The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-02-05
DOES IT MEAN AsToRrx

Moro thar ordinary interest has been
excited throughout the country In the as
sumption Of power on the Vanderbilt sys.
tom of railroads by William X. Wander
bilt IL is conceded by old traffic men
that MIR NaudcrbIlts plans mean revo-
iuilon In transportation matters Old
Commodore Vanderbilt. through a won.
dcrful executive ability born OF hS stt-rl-
ing and ruggcd nature inherited from his
ancestors who were prominent In build
ing up their territory. massed together
large fortune and built railroad which
he lived TO see one OF the leading lines
Ia America. His aons. unlike some other
rich mems sons. have had the brains. en-
ersy and push TO carry on the creates,
work of development In transportation
means ever krown IN this country. The
New York Central railroad today stands
At the head OF the railroads Of the world.
In speaking OF this latest move on the
rart OF that company the Chicago Times
Herald says.
william Kissam Vanderbilt. who In o,c
day has stepped into the center Of the
American railroad stage and is now the
most Important railroad official In the
country, II perhaps the only member OF
tho desccndouts ID the Old commodore
Who has the ability to take the place of
the late William II. Vanderbilt Mr.. Van.
derbilt will relieve Chaunccy NJ. Depsw.
it Is said, OF the presidency OF the New
York Central. and will unite In one cor
pnrduon that great road with all the
roads the Vanderbilt wealth controls. His
plan Is 10 form continuous band across
the continent, and his single hand will
bo on the lever uhat will control the move
mehts OF this grand Industrial mechan-
h'm, In all the empire Of railroads there
Is nothing 10 compare with this mans
scheme, Mr., Vanderbilt is the second son
OF William Il. His father left him less
OF the stupendous fortune than fell to the
share Of Cornelius, the eldest son. But
Cornelius is not strong, and doesa't like
enterprise while William Kfssam has
abundant health and loves industrial
sway, He is already, In substance, the
controlling power OF the Vanderbilt
wealth, fle is now about to show the
world somcthitg OF the marvellous capa-
city that accumulated that wealth, The
new Caesar of railroad empire IL 10 years
old, and active as "a man of 30 His new
career will be watched with intense In
terest"
Tho New York Tribune of January %
announces the change OF plans In the
New York CelStral ami says that j. Pier
poDt Morgan & Co, and Speyer a Co,
qro conducting the financial operation by
which the Vanderbilt lines are to be ANAL
gamated The plan includes the conson-
dation Of the Central, Lake Shore, Canada
southern Michigan Central, and as the
Central already owns the West Shore and
Nickel Plate the scheme must necessarily
mean the placing under tSo management
all their lines between Chicago and New
York West of New York are the Chlca-
so and Northwestern, Union Pacific, Sioux
CltS and Pacific, Fremont, Elk Horn and
Missouri Valley. Chicago, ST. Paul, Mimi
eapolls and omaha, and allied interest in
Northern Pacific, Great Northern, oregon
Snort Line and O. R. 4 N.
1t is reasonable to suppose that In the
great scheme to run trains from ocean
to ocean the same combine will make
alliance with the A, & c, r, r. r, What
such consurlmation would mean to AS
tora every business man well knows,