The Jennings daily record. [volume] (Jennings, La.) 1900-1903, 1902-06-06
COMMUNITY OF INTEREST ii !; S
w. K. VANDERBILT EVOLVED THIS
IDEA IN RA,LRoADiNc.
troll of Our Steel Observation-Disclosures
u Hill the Greatest fsailroad Autocrat
Since Commodore vanderbilt's Time

-. IL Ill the aSreateAt RAILROAD AntOcrAt
Since Commodore Vanderbilt's Time.
1.-The fact that eight men should he
in practical control of our railroads is
primarily due to the enforcement Of
the Federal laws enacted to prevent
railroad combinations. Here is ii
striking paradox: The Supreme Court
of the United States, in dissolving the
Joint Traffic Association. infused the
breath OF life into the community of
interest idea. Prevented by the high
est law in the land from forming traf-
fic agreements or pools. the railroad
owners felt bound to protect them
selves by forming still greater COIN
binariOnS on the mutual-ownerShip
plan.
Some persons say that it was Will
liam Il. Vanderbilt who first suggested
the idea OF community of interest
which has developed with marvellous
rapidity into the basic principle OF
railroad management in this country.
Certain il is that Mr.. Vanderbilt. and
the powerful tinanciers whose inter-
eSrS are closely allied with his. We're
the first ones 10 clasp hands in Il pro-
tective mutuality of ownership. HAY
ing welded all the Vanderbilt lines
into one compact system. William X.
Vanderbilt was i'll :: position To take
the initiative i'll II movement TO domin-
ate the railroad situut ton between New
York and Chicago. Mr.. Vanderbilt and
other members of his family became
stockholders of the Pennsylvania Rail
road and capitalists long identified
with the last-named property bought
ti.I
We're opened for Il close alliance be-
tween these two great interests.
wv. X. Nanderbilt'S sagacity, ener-
gy and thoroughuess in working out
the details of this far-reaching scheme
surprised even his lifelong associates.
Prior to the illness and death of his
eldest brother. Cornelius. he had fig
urcd comparatively little i'll the man
agement of the family's railroad in
tercstS. Most of his time was given
NJ to foreign travel and social pleas
ureS. Veteran employees of the Van
derbiit lines. feeling that because they
had begun service with the Commo-
dore. they We're privilege to express
their own opinions. frequently shook
their heads, and muttered Who is
going TO succeed Cornelius: Willie X.
has no business head
The sudden stroke of paralysis
which compelled Cornelius Wander
bits retirement from business was
followed by Il series of surprises, eX-
tending throughout the Vanderbilt sys-
TEN. William *. grasped the reins of
control with degree Of promptness
and Self-relance that sent cold ShiverS
down the back of MANY II high official
who had begun to regard himself as
Indispensable to the Vanderbilt lines.
The new head of the family was found
10 have Il definite policy. COncentra-
ton, retrenchmenr and increased earn-
inGs We're his watchwords. We must
have these three he declared. and in
order to secure them he reorganized
executive statfs, with Il total disregard
of sentimental considerations"
No man has taken IL more earnest
part in developing the community of
interest idea than james y. Hill.
President of the Great Northern Rail
road. and director III several other rail-
road corporations. Mr.. Hill is IL man
of energy and quick decision. and once
he makes up his mind that Il thin" is
desirable 10 do, he proceeds TO do ii
with all his might.
"'rhp community OF interest idea is
growing in favor he said. not long
ago. small lines of railroad. with few
exceptions. are MOI likely To grow all
by themselves, so it is much better for
them to join interests with strong
lines. 1t is not necessary that the
roads should consolidate. although i'll
many instances II more economical ad-
ministratiou could undoubtedly be OBJ
tanned by such Il course. The time is
coming when the community of inter
est will be 50 perfected that small lines
of road will be cut of from connect
ing traffic so as to make an independ-
ent policy on their part Improbable
MI. Hill is the autocrat of the
Great Northern Railroad. Since Com
modorc NanderbiltS time there has not
been so complete an instance of one
mar-power ut the head OF "a great rail
road system rs is presented in the case
of President Hill. He evolves policies
and executes them. his directors bow
ing to his will with dignitied but
una nimous docnity. Men in the en-
ploy OF the Great Northern know that
unless they satisfy james J. Hill their
fare is sealed. There is no other court
of appeal. And President Hill has the
reputation OF being very particular, to
use the cautious phrase of his sub
ordinatrS.
One day Mr.. Hill walked into the
office of Il high official OF the Great
Northern Railroad, i'll 81. Paul and
brusquely announced:
Mr.. --~. | uu not think that YOU
and myself are we'll mated. Your
successor Will report for duty to-mor-