Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-12-21

Line IN Order to Exclude the Adams Co.'S
Rival from Towns ON the Peninsula.
baltimore sun. Tuesday.
The announcement made ir the Sun
bf Monday of the negotiations pending
Far the purchase of the Wheeler Steam
boat Line was the principal topic Of
hiscussion among steamboat men along
light street. An official of the Chester
6Riyer Steamboat Co., in speaking of
the report that the property of that
company was being considered in con-
bection with the deal, said: II haze
hot been approached by any representa-
hives Of the Pennsylvania Railroad Go.
lin reference to the sale OF this property.
fThe only information we haze is what
we have heard on the street and seen
in the newspapers, and until some
proposition is made we are not in
Uposition to discuss the matter.''
CAPT. W. G. Eliason, president of
the Colchester Steamboat Co.. whom
asked If any proposition had been made
Hooking to the purchase of his line,
said Il have not been approached on
the subject in any manner and do not
pally excursion business, and / do not
seeking that sort of business. -
An official of another line of steamers,
10 discussing the matter, said: II am
thoroughly convinced that the Pennsyl.
,snia railroad intends to Put in opera
ton Just such a plan as was outlined
In the Sun of Monday. Should that
corporation acquire tho Wheeler Line
aud Chester River property it would
control absolutely both freight and
passenger traffic on water and land on
the Eastern Shore Peninsula. The
Pennsylvania is combining its interests
in every quarter. 1t has only been
within the last year that all of its
branch railroad lines which run on the
Eastern Shore Of Maryland have been
merged into the Delaware division, and
operated under one head. As the prop
erty of the Baltimore, Chesapeake &c
Atlantic Co. has passed into lite pos
session, it is a natural sequence that
competing lines should be purchased by
the Pennsylvania company.
II has also been reported that the
Adams and United States Express
companies were in the deal. The
Adams Express Co. formerly operated
over the lines of the Baltimore, Chesa-
peake Il Atlantic railroad. hut was
superseded by the United States Ex-
press Co. when the Baltimore, Chesa-
peake g. Atlantic passed into the cen
troll of j. f. Searles. The steamers of
this company touch every important
oyster shipping point on the Eastern
Shore of Maryland, as we'll as some
points on the Eastern Shore of Vir-
ginia, and 10 the last few years the
Shipment of oysters by express has
grown to be an immense business,
rates being made from the point of
shipment to points in the West as far
rs DAKOTA. The revenue to the express
company on this class of business has
been large. Tho United States Express
Co.'S contract expires in March of
next year, and as the property has
passed out of Mr.. Searles' control and
is now owned by the Pennsylvania
railroad, over whose lines, both rail
and water, the Adams Express Co. has
exclusive rights, it is thought that the
United States Express Go. will have to
give way to the Adams Express Co.
The Adams Express Co. has been
operating over the Wheeler Line anal
its contract with the Wheeler Line ex-
Fires in March next. The Adams Fix.
press Co., it is said, is anxious to have
the Pennsylvania Railroad Co. buy the
Wheeler Line, in which event, Ii is
said the United States Express On.
would be excluded from every point
reached by the Pennsylvania railroad
on the Maryland-D Delaware Peninsula,
thus practically anpihilating the United
States Co. s business in that section
which the company has been eneIgeti.
cally building up in the last five years
and which has brought it large returns.
For these reasons, it is said that the
United States Exp ess Go. IS officials
may make bid for the Wheeler Line
and before allowing the Pennsylvania
Railroad Co. to procure it, may buy
the property itself in order to protect
Its interests on the Eastern Shore.
F00hG PEOPLE AND THE cHURCH.
An Interesting Discussion at the Meeting of
Methodist Preachers.
The meeting of the Wilmington M. e.
Preachers Association on Monday
was well attended and of unusual inter
osU, The Rev. a. s. Mowbray of Port
Deposit. Nd, read paper on the sub
lect TO what extent may the church
and pulpit cater to the so-called
fashions of the world in order to hold
tho young people," He gave his views
and informed the members that he had
provided the young people of his church
with Il place where harmless games
could be played, having found that il
there was not something of the kind
some would spend their spare time in
saloons and other worldly places. He
thought the young should Ee accorded
oil legitimate pleasures which would
not interfere with the convictions OF
religious people. The Rev. j. W. Easley
said reading room had been establish
cd at Brandywine Church. Others en-
tered into the discussion and various
ideas were advanced.
Several visitors were present, includ-
ing the Rev. V. X. Gates, an evangel-
lst who made an address; the Reys.
Messrs. Tompkins, w. Il. Mowbray,
Deriickscn. Hammond and Graham.
II was announced that at the meet
Ing on January 18th the Rev. DIR. Din.
w;ddie is expected to make an address
on The Anti Saloon League" Min
: listers of other denominations will be
welcome.
Knights of Pytbias.