The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-01-08


that the Ynnderbilt-M Morgan interests
were in control of the Big -Four and the
Chesapeake & Ohio. There have been
persistent rumors. too. regarding a
combination between the Pennsylvania
and Baltimore & Ohio systems, and
Of these two roads with the Vanderbilt
system.
Great Railroad Combine.
one Of the returning party said to-
day that In the near future a great
combination would be effected, and that
the following roads would be in it:
The Boston & Maine, which, as 1t owns
the road, also means the Maine Central
and the Fltchburg, north of Boston; the
New York, New Haven & Hartford,
which, on account of It's ultimate traf-
fic relationship with the Pennsylvania.
could not well stand aloof, and the Bos-
ton & Albany, now controlled by the
New York central-these roads prac-
tIcauy covering the field of New Eng
land.
Besides these. the speaker named the
Pennsylvania, the Baltimore & Ohio.
the Chesapeake. the Big Four, the Nor
folk & Western, the New York Central
system, including the Lake Shore &
Mlchlgan Southern and the Michigan
Central. as well as the Nlckle Plate and
west Shore
He added that he was not informed
as to what the exact form of the com
biNAtieS would be-whether 1t would
amount to actual combination or not
but It would certainly be of such ma
ture as to prevent future competition
and a consequent cutting OF freight
and passenger rates This, he thought,
however. was only the beginning. and 1t
was his conviction that other roads
would be takea in later. both in the
south and wesr.
Interested Financiers.
AS might ps expected. the report that
q conference looking TO harmony be-
tween sucn gigantic moneyed interests
was in progress excited the livellest
iaterest in financial circles, This in
terest amounts to much more than Idle
curiosity. as any general agreement
such as is foresnadowed by the confer
ence alluded TO would have far-reach-
Ing consequences which would be felt
by numerous class of investors. That
a harmonious adjustment OF differences
that will result in the abolition of what
amounts to rulnous competition in
some instances is not an iridescent
dream, is warranted by the character
of the men who are parties to the con-
ference.
For two or three days there have
been persistent rumors in financial CEN
tiers that a railroad combination Of the
first magnitude is impending, but there
has been much mystery as to the iden-
tity Of the roads concerned. The last
two or three years have witnessed the
unIfcatlon Of the New York Central
system by the virtual absorption into
the New York Central & Hudson River
Railroad Company Of the Lake Shore
& Michigan Southern. which controls
the Nlckle Plate road, the West Shore
and the Michigan General.
The New England Deal.
1t has for good while been the be-
lief OF the best-informed railroad finan-
cfers. that in the near future the rail-
roads OF New England would be oper-
ating under single ownership or con-
troll, and this prediction apparently is
approaching It's realization.
The Boston & Maine may soon pass
under the control Of the New York
Central. There remains in New England
the big New York. New Haven & Hart
ford road, which, although It may not
be taken ever by any other company,
IS still not likely to be dlsturber Of
harmony, for j. Pierpont Morgan and
Senator Depew are among It's direc-
tors, and another Is William Roekefel-
Ter, who not long ago entered the New
York Central board as successor to the
late Cornelius Vanderbilt.
Moreover, the New Haven road Is tn
close business relations with the Penn
syivania, between which great system
and the New York Central a compact
Of amity exists.
1t is not only in the east, however,
that signs OF harmony are cropping out.
A month ago It became known that an
portant agreement. the exact details of
which are not yet known, has been en-
tered into between the Pennsylvania
and the Baltimore & Ohio. whereby the
two systems become friendly compeu-
tors.
Now 1t is reported that the Penn
sylvanla company has secured con-
trolling influence in the Chesapeake &
Ohio railroad. The tracks Of this COM
pany extend from Cincinnati through
Richmond to tIdewater at Newport
News. Tho Chesapeake & Ohio also
has branch extending to the national