Evening journal., 1904-12-14
WESTERN UNION
LINES TO Be CUT
Pennsylvania Railroad Off
cials Await Orders to Re-
move Them in This State
OUTCOME OF COURT DECISION

The telegraph department OF the Penn
sylv3nia Railroad Company, it was an
nounced today. is now ready TO remove
every wire and pole on the railroad
property belonging to the Western Union
Telegraph Company in Delaware, Mary
land and New Jersey, unless the telegraph
company saves it the trouble. The work
OF destruction only awaits orders from
the railroad officers. This is the result OF
the decision rendered on Monday by the
United States Supreme Court in favor
of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company,
and against the Western Union Company.
A statement to this effect was made to-
day by an Official Of the Pennsylvania
Railroad. The Western Union owns more
than 500 pole miles" Of line in the three
States named.
No Orders Yet Issued.
]. p. Altberger. Of Philadelphia. super
intendent of the Western Union Company
who is in charge Of the property in ques-
tion. stated today that he has not yet
received any orders TO remove the poles
and wires Officers of the railroad COM
panys legal department declined to be
probable that legal notice viii be served
on the telegraph company today. That
company has made no preparations to un-
dertake the work Of removal and experts
say the wires and poles cannot be taken
away in less than thirty days without the
assistance of a great army Of men.
All contracts made by the Western
Union and the Pennsylvania Railroad for
lines in New Jersey, Delaware and Mary
land expired some months ago, with the
exception of a section along small divi-
sion IN Maryland. The other lines ope-
rated by the Western Union are located
along tho Pennsylvania Western New
York and Pennsylvania division, under a
contract which expires in four years. II
is estimated that the telegraph company
owns more than 100000 worth OF lines
and poles affected by the Supreme Courts S
decision. and the loss to commercial in
terests using the line would be enormous
il the railroad company summarily re-
moves the wires without notice.
Business Interests Would Suffer.
Summary action on the part OF the rail-
road company would work a hardship or
! business between this city end New York
/ The telegraph company has trunk lines
containing fifty wires between the two
cities, and an immense commercial busi-
l ness is transacted over them. Between
this city Baltimore and Washington more
/ than thirty wires are maintained along
the railroads property, and many wires
parallel the railroad between this city
/ Atlantic City. Cape May and other coast
/ towns. In Delaware and on the Eastern
Shore of Maryland is a veritable cobweb
Of wires owned by the Western Union, eN-
tending for miles along the lines owned or
controlled by the Pennsylvania Railroad.
Pending the decision, the Postal Tele-
graph Company has pushed its business
throughout Delaware and Maryland and
within a few days its service could be
established along the railroad company S
properties. This company has established
a trunk line to Cape Charles, and has add
ed many additional wires 10 its service
between this city. New York, Baltimore
and Washington. To facilitate installa-
tion the railroad company's telegraph de-
partment will probably be called upon to
assist in the work. and the expense will
be charged to the rental account. Evic-
tion OF the Western Union is expected at
any time.