The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-09-20
ANEW RAILWAY SYSSTEu
The Baltimore and Ohio Purchased by
Chicago CapitaIfsts-To Form Part of
Great tTrans-ContfnentaI Line.

Chicago, September 1.-THE Times
Herald says: Philip d. Armour Mar
shall Field and Norman B. Ream have
secured control of the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad. They have made James
J. Hill, president Of the Great North
ern railway, the dominating factor in
the reorganization of the system and
have gained for the Chicago and
Northwestern what is practically
trunk line from ocean TO ocean con-
trolled by Chicago capitalists. The
price paid is not known.
Cincinnati, September 17.-Mr E. r.
Bason, president of the Baltimore and
Ohio Southwestern Railway Company,
who has been engaged for some time
with the New York committee, Spere
& Co, and Kuhn, Lock & Co, bank
ers, and the receivers, in assisting in
the readjuStment of the affairs of the
baltimore and Ohio Railroad Compa-
ny, was in town today and was inter
viewed about the purchase of the con-
troll of the Baltimore and Ohio road
He said number of representative
men identified with large railway,
manufacturing and commercial inter-
ests in the northwest, Chicago, New
York and other cities on the company S
line had been for some time negOtiat-
ing for the purchase of a very substan-
tial interest in the Baltimore and Ohio
road, and that such negotiations had
been brought to q successful cOnclu-
sion. That under the reorganization
ample means had been provided for
cutting down grades, increasing capac-
ity and facilities of the road and put
ting it in a condition to promptly and
economically handle largely increased
business. That the reorganization
managers had also decided that the
subsidiary lines, including the Balti-
more and Ohio Southwestern, should
be likewise traded and arrangements
were now being concluded to readjust
the affairs of such lines and secure
capital to put them in the same con-
ditiOn as the main line.
Baltimore, September III. H Mad
dy, the press agent of the Baltimore
and Ohio railway tonight said to a
representative of the Associated Press
that the statement made in Cincinna-
ii today by +. r. Bacon, president of
the Baltimore and Ohio Southwestern,
is semi-Officiai and added that no fur
ther statement would be issued at
present
ST. Paul, Mimi, September 17.-Pres-
railroad, returned from Chicago today
and made this statement to an Asso-
clated Press representative regarding
the Baltimore and Ohio reorganization
story:
ANY connection I may have with
the Baltimore and Ohio is simply for
the purpose of putting that road on it's
feet and making it what it was at one
time-One of the most important roads
in the country. Recently it has failed
to such an extent that it was an in
cubus. Any intention I may have with
regard to the Baltimore and Ohio has
no connection with the Great North
ern. Neither has the Great Northern
or myself any connection with any
railroad between ST. Paul and Chica-
go; and furthmore, neither do I ex-
pect to have any such connection.
Some one who is responsible for state
ments to the contrary has an imagina-
ton that is altogether too vivid"
Further than this, Mr.. Hill had moth
ing to say regarding the matter.