Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1899-07-07
AN IMMENSE PLAN AFOOT.
CONSOLIDATION OF CHESAPEAKE X
OHfO AND THE BIG FOUR.
What it Will Mean for Newport News
Vsat Terminal Systemi in Prospect.
The Recent improvements.

The Recent Improvements.
Negotiations looking to the consolida-
ton Of the Chesapeake e. Ohio and the
Cleveland, Cincinnati. Chicago & ST.
Louis Chg Four) railroads into one
great system are said to be pending.
with every prospect Of terminating sue
cessfully
Some time ago The Daily Press
forecaSted the conSolida ton of the two
roads and now it is almost certain that
steps will shortly be taken to bring
this about, both roads being controlled
by friendly interests and both having
interests which are bound to profit by
converting the two into one great sys-
TEN.
Whether or not the name Chesapeake
6 Ohio would be done away with is not
known. When the consolidation scheme
was mentioned recently it was the gen
eral opinion then that the name of the
eastern road would be retained, but It
remains to be seen what the magnateS
VINO are now interested in making the
two roads one Will DO about it.
The Chesapeake e. Ohio now has the
quickest service between the Atlantic
coast and Cincinnati, and connecting at
that point with the Big Four it really
has the quickest connection with the
great West. This is so by reason Of it's
direct line between Newport News and
Ohio's busy city.
From it's terminal here to Cincinnati
and including its several branches the
Chesapeake & Ohio railroad now has
1900 miles of track in first-class cond-
ton. The Big Four railroad has 2,345
mules Of track in the Middle States and
the West. This will give the new sys-
tenn total Of 3.645 miles OF track and
make it one OF the largest railroad prop
critics in the country
1T is believed that the recent Improve
ments authorized to be made here. some
Of which have already been started, are
the result Of the decision of the owners
OF the two roads to make Newport News
greater terminal point than it Is now
>OWing to the fact that Newport N,4ws
is almost a full days passage nearer
the ocean tfTha,1al H2:a ii1rofe and that the
c. & 0. now has the most direct COM
munication with the West as a seaport
and terminal, it is very evident that
the Vanderbilt and Morgan interests
are determined to develop the port as
extensively as it's natural advantages
demand.
- iioS OSeLI S&1au tlldC lne improve
ments just ordered by President ingalls,
for the terminals are only the beginning
of great plan of extension which has
been. mapped out for this port in the
next Ave years.
The New York papers have frequently
OF late spoken of the probability of the
two roads being united and taken into
the big New York Central system
which has greatly branched out of late,
taxing In about everything in sight
'Ihere is said to be no likelihood what
ever OF the Chesapeake e Ohio and Big
Four being placed in any such combIna-
ton.
But it is believed that the union OF
the Chesapeake & Ohio and Big Four
Is now not only possible, but probable.
The Vanderbits are said to have ac-
qulred L controlling interest in the Big
Four within the past year j. p. Nor
gan & Co. own majority Of the stock
Of the Chesapeake & Ohio. The object
of the negotiations is, of course. to les
sen operating expenses Whether there
would he a greater reduction in the
force in the general offices Of the com
pany is not known. of course, but it is
not be!leVed there would be. 1t has
long been known that the force in the
chesapeake 4 Ohio general offices has
been just as small as possible It is not
believed it could well be reduced.
NNhe two roads are now very closely
allied. Mr.. M T.. ingalls, is president
OF both. Traffic arrangements are very
close. 1t is said to be the intention in
case the deal goes through to operate.
the system a. two divisions. 1t is prob
able that the location OF the general Of
fees Of each division would remain M
changed. Economy in operation could
be the only object in consolidation. for.
as stated. the two roads are now very
closely allied.
The Chesapeake & Ohio would gain
an entrance into Toledo by the CONSOLE
dation. as Morgan has recently acquired
the Toledo & Ohio Central The Kanaw
ha & Michigan. a part Of the Toledo &,
Ohio Central system. connects with the
Ihesa peake & Ohio at Granley Bridge
WA. forty miles east of Charleston
The construction Of a few miles Of road
would connect the Hooking Valley and
the Big Four.
Mrs. J. C. Latimer and little dauph
ter, Glenna, have gone 10 Christians
burg, Va where, and at the Green
brier White Sulphur Springs, they viii
spend the remainder OF the season.
The Show at Buckrne Beach