The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-03-30
NEWS OF THE RAILROADS.
Plans Proposed to Unite Five Big
Trunk Lines-Air Inc Train North
to South.

According to a plan proposed in the
line OF the policy of mutually of in
terests is to unite the Pennsylvania
from Quantieo to Washington, the
Richmond, Fredericksburg and Po-
tomac, the Southern, the Atlantic
Coast Line and the Baltimore and
Ohio roads, and thus give a through
line between the north and south.
The Baltimore Sun of yesterday
says: 1t is proposed to make the
combination for the purpose Of ain
tanning IN open highway for railroad
service between the north and south
and the parties named as likely to be
in such an ag-eegent, il it is consum-
mated, are to be the Pennsylvania
railroad, the Baltimore and Ohio, the
Atlantic Coast Line and the Southern
railway. One Of the preliminaries to
such a move was effected at the re-
cen meeting Of stockholders of the
Richmond, Fredericksburg and Poto-
mac railroad, when it was decided to
do away with the scale system of vot-
ing the stock of the company.
Under the scale system of voting a
majority of stock, if held by one own
er, did not mean a control of the COM
pany, as, for example. 500 shares of
stock if divided among fifty owners
would have a greater Number of votes
tina if held in a block by one 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 prop
erty, in connection with the line of
the Pennsylvania railroad, forms a
neck through which a large share of
the traffic movement north and south
via Washington flows.
Tho Srharpn Of a nnrtrraIitx- pf in+ar-
ests is the plan recently inaugurated
by the Pennsylvania, Baltimore and
Ohio n Vanderbilt lines to put an
end to the building of parallel lines
when h 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. Fred
e~rickSburg and Potomac and the line
from Quantico. The proposition now
under construction is evidently aimed
TO 90 away with the necessity for the
construction of such a line. The Sea-
board Air Line is a joint user with the
Atlantic Coast Line of the existing
route between Richmond and Wash
ingtOn, and the proposed combination
would, it is understood, provide for a
continuance of this arrangement.
- ~ 0oAt ~ W NiO SNAAOA" III poi pooC
to give all lines that may go into the
plan equal rights n make the COM
bined lines an open highway. There is
a heavy business handled now be-
tween Richmond and Washington via
Quantico 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 kept in a modern physical
condition and the prospect of the need
for a second track has recently been
considered. The Richmond, Fred
e~ricksburg and Potomac has
available to carry out this improve
ment of its line whenever it is deemed
necessary and such a betterment is
only a question of decision with the
Pennsylvania railroad for it's part Of
the route. Baltimore and Ohio officials
have had in view for some time the
establishment Of a direct connection
for the south, and the Seaboard Air
Line is generally regarded as it's pos
sibIe ally in this direction.