The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1903-11-10
EfAND WABASH
SYSTEMS ARE CON-
SOL|DATEO.
Work Has Been Going
On For Some Time.
WILL BE effective JAN. |

The wheeling & Lake Erie Rail-
road and the Wabash Railway COM
pany are working in such close har-
mony that any act of consolidation
would be purely nominal change"
This statement was made yesterday
at Cleveland by man who is high in
the councils of the Gould syndicate.
He says the change has been very
gradual, but that 1t has been complete
is indicated by the fact that in matters
where policy is the question, the
Wheeling & Lake Erie men defer to
the opinions Of the Wabash officials
in all matters of Importance.
The air has been full, for the last
eighteen months, of talk of consolida-
ton of the two railroads and their
union in single company. The change
was supposed first to be financial
affair and afterwards a matter Of the
absorption of the different depart
ments and their welding
INTO A SINGLE SYSTEM.
The Goulds, according TO all accounts
have taken method differing radical
ly from precedent in this matter. 1t
began first with the operating depart
ment--this fusion Of the two rail-
roads. The election of Mr.. Ramsey,
who is an operating official, to tho
presidency of the Wheeling C Lake
Erie, gave him the authority over the
operating policy of the Wheeling. I'M
mediately after that the maintenance
of way forces were combined under a
single engineer. Later the fusion of
other departments was carried on.
Now II is said that the traffic and the
auditing departments are being taken
under the wing Of the Wabash inter-
ests. Until the consolidation is alb
solutely complete, no change is ever
made in the auditing department. II
is now understood, however, that the
AUDITING DEPARTMENT
OF the Wheeling is being gradually
worked into harmony with that of tn
Wabash. The statement at the Of
fees Of the Wheeling & Lake Eric
company yesterday afternoon was that
If this change is being made 1t is
gradual and not at all radical.
The change in the traffic depart
lmGnt, however, is said to have been
more radical. It Is understood among
railroad men that no change is ever
made In the traffic department unless
it is absolutely sure that a consolida-
tion is to go through and then not
only until on the very eve on the
consumation of the transaction. The
authority for this article says that the
wheeling e Lake Erie traffic officials
are now working with the Wabash
officials being in a majority 1t is
said that no matter of policy effectine
the lines past the first of January is
decided by the officers of the Wheel
ing & Lake Erie on any vital ques-
tion whatever.
This situation has led to the strons
rumor that the two railroads are to be
united in a single system about the
first Of next year or Immediately
thereafter.
1t is said,. upon authority, that there
will be but one operating force. The
statement is that the Cleveland branch
and those who are contiguous to IT.
will be under the care of general
superintendent, located in Cleveland
The auditing offices will be removed IN
with the general Offices at either
Pittsburg or st. Louis, according te
the subsequent decision upon that
. point.