Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1901-05-29
K RAILROAD COMBINES.

ing that of the men most prominent
in the field of vast operations TODAY.
that field being the great territory
traversed by our railways, at least
one half of them made their fortunes
and forged ahead almost unsided.
except by that beat of psrtners-op-
portuuity. They seized fortune by
the forelock and hung on until she
rewarded them with riches and pow
err.
There are uncrowned kings in
America today, even in this greatest
of republics; there are leaders of Ar.
mics and forces, fighting desperate
battles and winning tremendous vic
tories. even though our country is at
peace with all the world. There is
going on at this moment one of the
greatest battles, by which control is
sought of transcontinentsl traffic
between the Atlantic and the Pacific
Ii Is battle of giants, the field of
operation continent, the rewards of
the victors riches "beyond the
dreams of avarice," and power not
possessed by Alexander, 10y Freder-
lex the Great or by Napoleon.
When the railroad managers found
themselves blocked by decision of
the supreme court IN their schemes
for controlling the traffic of the
United States, they merely changed
their tactics and combined under
another banner, upon which is in
scribed instead of the defunct "Joint
Traffic Association" merely "com
munlty of interest" IL was MI idea.
however, and not in so many words
that they adopted this ralying cry:
by taclt agreement only, and not bv
formal proclamation. Nevertheless.
there was formed another comhina
ton Just as real as the first and NOR,
nearly impregnable, inasmuch as IT
could not be assailed in the courts.
The processes have been going on 81
lently, persistently, making toward
consolidation of railway interests
which, IN fact, is practically formed.
The understanding between the great
railway kings is complete, aud now
there only remains to be arranged
the details by which the railroads
girding the United States will be
controlled by a comparatively small
number of men. The kings of the
rails have not told us how they ar
rived At an understanding, but the
hand writing is apparent to one who
will study the combinations and cast
"A comprehensive glance over the map
of the United States.
The railways of the United States
aggregate grand total of 1901 900
miles, or 10000 miles more than
those of all Europe, including Great
Britain. Of this total at least I2O.-
600 miles are now owned or CONTROL
ed by less than dozen men, those
particularly prominent in their man
agement being j. Pierpont Morgan.
w. h. Vanderbilt, George j. Gould,
Alexander j. CassAtt, James j. Hill
+. II. Hartman, Jacob III. Schiff,
August Belmont, Jr., and William
Rockefeller
To Mr.. w. K. Vanderbilt is credi-
ted the community of interest" idea,
or, in other words, the BENEVOLENT as
similation of such railroads as he
and his friends did not control but
needed, in order to regulate the traf-
! flc of the continent. His connection
with the New York Central and
Hudson River system, which his
grandfather, the great "Commo-
dore," built up from next 10 nothing
aud made one of the most valuable
properties in the world, is too well
known to require more than mention.
Having carried the Central to the
highest pinnacle of perfection, Mr..
Wander bilt looked about him for
some new railway world to conquer
and cast lingering glance upon the
vast Pennsylvania system. This
magnificent property was too pros
porous, too firmly intrenched, too ab-
Fought For His Life.