The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-04-21

The New York, New Haven and Hart
ford Railroad company has absorbed
the New Haven Steamboat company,
which involves both freight and passen-
ger boat tjtraffic between Providence and
lNew York. The fact was made known
Through set OF resolutions sent TO "a
New Haven paper on the death of
Commodore Peck, in which il was stat
ed that his death occurred on the day
that the steamboat company was alb
sorbed by the New York. New Haven
and Hartford Railroad company"
The resolutions were passed at a
meeting of the directors held Thursday.
The fleet of boats owned by the COM
pany and now transferred TO the Con-
solidated road. includes the Chester w.
Chaplin, the latest addition, launched
last year the famous Richard Peck,
the G. II. Northam and the Continental.
No details of the transaction could be
learned. as President Hall and Vice
President Merrill of the New York,Ne
Haven and Hartford Railroad company
are in New York. as are also the prlncl-
pal officers of the steamboat company.
The minor officials at New Haven. IN
terrogated on the matter refused TO say
anything relative TO the deal.
The New Haven steamboat company
was organized about 1S4S, and until last
year ran boats between New Haven and
New York only, when the line extended
it's route 10 Providence. and the Nara
gansett Bay line was established.
III had also been officially announced
that. commencing early I'm May IL
would run boats for freight traffic tnat
would act as feeder TO the Centrai
New England Railroad company. ana
promised TO be rival of some import
ance TO the Consolidated Railroad COM
pany. The absorption is without DOUBT
the biggest steamboat deal or the CEN
tury i'm New England, involving ana
transferring as IL does the immense
traffic, passenger and freight, between
Providence and New YORK ana New
Haven and New YORK.
IL will be readily seen that the pur-
chase of the interests OF the New Hav-
en- company will give the New York,
New Haven a. Hartford Railroad COM
pany an absolute control on Long ISL
and Sound, as we'll as in railroad track
age in Connecticut and Rhode lsland.
The value 81 the steamboat line is in
calcuable when regarded In It's freignr
carrying aspect. The deal eHecuVeiy
knocks In the head the threatened COM
petition or the SttdihoVot ~
was to work from the starting point
OF Rhinebeck -on- II udson TO New York
as an ally of the New York and New
Haven steamboat line and with a rail-
road arm from Rhnebsck TO Tarinviile,
Conn, and thence TO Springfield. Mass,
tap the freight of central and southern
Massachusetts.
The news will come certainly as a
great surprise TO the people or Provi-
dence, as II was generally understood
that the Narragansett Bay line was
here to stay. and IL was quite recently
the company consummated the pur-
chase of the Lonsdale wharf property.
The business of the Bay line had stead
jly increased, both for passengers and
freight. and il was rapidly becoming
a very powerful competitor to the old
line.
In addition TO the purchase OF the
wharf property on India street, II had
made arrangements for securing the
Pier and Newport travel OF the coming
summer. and IL was receiving every en-
couragement In these parts. Therefore,
action by the Consolidated was neces-
sary, and IT took the required steps.
The Providence line Will now assume
it's former control of the passenger and
freight business from this city. 1t has
superior advantages in the matter or
location to those of the Bay line; the