The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-02-07
RAILROAD TRUST.
Consolidation of the N. Y. Cen
trail and Lake Shore
Is Probably the Beginning of. a
Combination
NEVER YET EQUALLED
In Extent or Amount of CAPITAL
Involved.
One Railroad System For the
Entire Country a Possibility.

Chicago, Ill, Feb. THE consoIida-
ton of seven big railroads into one
property, controlled by the Vanderbilts,
and perhaps under one management,
is prophesied by many railroad men as
result of the favorable outcome of the
plan to unite the New York Central and
Lake Shore and Michigan Southern.
These men predict a giant railroad
trust at a not far distant date.
Almost every day since it was first
announced that the New York Central
and the Lake Shore were to be CONSOLE
dated has brought forth a new idea re-
garding the ultimate intention of the
Vanderbilt interests
OF the Vanderbilt lines, so called,
there are seven distinct properties in
the territory between Chicago and
New York. Together they have S,750
miles of track. Such a system it is
pointed out, would not be too large for
the management of a single set of Off
Gals, although the interest of these diff
ferent lines are so divergent that it
would take a master hand to care for
them Still some of them have common
interest and to a large extent a COM
mon business, and might be brought
together without difficulty, so far as
the question of operating and managing
them is concerned
Railroad men who have given the
subject serious and careful cOnsidera-
L4Oi1 maintain that the seven IOdQS
might be consolidated under three diff
ferent arrangements without difficulty
and without detracting in the least
from the work of any single line.
The Railroad Age, in discussing this
question, has this to say of some pro-
bable consultations:
There do not appear on the surface
any formidable difficulties in the way
of uniting the already closely related
Chesa peake and Ohio and the Big Four
companies which operate between them
S,66S miles of line.
"A similar uniting of the West Shore
and Nickel Plate companies would be
entirely logical and, it would appear,
not difficult to arrive at. The mileage
of these two roads combined would be
only LOIS miles.
Popular rumor adds the Michigan
Central to this combination, which
would make the mileage of this group
1850. The natural destiny Of the Mich
igan Central would seem to be rather in
the direction of unification with the
Lake Shore and New York Central if
such a thing were possible.
There are, however, formidable diff
cultieS in the way of such a cOnSOlida-
ton. If these difficulties can be over
came it would seem natural that, what
ever the first grouping may be, all these
five companies should ultimately come
under one management. Such system
would have an aggregate mileage of
5,097 miles That one organization
should control the lines of these five
companies and one other organization
the Chesapeake and Ohio and Big
Four would be a natural outcome of the
existing situation. For the present,
however it is some distance in the fu-
ture at best as also the probable ulti-
mate consolidation of the more western
Vanderbilt lines [the Omaha, ElkhOrn
Valley and Sioux City and Pacific
roads,, with the Chicago and North
western That there is no need, with
the existing community of interests, for
eleven separate organizations for all
these properties is evident. That the
reduction of the number to four or ul-
timately to three, would necessarily re-
suit in economy is not a matter for ar
gument.'
That the VanderbiIts intend ultimate
ly to consolidate properties that will
give them a through line from the At
lantic to the Pacific, has been a matter
of prophecy since the reorganization of
the Union Pacific. That they have a
controlling interest in this property is
now conceded by all who have any
knowledge of railroad finances. That
they control the Chicago and North
western is also generally known. These
two lines, in connection with the Ore
gon Short Line, constitute a through
line from Chicago to the Pacific coast.
The VanderbiIts are said to control the
Oregon Short Line by reason of their
holdings of it's securities.
These interests already have through
lines between New York and Chicago,
and between Chicago and the Pacific
coast. A consolidation of the two sys-
TENS would not be a difficult matter
from financial standpoint.