The sun., 1903-01-08
INTO PITTSBURG OR ROUND IT
WABASH HAS 4 25-IEAR con-
TRACT WITH CARNEGIE 90.
If Pittsburg Doesn't Let II In II VIII Have
Valuable Property 10 Sell and Other
Ways TO 60 for Its Freight TrafIic

There has been much speculation about
the course the Wabash will adopt In view
Of the adverse decision of the Supreme
Court Of Pennsylvania, which denied the
company's right to enter Pit sburg city
without the consent OF the municipal
authorities.
President Joseph Ramsey of the Wabash
disclosed Yesterday that the Wabash hes
twenty-five year contract, taking effect
on the first day of operation with the Car
negie Steel Company TO handle one-fourth
of that concerns immense steel, ore and
coke tonnage. When this contract was
made two years ago, one of the controlling
interests of the Carnegie Company said
that the mere making of that contract
put Wabash on an impregnable position in
case difficulty in entering Pittsburg de-
veloped
-The decision of the Supreme Court
is by no means a surprise to US said Presi-
dent Ramsey. Its effect on our plans
will rot be Of serious dimensions. The
action Of he court Is the result of an appeal
by the city Of Pittsburg from the decision
of the lower court. which upheld our con-
tention that under the laws Of the State
we could enter any city there OF, subj ct
only to police restrict ions as to the cross
ing of streets and similar matters.
we have not rested id,e while this matter
was with he supreme Court. We applied
10 the Common Council for permiSs TO
enter the city ard 1t was granted. lhe
matter then went TO the ,cCt Council
which passed an ordinance granting us lie
right TO enter the city. but on the cOndi ION
that We elevate our tracks TO certain
degree above the proposed tracks of the
Pennsylvania Railroad ] refused 10
accept this ordinance as the requested et'-
walton seemed both unnecessary and I'M
practicable since it called for grades that
would interfere with the economical ard
expeditions handling of both freight and
passenger trafc.
After consultation with our engineers
| suggested in place of the proposed ele-
yation a lesser but easily sufficient one To
carry the tracks above those Of the Penn
sylvania and the matter went back 10 the
committee of the Select Council The
committee advocated the adoption oi
our compromise but IT was determined To
appoint commission ot engineers. one
from the city of Pittsburg, one from the
Pennsylvania and the third from the
Wabash to 'arbitrate' the quest ion OF track
elevation. This was done and the en-
gineers have met several times and are
now very close 10 an agreement
Whether thev agree or not We are con-
ident thai it will not bc long now before
a satisfactory ordinance granting us per
mission to enter the city, Is passed. Ger
tain adverse condition. have been prar-
tically overcome and we believe the ordi-
nance will be forthcoming. For this reason
we are not inclined to view the Supreme
Courts decision with any alarm.
If it should come TO pass that we we're
barred from I he city OF Pittsburg, we might
well 60 around it, II il true that we have
spent good deal Of money for terminals,
bu, that property is worth much more to-
day than when We bought 1t. Ii IL also true
that we have put a lot of money into piers
and other material for our bridge over
Washington tunnel. | NJ these would he
particularly valuable to a trolley line, and
In that direction easily utilized.
so while We have planned 10 spend some
5000. 900 To get into Pittsburg, our actual
eXpendi,u ures thus far would represent no
loss if we failed To get in. As matter OF
fact we might actually be benefited by
so falling
1t is the immense freight traffic that
we are after and that lies almost wholly
outside the city We made a contract
two wears ago with the Carnegie Steel
Company which provides that we are
to receive one-fourth of all its tonnage
for period of twenty-five years from the
date our road goes into operation. To
secure this immense tonnage We need
McKccsport and other places than Pitts
burg proper and we will enter them.
But we are not going To b. kept ont of
Pittsburg if we can help il. We have made
big plans there and we wish TO carry them
out. We want TO enter Pitt tshurg and We
feel confident that Pittsburg wants Us
here ,tl-, A. badly