Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-06-13

sets firmly, and from that moment the
sphinx is not less garrulous than he
Mr.. Cassatt will discuss the elevation
Of the Pennsylvania lines through the
big towns OF several states, the eXpen-
diture of hundreds of millions now UNI
der way or planned for permanent bet
terments Of his great system. But
breathe the word Wabash to Mr., Cas-
satt and he freezes into reticence Inn
penetrable.
"WABAsH" THE WAR CRY.
II is not on record, therefore from the
lips Of either but all the same, there in
that one word Wabash" you have at
once the casus bell and the real war
cry Of the contending powers. As every
body knows the Wabash Is MIR. Gould's
big eastern line and his pet For long
time the Gould interests have displayed
what, from the Pennsylvania point Of
view, has been regarded as pernicious
activity In concentrating alliances and
acquiring properties the ultimate pur-
pose OF which has seemed to menace
the Pennsylvania interests In territory
heretofore exclusively its own.
Pittsburg had been a Pennsylvania
NAN bAN FllNllE NlllNt 4 llt 'Aohlh ANi "
deliberately invaded Il when they
planned the extension of the Wabash
system directly into that city. This was
bad enough, but soon II was whispered
in well informed railroad circles that
the Gould ambition would not halt short
Of an eastern Atlantic terminal for its
transcontlnental system and lines prac-
tically parallelng those of the Pennsyl-
vpnia east Of the great lakes. Color
was given to these reports by George
Gould's participation In the purchase Of
the Western Maryland railroad, by the
aid Of which and the West Virginia
Central he would be assured an outlet
directly TO the Atlantic seaboard.
At the time Of the acquisition Of the
Wheeling and Lake Erie by interests
identified with the Wabash there was
some show Of displeasure on the part of
the Pennsylvania, especially when, fol-
lowing this purchase, II was admitted
that the Wabash. through its acquisi-
ton of the Wheeling road, would build
right into Pittsburg the Cassatt cit
adel, Here in truth, was a home thrust
But persons who know the temper OF
the Great Keystone State corporation
know that the Pennsylvania Railroad
does not relish being thwarted,and that
It seldom shrks fight Its "sinews Of
war; are almost unlimited, its retalia-
tory powers are vast. and, In Pennsyl-
vania at least, II had long been accus-
toned to being the monarch Of all II
surveyed
So there were not wanting those,
when Wabash threw down the gaunt-
let who predicted that IN an assault
upon the Western Union Telegraph
company long known as an essentially
Gould concern, the Pennsylvania would
find and utilize the opportunity for a
vital retaliatory blow.
HOW THE DIE WAS CAST.
Among conservative bankers such
gossip was met by the statement that
an amicable relationship had been
patched up so far as the Pitts
burg Invasion was concerned, II
was admitted that the breach had prob
ably been hopelessly widened by
the aggressive movement Of the Colds
IN again entering territory long con-
sidered exclusively that of the Penn
sylvania and its subsidiary lines. with
the Gould participation in the purchase
OF the Western Maryland the die was
cast and the die was for war, though
war was never FORMALLY declared
Great wars are fought not uncommon-
ly nowadays without being declared
Step by step the approach of the Wa
bash system into pittsburg was resist
ed. There at first centered the seat
Of war Backed by the millions In
their Golfers, each great financial pow
er exhausted the legal resources Of the
courts, At every proposed crossing of
the rival roads new lines Of battle
were drawn. Complaint, injunction,
appeal, all the paraphemalia Of the
great circumocution mills Of litigation
were made tributary to the fray. The
advance Of the presumptuous Wabash
system was harassed by this guerilla
warfare. but the invasion could not be
STAYED and ere long It was realized
that the city Of Pitt was no longer the
citadel Of the Cassatt CO.