
future.
ROnd Dcttermentn.
The Norfolk and Western intends on
account of its constantly increasing busi-
! ness. to spend a great deal of money in i'm
proving its present lines. and when these
are made we will certainly not stop try
ing to extend and develop our business
which, Notwithstanding the excitement in
cident TO the recent presidential campaign,
was as good as We expected. while the net
receipts for October last were as good as
We're those for the corresponding month of
last year. at which time the amount was
regarded as almost phenomenal.
'-As for the future of our road, l believe
ii has entered upon career of prosDerity
which is likely to continue for a long time
unless President Cleveland should give The.
people scare in his message to Congress
next week. i'm regard to some public mat
ter, similar 10 that he gave the country
in reference to the Venezuelan question a
little more than year ago, the result of
which was that the boom in business which
had but just fairly started. was stopped
and from the effects of which we are only
now recovering.
Still another reason why We cannon AT
this time talk of taking part in the project
Of union station in Washington in CON
junction with the other companies above
named il to be found in the fact thar al
though the Norfolk and Western has been
reorSanized as the outcome of the recent
foreclosure sale and has its own president
and other officials, who are performing the
duties OF their respective positions il is
still actually in the hands of the receivers
appointed by the United States court
This state Of affairs exists in order that
the receivers may close up all matters of
business relating to their recevershiD, and
not because there is any question as to
the ownership of the road.
Money for improvements.
y gentleman who is well informed on
Norfolk and Western matters told The Star
reporter that he had the best sort of au-
thority for saying that at the time the
representatives of Mr.. ]. Pierpont Morgan
bought the road few weeks ago the lat
ter set apart certain number of millions
of dollars TO be spent in putting The entire
line and its branches in first-class work
ing condition, ard also to provide. 1t with
the latest and best kinds of rolling stock
and passenger and freight equipment.
although, said he, much has alre ady
been accomplished in that direction by the
receivers since the road passed into their
hands, there il yet much that can be done
TO make the Norfolk and Western system
the equal of the other Morgan roads in
various respects.
When the improvements which are con-
templated shall have been made the net
receipts. it is anticipated, will be sufficient
to pay a procer dividend on the various
securities of the corporation. and if MIR
Morgan's plans are brought to success by
those TO whom he has intrusted them the
principal persons in this connection being
President Fink and Mr.. T.. j. kimbaIl who
was co-receiver with Mr.. Fink. and is now
chairman of the finance committee of the
board of trustees of the Norfolk and West
ern company, there will be no lack of
funds TO construct the long-talked-of line
from Front Royal to Washington and 10
help build union station for its own use
and that of the Baltimore and Ohio if such
course should, in the judgment of the
owners Of the property. be advisable"
The Enrth's Center
To the Editor of The Evening STAR