The Indianapolis journal., 1899-07-28
AS TO CONSULTATIONS
REPEATED DENIALs FAIL TO CARRY
COMPLETE CONVICTION.
The Modern Tendency II To Combine
in q Few Large Systems. and This
Seems to BE the Effort.

Despite all denials of prominent railroad
men the air is still thick with rumors of
coming consultations for the formation of
transcontinental lines. There has been free
talk about the forma tion of not less than
four of such lines. in which the Northern
Pacific, the Union Pacific, the Atchison and
the Southern Pacific form. respectively. the
western termini As fast as mentioned all
these consolidation stories are denied; but
At must not be forgotten that railroad men
are capable Of giving the ablest statesmen
OF Europe or America points in diplomacy,
a science which. to the layman. seems to de-
pend chilly on hiding from sight your own
views and purposes while learning all you
possibly can about your neighbor. 1t is rare
that rumors Of coming events. when set
afioat. are persisted I'm for weeks and re-
peated over and over again, unless there Is
pretty good ground for the report to stand
upon True. a prominent railroad man,
whose Judgment In a matter Of business
would be readily taken, few days ago de-
clared that transcontinental consultations
were impracticable. undesirable and would
prove Improbable If attempted-though he
did not condescend to give any clear reason
for assuming that ground. On the other
hand. the layman can see many reasons that
would seem to warrant the formation of
such through lines from the Atlantic sea-
board to the Pacific. Certainly a large
sum would be saved in salaries of extra
officials; there would be no quarreling over
prorating OF earnings: there would be per-
feet harmony in operating the line from
ocean to ocean, a thing now quite impossi-
ble- If there could be brought about the
consolidation Of cross-country roads in such
tinentai lines. not only could they be oper-
ated more economically than at present, but
1t seems though 1t could be possible to
bring about an understanding between so
limited number of managers that would
make rate-cutting a thing of the past c.
p. Huntington was not long since quoted as
saying that the only practicable solution of
the railroad problem in this country was
the consolidation OF properties under three
or four arrangements in as many systems.
In no other way, said the veteran, could
There Is something radically defective in
the present method IL only it could be dis
covered. A few lines are operated at a
proht, many more manage to pay the in
terest on their bonds and so keep out of re-
ceivers' hands, while the stockholders look
upon their holdings as so much rubbish. and
still others are running behind year by year
And this while from many quarters come
complaints Of oppressive charges by small
shippers, tnOuSn IL IS We'll known rates have
been cut down to so low a figure that to
many IL Is mystery how the roads can haul
freights at the figures charged any pay the
actual cost of handling. TO say nothing of in
terest or dividends. Most people who ara
not In the railroad business will agree with
Mr.: Huntington, and when union of lines
TO form the first transcontinental is author
ttatively announced. they will not be in any
degree surprised Shippers will greet such
consultations with approval, since they will
insure stability of rates There is nothing
that could bring them so much satisfaction
as this.