The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-07-11

| Y PUTTING two and two to-
Sether, the conclusion has
-x-~ been reached in many places
| that the Gould interests in
tend soon to contest with the Pennsyl-
vania railroad for the through traffic
between Pittsburg and tidewater. Fol-
lowing the Western Maryland deal
which put the Goulds in possession of
| a favorable water terminal, came the
sudden termination by the Pennsylva-
MIA people of their contract with the
Western Union Telegraph company. q
| Gould property and the substitution
of contract with the Postal-generally
regarded as Il reprisal of war. And
| now comes the story, somewhat nebu-
lous, to be sure, that a new company
which was recently chartered at Har-
risburg to build railroad from Phila-
delphia to oatesville-ostensibly a
| trolley company, with enough steam
trimmings TO gain the right of eminent
domain-is in reality part of a plan to
make new trunk line through to Pitts
burg, there to connect with the Wab-
dsii. uIpI llleSt SlSlS
| and rumors, the Philadelphia Inquirer
says:
''It is now seventeen years since the
failure of the South Penn to parallel
the Pennsylvania. That enterprise was
undertaken with great spirit. 1t was
backed by millions. The work was ac-
tually undertaken, and today there ex-
list many high banks and holes in the
ground, attesting the belief of the in
corporators in the practicability of their
plan. AS is well known, that enterprise
came to naught. The South Penn was
er possible rival, the Beech Creek, was
taken over by the Vanderbilts, who at
the same time absorbed the completed
West Shore and Nickel Plate systems,
which made through line from Ho-
boken to Chicago. AT the same time
the CARROTS, stung by their accidental
and dramatic failure to get possession
of the Philadelphia, Wilmington and
Baltimore, constructed a line to this
city to connect with the Reading. The
road was built, the Baltimore and Ohio
went into the hands of a receiver and
is now controlled by the Pennsylvania.
Later Mr.. Mcleod had the Reading
lease the Lehgh Valley and the New
Jersey Central, an alliance which the
Pennsylvania interests soon broke and
the Reading for IL third time went
into the hands of a receiver. It's wings
We're clipped to the extent that it be-
came no longer a formidable COMPETE
tor of the Pennsylvania. Mr.. Gould
must be perfectly aware of the nature
of the problem ahead of him. He is
accredited with much of the astute-
ness of his father, and he certainly
would not undertake such an immens
task without first counting the cost
This state is willing to have all the
railway competition that is possible
If any new corporation can in any way
exceed the service of the Pennsylvania
it will be welcomed"
For many years there has been sore
complaint at the congestion of freight
business in Pittsburg That city has
become as ii were, the industrial hub
sylvania railroad has shown eXtraor-
dinary enterprise in the development
of its facilities 1t has literally not been
able to keep pace with the flood tide
Of Pittsburg's prosperity. Long ago
Andrew Carnegie foresaw what has
come TO pass and tried to induce COM
petition in transportation to the east
ern seaboard; in later years the de-
mand for 1t has been fierce. We do
not doubt that there would be ample
business for two roads connecting Pitts
burg with Atlantic ports, and it should
be remembered in this connection that
the American export trade in iron, steel
and finished materials is comparatively
young yet. Whatever the ultimate in
tention of the Geulds in this matter
may be, 1t is pretty certain that time