The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-08-06

rying out the same process in Chicago.
The progress of the street railway trust
and gas combine in the Western metropo-
lis was 50 thoroughly discussed al the re-
cent municipal election that it is toler
ably familiar. At the present time Yerkes
has retired from the nominal control or
the Chicago systems, and they are openly
under the direction of the Whitney Wide
ner-Elkins organization.
Pittsburg and New Jersey Added TO
the List.
1t might seem that the control of trans
porJation facilities in the three largest
cities of the country would be enough TO
command al. the energies of any three
men. But such is not the case In the
intervals between their larger operations
they have had time to absorb the Balti-
more street railways, the suburban sys-
TENS of New Jersey and the important
suburban lines in Westchester county, TO
the north Of New York, and on Long ISL
and outside of Brooklyn.
one of the most recent moves on the
part of the combination have been 10 Sc
cure control of the principal lines in Pitts
burg by taking over the company former
ly controlled by State Senator Magee
A move of vast importance on the part
Of these municipal corporation magnates
has been persistently rumored, and nego-
tiations ng toward it have undoubt-
edly taken place. This is the addition Of
Brooklyn Rapid Transit and the Third av-
enue line IN Manhattan to the combina-
ton If this project is carried through,
as il Is Likely 10 be sooner or later, it
will give these street railway autocrats
the control of practically all the trans
portation facilities of Greater New York
A big Four" Possible.
This development may have the further
effect of changing the triumvirate into
a big four" The late ex-Gov Flower of
New York had control of the fortunes of
the Brooklyn lines down to the time of
his death. His successor in this, as well
as in Chicago Gas and other interests with
which he was identified, Is generally rec
oenized as Anthony u. Brady. If the
rumored combination takes place Mr.
Brady's ability and financial power will
no doubt give him an influence in the
counsels of the leaders equal to that of
any of the others.
As is the case with Whitney, Wdener
and E,kins. Mr.. Brady's fortune and in
fuence represents the profits and power
resulting from the control of municipal
franchises He laid its foundation in gas
electric and street railway enterprises In
Troy and Albany, and later advanced on
the metropolis, where he built the famous
"Buckleberry" road and became asso-
ciated with Mr.. Flower. His accession to
the combination represented by the other
three would extend their control not only
to Brooklyn and the Bronx, but also over
Providence, Albany, Troy and other small
er cities.
In Electricity, Gas and Air.
Mr.. whitney and his associates were not
content merely to control the existing
means of street travel. When electricity
appeared as the dominant power in street
car propulsion, they proceeded to get into
electricity Mr.. Whitney saw the advant-
ages which the control of the streets of
New York offered to big electric COM
pany so ne organized the New York Light,
Heat and Power Company, over which
there was much squabbling among the
legislators at Albany last winter. The
Edison Electric Company is known to be
largely In the control of the Standard Oil
interests. aud the two other great electric
concerns of the country, the Walker and
WESTINGHOUSE, were recently united
through the efforts of the indefatigable
Mr.. Brady This may furnish an added
inducement to the great promoters to
bring Mr.. Brady into harmony with them
selves so that the quartette shall be the
undlsputed kings of electricity, as well as
of gas and traction. If electricity is the
general agent for street car propulsion,
compressed air has demonstrated its use
fuIness in particular localities. Mr.. Whit
ney and his Philadelphia friends saw the
advisabi,ity of getting control of COM
pressed air They did this by taking the
inventors of the system and the promot-
ors of its stock under their wings The
fnanciers Of Wal street and else where
recently awakened to the fact that the
American Air Power Company had be-
come Whitney concern when il was an
nounced that air cars were 70 be put on
some OF the Chicago and New York lines
and when Harry Payne Whitney, son Of
the ex-secretary, was put in charge of the
Chicago end of the air power enterprise.
Interested in Automobiles.
More recent even than the development
OF compressed air as a motive power Is
the rise Of the automobile as a means of
street traction and transportation The
rio saw 81 nnnnlnn lnIarnrainn lta man