New-York tribune., 1903-06-04
RUMOR MEETS DENI4LS.
Report That Erie Had Been Secured
bu GOuLd-Hdrriman Interests.

The sustained strength Of the Erie issues during
the recent prolonged decline in the stock market
has given rise to q rather general belief in Wall
Street that development favorable to the
property would probably before long occur. From
Chicago yesterday came that the Rookie
fellers had acquired control of the Erie and were
planning operate it in close connection with the
Chicago. Milwaukee and St. Paul, in which system
they largely interested. An afternoon local pa
per. apparently win the Ccicago dispatch text,
carried a long story in which 1t declared that
following conferences held in the apartments OF
E. H. Hartman, at the Hotel NetherLand, who
is recovering from operation for appendicitis
the combination Of Gould, Hartman and Rookie
feer interests has its way the Atlantic sea-
board despite desperate efforts Of the Penn
sylvania: this stroke having been achieved. It
explained, "by securing the control Of the Erie
Railroad Company. which it is understood will be
made the eastern connection OF the Burlington,
Union Pacific St. Paul and Gould systems II
was added that the majority stock Of the Erie
would probably be lodged with the St Paul, after
traffic agreements with the other roads concerned
should have been signed and ratified; and that the
authorized issue OF s25,0D.00o new St Paul stock
had been sold in the open market and the proceeds
used in payment for the Erie stock acquired in
the interest of the plan
Denlals Of this circumstant1al tale were promptly
forthcoming Control OF the Erie is held in q vot-
ing trust. OF which J. Pierpont Morgan is of
the three members and George ". Perkins of J. P.
Morgan & Co., said
There is absolutely truth in the report that
any change has been made is contemplated in
the control Of Erie" He added with a laugh:
You can ask this question for me: What do the
Goulds want Of B. and 0. and Erie, too?'-re-
ferring to a rurnor spread last week that the
Gould party had got control Of the Baltimore and
Ohio, in which the Pennsylvania Railroad Com
pany holds important minority interest Lead
ing bankers associated with the Hartman and
Rockefeller interests said that they hadn't heard
Of any purchase OF the Erie for the joint account
of those two interests and the Goulds. for any
of the, three interests Mr.. Gould could not be
Wabash. said: There is not word Of truth in
Roswell Miller, chairman Of the board OF the
@ So m S9pay ON ANY sSKg9 g0o46 me aS5erea st as
October by the shareholders had been sold in the
the Erie control answered that the additional
stock bs had e6d6 not yer t.s! been ifsueS IS G. Pan,
large stockholders in the Union Pacific system.
ttfd @ "Gh G sF' nan = 50 prornsntIy tGeI
that the Burlington now Morgan Hill property;
system in an intimate arrangement such as that
alleged TO have been effected regarding the Erie.
will in time, after it shall be deemed advisable TO
ns Go Wch f @ ong by the he
great NG5thsrn and the s N9t1s 9saad Pac fa t James mes
was absurd that q through line from ocean to
ern and the Erie might be links He added that his
road. the Great Northern would benefit more
several roads than. through delivering it all 70
% oad snd the Northern Paoo ater hng
meanwhile vainIy endeayored to secure the St
Paul had purchased the Burlington, connecting
line between the Twin Cities and Chicago. Mr..
Hill Is director OF the Erie and IL is said in the
Street 10 be not among the impossbilities that "a
single connecting line7 between the Atlantic and
the Lakes. in the form of the Erie Railroad. may
toined Burlington. similar line thus per
fectfng for the fI-nforgan interests unbroken
transcontinentaI line from New-York Bay 70 Puget
Sound
Philadelphia, June 3-Oficials Of the Psnnsyl-
vania say they know absolutely nothing OF the re-
ported purchase OF the Erie road by the Gould.
Hartman Rockefeller interests They say SINH
lar r1lrnors have been current for time. but
they have knowledge OF such a combination