Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-03-28
PROJECT TO UNITE
A Proposed Railroad Combina.
ton South of Washington.
NIutaulity of MISUNDERSTANDING For Grent
Union Depot mt the Capital is Also Re
cciving Attention other Matters OF
Interest.

The latest move along the policy of
mutually of interests in railway man
aSement is n project to unite the line
belonging to the Pennsylvania Railroad
running from washington, D. c.. to
Quantico. Va, and the Richmond,
Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad,
extending from Quanuco to Richmond.
1t is proposed to make the combina-
ton for the purpose of maintaining
an open highway for railroad service
between the North and South and the
parties named as likely to be in such
an agreement, If it is contaminated,
are to be the PENNSYLVANIA Railroad,
the Baltimore and Ohio, the Atlantic
Coast Line and the Southern Railway.
One of the preliminaries to such
move was effected at the recent meet
ing OF stockholders Of the Richmond.
Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad.
when il was decided to do away with
the scale system of voting the stock
of the company. The proposition to
wipe out this feature was voted on
by about $4,000 of the preferred and
common shares OF the company out OF
q total issue of some 1900 shares. 1t
received the unanimous sanction OIL
the stock represented at the meeting.
Under the scale system of voting
ma jority of the stock, If held by one
owner, did not mean a control of the
company. as. for example, 500 shares
of stock if divided among so owners
would have greater number OF votes
than IL held In a block by the owner.
The effect of the stockholders action
is to give the Atlantic Coast Line the
control OF the Richmond Fredericks-
burg and Potomac Railroad. This
property. in connection with the line
of the Pennsylvania Railroad, forms
the neck through which large share
of the traffic movement north and
south via Washington flows.
The scheme of a mutually of inter-
ests is the plan recently inaugurated
by the PENNSYLVANIA. Baltimore and
Ohio and Vanderbilt lines to put an
end TO the building OF parallel lines
when the business can be cared for by
existing routes. With the charter re-
Gently given by the Legislature of Vir-
ginia to the Seaboard Air Line inter-
ests authority is available to parallel
from Richmond to Washington the line
formed by the Richmond Fredercks-
burg and Potomac and the line from
Quantico. The proposition now under
consideration is evidently aimed to do
away with the necessity for the con
Struction of such a line. The Scaboard
Air Line is joint user with the At
lantic Coast Line of the existing route
and the proposed combination would.
u.
ance of this arrangement.
1t is said to be the general purpose to
give all lines that may go into the plan
equal rights and make the combined
lines an open highway. There is n
heavy business handled now between
Richmond and Washington via Guam
tico and the facilities are said to be
equal to an increased business When
the traffic warrants it the whole line
can be made a double track road 1t
has been kent in modern physical
condition and the prospect of the need
for n second track has recently been
considered The Richmond Fredcricks-
burg and Potomac has resources avail
able TO carry out this Improvement of
It's line whenever II is deemed necessa-
~, and such n hettcrment is only n
question Of decision with the Penrsyl-
Nhnia railroad for its part of the route
Baltimore and Ohio officials have had
in view for some time the establish
ment OF Il direct connection for the
South. and Che Seaboard Air Line is
generally regarded as its proba BILE allv
III this direction.
In connection with the proposed com
Dination the depot question at Wash
inSton Is likely to receive some similar
treatment looking to a mutliattty of
interests. Some overturcS have al
ready been made between Pennsvlva
MA Railroad officials and those of tho
<Ati,ihtic SoaSt Line, Southern Railway
ana oiher lines from the South enter
ing Washington relative to a union de-
POI FOR the North and South traffic.
rms may take larger significance ow
ING 10 the effort being made in Wash
ington TO have Congress require all tho
roads entering Washington use a union
terminal, The Baltimore and Ohio ms
well as the Pennsylvania has plans for
a new depot and the elevation of tracks
10 meet the demands made in the past
TENS contemplate heavy expendituros
IN ms direction. and the question of
uniiying this expense and give to
washington great union terminal has
met with Some approval from members
OIL the Official family of both roads