Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1901-03-11
THE RAILROADS

1t is the general opinion in railway
circles that the onk-taike1-of nmalga-
nation of the PENNSYLVANIA and Burl-
ington systems will soon materialize. An
actual consolidation Of the systems is
not contemplated. but it is believed that
the Pennsylvania will control the Rurl
ington, just as the Pennsylvania and
Vanderbilt interests control the Ba!ti-
more and Ohio, by holding majority of
it's stock.
The apparent plan Of the Hartman
and Vanderbilt interests to combine for
the purpose of securing an independent
-transcontinental route is thought to have
FASTENED the efforts of the Pennsyl-
vania to obtain control of the Burling-
ton. There has been a strong traffic al
lance between these two systems for
many years. but evidently that is not
sufficient to now satisfy the Pennsy.-
vania. 1t realizes that others can pur-
chase Burlington securities in the open
market as easily as it can, unless it acts
first.
If community of interest" develops
between the Pennsylvania Burlington
and the Vanderbilt systems in
the east and west. the Santa Fe. Rock
Island and st. Paul roads will have some
cause for anxiety over transcontinental
traffic. Each of these three companies
is SO strong that it could not be forced
into consolidation with others. but. on
the other hand. it would be a hard mat
ter for them to form desirable alliances
If the eastern lines of the Vanderbilt
system were united with the Hartman
lines in the west and the Pennsylvania
and Burlington system were practically
united.
If the Pennsylvania does get control Of
it. one thing certain is that the Burling-
ton system will soon be extended to the
Pacific coast. possibly to both California
and Oregon. 1t is said the Burlington
and Hartman interests are both working
hard to get control of the Rio Grand.
Western railroad.
From a Union Pacific official. who
speaks from authority, says the Salt
Lake Herald, it is learned the chief pur-
pose of the Harrim1l syndicate is
not so much TO secure control of every
road in the country. but rather to cs-
tablish one great highway from Eng
land to China via the United States. An
Atlantic ocean steamship line, it is
claimed, has been secured by the syn
dicate The public is aware of the rail
lines between New York and Pacific
coast ports joining the link il this
country. On the Pacific coast the same
people own the Pacific Mail, the Occiden-
tai & Oriental and the Portland & \siat:c
steamship lines. AS feeders to the main
stem across this continent are lines from
the Gulf of Mexico to the Great Lakes.
The Wall Street Journal says: The
situation respecting the Burlington indi-
Gates tripartite control OF the property
the three interests concerned being the
Great Northern. the Northern Pacific
and the Union Pacific. 1t is clear that
.he general theory of the deal is entirely
sound 1t would be Of much advantage
TO these three companies 10 own the
Burlington, and they could afford to pay
a liberal price. TIE Burlington occupies
a very strong position. and the COM
pany's managers are fully appreciative
of it's strength. Some time ago, wnen
asked a what price they would sell, they
famed 5000 per share as the minimum.
Either the Burlington people have low
cred their price. or the intending pur-
chasers have made up their minds to
pay it.
The Denver Post SAYS: General Man
ager Metcalf of the Denver and Rio
Grande has received a copy of a special
report. just made by President G. B.
Leighton Of the Los Angeles Terminal
railroad to it's board Of directors which
certainly indicates that the proposed
Salt Lake-Los Angeles line will soon be
constructed.
Official acknowledgment is made of
the sale of the Terminal road to the cap
italists who are to build the new line.
There have been rumors that Senator
Clark and his associates did not intend
to build road. but are bluffing to in
fluence existing roads. This report con-
tains final statements of earnings and a
general review of the Terminal roads
business since it's construction in 1880,
with due reference to the future.
1t as a unique document, and local
railroad men regard it as convincing evil
dence that the Senator Clark line is real