The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-02-21
Gould's Western Trip Revives
Community Of Interests Talk.
He Says Wall Street is RespOn-
sible For Rumors.
COMBINATION DEALS.
Fewer Travelling Passenger and
Freight Agents.
Have an Understanding Regard.
ing Building Of Extensions.

The present visit or George j. Gould,
president Of the Missouri Pacific and
Iron Mountain roads, to the southwest
has revived the talk about community
Of interests deals in which Mr.. Gould
has been interested along with Morgan,
Hill, Hartman and Vanderbilt. He has
spent much time recently denying re-
ports of combinations and only two or
three days ago said that Wall street had
circulated stories affecting railroad
properties for fifty years. For each there
was a possibility of truth but the facts
came out slowly and after the first re-
port had been circulated
Notwithstanding Mr.. Gould's desire to
minimize the significance of combina-
tons, and to throw the blame for ru-
mOrs upon shoulders other than those
of railroad magnates, there are some
1ar-Teaching results coming from what
already has been contaminated.
The first result is that since the roads
have been drawn together under a few
great heads. certain moves favoring
economy on the part Of all have been
made. The reduction of the great army
OF travelling passenger and freight
agents is to take place before many
months. 1t is said that three-fourths
the present nnmber will lose their posi-
lions on account Of the community of
interests" deals.
1t has been believed for a long time
that railroads had some sort of an un-
derstanding with one another regard
ersed by the several lines. Now it has
leaked out that the great financial COM
binattons which control practically all
Of the nations railways have agreed, in
connection with the community of
ownership" principle, that no line shall
be extended without the consent Of all
the powers
This phase Of the general agreement
is taken by railroad officials to mean
much. 1t is rega rded as sufficient indi-
cation that the Harrimans, the Goulds,
the NanderDlltS, Rockefeller, Hill, Nor
gan and all of the other governing mag
mates have interests more or less in
common. and that there is a direct I'M
Outstanding thot no combination shall
do anything to work injury to any Of
the other combinations in the way of
building into territory already catered
to by a rival line.
The harmony which resulted from the
united efforts to provide for permanent
maintenance of certain tariffs made it
possible to arrive at the agreement rel
ative to further extensions Of roads. In
paving the way to the agreement it was
argued that as rate wars demoralized
stocks and placed securities at the call
Of all brokers, with possible changes in
Arrangements and in policies Of opera
ton. an understanding in all tariff mat
tiers called for equally full consideration
by all interests likely to be affected by
extensions or construction Of branches.
1t is said to be the purpose of the com
handing combinations to respect the
interests of the big railroad systems in
the outside list. They will act with
such roads as they would among them
selves, first securing permission to build
before advancing into their territories
Railroad officials hold that such c0nsid-
Grafton on the part OF the big powers IS
from being angered into rate-cutting
retaliations.