The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-05-09
A BIG RAILROAD TRUST
Will Include All Lines Between
Boston and Chicago.
IN THE VANDERBILTS' GRIP
They Control All the Lines in New
England - Traffic to Be Appor-
toned Among the Great
Eastern Systems.

Cleveland, Ohio. May S.--The Leader
will say Tomorrow: According to a
high official of the Vanderbilt lines in
this city, the details of big railroad
trust which is to include all the lines
between Boston and Chicago, are now
being worked out and the consolidation
may be completed within the next few
weeks. The recent purchase OF short
lines in New York, Pennsylvania Ohio,
Indiana and Illinois was in line with
the plans for the consolidation which
has been in contemplation. 1t is not
the purpose to have all the lines under
one management exactly, but to appor
ton them among the Pennsylvania
company the Vanderbilt interests and
the Baltimore & Ohio company, when
it shall have been reorganized, giving to
each system the lines that it can use to
the best advantage.
The first inkling of the scope of the
plan came when the Vanderblts an
nounced the other day that they con-
trolled all the roads in New England,
with the exception of the Boston & AL
bany, with which they now have a
traffic agreement and which they ex-
pect to take in soon. The Nanderbilts
now control all the trunk lines between
Buffalo and New York with the ex
ception of the Erie, the Lackawanna
and the Lehigh Valley. The Erie. it is
said, will come under the control of the
Vanderbilts through the influence of
the Morgans, while the Lehigh Valley
may go to the Baltimore & Ohio. The
! Lackawanna is now operated in con-
nection with the Nickel Plate, Van
| derbilt line.
| West of Buffalo, the Vanderbilts have
the Lake Shore, the Nickel Plate, the
Pittsburg & Lake Erie, the Big Four,
the Michigan Central which. with the
Flint & Pere Marquette, that is soon
to be absorbed, will give connecting
| line in Michigan. The Big Four west
is to be operated in connection with
the Monon. recently purchased by the
Morgans, and the Cincinnati Hamilton
& Dayton is expected to be absorbed
soon. The Lake Erie & Western. ac-
| quired by the Morgans. is expected to
! give the Vanderbilts line from San
dusky to Peoria. III. These roads, like
| the Hooking Valley, the Ohio Central.
| the Columbus. Sandusky & Hooking
and the Detroit. Lima & Northern, will
| about complete the Vanderbilt sys-
| tenn.
The Pennsylvania, which has an I'M
mense system already under it's control,
| is expected to acquire the Cleveland.
Akron & Columbus, with which it has
traffic arrangements at present; the
Wheeling & Lake Erie, the Cleveland,
Canton & Southern and the Ohio
Southern, as well as some minor
| lines.
To the Baltimore & Ohio is allotted
the Lehigh Valley (possibly), the Cher
ry Creek road, which, with the Phila-
delpaia & Reading, would form a
through line from Pittsburg to New
York; the Baltimore & Ohio South
western giving line to Cincinnati and
st. Louis: the Pittsburg & Western, the
| Cleveland Terminal & Valley and the
Northern Ohio opening short lines
through from Pittsburg and Cleveland
to Chicago, as well as the Cleveland
| Lorraine & Wheeling. These are the
| outlines only of the plan which is now
| being worked out, but those who have
been watching the changes in the rail
| road world do not doubt that it will be
| carried through successfully.
The purpose of the consolidation is
said to prevent rate cutting and to ac-
complish practically what the joint
! Traffic association was organized
| To do.