The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-01-31

Positively Acquired.
Positively, there is no intention or
| abandoning the new railroad project"
said L. B. Sturges, president of the
proposed New York, Wyoming and
| Western railroad, to a Tribune man
| yesterday. This declaration, coming
| as il does from the executive head of
| the company and from a gentleman
! who Is silent or says something and
| means what he says. has a peculiar
| weight, particularly at this time when
the newspapers and stock and coal
| trade journals are mixed in a big game
| of double-cross in speculating just
what is going to happen to the pro-
| jeCted road, the operators and the cs-
| tablished carrying lines.
A word from Mr.. Sturges has been
| eagerly sought since the middle Of last
week when many rumors became rife.
| He was not available. however. as he
was in New York city until Saturday.
| His presence i'm New York. by the
| way. rather clouded the situation, az
| it was known that an arrangement
| of immense proportions was under way
| and is yet-between the carrying
| companies and the operators. whereby
the latter would be permitted to make
! larger shipments on would be- paid
Go instead of 60 per cent, or would
| receive both concessions.
MIR. STURGES rs FRANK.
Mr.. Sturges being largely Interested
! in coal himself. it was presumed that
| he figured in the negotiations. But
he said yesterday: mo, I have moth
| ing to do with the arrangements said
to be in progress. / have reason to
! believe that proceedings are afoot cal
| culated to settle the differences be-
| tween the Operators and the railroads,
but have no knowledge of the details.
| am a kicker an outsider, you know,
! at present, and it is not reasonable
to presume that ! would be consult
ed" he addcG, with an evident dis
| play of humOr
'Of course, l don't wish to be cred
tied with the position Of assuming
! that the projected road would be built
If the object 1t Is designed to accom-
pish is reached in another way. That's
"a very simple propositiOn--it wouldn't
| be good business.
I'VE are not banking on possibii-
ties, however Neither have probable
tiles influenced us up to this time, nor
can l say that l know of a single
circumstance, now positive, which will
alter our plans. And our plans just
| now are to build this road.
"A contract has been made with the
Lackawanna Iron and Steel company
to deliver us 1000 tons of rails on
April 15"
1t has been remarked that the rail
| arrangement has been used as a bluff
by the new railroad interests" said
the reporter.
Is NOT A BLUFF
That is a false implications it is
not true" Mr.. Sturges replied. The
| arrangement for the rails has been ef-
fected in every detail. 1t is in
tended to use the Erie and
Wyoming to Winners or Elm
hurst, from one of which points the
New York, Wyoming and Western
route goes very direct to the Delaware
| river. Elmhurst is the point preferred
but the Scranton Gas and Water COM
| pany threatens to fight us in court if
we get very near to the Elmhurst re-
servior, the claim being made that it
| would be polluted with oil, waste, ct
cetera, and that the two railroads now
| near the reservoir are enough
'At the Delaware there are five rail-
roads which might give us trackage
to New York. The Pennsylvania is
| preferred for this purpose. 1t was to
negotiate with the Pennsylvania that
] was In New York last week. None
of these roads at this time seem dis
! posed to make contract. but I guess
they will be willing to do SO when we
| get as far as the river. If they are
not, we will run our own line across
New Jersey to our New York termin-
ais. The latter plan is not. however,
the one most desired. as it would in
Volve an immense expense on account
of the high values on Jersey land and
no end of other difficulties, because
of unfavorable laws peculiar to that
state. Still, we would do ii if forced.
but the probabilities are that we would
begin to do the forcing after reaching
the Delaware"
In view Of the doubt existing as to
the New York terminals. Mr.. Sturges
was asked If they had been positively
secured or were in prospect. He was
also questioned concerning their lo-
cation.
| TERMINALS SECURED.
I'VE have them," he replied with
some vigor. 1--WE arc now paying all
the expenses attached to carrying
them. The terminals are being car
ried under an option. l cannot. for OBJ
vious business reasons, designate
their location.
Contracts have been made for car
rying 100000 tons Of coal out of this
valley during the first year the road
is operated, and l have here" laying
his hand on bundle Of papers on his