The Tucson citizen., 1901-12-31
AN iNcAUTloUS BOAST.
The Figure II Cut In Manipulating n
Big Railroad Deal.


"For many, many years." said an old
railroad official, ''the Baltimore and
Ohio railroads dominant policy in
volved an entrance into New York,
and the Pennsylvania aud Baltimore
and Ohio were bitter competitors.
Both roads owned heavy blocks of the
Philadelphia. Wilmington and Balti-
more stock, but the balance that car
ried the control was in the hands OF an
individual owner. The Pennsylvania
had made dIcker with this man
whereby he voted with them, but the
save at figures which seemed to the
Pennsylvania management excessive.
"This was the state Of affairs when
one night one of the officers OF the
Pennsylvania was dining In the cafe
Of Delmonico's famous old restaurant
at Twenty sixth street and Broadway.
His attention was presently concen-
trated ON conversation going on at
the table behind him. 1t involved the
important control OF the Philadelphia,
Wilmington and Baltimore, and the
man talking was incautiously boast-
ing to his companion that he had that
day practically completed deal where
by this control came to him.
"A careful glance revealed to the
Pennsylvania official that the man
talking at the next table was no other
person than the late Robert Garrett
himself. at that time president OF the
Baltimore and Ohio. Not one word OF
the balance OF that talk was lost to the
eavesdropper. and when Garrett and
his companion left the cafe the Penn
Eylvania official knew each and every
detail of Garrett's coup In phlladei-
phia. Wilmington and Baltimore. 1t
hinged on the stock held by the lndi-
vidual. Garrett had made him gilt
tering and stupendous cash offer for
his holdings. which had been accepted.
The delivery OF stock was to take
place the following day.
ut was 10 o'clock at night when the
Pennsylvania official detached himself
from Delmonico's table, As fast as
cab could take him he raced to the
Desbrosses street ferry. At Jersey
City he took a special engine, and after
wild ninety mile ride he rolled into
Philadelphia shortly after midnight
Then n hasty conference ensued OF the
powers that were at that day In Penn
sylvanla railroad affairs. with the re-
suit that In very short time certain
OF the big men were making for
nearby city az fast as steam could car
ry them. The ast0nished individual
holder of r.. w. and b. stock was rout-
ed out Of bed at a. IN. to receive q
cash offer for his stock that he accept
ed as soon as he could could catch his
breath. No chances were taken. and
its delivery to the Pennsylvania oc-
Cured as early upon the following
morning as II could be got at.
when Garrett arrived later. he bit
teriy appreciated the truth there is In
the old saw that there Is many slip
'twixt cup and lip. What followed IL
well known. Garrett In his d!sapp0int-
ed anger built the terrifcally expen-
sive II. and o. extension from Balti-
more to Philadelphia, an operation that
saddied the II. and o. with such an
enormous amount of fixed charges that
a receivership and the disappearance
of the CARROTS as controlling factors
In B. and O. affairs shortly followed.
1t seems like the irony OF fate that this
road today should be controlled by Its
ancient rival. the Pennsylvania. In
this connection It will be remembered
that the late William II. Vanderbilt
was fatally stricken with apoplexy
while talking with Robert Garrett. 1t
was generally reported and believed
that the two men were discussing B.
and O.'s then proposed entrance into
New York. Mr.. Garrett was said to
have emphatically stated to Mr.. Van
derbiIt that the B. and o. would come
to New York whether he (Mr. Wander
bilt) and the New York Central liked 1t
or not."--New York Tribune.
~ A EsHEgH