Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1908-08-20
ARE We WEIGHING oY
RAILROAD pIcTAToRsHipi


Mr.. Hartman, says The Financial
World. jumped in at the critical mo
ment and saved the Erie. His voice
now in the roads affairs bears the
commands Of the master Before he
left for Oregon on short vacation
he did little more rescue work, help
ing the Goulds TO save the Wabash
by providing. through syndicate, the
cash to redeem $8,0OO.OOO notes OF the
Wheeling & Lake Erie that the Wa
bash guaranteed Mr.. Hartman has
said he did this without any Interior
motives and to save bad situation
But those who know Hartman do not
exclude from ther opinions about this
saving Of a bad situation that Harri-
man exacted his price. For that mat
ter, he has a perfect right to do so.
and there can be no reasonable OBJ
lection to whatever terms he made to
extend to Gould helping hand, for
there was no pressure brought to
bear upon him., except to be saved
from another railroad receivership,
this time for one OF his principal rail-
roads. Mr. Gould could either accept
or turn his back on the proffered as.
sistance. 1t was entirely left to him
The ascendancy Of Mr. Hartman to
the position Of the first railroad man
in this country, however. brings for
ward a problem serious enough for
deep consideration problem
whether the concentration of his SUI
preme power over the affairs OF our
biggest railroads viii not lead TO
Of the principal industry
Of this country by q single man.
10 It not worth while to speculate
on what the outcome might be? Mr.. |
Hartman Is a type OF man after the
fashion OF Roosevelt--virlle, master
lul and when set in his views will
not brook any opposition Where
Roosevelt has Welded the big stick
IN politics, Hartman will swing a
nailed hand IN railroad affairs.
That this power is now already al.
most superhuman is apparent when
he roads In which his word is law
ire considered. Through the Union
Pacific. Southern Pacific, Baltimore
Ohio Erie, Atchlson, Delaware &
Iudson. Illinois Central, he already
Ilrectly controls over $4,000 miles OF
he 200p0O miles OF railroads ia this
'ountry His close affiliation with the
standard OIL interests gives his voice
'wer IN the affairs OF the ST. Paul.
'ennsylyanIa and the Chicago a
Northwestern. with an aggregate mile.
ige OF over $4,000 miles, and indi.
ectly through them in the Omaha.
.ong Island. New York, snsquehanna
Western, Norfolk q Western, Vana
alia, Northern Central, Grand Rapids
! Indiana, West Jersey & Sea shore
md Pan Handle, with more than
5000 miles. With the Goulds as sa.
raps he will preside over the follow
ng roads: International a Great
Missouri Pacific. Wabash.
& Lake Erie. Western Mary
and. Western Pacific and Denver.
RIO Grande. comprising nearly $4,000
niles.
Mr.. Morgan, II is understood, has
Iettled his differences with Hartman.
ind the two are now working harmon.
ously. Morgan il the only man
whose stature In railroad affairs ap.
lroaches the Titantic proportions OF
Hartman He dominates IN the poll.
lies OF the following roads: The Van
Italia Lines, the Hin roads, Atlantic
Coast Line, New Haven. Boston q
Maine, Boston & Albany. Reading.
Evansville a Terre Haute, Ontario a
\ Southern Railway, with
total mileage OF 10000 miles.
Il can be judged from the above
that Hartman directly and indirectly |
shapes the policy OF railroads controll.
Ing $4,000 miles Of roads CneArly one
half the total mileagel. and Morgan
$4,000 miles; the two together, lndi.
Deafness canuOt De Cured