Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-09
Succeeds Western Union on
the Pennsylvania.
CHANGE IS RADICAL
NEW OFFICE IN THE 9TH STREET
PASSENGER DEPOT.
Brought About by Trouble Between
the Railroad and the Western
Union.

For the first time in the history OF the
Pennsylvania railroad a telegraph com
pany other than the Western Union Tele-
graph Company has an office in its 9th
street station.
Sunday morning a dray wagon backed
I'D to the Baltimore and Potomac station.
There was in it a desk, some coils Of wire,
two or three telegraph instruments ard
the usual complement of things for es-
tabllshing telegraph office.
Within an hour operator was sending
and receiving messages. Persons who were
called to the station to meet friends or to
leave the city paid little attention to what
was going on, but it was the first operation
in Washington of a fight that bids fair to
assume more than ordinary proportions.
Throughout the System.
The Postal Telegraph Company has been
installed in every office of the Pennsylvania
company east of Pittsburg and Erie. Ad-
vices from Philadelphia, the headquarters
of the Pennsylvania company, are that the
railroad has cut off all connection with the
Western Union and that the Postal Com
pany has taken it's place.
The Western Union still has an office in
the 9Th street station and will likely con-
tinue to be represented until September 10,
when, according to an ultimatum issued by
President Cassatt of the Pennsylvania rail-
road every bit of property of the western
Union must be removed from the premises
of the Pennsylvania railroad.
Mr. H f. Taft, acting manager OF the
Western Union Telegraph Company, was
reticent when asked today regarding the
troubles.
Il have absolutely no information regard
ing the alleged changes between the Penn
sylvania and the Western Union, ne SAID
Matters of the kind are acted upon by the
iva off at
which are in New York. l have nothing
whatever to say, even were l so disposed
Mr.. Ribble Talks.
Mr. G. W. Ribble, manager of the Postal
Telegraph Company in Washington, was
more communica tive. This is what he said:
AN agreement has been contaminated
between the Postal Company and the Penn
sylvania Railroad Company, under which
the Postal acquires exclusive right to trans
act commercial telegraph business on the
lines belonging to the Pennsylvania ran
road system east Of Pittsburg and Erie and
to string wires on the railroad company
poles and rights Of way.
THE agreement took effect on July 1 and
the transfer of offices to the Postal system
is being made as rapidly as posslDie. un-
derstand that similar agreements, cover
ing the remainder Of the Pennsylvania
Company's system. will be put In force as
soon as the existing contracts with the
w eStern Union company expire.
The agreement will take away from the
Western Union system and add to the
Postal system all offices and the telegraph
lines on 4.745 miles of railroad In popuIous
and important section of the country. II
Is the most far-reaching deal ever made
by an opposition telegraph company
at not only takes away from the West
ern Union and gives to the Postal large
revenue from commercial telegraph busi-
ness, but will put the Western Union to
heavy expense In removing its pole Hines
from the railroad right Of way and rebuild
ing its lines in other locations
B. and o. Not Affected.
So far as could be learned this afternoon
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, a control
ling interest of which is held by the Penn
sylvania railroad, Is not affected by the
fight between the Pennsylvania and the
Western Union. Up to 1887 the Baltimore
and Ohio Telegraph Company had the sta
lions along the Baltimore and Ohio rail-
road. In that year the interests Of the
Baltimore and Ohio Telegraph Company
were sold to the Western Union Telegraph
Company, with the understanding or con-
tract, 1t is understood, that the CONNER
cial business of the railroad should be
transacted by the Western Union for a
term of fifty years
This contract, 1t Is said, Is ironclad and
the railroad company will be compelled to
carry it out. although. it is understood,
the Pennsylvania management would be
glad to have the contract terminated.
The Postal, according to the new contract
| made with the Pennsylvania, has right to
| string wires along the poles Of the Penn
| sylvania. The Western Union may de-
| eide to sell it's wires now strung along the
Pennsylvania tracks to the Postal Tele-
| graph Company.
If the Western Union does not make a
| satisfactory arrangement with the Postal
| it will be forced to the expense of re-
moving the wires and the Postal will. of
| course, be placed at the expense of es-
| tablshng a new line throughout the Penn
| sylvania system.
| 1t is understood that the New York Cen
| trail contemplates terminating its present
| contract with the Western Union and max
| ing a contract with the Postal. The whole
| thing would suggest a fight between Cas-
| satt and Vanderbilt as against the Gould
| interests