Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-01-06
Ru1nOrS That Eastern Lines
Will Consolidate.
MEETING IN NEW YORK
Plan Would Prevent Future Com
petiti0n--C0al Rate Fixed For
Coming Year.

been lin progress in this city for the last
two days at the Waldorf-Astoria. N. F.
ingalls,, president of the Big Fou and
Chesapeake and Ohio systems, Henry
Fink, president of the Norfolk n West
ern and A.. J. Cassatt, president of the
Pennsylvania system, have all been in
attendance. John X. .Cowan, president
Of the Baltimore and Ohio, is also said
to nave been present.
One important matter disposed Of was
the rate for hauling coal for the coming
year, but this is said to nave been only
an incident of the meeting.
For some time it has been known that
the Vanderbilt Morgan interests were in
control of the Big Four and the Chesa-
peake and Ohio. There have been per-
istent rumors, too. regarding a combina-
ton between the Pennsylvania and the
Baltimore and Ohio systems and Of these
two roads with the Vanderbilt systems. A
man usually we'll informed said that he
had been given to understand that in the
near future a great combination would
effected and that the following roads
would be in it: The Boston n Maine,
which, as it WINS the road, also mean
| the Maine Central north of Boston, the
NEW 1OIh, NEW I1dtCn duu w.
which on account of it's ultimate traffic
relationship with the Pennsylvania.
could not well stand aioof, and the Bos-
ton and Albany, now controlled by the
New York Central-these roads practi-
cally covering the field Of New England.
Besides these the speaker named the
Pennsylvania, the Baltimore and Ohio,
the Chesapeake and Ohio, the Big -Four,
the Norfolk and Western and the New
York Central system, including the Lake
Shore and Michigan Southern, and the
Michigan Central, as we'll as the Nickel
F! Plate and West Shore. He added that
he was not informed as to what the ex-
act form of the combination would be
! whether it would amount TO actual con-
solidation or not-but it would certainly
be of such a nature as to prevent future
competition and a consequent cutting OF
freight and passenger rates. This he,
thought, however, was only the beginning
and it was his conviction that other roads
may be taken in later, both in the south
and west.
For two or three days there have been
railroad combination of the first magni-
tude was impending bu- there has been
! much mystery as to the identity. of the
roads. concerned.
A year ago the New York Central in
terests secured control of the Rutland
railroad. The Rutland road is intimate
ly connected with the Fitchburg, and
later the New York Central made over
! lures toward obtaining a lease Of the lat.
ter property. These negotiations were
not successful and the Central made ar
arrangement, whereby it obtained control
Of the Boston Ind Albany on a long lease.
Advices from Boston quotes the presi-
dent of the Boston n Maine as admit
ting that his o was in negotiation for
the leasing of the Fitchburg. With the
Fitchburg the Boston and Maine would
! have a western outlet from Boston.
But Wall street opinion has coincided
with the view Of the Tribune s,informant,
that the Boston and Maine was soon to
! pass under the control of the New York
Central. There remains in New England
the big New York, New Have and Hart
ford road, which although it may not be
taken over by any ether company, is still
| not likely to be a disturber of harmony,
for J. Pierpont Morgan and Senator De-
pew are among it's directors and another
is William Rockefeller. who recently en-
tered the New York Central board.
Moreover, the New Haven road is in
close business relations with the Penn
| sylvania. between which systems and
the New York Central a compact of amity
exists.
The office of superintendent Of motive
power of the Great Northern has been
abolished. This Office has been filled by
]. o. Pattee for many years. and his re-
tirement comes as a necessity with the
abolishment of the office. In place of the
superintendent of motive power the of
fee Of general master mechanic has been
created, and George H. En- has been
appointed to the position. Mr.. Emerson