New-York tribune., 1902-01-19
MEN GUESSING.
SOME OF THEM THINK REPORTED
UNION OF BIG LINES is TRUE.

1t was announced yesterday with considera bic
show of authority that the group of steamship
men, including J. Bruce Ismay and W. 5. Graves.
of the White Star Line w. J. Pirrie. head of the
shipping firm of Harland & Wolff. and director
in both the White Star and Leyland lines; Henry
Wding, the foreign representative of the Ameri-
can Line, who recently made chairman of
the part of the Leyland Line purchased last spring
under J. p. Morgans direction, and Mr.. Dickinson.
a well known Liverpool lawyer. said to be the
counsel of the White Star Line, who on their
way to this country the steamship Celtic. which
is due here next Thursday are coming to amalga-
mate the interests of several great transatlantic
steamship lines.
This amalgamaton, it said, would include
the Leyland, the Atlantic Transport, the American
and the Red Star lines and the freight services of
the White Star and Cunard lines Some of those
interested in this deal besides Mr.. Morgan were said
to be Clement A Griscom. president Of the Inter
national Navigation Company; y. J. Cassatt, pres-
dent of the Pennsylvania Railroad. and Henry H.
Rogers. John d. and William Rockefeller, Of the
Standard Oil Company. who interested in the
International Navigation Company. Everything, it
was asserted. ready for the ratification Of the
deal when the steamship men reached here. the
negotiations having been carried on in England
Rumors Of a uni1caton Of the American owned
steamship lines, the Leyland. American, Red Star
and Atlantic Transport lines have been rife for
long time. The representatives of those directly
interested have uniformly denied the truth of these
but it has been believed generally that there was
city believe that the coming Of the English steam
ship this city means that the scheme is
about a head.
The connection In the recent dispatches of the
White Star and Cunard lines with the deal has
not been fully interpreted by the representatives, OF
those lines here. Vernon II. Brown. of the Cunard
Line said last night that he of the opinion
that the Cunard Line would not be sold to any
one Mr.. Lee. of the White Star Line, said that II
a big enough price offered he supposed that
The White Star Lines boats could be bought, but
he said he knew nothing about ii. 1t was reported
that six Of the White Star Lines cargo boats had
been purchased by the American interests. That
company has but five cargo boats in the
transatlantic busneSS-the Taurtc, the George
the Bowie, the Cevic and the NomadiG. me SIKH ,
between Liverpool and Portland, some time ago
The sixth boat, it has been said. was 10 be the
Celtic.
a steamship in talking OF the situation yes
terday said that Mr.. Morgan In buying the leyIand
Line was only acting for u syndicate, which In
rluded the mon nrayously mentioned and that Rer-
nard y. Baker. president of the Atlantic Transport
Line. conducted the negotiations lie sald that II
deal for the control of the lines was the Interna-
tiOnal Navigation Company.
Until more is known Of the plans of the men be
hind the scheme little can he definitely said about
the relations OF the White Star Line the project
It has hoen suggested that an aEreoment on
and the White Star Line should De parties
contemplated. Such an agreement, In view of the
railroad connections of the mentioned IN
terested, It ia thought. might make a permanent
II was SAID yesterday that the union Of all the
German lines. Neither Gustav H. Schwab OF the
North German Lloyd Line. nor Emil l.. Boas. of
lcatiOn about it yesterday. Mr SchwRb snid: Yes.
/ do know something about IT referring to the
the firm of J. T. Morgan & Co. yesterday said that
the story had no foundation. in fact.