The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-02-15
RAILROAD NEWS.
An Ocean Trip Links Two Great
Names.
william Rockefeller and William
K. Vanderbilt Go to Europe.
ALLIES IN RAILROAD.
Standard Oil Magnate Becoming
Owner of U. S. Railways.
Gossip and Matters of Interest
in Railway Circles.

New York. Feb. 15.-William Rookie
Teller, with his family, and William K.
Vanderbilt, with Mrs Vanderbilt, are
making as fellow travellers an exeur-
sion TO the Mediterranean. Mr. Wander
bits departure was duly chronicled on
the day of the sailing of the Deutsch-
land But it seems to have escaped no
tice that Mr.. Rockefeller was passen-
ger by the same steamer. Not for
many years has Mr.. Rockefeller found
time or possibly inclination to visit
Europe. and if his brother, John D.
Rockefeller, has crossed the seas. at
least for many years, not any but ms
immediate family knew 1t.
Some disposition to look upon the re-
lations Of Mr.. Rockefeller and MI Van
derbilt as strained. or. if not that, as
those of rivals, has been observed here
recently. There are frequent comments
to the effect that the Standard OIL par
ty has gradually acquired control OF Inc
Vanderbilt properties. Some venture
the opinion that Mr.. Vanderbilt mas
been, if not forced to give UP the con-
troll at least persuaded to do that, ana
within a day or two, III fact upon the
day after the departure of Mr.. Wander
bilt and Mr.. Rockefeller, it was assum-
ed that the election of H H Rogers TO
the directorate of the Atchison system
was another step toward the consuIn-
nation of what is assumed to be the
chief purpose of the Standard Oil party,
namely, the control of the railway sys-
tens of the United States.
The truth is not in these reports NO
strained relations or any other that are
not kindly or do not represent perfect
sympathy of purpose exist between MI.
Vanderbilt and Mr.. Rockefeller In al
probability Mr. Vanderbilt perceived
some time after he assumed the dlrect
control of the New York Central ana
other Vanderbilt properties that COM
mon business prudence compelled him
to fortify the interests of the Wander
bilt family and to make sure that the
Vanderbilt properties would be well
cared for no matter what his own ca
reer hereafter may be-
Whatever may be hereafter the
growth of the younger generation or
the Vanderbilts, it is recognized that
neither the sons of the late Cornelius
Vanderbilt nor the sons of William X
Vanderbilt are now qualified to assume
the direction OF these great properties
Cornelius Vanderbilt, the youngerseem-
ed at one time to have great business
ambition. He had a bent for scientific
pursuits, and whether he does anything
hereafter or not in that way he has
commanded respect by his improvement
in the construction of locomotives But
recently Mr.. Vanderbilt seems to have
undergone a change Of ambition, hnd-
ing in the possibilities Of diplomacy ana
in the social enjoyment of European
courts an even greater qualification
than in com assing great things in sci
ence OF in business. He was much
sought by various corporations to enter
directorates and accepted a number OF
offers of that kind. Some of those who
served with him thought they discover
ed qualities which under discipline and
experience would have made him a
worthy successor of the great men OF
the Vanderbilt name. Whether he has
permanently abandoned business for
iipIomancy or not he alone knows. Pos
sihly he has not himself determined.
Nothing that his brothers have done
would Justify any hope that they are
competent or will be competent to take
up the direction of the Vanderbilt pro-
perties.
William K. Vanderbilt, Jr., certainly
has ambition, is capable of sustained
industry and some drudgery, and yet
after all, the only incentive which
would, if he has the qualities. enable
him to perfect them so that he could
succeed his father. is pride in the fam
ily name. His father took up the di-
rection of these properties, not because
he wished to, but because the disability
through permanent illness of his elder
brother compelled him.
Mr. Vanderbilt of course. realized
that it was problematical whether the
younger generation of the Vanderbilts
would be able to take up the burden
he is now himself carrying More than
that. he saw clearly several years ago
that it would no longer do for a rail-
road property like that represented by
the Vanderbilt name to be of almost
Chinese isolation. In fact, it was at the
suggestion of Mr.. Vanderbilt that the