Evening star., 1901-06-08
Parisians Think They See It in the
Near Future.
A COMBINATION OF MANY LINES
Result Of the Visit of Mr.. J. Pier
pont Morgan.
S EN- S Att NAL NOR S
special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

PARIS, May 2S 1901.
The Calais-London~ rapide. the fastest
train in the world for its distance, was
about to depart from the Care du Nord in
Paris. AS usual 1t was crowded: as usual
its passengers had little baggage to impede
them. The smart throng hurried into the
vestibuied cars and five Paris eorrespon-
dents checked off the individuals with
eager. jealous glances Suddenly their man
| appeared "a grayish-mustached. distin-
guished-looking American, above the mid
die height. in light gray business suit be-
meath darker raglan, and with the ro-
sette of the Legion of Honor at his but
tonhole. Accompanied by two friends, he
passed the correspondents with curt nod
and disappeared into the restaurant car
Two or them tried in vain to penetrate that
car. as all of them had tried TO penetrate
the Hotel Bristol previously. Pierpont Nor
gan was not granting interviewsl
The coming of this king of steel" this
railroad magnate," whom the admirine,
Boulevard recently acclaimed as the new
Atlantic transport king" stirred French
interest strangely. In the same week he
mad to herald him the prodigious story of
the Northern Pacific corner and the rumor
OF his purchase of three transatlantic
steamship lines. 1t is not forgotten either
that the Morgans are no strangers in
ridHSc. L ne DOuieNdrO papers nave lust
been recalling, with proper expressions of
gratitude, the leading part taken by the
old banker. his father, in assuring the loan
which permitted the Tours government in
the last days of the Franco Prussian war
10 continue the national defense and make
terms with the invaders. A nephew of the
great old man and himself one time a
banker now carries his shoulders the
American Church of the Avenue de rAlma
while the firm of Morgan, Harjes & Co,
continuing what has always been known
popularity as the Drexel Bank remains an
oasis-iike landmark in the colony.
While these rumors were circulating in
Paris and the stock exchanges of New
York and London ringing with his name,
Pierpont Morgan, accompanied by his
daughter, was quietly going through his
annual cure at Aix-les-Bains. There the
American correspondents already had
sought him out-and had seen their cards
returned. When the time was ripe he
came on for three days to Paris. Imme-
diately on his arrival at the Hotel Bristol
the procession formed. In and out they
came and went French and American
bankers. French, English and American
business men happening" to pass through
Paris at the moment. What kind of deals
were being made in those old-fashioned
gloomy parlors of the Hotel Bristol? "Oue
thing Is certain" say the Boulevard Jour-
mails in a tone of awed Wonderment the
transactions figure into the tens of mil
lions" They give columns to the man and
his story.
Sensational Rumors.
The story that the Pierpont Morgan syn
dicate has bought controlling interests in
three important transatlantic lines is made
in Paris the basis of even more sensational
rumors. French money, in immense sums
is said to be going into the new combina-
ton, whose object is no less than a prepon-
derating influence in the transatlantic
freight carrying. The French papers are
calling Pierpont Morgan the Great Reor-
ganizer." They tell how he is today the
dictator of fourteen railroads. two telegraph
companies, several banks, a Pacific cable
company is interested largely in the coal
mines of his country and is the head of a
trust whose capital is 81. .l54, 100000. Those
who best know the Boulevard and its jour-
naliSm smile as this chorus of praise and
wcnderment ascends to heaven. There is
something afoot.
One of the newest rumors has to do with
fast line of passenger steamers. under
the French flag, to run between New York
and the utmost western coast of France.
In the shipping circles of Havre and Paris
where there is even panic-the rumor al
ready has magnifed the one line to two.
so that the Great Reorganizer will have
some fighting with which to begin his for
eign campaign. On one hand the present
French transatlantic line is said to rest
sure of its monopoly guaranteed by the
French government. On the other hand,
it is declared to be preparing to meet the
combined lines by the hurried organiza-
tion of the second of these two new COM
panies. Brest and the Bay of Oberwrach
on the Brittany coast, are mentioned as
the terminals Others say that the roads
of st. Malo and Dinard have been chosen.
That the first and original of these new
Brittany coast lines is to be a part of the
Great Reorganizer's" giant transatlantic
combination is an open secret on the Boule-
ward, where the proportion of French
money entering into it has been discussed
ON Id Io
The new line is to fly the French flag.
The purchased English lines are to con-
tinue under the British flag 1t is, there
fore, to be an international trust The
Boulevard is just beginning to hear about
trusts. 1t is afraid of them. yet the fear
is mingled with admiration and respect
New York-Lisbon Line.
In the midst of this there comes from
Portugal the rumor of q new New York
Lisbon line. For years the Geographical
Society of Lisbon has been urging the pc
culiar advantages of the route on the at
tention of the financiers. For years the
society has published its facts and figures
in vain. Now, all at once, the dream-line
materializes into an actual business propo-
sition.
ITO open in the great country of North
America new markets for our wines corks
and fruits. counterbalance the cereals
that for some years henceforward must
come to us from there, could not help de-
serving the most serious attention." reads
one Of the recent reports, Most important
of ali would be the establishment OF regu-
lar maritime communications between Lis
bon and New York. 1t would be of interest
not only to the mainland OF Portugal and
its islands of he Azores, but also to Spain
and all the central part of Europe. The
passage between New York and Lisbon is
the shortest between Europe and America
and could economize two days of the Jour-
ney over the best English and French
lines. with the great advantage of delay
OF several hours In such favorable ports as
those of Ponta De1gado and Horta''
The report treats in detail of the relative
distance from New York of Queenstown
southampton, Havre, Cherbourg, Santan-
der. Cadiz and Lisbon and the advantage
to be derived in the westward voyage across
the Atlantic from the gradually diminishing
mean velocity of the gulf stream, which
should be added to the advantage of dis
tance. 1t brings forward the freedom of
the route from icebergs in the spring. and
the stop at the Azores which would be as
useful as Agreeable both for cabling and
refuge in case of accident.
Advantage of the Route.
Any one with chart of the Atlantic
ocean under his eye can verify for himself
the advantage of the route. Were two
transatlantic greyhounds of equal speed to