The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-10-14

The Chicago Tribune publishes a sensa-
tional article in which ]. Pierpont Nor
gan is made to appear as virtually con-
trolling 50. $50 miles of railroad. The roads
which are said to be in the Morgan combi-
nation are the following, together with
their mileage: New York Central, 2.14O;
West Shore, 495; Chicago and Northwest
ern, 500; Michigan Central. ], SOB; Lake
Shore and Michigan Southern, 1,476;
Nickel-Plate IN. Y. c. and ST. LOUISE 523 !;
Erie, 2,0S7; Lehigh Valley, ,235; Reading,
1885; Central Railroad of New Jersey.
675; Delaware, Lackawanna and Western.
032 New York, New Haven and Hartford,
1,464; Southern railroad, 4,S23; Central of
Georgia, !, sos; Northern Pacific, 4,3i6; ore
gon Railway and Navigation Company.
1853; Oregon Short Line, 1,42l; Chicago,
Milwaukee and ST. Paul. 6.151; Chicago, st.
Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha, 1,491 !;
Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and st.
Louis (Big Four, 2,345 and Chesapeake
and Ohio, 1,444; 10 this list should be added
the following roads, which he win I'M
doubtedly control in the near future: IN
ion Pacific, 302l; Wisconsin Central, S57;
Baltimore ana Ohio, 1900 and Baltimore
and Ohio Southwestern, 9S3 Total mile
age, so, $50.
With the foregoing roads under his con-
troll Mr.. Morgan will be able to dictate
rates between Chicago and New York
Philadelphia and Baltimore. The Penn
sylvania road is not in his list, but it is
certain to work in harmony with him.
1t is alleged by the Tribune that this
great combination has been contemplated
for several years. When it was first pro-
posed it was objected that it would put
too much power in the hands of one man.
Owing to the impossibility of maintain
ing rates that objection has been brushed
aside.
1t is limited in the Tribune article that
If congress had permitted pooling no at
tempt at such a great combination would
have been made-that In fact the combi-
nation was forced upon the owners of the
roads to save their properties from de-
struction.
What ought be done is this: The rail-
roads ought to be permitted to pool their
earnings and there should be commits
sion to fix the rates. That arrangement
would give satisfaction TO all except the
few who have been profiting by rebates,
because it would give justice to railroads
and to shippers.
While II may be true that Mr. Morgan
virtually controls the roads in the fore
going list it is doubtful if he does so
because of any understanding having the
accomplishment of that object in view.
There are Chicago shippers who, being op-
posed to pooling, would like to have
it understood that such a COM
binauon was deliberately planned
for maintaining rates. They are
opposed to anything that would
maintain rates. They. are such big ship
pers that they can get concessions. and
by means of concessions they can ruin
financially and force out of business their
smaller competitors. 1t it not improbable
therefore that they are behind the publ
cation in the Tribune. If they are 1t
means that they will leaye no means I'M
tried to prevent the success of any scheme
for the maintenance of rates. because It
would deprive them of the advantage they
now have over their smaller competitors.
-s-e-~-
A convention of cotton manufacturers
is to be held at Philadelphia this month.
The prospects are that some of the New
Englanders who attend the meeting will
be shown something which will surprise
them. The New Englanders hold the op!n-
ion that fine cottons cannot be advan-
tageously spun in the south. A North
CArclLnn r,Lm ia nn.,. ..-i,,,L.-.. ..-..-- ~