The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-13
READING TO DISAPPEAR.
About to Be Absorbed by the Penn
sylvania and the B. & o.

New York. April 1s.-A special to the
Tribune from Baltimore says: Confer
enceS held in this city and Philadelphia
in the last few days by high officials Of
the Pennsylvania, the Baltimore & Ohio
rise to a report here, which has been par
TALLY confirmed, of a big deal by which
the Pennsylvania and the Baltimore &
ONO companies are about to absorb the
philadelphia & Reading. and the New
Jersey Central.
The plan is said to be for the Baltimore
& Ohio and the Pennsylvania to acquire
the properties and divide them among
their systems. the Baltimore & Ohio taxi
ing the Philadelphia and Reading division,
extending from Philadelphia to Bound
brook, n. j., and one or two important
branches and the New Jersey Central di-
vision, extending from Boundbrook TO
New York The Pennsylyania would ac-
quire the remaining divisions.
This scheme would give the Baltimore
q Ohio an unOrOken line of its own from
New York to St Louis and Louisville by
way OF Cincinnati and would secure to
the Pennsylvania absolute control of the
anthracite coal tonnage of the Scranton,
WilkeSbarre and Mauch Chunk districts
of Pennsylvania, which are now dOmin-
ated by the New Jersey Central.
The management of both the Baltimore
and Ohio and the Pennsylvania have for
obvious reasons. kept the matter secret
until their plans are fully matured. So
far as is known, no actual offer for the
purchase of a controlling interest in the
Philadelphia & Reading and the Central
of New Jersey has been made, but there
has been considerable buying of the
stocks of the companies by interests close
to the management of the Baltimore &
Ohio and Pennsylvania man
who is familiar with Baltimore &
Ohio affairs said tonight: within a few
months the Baltimore and Ohio will OPP
crate it's New York trains from Philadel-
| ph1a over the Pennsylvania instead of the
Reading as at present"
Men in financial circles here say that,
! Notwithstanding the reticence and even
denials of Baltimore & Ohio officials, the
! deal is assured and is in line with the
| movement of the Pennsylvania and Balti-
more and Ohio companies for the merg-
! ing of their interests. A financier inter
| ested in recent railroad movements said
! tonight: 4 am certain that the big deal
! is pending and that the Baltimore & Ohio
| company will benefit largely if it is con-
summated. The Baltimore & Ohio now
/ lands its passengers in New York at the
foot of Liberty street, which is not the
most accessible part of the metropolis.
| A few months ago it established a ferry
| service to the foot of Whitehall street,
where it also has passenger terminals.
| That station is close to the elevated rail-
| roads, and will no doubt be made the
leading station of the Baltimore q Ohio in
New York, when the deal is consum-
| mated
President Bacon and Vice President
| Greene of the Baltimore & Ohio South
Baltimore & Ohio officials regarding the
| transfer of the Southwestern to the per
| manent control of the Baltimore & Ohio
| 1t is understood that all difficulties have
/ now been removed and by the consolida-
/ ton the Baltimore & Ohio will now have
absolute control of its lines to Cincinnati
I and st. Louis.