Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-01-18
to the Register.

l0AN L. u, Cahud1 L..
There will take place tomorrow night
Thursday, at the home of ex-senator
Henry G. Davis, Washington. a no
table gathering of railroad men. The
occasion will be a dinner which the ex-
Senator, who is recognized as one of
the leading authorities on railroad
matters in the country, will tender to
President A. J. Cassatt, of the Penn
sylvania system.
While it is impossible to more than
surmise the possible results of this
meeting, propositions of vital impor-
lance to West Virginia railroad in
terests in particular and to the trans
portation interests of the country in
general will be here discussed for the
first time at apersonal meeting of great
railroad magnates of the United States.
1t is well known there are many
plans afoot for the building of rail-
roads throughout West Virginia and
for the exploitation and development
OF the immense resources of the State.
Before some of these roads can be built
it is absolutely essential that the va
rious conflicting systems which at pre-
sent u partly or wholly within the
State be harmonized-to a degree at
least. There are other railroads which
might be built and run at a profit
throughout many of the States east of
the Mississippi could terminal facilities
and traffic rates be agreed upon. AS
it is, their existence has been impos-
slble up to the present time.
An authority in discussing
The Possible Significance
OF the coming meeting at ex-senator
Davis home stated that this is prob
ably the result Of the most important
development in the railroad history of
the United States; viz, the consolida-
ton of the immense interests repre-
sented by the Pennsylvania, the G. &
0. and the B. & o. Along with these
it is understood that practically every
railroad franchise in West Virginia
will be controlled by the combined in
%terests, as all of the smaller roads are
dependent on n or the other of the
three great trunk lines which pene-
trate the State.
The gathering at the home of ex-
Senator Davis is of more significance
than a mere ratification and celebra-
ton of the suspicious ending of the
greatest railroad combination of mod
ern times. 1t will be seen from the
personnel of the men who will attend
that practically every railroad interest
of any size throughout the entire east
is represented. 1t is argued, with good
show of reasoning on the part of per-
sons here who are thoroughly ac-
quainted with the present situation,
that a movement for the consolidation
of all railroad interests east of the
Mississippi, along with the control of
one of the great transcontinentaI trunk
lines, is already well under way.
1t is stated that this project is likely
to be thoroughly discussed tonight. If
such is the case, in all probability the
conSummation of a deal involving a.
combination of two-thirds of the rail-
road capitalization of the United States
will be reached over the nuts and wine
at the home of Ex-senator Davis before
Friday morning.
The Importance of such a combina-
ton to West Virginia cannot be over
estimated. Outside of the stimulus
that will be given to railroad construc-
ton throughout the State and
IN Consequent Development
which will be made of her material re-
sources. 1t is a we'll known fact that
in case of a combination all freight
and passengers passing between the
east and the west will be sent over the
shortest and most direct line. In the
present consolidation there is no doubt
that this line runs through almost the
entire length of the State of West Vir-
ginia, and the amount of traffic which
will be carried between the borders of
the State will in the future be greatly
increased. Ex-senator Davis to-day
absolutely declined to discuss the meet
ing in other than its social features.
Among those who have been invited
to be present and who
Have Accepted Invitations
to meet President Cassatt are Messrs.
John K. Cowen and Oscar G. Murray,
of the Baltimore & Ohio; Samuel
Spencer, president of the Southern
Railway: Henry Fink, of the Norfolk
& Western; NJ. E. ingalls,, Of the Big
Four: Chauncey II. Depew. of the New
York Central; j. 5. Harriss, President
of the Reading system; W. l. Elkin,
of the Widener-Elkin Syndicate, OF
Philadelphia; Stephen B. Elkins, Sena-
tor from West Virginia; George F.
Baer, OF the Reading system; R. C.
Kerens, of St. Louis and West vir-
ginia; S. NJ. Provost, OF the Pennsyl-
yania system, and E. D. Kenna, Vice
President Of the Atchison system