The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-28
ROADS PROJECTING A UNION.
SAID THE PENNSYLVANIA MAY JOIN
WITH THE r., f. & p.

Proposed to Combine, According TO
Baltimore Reports; i'm Order to
Maintain an Open Highway Be
tween the North and sOuth-The
Pennsylvania, Baltimore and Ohio,
Atlantic Coast Line and the south
ern Are Named as Parties to the
Agreement-New Union station at
Washington Also Mentioned.
1.-The latest move along the policy of
a mutually of interests in railway man.
agement," says the Baltimore Sun, lis a
project to unite the line belonging to
the Pennsylvania Railroad running from
Washington, D. c., TO Quantico, Va, and
the Richmond Fredericksburg and Po-
tomac Railroad, extending from Quantico
to Richmond.
ut is proposed to make the combinations
for the purpose of maintaining an open
highway for railroad service between the
North and South and the parties named
likely to be in such an agreement, if
it is consummated, are to be the Penn
sylvania Railroad, the Baltimore and
Ohio, the Atlantic Coast Line and the
Southern Railway. One of the prelim-
inaries to such a move was effected at
the recent meeting of stockholders of the
Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac
Railroad, when it 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
5000 of the preferred and common shares
of the company out of a total issue of
some 1900 shares. II received the unani-
nous sanction of the stock represented
at the meeting.
Under the scale system of voting a
majority of stock, If held by one owner
did not mean a control of the company
as, for example, go shares of stock if d.
Vided among 50 owners would have a
greater number of votes than if held in
a block by one owner. The effect of the
stockholders action is to give the At
lantic Coast Line the control of the Rich
mond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Rail
road This property, in connection with
the line of the Pennsylvania Railroad
forms the neck through which a large
share of the traffic movement North and
South via Washington flows.
THE scheme of mutually of interests
is the plan recently inaugurated by the
Pennsylvania, Baltimore and Ohio and
Vanderbilt lines to put an end to the
ness can be cared for by existing routes.
With the charter recently given by the
Legislature of Virginia to the Seaboard
Air Line interests authority is available
to parallel from Richmond to Washing
ton the line formed by the Richmond
Fredericksburg and Potomac and the line
from Quantico. The proposition now I'M
der consideration is evidently aimed to DO
away with the necessity for the construc-
ton of such line. The Seaboard Air Line
is a joint user with the Atlantic Coast
Line of the existing route between Rich
mond and Washington. and the proposed
combination would it is understood, pro-
vide for a continuance of this arrange
ment.
1T is said to be the general purpose 10
give all lines that may go into the plan
equal rights and make the combined lines
an open highway. There is heavy bus
mess handled now between Richmond and
Washington via Quantico and the facilities
are said TO be equal to an increased bust
ness When the traffic warrants 1t the
whole line can be made a double track
road. 1t has been kept in a modern phys
zeal condition and the prospect of the need
for a second track has recently been con-
sidered. The Richmond, Fredericksburg
and Potomac has resources available 10
carry out this improvement of its line
whenever it is deemed necessary, and such
betterment is Only question of decision
with the Pennsylvania Railroadf FORTS parU
of the route Baltimore and Ohio officials
have had in view for some time the estab-
lishnaent of a direct connection for the
South and the Seaboard Air Line is gen
orally regarded as its probable ally in this
direction.
I'm connection with the proposed COM
bination the depot question at Washing
ton is likely to receive some similar treat
ment looking to a mutually of interests,
Some overtures have already been made
between Pennsylvania Railroad Off
Gals and those of the Atlantic
Coast Line Southern Railway
and other lines from the South
entering Washington relative to a union
depot for the North and South traffic. This
may take a larger significance owing to
the effort being made in Washington to
have Congress require all the roads en-
teriug Washington use a union terminal.
The Baltimore and Ohio. as wei as the
PENNSYLVANIA, has plans for a new depot
and the elevation of tracks to meet the
demands made in the past by Congress.
Both of these big systems contemplate
heavy expenditures in this direction and
the question of unifying this expense AMI
give to Washington a great union term
nal has met with some approval from
members of the official family of both
roads"